Hodag hockey shut out in holiday tourney

The Rhinelander High School boys’ hockey faced some very strong competition in the Milwaukee suburbs last weekend, suffering identical 9-0 defeats at the hands of West Bend and Homestead on back-to-back days in Ozaukee.

The Hodags were heavily outshot in both games — 45-4 against West Bend and 35-9 against Homestead. Coach M.J. Laggis said, apart from Tomahawk, the teams were by far the two toughest the Hodags have faced all season.

“West Bend, who beat Tomahawk, is the best team we’ve seen this year,” Laggis said, nothing the Bears’ 4-2 win over the Hatchets in Tomahawk last month. “Tomahawk obviously the second and the third strongest team we’ve seen was Homestead today. They’re strong they move the puck really well. They shot the puck well had a couple different kids who are really, really fast. 

“That’s a big takeaway, just trying to get faster trying to get better. Both of the two teams we played would do quite well in the GNC and so, you know, it’s a time to improve.”

West Bend jumped on Rhinelander right away for four goals in the first period last Friday. The Bears scored four more in the second before tacking on a final goal in the third. Reid Newkirk scored four goals for West Bend while Logan Woods had a goal and five assists.

The Hodags trailed 2-0 after one period to Homestead on Saturday courtesy of a pair of Sean Lemke goals. The Highlanders poured it on in the second with five goals while outshooting the Hodags 14-0 in the stanza. Homestead tacked on two more in the third to round out the scoring. Lemke finished the game with three goals, Bryn Borys scored twice and Jeremy Miller tallied a goal and four assists. 

Laggis said back-to-back games and a short bench made the weekend especially challenging for his squad. 

“We were shorthanded a couple kids so we ended up making the trip with eight forwards and four (defensemen),” he said. “It’s difficult when you’re trying to play two, 51-minute games in 22 hours with eight forward not even a full three lines. That’s a real challenge. So you learn a lot of what you’re made of with just your grit and perseverance and trying to keep your composure and get through a game.”

Sophomore goalie Asher Rivord made 36 saves in Friday’s loss against West Bend and 26 stops Saturday against Homestead. 

“We’ve learned a lot about a goaltender. I mean I think Asher played awfully hard and he’s making a lot to save and keep us in there for a long period of time,” Laggis said. “We’re trying to get three lines put together to play and that we’ve been unable to do that to this point due to extended sicknesses, illnesses, Christmas plans, injuries so we’re really trying to get three lines together here.”

Rhinelander (1-7-0, 0-2-0-0 Great Northern) returned home and faced Marshfield yesterday evening in a game that concluded after press time for today’s edition. 

The Hodags travel to D.C. Everest this coming Tuesday before heading to Merrill next Friday and Saturday for the annual East-Merrill tournament.

“We have games that we can compete in,” Laggis said. “We got to play for 51 minutes and that’s a struggle for us. Sometimes you know we hang in there for 34 and we fall apart one (period). Maybe just a lack of legs and it’s still early on, so you’re looking forward to trying to compete well in January.”

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].