ABOVE: Fairmont’s Dayton Draper gains the zone trying to get the puck deep into the Bluejays’ end in a Big South Conference boys hockey game Thursday night in Fairmont.

FAIRMONT- Puck possession and short-handed goals were two major factors that helped the Waseca Bluejays shut out the Fairmont Cardinals 16-0 on Thursday night.

The Cardinals were outshot 54-11 during the Big South Conference boys hockey game.

The Cardinals opened the first period strong but seemingly slowed down in the final two frames.

Fairmont boys hockey head coach Dylan VanBrocklin said in order to get the most of his players, conditioning is still a factor.

“They need to have better conditioning,” he said. “So that’d be part of it and then still just working on our systems. We’ve got a little different system than last year. And then the kids coming up have ran different stuff. So, just trying to get everyone on the same page so everyone knows where to go.”

The players took the loss in stride but are now focusing on what they need to do next as they prepare for their next game.

“You gotta keep your head up,” said Fairmont defenseman Tyler Kurt. “Keep stacking days and go out and try to get better.”

Forward Eric Determan cited that it was a solid forecheck by the Bluejays that kept the Cardinals off of the scoreboard.

“They were skating harder,” said Determan. “They had better forecheck on us, better breakout.

Wouldn’t let us break it out.”

Fellow forward Gavin Kester is focused on how to improve and prepare for their next game and practices coming up this week.

“I think we need to work on positioning and getting faster and better at shooting,” said Kester.

The first period opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the first period when Griffen Storey connected with Otto Schoenrock, tucking the puck past an outstretched Fairmont goaltender. The Cardinals found themselves in the penalty box due to a Kester penalty and the Bluejays took just 40 seconds before lighting the lamp again, extending the lead to 2-0. The Cardinals got their chance on the power play but wound up giving up a short-handed goal in the eighth minute of the period putting the Bluejays up 3-0. The Cardinals had a five-on-three advantage in the final minutes of the first, but the Bluejays did not slow down, netting another short-handed goal and went into the intermission with a 4-0 lead.

The Bluejays kept their foot on the gas in the second period, scoring six times and extending their lead to 10 as the Cardinal power play fell to 0-4, unable to capitalize on the man advantage. The third period was more of the same with another six goals going on the board to secure the Bluejays’ victory 16-0 outshooting the Cardinals 54-11.

The Cardinals now look to their next game against New Ulm at 7 p.m. Thursday in the New Ulm Civic Center.