February 15, 2021 at 7:45 a.m.
Midnight in Mosinee
Rhinelander hockey's tournament run halted by Lakeland in WIAA sectional finals
Midnight in Mosinee
Victor Masayesva and Jack Rubo each scored twice, while Max Masayesva stopped 42 shots, as Lakeland ended the Hodags' dream of going to their first WIAA state tournament with a 5-1 victory at the Mosinee Rec Center in the sectional finals.
Instead, Lakeland is celebrating its first ever WIAA state tournament appearance, and leaving the Hodags to wonder what might have been.
"Disappointing beyond words," Rhinelander coach M.J. Laggis said. "I'm proud of the kids for the season. It was nice to get to a sectional final, but it's a lot nicer to win it. We did a lot of good things but, at the end, you want to find a way (to win). Credit to Lakeland, they worked really hard."
Rhinelander held a 43-30 edge in the shot count for the contest, but could not overcome the Masayesvas and Lakeland's hot start. Victor Masayesva had Lakeland's first two goals and Rubo also scored as Lakeland took a 3-0 lead after one period. Rubo scored again to make it 4-0 after two and Max Toijala tacked on one more in the third before Joe Schneider finally broke up the shutout, scoring his 32nd goal of the season with 2:54 to play.
The Hodags had six power play chances, including a 5-minute major and a 5-on-3, against a physical, aggressive Lakeland team, but were unable to capitalize on any of them.
"The power play chances we were ready for," Laggis said. "We knew what we wanted to do, and we did get some good looks. At times we threw the puck around to spots we didn't want to throw it, that was panicky. But at times we got great looks and just got denied."
The Hodags had a few good looks early and Lakeland took two penalties in the first seven minutes of the contest, but momentum swung the Thunderbirds way after Joe Beda dispossessed Sam Schneider of the puck following a faceoff in the Hodags' zone. Beda skated behind the net and found an open Victor Masayesva in front of the Hodag crease for a short-handed goal that gave Lakeland a 1-0 lead at the 7:42 mark of the first.
Masayesva scored from point-blank range again at the 11:36 mark and Rubo cashed in on a rebound at 13:01 after JJ Albee threw the puck in front from the corner on a breakaway.
Rubo scored again to make it 4-0 6:46 into the second as he walked in from the right faceoff circle and beat Hodag goalie Garrett Kulhanek top shelf.
"They owned that area and we played a little deer in the headlights in front of our goalie at times, and it showed," Laggis said of Lakeland's point-blank chances. "Lakeland was just hard-working up and down the ice. They played their aggressive, physical, in your face, take penalties, we don't care (style of hockey) and we weren't able to deal with it. They overwhelmed us at times."
All the while, the Hodags could not get a puck past sophomore goalie Max Masayesva. Slapshots, tips, screens and rebounds, it didn't matter. Masayesva stopped them all until getting knocked prone to the ice late in the third period, allowing Joe Schneider to fire into an open net on the back side of the play.
"Credit to their goalie. He played outstanding, for a lack of a better way to put that," Laggis said.
The loss brought to a close a magical stretch of hockey that saw the Hodags - the No. 4 seed for both the GNC and WIAA tournaments - win the conference tournament to claim a share of the GNC crown, and reach the sectional final round of the WIAA tournament for the first time in Laggis' 26 seasons on the Hodag bench.
Rhinelander finished the year with a 15-7-0 record - the third time in the last four years that the Hodags have won at least 15 games.
All of that was little consolation in the locker room afterward.
"It's a difficult mood to say the least. It's a brutal way to lose," Laggis said.
It also brought to a close the high school careers of Rhinelander's four senior captains - Harlan Wojtusik, Jake Losch, JC Adams and Jared Arno. Laggis said all four brought something to the table - Arno's maturity, Adams' consistency on defense, Losch's leadership and Wojtusik's calm, steady demeanor.
Wojtusik also finished his career with 129 career points (85 goals, 54 assists) and is now set to return to the Helena (Mt.) Bighorns of the North American 3 Hockey League.
"Helena can't wait to get him back. I wish it was another week and a half before he left," Laggis said. "I'm devastated to lose him. Next year, we'll move forward, but I'm just telling you with honesty, you don't replace a player that caliber. You just don't."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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