Owatonna dominated Winona from start to finish in their 7-1 win Thursday night on Dudley Otto Rink at Four Seasons Centre. Though it took awhile for the unbalanced play to show up in the score. The game was scoreless after the opening period despite the Huskies out-shooting the Winhawks 13-1.

Collin Pederson created the first crack in the dam put up by Winhawks' goalie Campbell Watkins 1:46 into the second period after a nice passing exchange with Jacob Stoykovich. Pederson added two assists later. Coach Josh Storm said after the game that Pederson is great at creating opportunities.

Dom Valento notched his first varsity goal 7:57 into the second off a Pederson helper. Valento also scored midway through the third period and had a breakaway chance afterward but Watkins got a piece of the puck to prevent Valento from getting a hat trick. Storm was thrilled to see the sophomore, in addition to senior Drake Gieseke, netting their first-ever varsity goals.

Senior Luke Kubicek was named the KRFO/TPS Insurance Player of the Game with back-to-back goals late in the second period that turned a close into into an OHS rout. Brody Homan and Casey Johnson assisted at 12:11. Then Kubicek fought through several back checkers at 15:07 for an unassisted goal to put OHS up 4-0.

Owatonna goalie Easton Sletten spent most of his time all alone in the Huskies' defensive zone, but he did make back-to-back great saves in the second period. Winona scored in the closing minute of the second when Hans Larsen was left alone in front of the net for a quick one-timer that beat Sletten.

Casey Johnson, who scored his first varsity goal last week against East Ridge, scored in the third on a good feed from Zach Kubicek. Aaron Bangs, who scored three goals in the junior varsity's 5-1 win, got his first varsity point with an assist on Gieseke's power play marker.

The game was worth four points in the Big Nine standings as the only meeting of the season between the teams. OHS also beat Albert Lea in a four-point game last week. Owatonna (2-1, 2-0) hosts No. 4 ranked in Class A Mahtomedi Saturday, December 8 at 8 pm. The game can be found on OwatonnaLive.com.

Scoreboard for Thursday, December 6
Boys hockey
Owatonna 7, Winona 1
Austin 3, Albert Lea 2, overtime
Faribault 5, Rochester JM 5 (tie)
Mankato East 5, Northfield 4
Mankato West 1, Rochester Mayo 1 (tie)
Rochester Century 6, Red Wing 3
Waseca 10, Fairmont 0

Girls hockey
Albert Lea 2, Austin 0
Faribault 9, Rochester JM 3
Farmington 2, Apple Valley 2 (tie)
Lakeville North 4, Prior Lake 0
Lakeville South 2, Shakopee 1, overtime
Mankato West 4, Rochester Mayo 2
Rochester Century 5, Red Wing 4

Boys basketball
Hayfield 75, NRHEG 70
Mankato Loyola 52, Medford 49
Mankato East 67, Rochester JM 54
Northfield 82, Red Wing 58
Rochester Mayo 85, Mankato West 71

Girls basketball
Mankato West 62, Mayo 45
John Marshall 69, Mankato East 57
Waseca 71, Fairmont 40

Wrestling
Medford 33, Westfield 26
NRHEG 36, USC 28

Boys Swimming
Mayo 90, Owatonna 67

Owatonna sports
Roy Koenig/Townsquare Media
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