Packers skate by Jays

A slow start did in Jamestown High School Thursday night at Wilson Arena.

The Blue Jays gave up five first-period goals, the first just 35 seconds into the game, in an 8-3 loss to West Fargo.

Jordan Olstad had a hat trick for the Packers, currently fifth in the East Region standings.

The Blue Jays were better in the second and third periods, but the big early hole was too much to dig out of.

“The first period was ugly,” coach Matt Stockert said. “When you stand around and throw pucks all over the ice against a good team, bad things are going to happen and they did.”

There was some consolation for the Jays, however, who scored three times over the final two periods, two by senior standout Erick Paiement.

“Obviously, the first period was the difference. That’s all it was,” Stockert said. “We saw some good things the rest of the way. Things we’ve spent an awful lot of time working on. The key thing is we have to be able to do it for three periods. Two isn’t going to get it done.”

Derek Sand scored just 35 seconds into the game, starting a dominating opening 17 minutes for the Packers. They outshot the Jays 19-2 in the period.

“They’re a quality hockey team. They’ve been competing in the East Region all year and playing well. They’re fifth right now, but have a chance to move up to fourth,” Stockert said.

Devyn Schauer got the Blue Jays on the board 7:59 into the second period to make it 5-1, taking a nice up-ice feed from Paiement and then beating Packers goalie Cameron Holland 1-on-1.

Paiement got the first of his two goals about as late in the period as possible, firing a wrister past Holland from a tough angle with just 0.9 seconds showing on the clock.

Paiement got his second late in the third, beating Holland at the 14:29 mark on an assist from Kyle Walden.

“In the second and third periods we did a good job moving the puck and getting it to where we need it to be,” Stockert said.

The Blue Jays jump back into region play on Saturday in a pivotal game in Hazen against the North Stars. A win would keep them alive in avoiding a potential play-in game, or at the least give them a better chance of hosting it. Regardless of the standings ramifications, Stockert said his team just needs a W.

“We need to win — period. That’s all there is to it,” he said.

West Fargo 8, Jamestown 3

West Fargo 5 2 1 — 8

Jamestown 0 2 1 — 3

Scoring summary

First period

1,WF, Derek Sand (Kyle Shoman), :35; 2, WF, Jeremy Johnson (Shoman, Jared Koehnen), 2:31; 3, WF, Jordan Olstad (Jake Springer, Olstad), 4:00; 4, Tyler Vareberg (Olstad, Springer), 11:55; 5, WF, Conor Jonasson (Jonasson, Brandon Tendeland), 14:23.

Second period

6, JHS, Devyn Schauer (Erick Paiement, Miles Traiser), 7:59; 2, WF, Gage Shoman (Charlie Torrance), 10:04; 8, WF, Olstad (unassisted), 16:44; 9, JHS, Paiement (unassisted), 16:59.

Third period

10, WF, Olstad (unassisted), 6:43 (SH); 11, JHS, Paiement (K.Walden), 14:27.

Goaltender saves: West Fargo, Cameron Holland 2-5-7 14 saves. Jamestown, Tyler Lindberg 14-11-xx 25 saves, Justin Slusser xx-xx-12 12 saves.

Penalties: West Fargo 4 for 8 minutes. Jamestown 4 for 8 minutes.

Records: West Fargo 5-9-2; Jamestown 3-12-1.

Sun sports writer Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at daves@jamestownsun.com

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