The Hastings Raiders boys hockey team completed a busy week with a dramatic overtime road win followed by a close home loss, showing resilience, steady effort, and balanced scoring throughout both games.
Hastings entered the week with its record not listed in the available game data. South St. Paul and Irondale also entered their games against Hastings with records not provided in the available information.
Hastings opened the week on Tuesday, Jan. 6, with a road game at United Heroes League Rink, skating in a conference matchup that started at its scheduled evening time. South St. Paul struck early and controlled much of the opening period. Hastings matched South St. Paul with nine shots on goal in the first period, but South St. Paul scored twice at even strength to take a 2 to 0 lead into the first intermission.
The second period saw Hastings settle into the game and begin to tilt the ice. Hastings fired 17 shots on goal in the period and earned a power play chance midway through. Carter Hanson put Hastings on the scoreboard with a power play goal at 9:25, assisted by Michael Kennedy and Lukas Niederkorn. Later in the period, Rylan Krauth finished an even strength chance at 15:12, with assists from Carter Strong and Finn Zaruba, pulling Hastings within one. South St. Paul added a power play goal earlier in the period, sending the teams to the third with Hastings trailing 3 to 2.
Momentum fully shifted in the third period. Hastings outworked South St. Paul and held them to 11 shots while generating eight of its own. Jonas Schauer tied the game at 7:27 with an even strength goal, assisted by Niederkorn and Will Savage. The final minutes were played at a high pace, with both teams pushing for a regulation winner, but neither side broke through.
Overtime lasted nearly five minutes and featured strong goaltending and controlled puck possession. Hastings matched South St. Paul with four shots in the extra session. At 4:55 of overtime, Hanson scored the game winning goal at even strength, assisted by Savage and Blake Weber, sealing a 4 to 3 Hastings victory.
Hastings finished the night with 38 total shots on goal. The Raiders were 1 for 4 on the power play and killed one of two South St. Paul power plays. Hastings was assessed two penalties for four minutes. Charlie Stoffel played the full game in net, stopping 26 of 29 shots.
The Raiders returned to the ice on Thursday, Jan. 8, hosting Irondale at NSC Super Rink in a non-conference matchup that started in the evening. Hastings generated eight shots in the first period, but Irondale capitalized twice early to take a 2 to 0 lead. Hastings responded late in the period when Will Savage scored at even strength at 11:04, assisted by Jonas Schauer and Hanson, cutting the deficit to one.
The second period was tightly contested, with both teams trading chances. Hastings recorded 10 shots in the period but was unable to convert on its power play opportunities. Irondale scored once on the power play at 14:38, pushing its lead to 3 to 1 heading into the third.
Hastings pressed in the final period and outshot Irondale 4 to 5. Brecken Fullerton brought Hastings within one with an even strength goal at 2:57, assisted by Jack Woodwick and Zaruba. Hastings continued to apply pressure late, but Irondale held on defensively and Hastings was unable to force overtime.
Hastings finished with 22 total shots on goal in the loss. The Raiders went 0 for 3 on the power play and allowed one power play goal on four Irondale chances. Hastings was penalized four times for eight minutes. Nick Smelser played the full game in goal, stopping 25 of 28 shots.
Hastings will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 17, when the Raiders travel to Tartan Ice Arena for a 2:00 p.m. game. Hastings will then come back home on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to face Waconia at Hastings Civic Arena with a 6:30 p.m. start. The Raiders will play again on Saturday, Jan. 24, meeting East Ridge at United Heroes League Ice Rink at 1:00 p.m. as part of the Hockey Day Minnesota 20th celebration. Hastings will close the stretch with a road game at Osseo on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Dick Vraa Arena with a 7:00 p.m. start, followed by another road contest on Thursday, Jan. 29, against Simley at Simley Vets Arena in Inver Grove Heights at 7:00 p.m.