The Waupaca boys’ hockey team is on a roll.
Waupaca picked up recent Great Northern Conference wins over Rhinelander and Tomahawk as well as a nonconference win over the Fox Cities Stars.
Waupaca 8, Rhinelander 2
WAUPACA – Waupaca scored five goals in the first period – including four in the game’s first five minutes – in an 8-2 win over the Hodags Jan. 19 at the Waupaca Expo Center.
Jared Erickson scored three unassisted goals and added three assists; Caleb Kiesow finished with two goals and an assist; Sam Menzies scored a goal and had an assist; Drew Simonson and Zach Smith scored; and Beau Ash and Frankie Ellingson had two assists each.
Waupaca outshot the Hodags 34-28.
Waupaca 5, Tomahawk 4
TOMAHAWK – The Comets came up with a pair of third-period goals against the Hatchets.
Tomahawk took a 1-0 lead into the second period, but Waupaca outscored the home team 3-2 to send the teams into the final period tied at 3-3.
Erickson and Kiesow had a goal and an assist each; Smith, Ben Stone and Austin Erickson found the net; and Simonson and Ryan Thern added an assist each.
The Comets outshot the Hatchets 45-36.
Waupaca 3, Fox Cities 1
NEENAH – The Comets scored twice in the second period and once in the third against the Stars at the Tri-County Ice Arena.
Ash scored twice and Kiesow added the other goal. Jared Erickson assisted on two goals and Menzies also picked up an assist.
Waupaca outshot the Stars 42-31.
The Stars came into the game with only two wins on the season, but were able to stay with the Comets until Ash’s empty-net goal gave Waupaca a two-goal lead late in the game.
“This team is always prepared,” coach Dave Crisman said. “You have to be ready to go and not take anybody lightly.”
The Comets hosted Antigo Jan. 22 and will play at Oshkosh at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25.
Other games on the Comets’ schedule include home games Saturday, Jan. 26, against Neenah/Hortonville/Menasha and Tuesday, Jan. 29, against Mosinee. Faceoff for both games is slated for 7 p.m. at the Expo.