Hodag hockey cruises past Medford

Rhinelander’s top line could not be stopped on Thursday night. Gavin Denis, Joey Belanger and Dylan Shefveland combined for six goals and seven assists and the Hodag boys’ hockey team defeated the Medford Raiders 7-2 in Great Northern Conference play.

The Hodags (4-6-0, 1-3-0-0 Great Northern) controlled the game much of the way, scoring twice in the second half of the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Rhinelander tacked on four more goals in the second and popped in more early in the third before Medford finally answered with a couple of late-game power play goals.

“Medford was a team, looking at them, we should have taken care of and we did. That was good. We were in control,” Rhinelander coach M.J. Laggis said of the 1-10-0 Raiders. “We got off to a good start and, defensively, a guy that stepped up tonight I thought was Zach Edyvean. He played really, really well early in the game. He played fast. He played physical. He was controlling the play back there and really played a good game of D. That got us off to the right start and got us going.”

Belanger kicked off the scoring at the 8:54 mark of the opening period as Denis won an offensive zone faceoff back to Belanger for a one-timer. Shefveland, a sophomore making his first start on the front line, chipped a puck from the corner to Denis for a redirection in the slot that gave the Hodags a 2-0 lead with less than 2 minutes to play in the period. 

Shefveland added his first career varsity goal on a similar play moments into the second period. This time he was on the receiving end of a Denis pass from behind the net and banged home a point-blank chance to put the Hodags up 3-0.

“He had a nice assist to Gavin, dug a puck out of the corner and threw it out in front to Gavin and then scored his own goal,” Laggis said. “Having a three-point night and playing with those guys was a good start for him.”

Timber Cronauer cashed in on a turnover and put in his own rebound to put Rhinelander up 4-0 at the 5:47 mark of the second. From there, the Denis and Belanger show continued. After Medford turned the puck over in the offensive zone, Belanger won a race along the boards, creating a rush the other way. Though he didn’t convert the breakaway chance, he maintained control of the puck and threw it back to Denis for a one-timer from the blue line at the 12:20 mark. 

    Rhinelander’s Gavin Denis handles the puck behind the Medford net during the second period of a GNC boys’ hockey game at Medford Thursday, Jan. 4. Denis scored three goals and had two assists in the Hodags’ 7-2 victory. (Matt Frey/Star News)
  

Denis completed a hat trick less than two minutes later as he skated from behind the Medford cage and snapped a wrist shot that beat Medford goalie Talan Albers. 

“Gavin Denis and Joey Belanger just took control up front. In particular, Gavin probably had his best night of the year,” Laggis said. “Those guys had a big night and played really, really well. That was a huge part of our offense, obviously.”

Belanger added his team-leading 15th goal of the season just 58 seconds into the third period as he made a move between defenders in a 1-on-2 situation and scored on the ensuing breakaway.

Medford got goals late in the third period from Isaac Schaefer and Tucker Phillips after the Hodags were taken for a pair of two-minute minors on the same play. 

“We got in a penalty situation, 5-on-3 and gave a goal and gave up another goal a little bit later. Mostly it was just a situation where we used our whole bench and that’s what happened,” Laggis said.

Tyler Kimmerling made 14 saves in the win for the Hodags. Rhinelander outshot the home-standing Raiders 31-16 in the contest. 

It all sets up a busy week for Rhinelander which will host D.C. Everest tonight, skate against Mosinee at home on Thursday and then head to Merrill for the annual East/Merrill tournament Friday and Saturday.

“We need all the momentum we can get because D.C. Everest will be really, really difficult and obviously the rest of the week will be as well with Mosinee and then going to the East/Merrill tournament,” Laggis said. “A four-game week is tough and the opponents aren’t any easier — especially on the front end. It will be a week we’ve really got to work hard at.”

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].