WINDSOR >> While the final score read 10-1 in Monarch’s favor, both the Coyotes and Resurrection Christian learned plenty about themselves during Wednesday’s early-season hockey battle.

For Monarch, which improved to 2-1, the importance of setting an early tone was perhaps the biggest takeaway. The Coyotes had developed a bad habit of starting slow, but that wasn’t the case against RCS (0-3) as they rattled off six first-period goals

“We’ve been really trying to get on these guys about, ‘Let’s go,’” said Monarch head coach Jimmy Dexter. “Especially in this building (NoCo Ice Center in Windsor), we’ve had some bad starts, so they just put it together today.”

Monarch junior Jaren Ng was the early catalyst, netting himself a hat trick in the first period alone.

“It was mostly just my teammates would shoot and I was getting in front of the net and getting some rebounds,” Ng said.

All three of Ng’s goals were assisted by Ben Rosenberg, a senior who is facilitating plenty of offense so far this season.

“He just keeps getting better and better every year,” Dexter said of Rosenberg. “He was more like a third-line grinder, a physical player. But he’s really moved into the top six this year.”

The Coyotes also received first-period goals from Jackson Brotski, Blake Frese and Charlie Broome.

In the second period, however, Resurrection Christian came out more aggressive on both ends of the ice. With the help of a power play opportunity, senior Jacob Mayfield scored the Cougars’ lone goal.

“I love the power play,” Mayfield said. “That’s probably the best thing I do. The puck just sat out there and you got to whack at it.”

Mayfield shared afterward that RCS is dealing with multiple injuries that have pushed younger players into key roles. Regardless of the difficult circumstances, he and the Cougars’ coaching staff are pushing for greater effort.

“Our coaches, they keep pounding on us that we need to put more intensity into every play and every shift,” Mayfield said. “It’s all about grinding and doing the details. The details are very important for us.”

Joseph Buschmann managed Monarch’s lone second-period goal before Broome, Frese and Gavin Rowan each added an insurance goal in the third period.

The win marked Dexter’s 201st as Monarch’s head coach. His 200th career victory came last Friday against Denver East.

“It means I’m getting really old,” Dexter joked. “It’s been an unbelievable experience to work with these student-athletes. I have a great coaching staff that makes it easy and I have a wife that lets me do it, too.”

After dropping four straight state championship games from 2013-16, Dexter led Monarch to its first title in 2017.

Monarch will face Mountain Vista in its home opener on Saturday while RCS hosts Standley Lake on Friday.