HANCOCK — Hancock and Rochester combined for 40 penalty minutes on Saturday as the Bulldogs won 9-3.

“(Rochester) wanted to mix it up, and while we do not want to play that type of game, you have to protect yourself,” said Bulldog head coach Scott Mikesch on a physical three periods.

One advantage the Bulldogs had going into the game was fresh legs. Rochester lost 6-5 to Calumet in the morning and then had about an hour of rest before the Hancock game.

The Bulldogs took advantage of it as Austin Salani started the scoring off in the first at the 3:41 mark. He would find the net two more times for a hat trick. He was aided by first liners Chad Nordstrom, Mason Mikesch and Bradley Randell all who had strong games. Nordstrom had two assists and Mikesch had three assists and a goal. Randell had two goals and an assist.

” We had agood intensity for a second game in two days,” said Mikesch. “Our attention to detail was good, and our first line was once again really strong. Austin Salani was super good. Also, Caleb Klein probably has his best game of the season on defense.”

The Bulldogs were up 4-0 after the first — a tough situation to come back from according to Rochester head coach Austin Grzenia who would have to leave the game in the third after a game misconduct over what he thought was a poor call by the refs.

“It’s tough to play catch up hockey as we had to do the whole game,” he said. “In the third, I was frustrated with one of our guys getting hit to the head. I thought it was unfair and had to stand up for our guys.”

Rochester got their first tally in the second at the 15:07 mark. Finn McCaughtry poked in a loose puck in front of the net. They would score two more timwa in the third.

In the end, Hancock out shot Rochester 45-15.

Despite the lop-sided score, Grzenia was please with his squad’s effort.

“The boys showed heart and gave it their all,” he said. “That is all I can ask for.”

With the win, the Bulldogs moved to 5-1 on the season and Mikesch noted that has seen much improvement in his team over these past few games.

“We moved the puck the best we have all year this weekend,” he said. “We are making simple passes and controlling the puck instead of having to dump it all the time. It was good to see.”

RHS 0 1 2 — 3

HCHS 4 2 3 — 9