By Jim den Hollander 

Editor/Publisher 

Saukhockey.info

The Sauk Prairie Eagles saw its three-game season opening winning streak coming to a sudden end in Madison Tuesday (Dec. 7) night at La Bahn Arena with a 6-1 Badger West Conference loss to the Madison Edgewood Crusaders.  

Both teams were coming off wins in their opening conference tests the previous week, the Eagles whipping the Monroe Cheesemakers 9-0 and the Crusaders getting by the RWD Cheavers 4-1. 

The first period was promising, but at the same time rough for the visiting Eagles as they outshot the host Crusaders 11-4, but exited the period trailing 3-0.  

The Crusaders added another in the second period before senior Nick Mast got the Eagles on the board, with help from junior Luke Mast and senior Hakon Peterson. The Crusaders responded again just over a minute later and carried the 5-1 cushion into the third period.  

Seniors J.J. Wiebusch (2g, 3a), Cody Menzel (2g, 2a), Parker Murn (1g, 3a) and Aidan Lenz (3a) paced the Crusaders’ offense and the other goal came from senior Nick McCann. 

Overall, the Eagles matched the Crusaders with 30 shots apiece.  

The Eagles fall to 3-1 on the regular season and 1-1 in Badger West Conference games this season while the Crusaders climb to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Badger West.  

The loss to Edgewood raises the importance somewhat of the next game for the Eagles who entertain the 6-1 (2-0 in Badger West) Oregon Panthers on Thursday night at Sauk Prairie Area Recreation Center (SPARC). 

Eagles fans may want to circle Jan. 11 on their respective calendars. That’s the day the Crusaders will play a visit to SPARC. This game may not have gone the way of the Eagles, but they showed in the contest they can stay with this team and on home ice, they should make a more formidable opponent.