CLAYTON • The Francis Howell Central ice hockey team didn't waste time Saturday in its game with Fort Zumwalt West as part of the Mid-States Club Hockey Association Winter Classic at the outdoor rink in Shaw Park
Central took the game's opening face-off and scored, and added another goal seconds later on its way to a 4-1 win.
"That beginning helps, and it gives us some momentum to go on," Central forward Mitch Miller said. "This one was fun to play, with the different atmosphere of playing outside. Getting that lead and building on it was great."
Eddie Olson banged the puck into the Zumwalt West net off the opend face-off. His goal at the 6-second mark gave the Spartans the 1-0 lead.
"You always want to get a good start," Howell Central coach Tom Mueller said. "I don't know if it really set the tone, but we put one in early and it got our guys excited about playing in the cold, and we went form there."
Then at the 1:50 mark of the game, Chad Edgecomb took a pass from Steven Martak and found the back of the net for the 2-0 lead.
"Two goals, two shifts," Mueller said. "It would be sweet to score on every shift, but that isn't going to happen."
Miller added goals in the second and third period to double the lead to 4-0.
"Mitch is a special talent," Mueller said. "Mitch is a very talented player, and he is just sophomore. He has a nose for the net, and he showed that today."
Zumwalt West avoided the shutout when Brett Duzan scored with four minutes left to play.
"I don't think we played our best today," Duzan said. "My goal trickled in, but it doesn't matter, we still lost."
The win by Howell Central was the second in three games over Zumwalt West.
