Waupaca boys finish sixth in GNC hockey tournament

he Waupaca boys’ hockey team headed into this year’s Great Northern Conference tournament with a No. 6 seed.

That’s where the Comets ended up finishing in the tournament, as they dropped a 6-3 decision to Antigo on Feb. 15 in the fifth-place game in Rhinelander.

The Comets went 1-2 in this year’s tournament, including a 7-1 win over Medford in the second round.

GNC tournament
Antigo 6,

RHINELANDER - The Comets didn’t have an answer for Owen Dickman, who scored five of the Red Robins’ six goals, including two in each of the first two periods and one in the game’s final minute.

Antigo led 2-0 after one period and took a 5-0 lead into the third. Waupaca cut the deficit to 5-3 with goals from Nate Hines, Thor Kallestad and Cael Prey before Dickman ended the scoring.

Waupaca outshot the Red Robins 44-38.

Waupaca 7,

WAUPACA - It didn’t take the Comets long to find the net against the Raiders. Prey and Hines scored in the game’s opening minute, and Colin Lockwood and Colin Everts added goals in the second minute.

Thomas Thiel added goals in the second and third periods before Prey wrapped up the scoring with his second goal in the third period.

Despite winning by six goals, the Comets had a slim 39-30 advantage in shots.

Lakeland 4,

MINOCQUA - Prey’s goal in the first period tied the game with the third-seeded Thunderbirds on Feb. 4 in the tournament’s opening round, but Lakeland answered with three unanswered goals.

The Thunderbirds outshot the Comets 43-12.

Other results from Feb. 15 in Rhinelander are first-place game: Tomahawk 3, Mosinee 1; third-place game: Northland Pines 4, Lakeland 0; seventh-place game: Rhinelander vs. Medford, no score reported.

WIAA tournament

The Comets and another area team will open WIAA state tournament play on Thursday, Feb. 20.

Waupaca received a No. 6 seed in Division 2 and will head to Mequon’s Ozaukee Ice Center to face third-seeded Homestead at 5:40 p.m.

Meanwhile, undefeated Stevens Point received a No. 1 seed and has a bye in the opening round of the Division 1 tournament. The Panthers will host No. 8 Chippewa Falls or No. 9 Eau Claire North at 7 p.m. at the K.B. Willett Ice Arena in the second round.

Boys’ and girls’ state qualifiers will compete Thursday to Saturday, March 6-8, at Bob Suter’s LEGACY20 Arena in Middleton.