Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
Friday evening, the Bluejack coop hockey squad played host to a four-team tournament at the MARC.
First on deck for the ‘Jacks were the L’Anse (Mich.) Purple Hornets.
The ‘Jacks wasted no time getting to work as Phil Peacy (Assisted by Ian Raddatz and Max Geiger) smashed home Merrill-East’s first goal early in the first. The Jacks would only pick up steam and momentum as the bout rolled on as Christian Matson (Ast: Geiger and Ty Bailey) opened up a four-goal onslaught carrying well into the third period, joined by Austin Burgener (Ast: Ben Brown), Christian Matson (Ast: Bailey and James Pawlicki) and a solo goal from Burgener early in the third period.
The Hornets would finally land on the board midway through the third, only to be countered by the Bluejacks courtesy of Burgener and Brown, to put the game away 6-1.
Goalie Austin Jensen displayed a phenomenal performance between the posts with a 99.7% save percentage, allowing just one of 30 shots on goal.
The guys would go on to play the winner of the Medford-Rhinelander match on Saturday.
“It was nice to play well and score some goals,” comments co-head coach Bill Hauswirth. “We started a little slower but picked it up as the game went on.”
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Championship run with the Raiders
Saturday afternoon the ‘Jacks returned to the ice, squaring off with the Medford Raiders.
Once again, Merrill-East drew first blood following a two-period tug of war as Adam Detert took one to the net early in the third, with the assistance of Peacy.
The Raiders responded with a goal of their own late in the third to send the bout into overtime.
Another stalemate resulted in a shootout which the Raiders took home, 2-1.
Goalie Bryce Broeking broke even with his counterpart Jensen, allowing just one of 30 shots on goal in regulation, finishing with a 99.7% save percentage.
“Was a close fought game,” Hauswirth adds. “We had some chances and could not capitalize on them. The game went to overtime and the championship was decided in a shootout.”
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