Notebook: Mitchell Marlin teams struggle

When it rains, it pours.

The young Marlin boys’ varsity team may be without up to four players for this weekend’s games. The team could be down to 9 eligible players. With 14 players on the Marlins’ roster and goalie Tate Sutherland out due to a foot injury, the team could be in trouble.

The Marlins play Brookings at 8:15 p.m. Saturday in Brookings. Mitchell also rescheduled its game with Sioux Falls, which was originally set on Dec. 9, for 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Mitchell Activities Center.

Mitchell head coach John Lord said he hopes his players will surpass injury and illness.

Goalie Weston Gauger was in a car accident Tuesday and left the scene with minor injuries and is questionable for Saturday and Sunday’s games.

Forward Jacob Cersosimo is another questionable player for the weekend. He suffered concussion-like symptoms from Saturday’s game against Rapid City.

Cersosimo missed the series finale against Rushmore Sunday and has yet to be cleared to play this weekend.

Two other players are suffering illness this week, according to Lord.

“These guys are hockey fanatics, so I know they’ll play if they think they are OK to,” Lord said.

Grosdidier atop boys’ team in scoring

With the first six games of the hockey season compete, the Marlin boys’ team would be struggling offensively without Jordan Grosdidier.

The Marlins (2-4) have scored 13 total goals this season and the sophomore forward leads the team in scoring with six goals. Grosdidier recorded his first hat trick, a three-goal game, of the season Saturday against the Rushmore Thunder in Rapid City. Two of the three goals came during power plays.

Grosdidier is tied for second in league play with Oahe’s Austin Wagner, Sioux Falls’ Brandon Appeldorn and Watertown’s Spencer Riddle, who all have six goals this season. Brookings player Matt Eng leads the league with nine goals.

Four other Marlin players have added to the scoreboard this season. Jacob Rice has tallied three goals, Jacob Cersosimo has two goals and Alex Murtha and Dustin Hughes each have one goal on the season.

Spates leads girls’ team in net

Hannah Spates has returned as the Marlins girls’ starting goalie this season, leading the team in saves.

The senior has made 193 saves for the team, which is 2-3-2 on the season.

Spates’ highest mark of saves this season was in the Marlins’ most recent game against Huron Saturday. She made 44 saves and gave up one goal in the 1-1 game.

Marlins’ opponents have made 214 shots on goal and Spates has a save percentage of 90.2 percent on the season. The girls’ varsity team is back in action when it hosts Watertown at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Mitchell Activities Center.

Tags: sports, updates, mitchell, marlins, hockey