Star Journal Report

The Great Northern Hockey conference playoffs began Tuesday with the fourth seeded Hodags hosting the number five seed Waupaca Comets.

The Hodags scored first in the contest with a Sam Schneider goal but that was followed by two Waupaca goals to put the Comets up 2-1 after one period.

In the second period the Hodags came out strong and regained the lead by outscoring Waupaca 4-1 and take a 5-3 lead going into the third period. Both teams would score two in the final period with Harlan Wojtusik scoring the final Hodag goal for his fifth of the game and gave the Hodags the 7-5 win.

The last 1:58 of the game was an intense battle as JC Adams was in the penalty box and with 1:30 left in the game Waupaca pulled their goalie and skated with a 6-on-4 advantage putting a lot of pressure on the Hodag defense that held up and did not allow a goal in that time span. With seconds left, the Comets were called for icing which brought the puck back into their end of the ice and forced them to bring the goalie back out until the horn sounded for the end of the game and a Hodag win.

The Hodags travel to Northland Pines on Thursday to take on the number one seed Eagles of Eagle River. Next Thursday the Hodags again host Waupaca for the beginning of regional play.

PHOTOS BY BOB MAINHARDT

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Harlan Wojtusik, No. 18, is surrounded by teammates as his shot from just inside the blue line scores the teams seventh goal and his fifth of the night with 7:16 left in the game giving the Hodags holding a three goal advantage. Waupaca would score a goal two minutes later on a two man advantage power play to make it 7-5.