By Jim den Hollander
Editor/Publisher
Saukhockey.info
For some events, it is considered cool to be fashionably late. The Badger Lightning varsity girls’ hockey team has learned in recent games, that does not hold up in a rink.
It may not be completely accurate to say the team showed up on time Tuesday (Jan. 5) at Pierce Park Pavilion as they did find themselves looking up at a deficit once again four minutes into the contest.
But they certainly made their presence felt much earlier, pounding the Golden Beavers’ goal with 26-first period shots on their way to a 2-1 lead which they grew to a 9-1 cushion by the time the final buzzer sounded.
This was a breakthrough night for the entire team as seven of the team’s 10 skaters hit the score sheet.
Leading the charge once again was the sophomore duo of Kayla Capener and Bella Bowden who combined on eight points, one more added with an assist from fellow sophomore linemate Mallory Ruhland who collected an assist.
The D-Corps chipped in big as well, led by junior Carson Blosenski who returned to the lineup just a game ago, collecting two goals and a helper in this one for a total of four points in two games since her return. Sophomore Eryn Benson also added a goal and an assist while Signe Begalske who has spent time at both forward and defense this season, also had a goal and a set up.
Freshman defender Madchen Ewig and freshman goaltender Alyssa Gada both collected assists as well.
The win snapped a five-game skid and boosted the team’s overall record to 2-6.
Capener’s five-point night lifted her points total to 15, sixth best in the state. Her 11 assists is also ranked sixth and Bella Bowden added two more goals, lifting her season total to eight, which has her tied for fifth-most in Wisconsin.
Gada has also shown up on the state rankings, despite the team’s record, her .891 Save Percentage is ranked ninth.
The Lightning has a tough assignment ahead as they look to improve on a tough outing in its season opener when they dropped an 11-3 decision to the Viroqua Blackhawks as they travel to Viroqua Community Arena for a 7:30 p.m. game on Monday.
Next home game will be next Thursday (Jan. 14) when they play host to the Onalaska Hilltoppers at Pierce Park Pavilion.
Playing at Beaver Dam Family Center, the Thunderbirds fell behind 1-0 in the opening period and trailed 3-1 heading to the third.
Junior Andrew Schaetzl turned aside 27 shots in the game as the Golden Beavers outshot the Thunderbirds 31-25.
The Cheavers hit the board first with an unassisted goal from Mark Othmer 52 seconds into the contest and that held up until two goals in just over two minutes late in the period gave the Crusaders a 2-1 margin heading to the second.
Crusaders scored twice in 13 seconds late in the period and once again carried the single-goal cushion into what turned out to be a scoreless third period.
Off night, coming up flat, tough day at the office, stinker – there are several descriptions for a game like this and over a season, every team suffers through at least one or two. Analysts and Coaches are at a loss to figure out how to change the course and it seems inevitable for every team.
Two goals in the first six minutes of the middle session had the Crusaders comfortably in front. Caden Brandt sank his team’s second, from Carsen Brandt and Danny Ely with 1:39 to go but the locals were denied momentum when Edgewood responded with one more 15 seconds from the second period buzzer.
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