Same Spider rink, same Spider story

Nov. 12, 2023

The Spiders put on an encore at Hopkins Sunday night.

The Spiders returned to Hopkins after Thursday night’s 6–3 (or 6–4) loss to the Fighting Walley Blue. This time, it was a goaltenders duel, in this matchup with the Boreal Hockey Club, a team the Spiders have never faced, as they just moved up from D1 after going 19-1 last season.

Backstopping the Boreal was the summer league Gold Spiders (Nailers) goalie Jim Hanggi. Jim had scouted the Spiders all summer, and knew he’d spend most of the game watching his team far down the ice on the power play.

The Spiders had killed off almost all the three first-period PKs, including a 5-on-3, only to have a D-man make an ill-timed change early in the second, which the Boreals capitalized on.

And that would be the only score. While the Spiders were slightly outshot, Ricky Tejeda kept the Spiders in the game. But despite peppering Hanggi with solid chances, he swallowed every puck, earning the first shutout of the Spiders this season. The last time the Spiders put up a donut was Jan. 29, 2023, in a 1-zip loss to the Nordeasters.

Final score: 1-zip Boreal

Next up for the Spiders, the team that beat the Boreal 2-1 in the D1 title game last season, the Bold North. However, the Bold North have started the season 0-3, including an 8-zip shutout loss to the Pines Sunday night on the Hopkins ice before the Spider/Boreal game. They’ll be giving thanks by taking on the 0-2-1 Spiders next week.

Puck drop Thanksgiving week Monday, Nov. 20, 9:30 p.m. at Breck.