December 16, 2019 at 1:32 p.m.
Slow start costs Hodag hockey vs. No. 3 Amery
Slow start costs Hodag hockey vs. No. 3 Amery
The Warriors scored four goals in the first period, two of which came on the power play. Rhinelander has now surrendered 12 power play goals in its last four games, and is 1-3-0 in those contests.
"We were down 4-0 at the end of one and just a combination of not playing well in any aspect and penalties are killing us," coach M.J. Laggis said. "The penalties we took just killed us. Our penalty kill is not getting the job done right now and it's got to get better. We definitely know where we're getting beat and we've really got to work hard at it. It's not going to get fixed right away, but we've got to work awfully hard at it."
Asher Page scored twice for the Warriors, including a goal midway through the second period that extended the lead to 5-0. Harrison Shinners scored the lone goal of the third period for Rhinelander. Laggis said it took a period for his team to find its legs, but played well once it did.
"I don't think I'm stretching this at all to say that if we could have stayed out of the box and capitalized on some of our scoring chances that could have been a different game," he said. "There's a reason they're No. 3 in the state. They are a good team but, 5-on-5, I thought we played really well with them second period on.
"I'm proud of the resilience of our team, not quitting and battling so hard in the third, outscoring them. Really, against their No. 1 line, we had some really good shifts in the third against their No. 1 line."
Amery got on the board just 1 minute, 26 seconds into the contest on a goal by Jackson Henningsgard. Amery a pair of power play goals - first Grady Martin from Henningsgard and Mac Smith at the 6:31 mark, and then a 4-on-3 goal by Smith at the 9:25 mark.
Page tacked on a goal at the 13:34 mark of the first to give Amery a 4-0 lead.
"Amery's got one line that's really, really good. They've got some speed and they go to the net hard," Laggis said.
Rhinelander's depth took a hit in the first period when defenseman Danny Zuiker left with an injury and did not return. Laggis said he was pleased with how the team's three remaining defensemen fared in Zuiker's absence.
"JC Adams and Joe Schneider and Layne Roeser played fantastic defensively," he said. "We played with three D for a big part of that game and those guys just played really good hockey, smart with the puck, moving their feet, making really nice breakouts. I thought JC was outstanding getting up ice with speed and Joe Schneider played one of the best game that I've ever seen him play. He was outstanding. He's really showed what going to turn into here, just a grinder. He made a lot of really good plays. And, as a freshman, Layne Roeser, just continues to get better game in and game out and he loves to play on game day."
Shinners scored his second goal of the season for Rhinelander to get the Hodags on the board.
"He came up the ice so hard on the off wing, just busting it," Laggis said. "He came hard into their zone, got the edge on that D and let a really nice shot go for a goal. I tell you what, that's exactly what we've got to have out of him."
According to stats posted to Wisconsin Prep Hockey, Rhinelander outshot Amery 33-18 in the contest. Seth Stafford made 13 saves in defeat.
Rhinelander (3-3-0, 1-1-0-0 Great Northern) traveled to Mosinee Monday night in a game that concluded after deadline. The Hodags are back in action Friday night at Waupaca.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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