Ty's Take: Packers hockey teams kick off the winter sports season

When people hear the word "winter," it's tough not to think about snow and ice.

Fitting, then, that officially kicking off the winter sports season was one relying solely on ice.

Last week, the Packers boys hockey team began their season with a 3-1 loss on the road to Fargo Davies. The Eagles scored two goals in the first period before West Fargo's Derrick LaCoe answered with what would wind up being his team's only goal.

Davies scored their final goal in the second period. West Fargo senior goalie Kyle Olson had 33 saves on the night.

Then during the weekend, the Packers headed west to face some West Region competition. They came away with a 5-0 win over Bismarck on Friday, and a 3-1 loss to Bismarck Century on Saturday.

Five different West Fargo skater scored in Friday's win, sparked by Blake Nelson's goal at the 9-minute mark of the first period. Sophomores Tyler Berginski and CJ Lenzmeier each tallied shorthanded goals.

Olson would finish with 28 saves.

Goalies were switched up for Saturdays matchup against the Patriots, as sophomore Bailey Vareberg got a chance in net. Nelson once again opened scoring for the Packers, getting a feed from freshman Jake Hoy at the beginning iof the first period.

But Century opened it up in the second with two goals, and the Packers never rebounded.

Vareberg stopped 15 shots, while his counterpart on the opposite end, Ryan Hanson, tallied 34 saves.

The Packers keep their season rolling with their home opener Friday against Fargo North at 7:30 p.m. The Spartans are undefeated through two games. West Fargo's next game is Dec. 6, hosting Grafton-Park River at 7:30 p.m.

West Fargo girls start season with win over Devils Lake

The West Fargo girls hockey team also began its season last week.

The Packers had their home opener against Devils Lake on Saturday, and skated away with a 6-0 win.

Hayley Walsh tallied two goals on the night, while Kelly Krahn had a goal and three assists. Sophomore Alli Springer also racked up three assists.

West Fargo goalie Andrea Klug stopped 10 shots for her first shutout of the season. Even though Devils Lake's Mariah LaMotte let six shots go by, she stifled an incredible 52 shots on goal.

The Packers will hit the road for the next game, which is 7:30 p.m. Friday in Dickinson. Then on Dec. 6, West Fargo heads to Grand Forks for a 7 p.m. contest.

Wrestling ranked No. 1 in EDC, No. 1 in state

The West Fargo wrestling team is entering the season with a big target on its back.

In the first coaches' poll of the 2011-12 season, the Packers are ranked No. 1 in both the East Region and the state. Valley City is No. 2 in the EDC, and Bismarck is No. 2 at the state level.

Out of the 14 weight classes, the Packers boast 13 ranked wrestlers, although they double up in the 103-pound category. Jesse Shearer is ranked second, while Reed Cronin is third.

West Fargo has four No. 1 ranked wrestlers in its ranks, including Jordan Shearer at 113, Trevor Kringlie at 120, Angelo Sheppard at 138 and Preston Lehmann at 182.