RIA Squirt Bs 3rd at state

The Rhinelander Ice Association’s Squirt B hockey team won two out of its three games over the weekend and took third in the WAHA 3B Squirt (10U) B state tournament held Feb. 28 and March 1 at the Smith Center in Merrill.

The Hodags opened with a come-from-behind 6-3 win over Hayward before losing to top-seed and eventual state-champion Somerset Red 5-2 in the semifinals. Rhinelander fended off a late comeback to defeat Reedsburg/Wisconsin Dells 5-3 in the third-place game.

The first game featured a wild ending. The Hodags trailed 3-2 before scoring four goals over the final 2:34 of regulation. Jaxson Krueger tied it for Rhinelander before Elijah Disher scored the go-ahead goal with 1:21 to play. Disher scored on an empty net with 25 seconds remaining and Krueger tacked on one more goal seven seconds later off the ensuing faceoff.

Hayward led 2-1 after a period and 3-2 after two periods. Rhinelander outshot Hayward 24-11, with Ryan Jopek stopping eight pucks in the win.

Somerset dominated the semifinal game, outshooting the Hodags 28-4. They led 3-1 after a period and 5-1 after two. Krueger and Monty Ponik had the goals for Rhinelander. 

The Hodags raced out to a 3-0 lead after one period in the third-place game off a pair of goals by Krueger and one by Ponik in the first period. After a Reedsburg score, Disher scored what proved to be the game winner with 2:20 left in the second period and tacked on one more goal in the third to make it 5-1. That gave Rhinelander plenty of cushion to withstand a pair of late Reedsburg goals. Reedsburg outshot Rhinelander 16-10 in the game with Jopek making 13 saves in the win.

(Photos by Jeremy Mayo/River News)

    Ryan Jopek prepares to make a save during a game Saturday, Feb. 28 against Hayward.
  

    Jaxson Krueger (58) and Elijah Disher (97) react after Disher scores a goal during a game Saturday, Feb. 28 against Hayward.
  

    Elijah Disher fires a shot on goal during a game Saturday, Feb. 28 against Hayward.
  

    Jaxson Krueger attempts to beat two Hayward players up the boards during a game Saturday, Feb. 28.
  

    Marty Ponik handles the puck during a game Saturday, Feb. 28 against Hayward.