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Comets want to get defensive

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Jaydn Schulke listens to coach John Erspamer during a Waupaca boys' hockey team practice at the Waupaca Ice & Expo Center. Schulke is one of several returning players for the Comets. Waupaca will open the 2019-20 season Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 at a tournament in Sheboygan. Greg Seubert Photo

Hockey season starts Nov. 29

By Greg Seubert


There’s more to the sport of hockey than putting the puck in the net.

That’s one of the messages Waupaca boys’ hockey coach John Erspamer has for his team this season.

“We have a lot of things to figure out,” he said after a recent practice at the Waupaca Ice & Expo Center.

“The biggest question marks are on the defensive side of the ice,” he said. “We have to see who’s going to be that next man up to do their job. I’m looking for them to focus on the defensive side of the puck. If they can play well on our end of the ice, we’ll have the puck in our sticks more. If we’re struggling on our end, we’re not going to have a lot of scoring opportunities.

“All of our scoring opportunities start in our own end of the ice,” he added. “I’m going to be looking for positioning and if they have that grit, intensity and that competing level to win their battles one-on-one, especially in the corners and along the boards, where most of the games are won.”

The Comets posted a 15-8-2 record last season that included a nine-game winning streak and a trip to the Great Northern Conference tournament final. The regular season will again end with a conference tournament, which this season will be held in Eagle River.

“We play everybody once, reseed and have three conference tournament games,” Erspamer said. “Last year, we made it to the championship game. My personal goal as a coach would be to get to that championship game again.”

Besides Waupaca, the Great Northern includes defending champion Northland Pines, Antigo, Lakeland, Medford, Mosinee, Rhinelander and Tomahawk.

Northland Pines handed the Comets a 9-2 defeat in last season’s conference championship game.

“I would say they still are (the team to beat) until someone knocks them off,” Erspamer said. “Lakeland’s going to be a much-improved team, Mosinee will be improved, Rhinelander will be improved.”

The Comets have several experienced players to replace, including Jack Menzies, a unanimous first-team all-conference forward, and Brett Berens, an honorable mention all-conference goalie.

“Losing the senior class as a whole is like any other year,” Erspamer said. “The difference between that senior class and any other is they played varsity four years. You had four-year varsity starters and that does make a difference. Like any other year, you have to move on and fill the voids.”

A replacement for Berens is still up in the air, according to Erspamer.

“We have two guys that are competing,” he said. “If one is a little better at keeping the little black thing in front of them, that’s the guy that’s going to play.”

Waupaca will open the season Friday, Nov. 29, through Sunday, Dec. 1, at a tournament in Sheboygan.

“Today was a little sluggish, but the effort’s been good,” Erspamer said. “As far as the team goes, they’re good teammates and they gel in the locker room, so that part is taken care of. You have to care about each other to have a winning team and they do. They’re looking at each other and saying, ‘We’ll, who’s going to step up?’ Everybody expects Jack Erspamer, Davis Levine, Eli Bartel and Jadyn Schulke to maybe carry the load, but that can’t be the case. I need my sophomore and junior class to step up.

“We’re going to have a lot of sophomores in the lineup with four juniors and seven or eight seniors,” he said. “All of those guys will be getting good, quality time.”

One big change this season probably won’t have much of an impact for the Comets. The WIAA state tournament will now have two divisions instead of one.

“I don’t know if it’s going to affect us much at all,” Erspamer said. “Our sectional is our conference, plus Marshfield. We all know some of the talent in our conference, so you still have to go through some of the best teams to get to state. Our sectional will get a little better. We could get a higher seed if we end up well in conference and that may help us at least advance to a spot where we could maybe move on.”

Waupaca’s home opener at the Expo is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 3, against Wisconsin Rapids.

“If there’s one thing I’ve heard consistently from the guys is they’re excited hockey season’s here and they’re ready to go,” Erspamer said. “Kids are seasonal. They’re turning their attention to hockey, whether they played football, soccer or cross country. Hockey season is here and I think they’re pretty happy about that.”

Waupaca High School 2019-20 Hockey Schedules

Boys Varsity

Friday, Nov. 29, to Sunday, Dec. 1 – at Sheboygan South Invitational, TBA

Tuesday, Dec. 3 – vs. Wisconsin Rapids, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 6 – at De Pere, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 7 – at Lakeland, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 10 – at Antigo, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 14 – vs. Fox Cities Stars, 3 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20 – vs. Rhinelander, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 27, to Sunday, Dec. 29 – Waupaca Invitational, TBA

Thursday, Jan. 2 – at Medford, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 3 – vs. Mosinee at Stevens Point (Community Parks Foundation Classic), 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 4 – Community Parks Foundation Classic, Stevens Point, TBA

Monday, Jan. 13 – vs. D.C. Everest, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 14 – vs. Reedsburg, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 18 – vs. Northland Pines, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 21 – vs. Marshfield, 7 p.m. (Parents’ Night)

Friday, Jan. 31 – vs. Tomahawk, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 4 – Great Northern Conference tournament, Tomahawk, TBA

Thursday, Feb. 6 – vs. Ashwaubenon, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 11 – Great Northern Conference tournament, Tomahawk, TBA

Saturday, Feb. 15 – Great Northern Conference tournament, Eagle River, TBA

Junior Varsity

Friday, Nov. 29, to Saturday, Nov. 30 – at Sheboygan South Invitational, TBA

Friday, Dec. 6 – at De Pere, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 10 – at Antigo, 4:45 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 13 – vs. Shawano, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 14 – vs. Fox Cities Stars, 1 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20 – vs. Rhinelander, 4:45 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 27, to Sunday, Dec. 29 – Waupaca JV Invitational, TBA

Monday, Jan. 13 – vs. D.C. Everest, 4:45 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 14 – vs. Reedsburg, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 16 – at Green Bay East, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 18 – vs. Northland Pines, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 21 – vs. Marshfield, 4:45 p.m. (Parents’ Night)

Friday, Jan. 31 – vs. Ashwaubenon, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 6 – vs. Ashwaubenon, 4:45 p.m.

Girls

NOTE: The Wisconsin Valley Union is a girls’ co-op hockey team. Dan Bauer is back to coach the 2019-20 team that includes Waupaca’s Cadie Ash; Iola-Scandinavia’s Cierra Snyder; and players from Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield, Pacelli, Spencer and Athens high schools.

Tuesday, Dec. 3 – vs. Central Wisconsin Storm (Wausau area co-op team) at Ice Hawks Arena, Stevens Point, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 5 – vs. Warbirds (Fond du Lac co-op team) at Waupaca Ice & Expo Center, Waupaca, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 7 – vs. Brookfield at The Ponds of Brookfield Ice Arena, Brookfield, 4 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 12 – vs. CFM Sabres (Chippewa Falls/Menomonie co-op team) at Chippewa Area Ice Arena, Chippewa Falls, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 17 – vs. Bay Area (Green Bay area co-op team) at Ice Hawks Arena, Stevens Point, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20 – vs. Icebergs (Stoughton co-op team) at Ice Hawks Arena, Stevens Point, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 21 – vs. Arrowhead at Howard G. Mullett Ice Center, Hartland, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 27 – vs. Onalaska at Hartmeyer Ice Arena, Madison, 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 28 – Game at Hartmeyer Ice Arena, Madison, TBA

Sunday, Dec. 29 – Game at Madison Ice Arena, Madison, TBA

Saturday, Jan. 4 – vs. Western Wisconsin Stars (New Richmond/Somerset/Osceola/St. Croix Falls/Amery co-op team) at Somerset Ice Arena, Somerset, 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 7 – vs. Northland Pines at Eagle River Hockey & Sports Arena, Eagle River, 6 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 10 – vs. Lakeshore Lightning (Milwaukee area co-op team) at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, Milwaukee, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 11 – vs. University School of Milwaukee, Polly & Henry Uihlein Ice Arena, River Hills, 2 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 17 – vs. Viroqua at Viroqua Area Community Arena, Viroqua, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 18 – vs. Hurricanes (Hayward area co-op team) at Marshfield Area Ice Arena, Marshfield, 1 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 23 – vs. Northern Edge (Rhinelander/Antigo co-op team) at Rhinelander Ice Arena, Rhinelander, 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 24 – vs. Bay Area (Green Bay area co-op team) at Cornerstone Ice Center, De Pere, 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 28 – vs. Black River Falls at Marshfield Area Ice Arena, Marshfield, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 30 – vs. Fox Cities Stars (Appleton area co-op team) at Waupaca Ice & Expo Center, Waupaca, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 6 – Opponent, location and time to be announced.

Saturday, Feb. 8 – Opponent, location and time to be announced.

Saturday, Feb. 15 – vs. Eau Claire Area Stars (Eau Claire area co-op team) at Hobbs Municipal Ice Center, Eau Claire, 6 p.m.

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