Waupaca boys’ hockey defeats Rhinelander, Tomahawk, GB United

By Greg Seubert

After dropping its first four games of the season, the Waupaca boys’ hockey team is on a three-game winning streak.

The Comets improved to 2-1 in Great Northern Conference play with a 4-2 win Dec. 12 at Rhinelander and a 5-0 win Dec. 10 at Tomahawk. Waupaca also picked up a 7-3 nonconference win Dec. 8 over Green Bay United at the Waupaca Ice & Expo Center.

Waupaca 4, Rhinelander 2
RHINELANDER – Cannon Hermanson gave the Comets the lead for good 14 seconds into the game off of the first of Max Menzies’ three assists in the game.

Menzies made it 2-0 with 2:09 left in the opening period, with Mitchell Trzebiatowski getting credit for the assist.

Kade Kennedy put the Hodags on the board 20 seconds into the second period with an unassisted goal, but Hunter smith answered less than a minute later off of Menzies’ second assist.

Cole Spaulding scored off of an assist from Brett Estabrook to cut Waupaca’s lead to 3-2 later in the period, but that turned out to be Rhinelander’s final goal.

Jack Menzies found the net with 15:15 remaining in the game off of assists from Max Menzies and Elias Thompson.
Waupaca outshot the Hodags 40-34.

Waupaca 5, Tomahawk 0
TOMAHAWK – Thompson, Max Menzies and Elliot Crisman scored for the Comets in the first period and Trzebiatowski and Menzies added goals in the second period as Waupaca shut out the Hatchets.

Crisman, Hermanson, Hunter Smith and Max Menzies had assists for the Comets.

Waupaca finished with 36 shots on goal and goalie Walker Smith stopped all 22 of Tomahawk’s shots.

Waupaca 7, GB United 3
WAUPACA – Max Menzies and Cody Rasmussen scored for the Comets in the first period in a win over the Gryphons, with Walker Smith and Crisman picking up assists.

Thompson gave Waupaca a 3-0 lead in the second period, with Crisman and Max Menzies getting the assist.

Casey Roerer cut the Comets’ lead to 3-1 with a power play goal later in the period and Santana Pinkert and Drew Specht added goals in the third period to tie the game at 3-3.

However, the Comets closed the game with four unanswered goals from Trzebiatowski, Jack Menzies, Crisman and Hunter Smith. Max Menzies, Jack Menzies, Hunter Smith, Rasmussen and Crisman had assists in the period.

Waupaca outshot the Gryphons 36-17.

The Comets opened a four-game home stand Dec. 15 against Antigo. Waupaca will also host D.C. Everest Thursday, Dec. 17; Pacelli Tuesday, Dec. 22; and Medford Thursday, Jan. 7.