Orioles Win Home Opener, Improve to 5-0

You could sense it on the ice and in the crowd Saturday night at the —this year is going to be a lot different for the boys hockey team than last year.

With a packed house buzzing behind them, the Orioles—who were 2-23 in 2010-11—played energetic hockey all night and topped St. Francis in the home opener, 7-3. First-year head coach now has Park at 5-0.

"I was happy for the young men," Podein said. "They played hard. I thought they did a good job and stuck together, and deserved (the win)."

St. Louis Park got on the board first two minutes into the game thanks to senior captain Tyler Brodersen, who entered the night as the team's leading scorer with 14 points.

Brodersen added another goal later in the first period. The senior was also involved in a scary moment, as a hit up against the boards late in the third period left him in a heap on the ice for a few moments. But Brodersen was able to get up and skate off on his own, and Podein said after the game that his scoring leader was fine.

With Brodersen's two first period goals, as well as a tally from freshman Josh Passolt, the Orioles were able to take a comfortable 3-0 lead into the first intermission. But the Fighting Saints of St. Francis didn't roll over easily. A quick second period goal by junior Cameron Kaehler narrowed the score to 3-1.

With momentum possibly shifting to the opponents, the Orioles halted any thoughts of a comeback with three second period goals of their own, from Sean Berens, Nick Gaitan-Gaitan and Nick Fortmeyer.

Gaitan-Gaitan added a second goal in the third period to salt away the game.

Podein said afterward that he was really excited to see such a great response from the home crowd, which began chanting "Undefeated" as the clock ticked under one minute and showed energy all night.

"I’d really like to thank the fans and the alumni for coming out," he said. "It was a fun crowd, and it means a lot not only to our organization, but these young men going out there playing their hearts out."

And the coach has another message for those fans as the 2011-12 season progresses.

"Please keep coming back—it makes a lot of difference," Podein said.