Quick-Strike Huskies Skate to Victory at Mayo
The Owatonna High School boys hockey team displayed a quick strike capability that made a 5-3 win over Rochester Mayo at Graham Arena feel not-that-close. Zach Kubicek and Tanner Stendel scored goals 16 seconds apart midway through the first period for a 2-0 lead. Kubicek added a second goal on a power play scramble at the goal mouth for a 3-0 lead after the first period. Dom Valento assisted on both Kubicek tallies.
The Spartans scored a pair of goals a minute apart early in the second period. The Huskies responded less than a minute later with a two-on-one rush with Taylor Bogen scoring from Casey Johnson to go up 4-2 at the 5:03 mark.
Huskies Looking to Take the Next Step
The Owatonna High School boys hockey team won 19 games in the 2019-2020 season, the second highest total in school history. They ve contended for the Big Nine title right to the final week of the season over the last couple of winters. And had won a section playoff game in three straight years before losing in the quarterfinals last February.
With nearly all of their scoring back from last winter, the Huskies will be seeking their first conference title since the 1992-93 season and their first appearance in the Section 1AA finals since the end of the 1997-98 season when they reached state for their only time.
Donations Will Fund a Community Room in New High School
The Owatonna Public School District announced last week that a large community room within the new high school will be built thanks to donations from the ISD 761 Foundation and the Owatonna Foundation. Each foundation is donating $250,000. The school board meets Monday, January 25 and will officially accept the gifts at that time. Ground will break on the new school by this spring with classes to start in the fall of 2023.
A press release from the school district indicates, The community room will offer a 2,400 square foot meeting space that will be conveniently located near the activities entrance of the new high school with additional access to the outdoor courtyard adjacent to the stadium.
Steven Eskra
Steven Eskra was born on August 15, 1956, in Minneapolis, Minnesota the son of John and Julie (Wentworth) Eskra. He grew up in Owatonna, Minnesota where he attended Owatonna High School and was on their hockey and golf team. Steve graduated from High School in 1974. He furthered his education at St. Cloud State University receiving a Degree in Sales & Marketing.
Steve sold insurance for Apollo Insurance his whole career. His clients were his friends not just customers. He will be remembered as an honest, giving, kind man who always listened. He always showed up to support friends – he may of not been on time but he was always there.
Mark Wilson, owner of Old Town Bagels, prepares to turn off the neon âOPENâ sign that hangs in the front window of the downtown Owatonna restaurant two hours earlier than normal. Due to Gov. Tim Walzâs executive order, all restaurants, bars, and places of public accommodations and amusement in the state must be closed until Friday, March 27, in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, or COVID-19. (Annie Granlund/Peopleâs Press)