RHS improves to 7-0 overall, 4-0 in GNC

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

The Rhinelander High School varsity boys hockey team did all the scoring Thursday night when the Hodags remained undefeated for the season with a 6-0 Great Northern Conference victory over Tomahawk at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.

“I am very happy with the effort we gave from the drop of the puck,” said RHS head coach MJ Laggis. “We played fast, we won races, we moved the puck pretty well. Our offensive zone cycle is a work in progress, but (Thursday night) I really thought we took a step again. We controlled the zone and used the dead areas of the ice to our advantage.”

The Hodags, who jumped out to a 3-0 lead midway through the first period, got on the scoreboard 6:01 into the game on a power-play goal from Danny Zuiker assisted by Abe Laggis. Freddy Wisner then scored an even-strength goal assisted by Cole Spaulding and Sam Tjugum at the 7:40 mark. Conor Pequet added goal No. 3 assisted by Wisner and Abe Laggis at 8:08.

At left, the Hodags’ Bridger Flory waits for the puck to come down in the second period of Thursday’s home game against Tomahawk.

RHS scored twice in the second period. Harlan Wojtusik tallied an even-strength goal assisted by Wisner and Abe Laggis at the 2:03 mark. Bridger Flory added a power-play goal assisted by Abe Laggis with 55 seconds left in the period.

The Hodags tallied their final goal 3:50 into the final period when Pequet scored assisted by Spaulding and Nick Sandstrom.

“I like the way we moved the puck (Thursday night),” MJ Laggis said. “We had a number of guys with multiple-assist nights.”

Shots on goal favored RHS, 41-12, with Seth Stafford making 12 saves to record the shutout win in net.

“(Stafford) didn’t face a ton of rubber, but he made several very nice saves,” MJ Laggis said. “We will have to lean on Seth pretty hard in the next week as we are banged up with shoulder injury losses to Cole Spaulding and Danny Zuiker. Seth is going to face some shots now as we have three very tough games in a row.”

The Hodags’ season record stands at 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the GNC going into Friday night’s non-conference road game against Wisconsin Rapids. RHS then plays conference road games next Tuesday against Lakeland Union High School and Thursday against Northland Pines.

Hodags 6, Hatchets 0

Hatchets              0              0              0 – 0

Hodags                 3              2              1 – 6