Rushmore exploded for four goals in the final seven minutes of the opening period and rolled to a 9-0 boys’ hockey win over the Aberdeen Cougars Saturday afternoon at the Odde Ice Center.

The visiting Thunder added a single goal in the second period and then tacked on four more in the third for the final margin of difference.

“It was tough day,” said Cougars coach Jeremey Backous. “We knew Rushmore was going to be a good team, and they showed it.”

Backous pointed out the strong play of goalie Colton Townsend, who ended up with 45 saves on the day.

“I thought Colton Townsend played really well in net,” Backous said.

The same two teams are back at it again at 3:30 this afternoon at the Odde.

“I think we’re a better team than what we showed today,” Backous said, “but we have to play like it, and it starts with our compete level and being hard to play against.”

Rushmore Thunder 4 1 4 – 9

Aberdeen Cougars 0 0 0 – 0

First Period: 1, RR, Wyatt Reeder (Andrew Welling, Hudson Beert), 6:58; 2, RR, Raymond Ritter (Wyatt Balliew, Reeder), 3:24; 3, RR, Brixton Steen (Reeder), 1:24; 4, RR, Thomas Rogers (Reeder), :23.

Second Period: 5, RR, Easton Knoll (Ritter, Reeder), 7:08.

Third Period: 6, RR, Reeder (Rogers, Beert), 14:24; 7, RR, Bjorn Kristian Hansen (Beert, Rogers), 8:35; 8, RR, Mason McGregor (Colton Merchan, Reeder), 7:45; 9, RR, Knoll (Balliew, Jaxson Prussner), :36.

Shots on Goal: Rushmore Thunder 54; Aberdeen Cougars 8.

Goalies: Rushmore Thunder, Wyatt Simmons (8 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Colton Townsend (45 saves).