Everest piles up goals early in win over Hodags

It took all of 53 seconds for the floodgates to open against the Rhinelander High School boys’ hockey team on Monday night, and the torrent continued through the first two periods.

D.C. Everest scored early and often as it routed the Hodags 12-0 at the Rhinelander Ice Arena. Hayden Johnson scored four times, including the opener 53 seconds into the game, Cole VanSlyke added three goals and an assist and the Evergreens piled up 12 goals in less than two periods on the Hodags. 

“D.C. Everest dominated from opening drop of puck. We were unable to match their speed and intensity,” Hodag coach M.J. Laggis said.

Johnson and VanSlyke set the tone early. VanSlyke made it 2-0 13 seconds after Johnson’s opening tally, beginning a six-goal scoring binge over the first 4 1/2 minutes of the contest. Brody Slavin and Ethan Whitmore added goals before VanSlyke and Johnson ended the barrage that put Everest up 6-0. VanSlyke finished off his hat trick add he 10:47 mark of the first and Braxton Beiler scored with two seconds remaining to give the Evergreens an 8-0 lead after a period.

Johnson finished his hat trick on the power play 5:20 into the second period and added his fourth and final goal just 21 seconds later. Goals by Aiden Haupt and Whitmore later in the period rounded out the scoring before the Evergreens mainly turned things over to their third line. 

Everest overwhelmed Rhinelander with 49 shots over the first two period. The Hodags were outshot 55-14 overall in the contest. 

“We work hard and often on our D-zone coverage but, right now, we just aren’t able to make it pay off in games. We need to raise our compete level everywhere on the ice,” Laggis said.

Connor McGee made 43 saves in the loss for Rhinelander, which dropped the Hodags to 0-8-0 on the season. Monday’s game marked the first time this year that the Hodags have been shutout.

“All we can do is stay positive, continue to work on skills, continue to try and get our guys to play within our system, and get more compete,” Laggis said.

The Hodag return to action next Monday and Tuesday as they host a pair of teams from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — Manistique and Kingsford at the Rhinelander Ice Arena as part of a four team holiday tournament. Great Northern Conference for Medford will also be in attendance and will face the same two teams.

Monday’s schedule will feature Medford against Kingsford at 1:30 with Rhinelander and Manistique to follow. Play gets underway Tuesday with Medford at Manistique at 9:30 a.m., followed by Rhinelander and Kingsford. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].