Blades take a pair from Quad Cities

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 18, 2001

The Quad Cities Senators brought some talented players to Albert Lea.

Tuesday, December 18, 2001

The Quad Cities Senators brought some talented players to Albert Lea.

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They just didn’t bring nearly enough of them.

The Albert Lea Blades swept the shorthanded Senators in a weekend Upper Midwest Hockey League series, winning 10-1 and 9-0 at the City Arena.

&uot;This team, if they had a few more players, would have been a lot better,&uot; said Blades general manager Jason Fornwald. &uot;They only had nine skaters – one short of two full lines – and they kind of ran out of gas in both games. They had some good talent, but just needed more bodies out there.&uot;

They definitely needed more offense.

Fornwald estimated the shots on goal at 50-15 in favor of the locals in the first game. Justin Bolinger and Harley Klimmek both scored two goals while Scott Heilman and Marty Anderson played a strong game defensively. Fornwald allowed the goal while splitting time in the net with Josh Heilman.

Klimmek and Mike Nelson netted two goals apiece in the second game. Mike Miller and Mike Carlson anchored the defense in front of Fornwald, who registered his second shutout of the year. Shots on goal were about 45-20 in favor of the Blades.

&uot;We played a very strong couple games,&uot; said Fornwald. &uot;We moved the puck real well.&uot;

The Blades improved to 8-0 in the league and 11-1 overall. Their lone loss was to Rochester in a preseason tournament, and it was avenged 5-2 at the City Arena.

The next action for the Blades is Jan. 5-6 at Quad Cities.