“It was a big weekend for us,” Crouse said. “Milwaukee is a good team, and they’ve played twice as many games as we have already. I think we are building chemistry, the more games we can play. It was a big weekend for us, for sure.”

After a 7-3 win on Friday night, the Blizzard beat the Power 8-1 on Saturday behind a hat trick from Dallas Duckson.

He scored his first goal 10 minutes into the game with assists from Derek Dropik and Cole Lehman to give the Blizzard a 2-0 lead. His second came with six seconds left in the second period to put Alexandria up 4-0.

The Blizzard exploded in the third period with four goals. Duckson completed his hat trick seven minutes into the frame. Caleb Strong scored his first two goals of the season as Alexandria cruised to a big win.

“I’m hard on the second-year guys. This is the time of year where we need them to step up the most,” Crouse said. “Through our first four games, I think that they’ve done an excellent job of that as well as the first-year guys. Last year we started 1-3, and now we’re 3-1.”

After four games on the road, the Blizzard will get to play at home for the first time this season on Friday night against the Granite City Lumberjacks.

“I think the fans get excited about playing Granite City, especially after the way we played them last year in the playoffs,” Crouse said. “I’m excited for the younger guys to get a look at what it’s like to play hockey here. Our fans are always great at our home opener, and I expect nothing less this weekend.”

The Blizzard host the Lumberjacks on Friday at 7 p.m.

ALEXANDRIA 7, MILWAUKEE 3 (FRI)

SCORING- FIRST PERIOD- Milwaukee- Wesley Knutson (Isaiah Hedberg) 12:12; Alexandria- Brandon Connett (Michal Trejbal, Caleb Strong) 18:50;

SECOND PERIOD- Alexandria- Brandon Connett (Caleb Strong, Michal Trejbal) 0:47; Milwaukee- Wesley Knutson (Isaiah Hedberg, Garrett Alton) 2:06; Alexandria- Connor Busse (Caleb Strong, Brandon Connett) 12:14;

THIRD PERIOD- Milwaukee- Donovan Balisteri (Logan Drolet, Leon Jednacak) 3:53; Alexandria- Cole Lehman (Cole Jacobs, Ike Taraszewski) 6:23; Alexandria- Dallas Duckson (unassisted) 10:22; Alexandria- Michal Trejbal (Brandon Connett, Caleb Strong) 17:12; Alexandria- Wyatt Blahosky (unassisted) short handed, 19:47;

PENALTIES- Alexandria 28 minutes on 4 infractions; Milwaukee 4 minutes on 2 infractions;

GOALTENDING- Alexandria- Ville Hyttinen W, 30 saves, 3 goals allowed; Milwaukee- Joey Greilich L, 57 saves, 7 goals allowed;

ALEXANDRIA 8, MILWAUKEE 1 (SAT)

SCORING- FIRST PERIOD- Alexandria- Michal Trejbal (Val Popowski, Alex Heidenreich) 6:30; Alexandria- Dallas Duckson (Derek Dropik, Cole Lehman) 9:05;

SECOND PERIOD- Milwaukee- Brady Rossbach (Donovan Balisteri, Leon Jednacak) 8:21; Alexandria- Dallas Duckson (Carter Rieland, Jered Sanborn) short handed, 19:54;

THIRD PERIOD- Alexandria- Dallas Duckson (Mathias Branton, Jered Sanborn) 7:17; Alexandria- Caleb Strong (Mathias Branton, Michael Trejbal) power play, 10:06; Alexandria- Ike Taraszewski (Carter Rieland, Bandon Connett) power play, 11:32; Alexandria- Kobe Kitagawa (Cole Lehman, Dallas Duckson) power play, 12:56; Alexandria- Caleb Strong (Mathias Branton, Alex Heidenreich) 18:06;

PENALTIES- Alexandria 6 minutes on 3 infractions; Milwaukee 27 minutes on 3 infractions;

GOALTENDING- Alexandria- Bailey Rosch, W, 30 saves, 1 goal allowed; Milwaukee- Ty Barnhill L, 41 saves, 8 goals allowed