Whether it was a chance to avenge a previous loss, a way to stay in the hunt for a postseason berth, or an opportunity to honor their seniors, the Aberdeen Cougars were not going to be denied Friday night.

Using a variety of motivation, the Cougars dominated the Mitchell Marlins on the way to a 9-0 boys’ hockey victory at the Odde Ice Center.

“I think we played really good today. It’s probably one of our better games we’ve played,” said Cougars senior Austin Schmit. “We played as a team and we moved the puck really well, so I feel like we had a good game.”

It was clear from the first puck drop that Aberdeen was bringing high energy against a team that it lost to recently.

However, there was much more at play than just a chance to gain a measure of revenge.

“We were going to play like this no matter what,” said senior Jaxon Danielson. “This is one of the biggest games for me, for other seniors, and the younger guys, they wanted to give us something. We all gave our hearts out there. We all wanted this game and we were going to get it.”

Aberdeen set the tone for the night with a goal less than 90 seconds into the contest when Paxton Dallmann found the back of the net.

“That was our goal,” said Cougars coach Dana Myhre, “to come out fast and set the pace and get that first one on the board.”

The Cougars split with state power Yankton last weekend and gained a measure of confidence by beating the Bucks on their home ice. That was on display against the Marlins.

“That was our focus is just beat them to pucks. That’s kind of what we did last weekend, Saturday night against Yankton,” Myhre said. “They realized what they’re capable of doing, I think.”

Danielson scored Aberdeen’s second goal on a blast from just inside the blue line.

“I had a nice screen in front of the net. … Coach Dana always wants us to shoot it right low on the ice,” Danielson said. “I was like you know, I’m going to try it for once. I put it right low far side and it went in.”

Soon the flood gates were open as the Cougars exploded for seven more goals in the contest.

Carter Vilhauer scored two, Schmit found the back of the net, and then Trayke Roehrich, Briggs Medill, Ridgly Wasem and Logan Fischbach all got in on the scoring with a goal apiece.

“It was a really good effort from the boys. We really needed this to get to state,” Schmit said. “We came out strong and were able to put up nine. We’ve got some good momentum going into the weekend.”

The Cougars were quicker to the puck all evening, and nowhere was that more evident than a play in the Aberdeen zone when Schmit outraced a Marlins player to the puck to prevent what would have been a breakaway opportunity against goalie Andrew Weisenburger.

“I was really wanting to get there,” Schmit said. “We really wanted this shutout today. Our goalie Andy, he really wanted that, too, so we made sure to be there for him.”

And unlike last weekend in the win over Yankton when the Cougars struggled a bit late in the game, Aberdeen got stronger as the night wore on against Mitchell.

“That’s another thing we talked about tonight. We need to play three full periods,” Myhre said. “We need to start doing that. I don’t know if we’ve really done that all season long.”

For sure, the win over Yankton on the road has given the local squad a belief that it can play with anyone.

“Something is clicking with us,” Danielson said. “We’re all coming together.”

That confidence will be put to the test when one of the state’s other premiere teams, Sioux Falls, comes to the Odde for a contest at 7 tonight.

“We all worked on it this week at practice. We know what it’s going to take,” Danielson said. “We upset the number two, so these guys are no different.”

Although, it may be difficult to replicate another 9-0 victory.

“It’s a completely different game (Saturday), I’m sure of it,” Myhre said. “We just need to come out with the same type of energy and same type of effort that we had tonight and we’ll have a chance.”

Mitchell Marlins 0 0 0 – 0

Aberdeen Cougars 3 2 4 – 9

First Period: 1, AC, Paxton Dallmann (Trayke Roehrich, Carter Vilhauer), 15:39; 2, AC, Jaxon Danielson (Dallmann), 13:30; 3, AC, Vilhauer (Austin Schmit, Roehrich), 7:25.

Second Period: 4, AC, Schmit (Vilhauer); 5, AC, Vilhauer (unassisted), 5:05.

Third Period: 6, AC, Roehrich (Dallmann), 15:43; 7, AC, Briggs Medill (Wheeler Malsam, Derek Holland), 14:27; 8, AC, Ridgly Wasem (Medill, Landon Schmit), 9:41; 9, AC, Logan Fischbach (Jace Byram, Malsam).

Shots on Goal: Mitchell Marlins 21; Aberdeen Cougars 54.

Goalies: Mitchell Marlins, Gavin Polreis (45 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Andrew Weisenburger (21 saves).