Road trips with a high school hockey team can be exhausting. 

They can be even more tiresome when the game doesn’t start on time. 

“The last six road trips we’ve been on, we’ve been from an hour to twenty-five minutes late,” Rochester Century head coach Josh Klingfus said on Thursday night. 

“Every time we walk in or get off the bus, we’re like, what’s going to hold us up tonight?” 

The Panthers’ non-conference battle with South St. Paul began a little over fifteen minutes past its designated 7 p.m. start time, but the visitors showed no ill effects from the bus ride. 

Will Corrigan, Connor Olson, and Jon Thorvilson all tallied goals in the first 14 minutes of the game, spotting the Panthers (15-3-1) a 3-0 lead while outshooting the Packers 14-6. 

After a quasi-ominously scoreless second period, in which you could almost see momentum stealing glances at the South St. Paul side, the Packers (13-7) cashed in on the Panthers hesitation to put the game out of reach. 

Cam Kluender scored twice to open the third period, and Jacob Saver tied the game at 3-3 at the 7:35 mark of the frame.

“Our second and third periods weren’t our strongest,” Rochester Century senior defenseman Palmer Mickelson said after the game. “(In the) third, we came out a little sluggish and they gave it to us.”

Mickelson gave it right back to the Packers, rifling a wrist shot past Jacob Toensing for the eventual game-winner with just over four minutes remaining in regulation. 

“Nick Aney was looking right at me, and fed me a perfect pass,” Mickelson explained. 

“It was exciting, the chills were going through my body, and we were ready to get out of this place,” Mickelson added. 

Klingfus said that Mickelson’s goal-seeking shot was by design, encouraged by the coaching staff as opposed to a more conservative lower shot. 

“From the tops of the circles down, I want you going upstairs,” Klingfus said. “You go for the goal instead of the screen or tip.”

With the win, the Panthers have already surpassed last season’s win total of 14, paced by a mix of veteran upperclassmen and a talented group of sophomores in their first season of high school hockey after claiming the VFW state championship as Bantams. 

The less-than-ideal route to Thursday’s win is an important step for his team, Klingfus said. 

“We’ve got some old guys and we’ve got some really young guys,” Klingfus said. 

“So I think this late in the year it’s good to have that adversity and have to fight through that.”

Newly crowned King Boreas, South St. Paul alum and former Packer hockey player Tom Leonard, made an appearance with the St. Paul Winter Carnival Royal Family before the opening face-off. 

Rochester Century has allowed more goals in the third period to opposing teams (17) than it has in the first and second periods combined (16). 

Panthers senior defenseman and captain Nick Aney's sister Jessie is a member of the University of North Carolina tennis team. 

Five of South St. Paul's seven losses this season have come on home ice.