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By Jay Austinson

WARROAD — The Albert Lea girls’ hockey team completed the Warroad “Hockeytown Holiday Classic” tournament with a win and two losses. The Tigers made their first ever appearance in this mid-season tournament held at the historic Gardens Arena in Warroad.

The three-day, 440-mile trip started with an overtime win over the Mound Westonka Southwest Christian team. Albert Lea got the scoring started in the second period on a play that started behind the Mound Westonka goal when junior Hanna Austinson stole a puck on the wall and centered a pass to Morgan Goskeson for the sophomore’s ninth goal of the year.

Moments later senior goaltender Jayda Moyer picked up her 1,000th varsity save. Moyer continues to put up impressive numbers as she currently sits third in the state in save percentage (.955) and second in goals against average (.98).

The Tigers traded goals with the Whitehawks to end the second period as Hanna Austinson put home a rebound off a shot by freshman Haley Austinson. The Whitehawks tied the game late in the third, sending the game to overtime. Just under two minutes into the overtime senior Mika Cichosz won it for the Tigers, one timing a pass from senior Shelby Evans from just inside the left dot, Cichosz’s 20th goal of the season.

The second game found the Tigers matched up with the three-time defending Class A state champions, the Warroad Warriors. Albert Lea once again opened the scoring as junior Calleigh Noble scored 10 minutes into the first off a centering pass from Hanna Austinson. Warroad got the equalizer to end the first while on the powerplay. After a scoreless second period, penalty trouble again found the Tigers as they picked up three more penalties in the third. The Warroad powerplay took advantage early in the third as talented junior forward Taylor Reese got what turned out to be the game winner for the Warriors. The Warriors would go on to win the tournament, going undefeated after also beating Mound Westonka and Crookston, a combined 9-0.

The TIgers finished the tournament with a 3-1 loss to the Crookston Pirates. Getting the Tiger’s lone goal was Morgan Goskeson, again assisted by Hanna Austinson. The Tigers played well, controlling the play in the second and third periods. Albert Lea outshot Crookston 38-23 in the loss and their season record now sits at 10-3-1, improving to a No. 9 ranking in Class A.

Albert Lea travels to Winona today to take on the Winhawks.