KASSON &045; For the second time this season, the Albert Lea Blades missed a chance to test their hockey skills against former NHL player Doug Zmolek.

It’s probably just as well. The Rochester Rookies are plenty tough without him.

The Rookies handed the Blades their second loss of the season with a 7-2 Southern Minnesota Hockey League decision at Kasson Friday night. Albert Lea, whose only other loss was 10-5 to the Rookies, fell to 4-2 in the league and 7-2 overall. Rochester improved to 3-0 in league games.

The Blades were also without a regular goalie for the third time this season as general manager/goaltender Jason Fornwald had a commitment with the Albert Lea High School girls’ hockey team, and Josh Heilman couldn’t make it.

Nate Bryant, a former ALHS goalie, filled in.

&uot;From what I hear, he played fine,&uot; said Fornwald. &uot;We just got outplayed. We only had 10 skaters, and Rochester had a couple extra skaters.&uot;

In addition to Fornwald, the Blades were also without ALHS head girls’ hockey coach Mike Miller and Kris Ellsworth, another assistant.

&uot;We got a couple other guys off our sub list to get two full lines,&uot; said Fornwald.

Travis Diaz scored two of Albert Lea’s goals. Mike Nelson had the other. Rochester outshot Albert Lea approximately 40-25. There were no penalties.

&uot;Even though we were shorthanded, you can’t take anything away from this Rochester team,&uot; said Fornwald. &uot;They will be a force in this league. We’ll need to have everyone there to play with them.&uot;

The Blades get another chance soon, returning to Kasson Saturday for a 9:20 p.m. game with the Rookies.