AUBURN — What happens in the present can very well determine what happens in the future.

The Edward Little boys’ hockey team learned that the hard way Saturday night.

The Red Eddies took some bad penalties in the second period. Two of those lead to Cony power-play tallies early in the third. That broke open a tie game. Though EL tried to rally, it was too little too late as the Rams held on for a 4-3 season-opening win.

“Discipline wins hockey games and at times were were undisciplined,” said EL coach Craig Latuscha.

EL took 28 minutes in penalties in the second period, including a pair of 10-minute misconducts for hitting from behind. Though EL erased a deficit early in the period and took a 2-1 lead, Cony rallied to tie with a power-play goal. Then with two late penalties to end the second, the Rams had a two-man advantage to start the third.

“When we work hard and play the way we’re supposed to, we do alright,” said Cony coach Chad Foye. “We played positioned and we work hard, but we have to do both.”

EL had a hitting-from-behind penalty with 48 seconds left in the second and added a slashing minor as time expired. Cony wasted little time taking advantage.

Just 18 seconds into the third, Cony broke the tie when Galen Casey blasted a shot from the point. Keiffer Cantara was there to put in the rebound at the left circle. Then at 1:09 of the third, Zach Gagne finished a Dylan Cheever pass for a 4-2 lead.

“We got a couple quick goals in the third and that got us the lead,” said Foye.  “But I’m not happy with our undisciplined play. We had some penalties that we shouldn’t have taken. We know better.”

EL had a two-man advantage and pulled the goalie in the final minute thanks to a high sticking penalty and a slashing minor. That opportunity was nixed when EL took an interference penalty with 52 seconds remaining.

EL still got within one when Brendon Pelletier scored unassisted with 18 seconds left. The Red Eddies pushed for the equalizer but came up short.

“The special teams won this hockey game,” said Latuscha. “When we pulled our goalie at the end of the game, we had our chances. What are you going to do? We missed our opportunities.”

EL played a strong first period but trailed 1-0 after Dakota Bowie backhanded one in with 1:27 left.

The Red Eddies tied it at 1:11 when Jared Pelletier finished off a pass from his brother Brendon for a power-play goal. EL then took the lead at 2:45 when Jared Pelletier threw a puck toward the net from the right corner.

Cony tied it with 6:56 left in the second on a  Casey goal.

Like the end of the first period, EL had a two-man advantage late in the second but came up empty. While Cony was 3-for-5 on the power play, EL went 2-for-8.

“It was a good hockey game by both teams,” said Latuscha. “Both teams played a pretty even game. Their special teams really pulled through tonight. They scored some power play goals. We’ll play them again.  It’ll be a good game. Hopefully, these kids remember what happened today.”

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