By the time the Waupaca boys’ hockey team opens Great Northern Conference play in Rhinelander, the Comets will already have five games in the books.
That’s just fine with first-year coach Dave Crisman.
“It’s going to pay off for us because we have some high-quality teams that we’re playing and our young guys are learning a lot,” he said Nov. 23 after watching his team open its season with a 1-1 tie with Waukesha at the Wisconsin Rapids Invitational. “It’s fun to see right now.”
The Comets will compete again this season in the GNC, which also includes Northland Pines, Lakeland, Mosinee, Antigo, Rhinelander, Tomahawk and Medford.
“I know everybody graduated more seniors than we did, but it’s always going to come down to Eagle River (Northland Pines), Mosinee, Antigo,” said Crisman, who takes over for Randy Flesch.
So where do the Comets fit in?
“This could be a special team,” Crisman said. “We have strong leaders that are pushing some of our young guys. If we can continue to grow from here, they’re going to embrace our system and it’s going to be exciting.”
Although the Comets will count on a number of young players, including freshman goalie Walker Smith, the team also has some experienced players coming back.
“Beau Ash was an all-conference defenseman last year and Jerry Erickson as well,” Crisman said. “Caleb Kiesow is a senior and he’s going to have a big year. Walker is our only goalie. He understands the game and he’s fun to coach.”
Crisman opened practice in early November short-handed, as several players, including Ash, Kiesow and Sam Menzies, played on the Comet football team that competed in the Division 3 state championship game.
“We really embrace that because it’s a long hockey season,” Crisman said. “We can wait for these guys to come back.”
After opening the season with a tie with Waukesha, the Comets fell to Waunakee 6-4 Nov. 24.
Waunakee 6, Waunakee 4
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Erickson scored twice in the first period to give Waupaca a 2-1 lead heading into the second period.
Neither team scored in the second period, but Kiesow found the net 17 seconds into the third period to give Waupaca a 3-1 lead. However, the Warriors responded with three goals in a four-minute stretch and added another to go up 5-3. Waupaca was able to cut the deficit to a goal on Drew Simonson’s goal, but Waunakee came up with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Smith finished with 34 saves as Waunakee outshot Waupaca 40-33.
“The locker room’s a little somber because we had that 3-1 lead,” Crisman said. “Talking to their coach in the handshake line, he said. ‘We should’ve been down 5-zip.'”
Waupaca 1, Waukesha 1 (OT)
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Kiesow’s power play goal off of an assist from Erickson in the second period tied the game and turned out to be the final goal.
Waukesha took the lead with the 10:55 mark of the first period on Bo Bellmer’s power play goal.
The Wings had several power plays in the game, but Waupaca’s penalty kill held Waukesha to the single goal.
“We haven’t really touched on the penalty kill in practice,” Crisman said. “The older guys get it, but the two guys we had out there (on Waukesha’s goal) are sophomores. They were tired, especially the young guys moving in and out of there. The effort was just outstanding. We had opportunities at the end, we just couldn’t close the door.”
The Comets returned to the South Wood County Recreation Center Nov. 27 to face Wisconsin Rapids and will host Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs at Friday, Nov. 30, in the home opener at the Waupaca Expo Center. Waupaca will also travel to Waupun Tuesday, Dec. 4, before opening conference play at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, in Rhinelander. Faceoff for all three games is set for 7 p.m.
Waupaca Boys’ Hockey 2012-13 Schedule
Varsity
Wednesday, Nov. 14 – scrimmage at Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs, 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 23 – vs. Waukesha at Wisconsin Rapids, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 24 – vs. Waunakee at Wisconsin Rapids, 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 27 – at Wisconsin Rapids, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 30 – vs. Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 4 – at Waupun, 7 p.m.
Saturday Dec. 8 – at Rhinelander, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 11 – vs. Tomahawk, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 13 – at Antigo, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 15 – at Northland Pines, Eagle River, 7 p.m. (rescheduled from Nov. 20)
Saturday, Dec. 22 – vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 3 – at Medford, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 5 – vs. Northland Pines, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 11 – vs. Mosinee at Sentry Classic, Stevens Point, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 – at Sentry Classic, Stevens Point, TBA.
Tuesday, Jan. 15 – at Fox Cities Stars, Appleton, 8 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 17 – at Tomahawk, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 19 – vs. Rhinelander, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 22 – vs. Antigo, 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 25 – at Oshkosh North, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 26 – vs. Neenah, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 29 – vs. Mosinee, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 2 – at Lakeland, Minocqua, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 2 – vs. Medford, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 7 – vs. Appleton United, 7 p.m. (rescheduled from Feb. 8)
Junior Varsity
Wednesday, Nov. 14 – scrimmage at Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs, 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 23 – vs. Waukesha at Wisconsin Rapids, noon.
Saturday, Nov. 24 – vs. Waunakee at Wisconsin Rapids, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 27 – at Wisconsin Rapids, 5 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 30 – vs. Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs, 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 11 – vs. Tomahawk, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 13 – at Antigo, 4:45 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 15 – at Northland Pines, Eagle River, 4:45 p.m. (rescheduled from Nov. 20)
Saturday, Dec. 22 – vs. Lakeland, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 3 – at Medford, 4:45 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 5 – vs. Northland Pines, 7:15 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 14 – vs. Fox Cities Stars, Appleton, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 17 – at Tomahawk, 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 22 – vs. Antigo, 4:45 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 26 – vs. Neenah, 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 29 – vs. Mosinee, 4:45 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 2 – at Lakeland, Minocqua, 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 2 – vs. Medford, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 7 – vs. Appleton United, 5 p.m. (rescheduled from Feb. 8)