RHINELANDER – The playoffs to earn a trip to state began Thursday evening for hockey teams in Wisconsin. The Hodags received a No. 2 seed and played seventh seeded Tomahawk in a win-or-your-season-is-finished game. which is what all games are now. The Hatchets are a much improved team from the beginning of the season as in the consolation game of the conference tournament they blasted Medford 15-3 and then only lost to Antigo by a 6-4 score.

Both teams came out of the first period with a score on power plays and a 1-1 score after 17 minutes.

The second period began with a flurry as Joey Belanger scored his second goal of the game 1:13 into the period for the 2-1 lead. Tomahawk came back to tie the score only 44 seconds later.

The Hodags then scored three goals in a minute and a half; one each by Leo Losch, Sam Schneider and Cal Laggis. Tomahawk would add a goal in the second to make the score 5-3 going into the third.

The Hodags would not score in the last period but Tomahawk scored with 1:20 left on the clock as they pulled their goalie to gain the man advantage. The Hodags withstood the flurry and came away with the 5-4 win and will host Mosinee Tuesday with a chance to go to sectionals.

Photos by Bob Mainhardt.