Boys Hockey: Around the Big Nine

FELDY: Most, if not all, of the Big Nine Conference boys hockey teams were in holiday tournament action over the first three days of the week, so here's a quick roundup of stories from other newspapers throughout Big Nine-land:

* A brief roundup of Albert Lea's loss to Lourdes in the Kiwanis/Wells Fargo semifinals; and a brief roundup of Albert Lea's win in the third-place game.

* Faribault went 1-2 at the Little Falls tournament, but the Falcons are taking some positive feelings out of a close lose to Section 1A rival New Prague and a 5-3 win over Prior Lake.

* Mankato West tied twice at the Fergus Falls tournament, and Mankato East dropped to 1-7-0 this season with a loss at Willmar.

* Former Mankato West star Corey Leivermann (an MSU, Mankato recruit) has discovered that life in the USHL isn't as easy as life in the Big Nine. He has a goal and four assists in 18 games for the Fargo Force. Former West goalie Tyler Bruggeman is also on the Force roster, but he hasn't played in a game yet.

* Owatonna fell to Mahtomedi in the Bronze Division championship game of the Schwan Cup. The game was played Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center and was broadcast on FSN North. Here is a roundup of Owatonna's 3-2 win over Rogers in the semifinals.

* Here is the P-B's roundup of the Kiwanis Class AA tournament (including the Century-Mayo third-place game and JM's loss in the seventh-place game), and here is the Class A roundup (including Lourdes' loss in the championship to I-Falls). Here are all of the box scores from Wednesday's placing games.

* Jay Moran had six points, while Devon Grossell and Aaron Theis had five points each as Winona won its final game in Schwan Cup Bronze Division play, 10-6, over Farmington.