Fairmont – The Luverne Cardinals spoiled the Fairmont Area Cardinals boys hockey team’s season opener with a 10-2 victory Tuesday at Martin County Arena.

Nick Harder led Luverne with two goals and three assists, while Kasyn Kruse and Declan Beers added two goals each.

Harder started the team off with a goal after rebounding Tyler Reisdorfer’s blocked attempt two minutes into the game. With 12:25 remaining in the first period, Coy Gonnerman took advantage of a power-play opportunity by shooting the puck past Fairmont Area goalie Colby Kuhl. Jesse Reed provided the assist on the score.

Harder added his second goal at the 9:15 mark to put Luverne up by three. Gaige Nath then sent Luverne into the first break with a 4-0 lead after banking a shot. Nath found himself between a Fairmont Area pass and smacked in the score with 1:03 to go in the frame.

Harder took a break from scoring in the second period and instead provided an assist to Declan Beers at the 12:50 juncture. Ben Serie continued to build upon Luverne’s lead by making good on Kasyn Kruse’s short pass for the power-play goal.

But, the hometown Cardinals took away Luverne goalie Kaden Ericson’s second-period shutout by notching a goal before going into the final break. Ericson knocked away Tanner DeWar’s attempt at the goal, but Tom Havnen was there to finish the job, scoring as time expired in the middle frame.

“The second period, that was our good period. We played a good game,” Fairmont Area head coach Kris Olson said. “The big thing was shaking the rust off the first period.”

Bryan Karp etched further into Luverne’s lead 47 seconds into the final period. The senior forward chased down a loose puck and scored with only Ericson there to try and stop him.

Luverne then responded with four unanswered goals to seal the win, led by Kruse’s back-to-back goals.

Serie connected with Kruse, who made the short swipe into the net for a 7-2 advantage with 13:51 remaining. Kruse came right back 15 seconds later and scored to increase the lead by six.

Harder then doled out assists to Beers and Reed in the final two scores of the game. Beers scored first at the 12:29 mark of the final frame, and Reed used Harder’s pass to make a shorthanded goal four minutes later.

“It’s always tough your first game, especially with a team of that caliber. I was really happy with how they played, especially with the short numbers that we had with only having 12 skaters,” Olson said.

Kuhl finished the match with 42 saves in two periods. Geerdes came in for the last frame and rejected 12 shots for Fairmont Area.

“Colby played a heck of a game,” Olson said. “(Geerdes) just had a little bit of nervousness going on, but he got through that. He made some key saves.”

Fairmont Area (0-1) hosts Windom at 7 p.m. Thursday at Martin County Arena.

Luverne 4-2-4- 10

Fairmont Area 0-1-1- 2

Scoring Plays

1st Period

L-Nick Harder (Tyler Reisdorfer), 15:08.

L-Coy Gonnerman (Jesse Reed), pp., 12:25.

L-Harder (unassisted), 9:15.

L-Gaige Nath (unassisted), 1:03.

2nd Period

L-Declan Beers (Harder), 12:50.

L-Ben Serie (Kasyn Kruse), pp., 5:55.

FA-Tom Havnen (Tanner DeWar), 0:00.

3rd Period

FA-Bryan Karp (unassisted), 16:13.

L-Kruse (Serie), 13:51.

L-Kruse (unassisted), 13:36.

L-Beers (Harder), 12:29.

L-Reed (Harder), shorthanded, 8:30.

Shots on goal: Luverne 25-23-16-64; Fairmont Area Area 3-6-1-10.

Saves: Colby Kuhl (FA) 21-21-x-42; Tyson Geerdes (FA) x-x-12-12; Kaden Ericson (L) 3-5-0-8.

Penalties: Fairmont Area Area 5 for 10 minutes; Luverne 5 for 10 minutes.

Power-play chances: Luverne 2-for-5; Fairmont Area Area 0-for-5.