January 2, 2019 at 12:08 p.m.
Home defenders
Hodag hockey beats Sheboygan 4-1 to win home tournament
Home defenders
Danny Zuiker scored two power play goals, and the Hodags scored three times with the man advantage overall, in a 4-1 victory over Sheboygan in the championship game of the Rhinelander holiday tournament last Saturday at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.
The win moved the Hodags to 8-4-0 at the end of 2018, and has the team looking ahead to bigger and better things during the final six weeks of the regular season.
"We've got to find a game to take off, make it our launchpad," coach M.J. Laggis said. "Last year it was in Merrill. We put a couple of games together and just took off. The spirit was in the locker room. I've got to be honest, I feel some of that today."
Just like the night before in the semifinals against Baraboo/Portage, the Hodags were locked in a 2-1 game heading to the third period, but found a way to gain some breathing room down the stretch.
The power play certainly helped Rhinelander on Saturday. The Hodags scored both of their third-period goals on 5-on-3s and finished 3 of 8 on the power play overall.
"I think we're developing into a pretty darn good power play team," coach Laggis said. "I think you're seeing our work starting to show itself on the ice. We're not perfect by any stretch, but we're starting to move that puck and looking for some great passing combinations."
Freddy Wisner's goal at the 7:09 mark of the third period gave Rhinelander some breathing room at 3-1 and then Zuiker delivered the back-breaker with 6:31 remaining, finishing a shot in the high slot after a cycle of passes from Harlan Wojtusik and Abe Laggis.
"It was pass, pass, tic-tac-toe, just how you want to draw it up," coach Laggis said. "That was just a beautiful power play goal and those are the kinds of goals you want to see your kids (score), where there's a couple of assists, you're distributing puck, the guy scores and you're all celebrating together. That's when it's fun."
Zuiker also scored on the power play in the first period, giving the Hodags the lead 11:55 into the contest. Senior defenseman Sam Tjugum scored his second goal of the season - and first since the season opener Nov. 20 against Chequamegon/Phillips - to put Rhinelander ahead 2-0 at the 5:26 mark of the second.
"Great for Sam to get a goal, a nice five-hole shot. That was beautiful," coach Laggis said.
The Red Raiders pulled within one on a goal by captain Bennet Dale with the 13:04 mark of the second.
Saturday's game followed an almost identical script to Friday's for the Hodags. Rhinelander controlled the first period, did not play as well in the second, gave up a goal late in the second to lead 2-1 and then responded with a strong third period.
"We've got a long way to go, but I'm proud of the attitude in that locker room. It's really nice to see kids talking with each other and talking about plays we need to make positively," the coach said.
Seth Stafford picked up the win for the Hodags, stopping 27 of the 28 shots he faced. Rhinelander outshot Sheboygan 30-28.
"Sheboygan's pretty darn skilled and they got behind us a couple times. Seth Stafford came up big again and again," coach Laggis said. "He made some very nice plays. A post saved us one but, other than that, he rose to the occasion today I was real happy with how he played."
Rhinelander returns to action tonight, looking to avenge a 4-2 loss to Pacelli on Dec. 20. The teams go at it in Stevens Point and coach Laggis said his team will be much more cognizant of the slowdown style of hockey that Pacelli, a team with only 10 players, utilizes.
"We're not going to take them lightly, that's for sure. They just play that style of slow it down, drag the puck back, spread the ice and try to get behind you," he said. "That was frustrating. We tried to adjust and, as a group, we just couldn't to it. It's going to be the same kind of thing when we go there and we just have to play a lot better."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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