December 5, 2018 at 12:53 p.m.
Hodag hockey beats Medford 5-1
Hodag hockey beats Medford 5-1
Conor Pequet had three goals and an assist, and the Hodags dominated the shot column, en route to a 5-1 victory over the Raiders in a Great Northern Conference matchup at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.
The Hodags outshot Medford 52-14 for the game and led 5-0 after two periods before coasting home in the third.
"We had a lot of shots on goal. We didn't do a very good job of finishing and, to be honest, one of the things I was talking to the kids about was we played really sloppy all over the rink tonight, especially in the third period - too much puck-handling from our forwards," Laggis said. "A number of our guys are overhanding the puck. Our defensemen are just trying to be too cute all over the ice and trying to make it the extra play.
"We didn't play well tonight. We got the win and that's a good thing. You never want to put that down, but we didn't play great hockey."
The Hodags got senior Freddy Wisner, the team's leading scorer from a season ago, back in the lineup after missing the first two games of the season due to a knee injury sustained during the fall. Rhinelander moved Wisner from forward back to defense in the game and Wisner made an early impact, sending in a shot from the point that Pequet tipped home to give Rhinelander a 1-0 lead 4:53 into the first period.
"Freddy's got really good hands and he's all over the ice," Laggis said of the senior's return. "We've just got to look at how we're going to use him to benefit our team."
Hunter Hicks scored a rebound goal with 2:42 remaining in the first to give Rhinelander a 2-0 lead and the Hodags dominated the second period.
Pequet made it 3-0 at the 5:19 mark after Abe Laggis won a faceoff and dropped the pass to Pequet for a one-timer. The Hodag sophomore finished his hat trick at the 12:41 mark of the second as he scored a rebound goal.
Abe Laggis then scored at the 15:55 mark of the second off an assist from Pequet. Rhinelander's top line of Pequet, Laggis and Harlan Wojtusik scored four of the team's five goals and accounted for six points on the night.
"Conor had just a couple of beautiful shots," coach Laggis said. "The top-shelf goals was just beautiful. He walked right out and put it home. Abe had a nice goal. Harlan Wojtusik was all over the net and had a lot of chances tonight. His chances are going to come, no doubt."
Following a couple of Rhinelander penalties early in the third, Medford finally got on the board at the 6:18 mark as Logan Searles intercepted a Rhinelander clearing attempt between the tops of the face-off circles and fired a one-timer past Hodag goalie Seth Stafford. It was the only blemish in a 13-save performance for Rhinelander junior netminder.
The Hodags also got defenseman Danny Zuiker back after missing the team's previous game at Northland Pines due to illness. Zuiker's return to the lineup may have been short-lived, however, as he left the game in the third period after sustaining a big check in open ice. He was under concussion protocol, according to Laggis. Zuiker's status for Friday night's home game against Marshfield and Saturday's home contest against Ashwaubenon is unclear.
"We've got some defensive dilemmas and we've got to figure out who's going to play where to figure out what gives us the best chance to compete in the next couple of games," he said.
With or without Zuiker, Laggis said the Hodags will face a couple of strong non-conference opponents at home this weekend.
"It's nice to be 2-1 but we've got some huge challenges coming," he said. "Marshfield's been playing really good hockey. Ashwaubenon took us right over their knee the last two years. We've got some big challenges coming and we've got to improve real quick."
Hodags collecting toys for Kindness for Kids
On Friday, the Rhinelander High School boys' hockey team, in conjunction with the Rhinelander Ice Association, will hold its annual Kindness for Kids toy drive.
Fans attending the game will receive free admission if they bring a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to Kindness for Kids, a local organization that delivers gifts to less fortunate families during the holidays.
Laggis said he's been in contact with the coaching staff at Marshfield to participate in the effort.
"Anyone that brings a toy gets into the game for free," Laggis said. "After warmups we're going to have a picture with Marshfield guys and our guys with the toys and give them to Kindness for Kids. Kindness for Kids desperately needs those, so we're going to do everything we can to help them."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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