Hockey scrimmage gives coaches a look at players

Photos by Bob Mainhardt

Hodag boys hockey scrimmaged the Wausau East Merrill co-op last weekend at the Rhinelander Ice Arena. The contest was initially scheduled to take place in Merrill, but was moved due to a short-term closure of the rink there.

The scrimmage consisted of three 20-minute run time periods followed by two 10-minute sessions with the teams taking turns playing one man short simulating a penalty kill/powerplay situation. East/Merrill would score first but after that it was all Hodags. A score was not officially kept but the Hodags scored in double digits with numerous players scoring in the scrimmage.

The scrimmage allowed coaches to mix up their lineups to gauge what will work when the season officially kicks off. Thursday the team travels to Eagle River for its first conference matchup against Northland Pines.