Waupaca holds off late surge to win

The Waupaca Comets used a dominant second period and a four-goal performance from Colin Lockwood to earn a 7–5 victory over Chequamegon/Phillips/Butternut in a high-scoring, back-and-forth contest.

Chequamegon struck first midway through the opening period when Kellen Kranig netted a power-play goal at 4:10, assisted by Will Krause. Waupaca answered later in the period as Finn McGuire scored at even strength with 3:52 remaining, sending the teams into the first intermission tied 1–1.

The Comets took control in the second period behind Lockwood’s offensive outburst. He opened the scoring at 3:34 and followed up less than two minutes later to give Waupaca a 3–1 lead. Lockwood completed his hat trick at 10:28 on the power play, extending the advantage to 4–1.

Chequamegon responded at 12:31 when Kranig scored his second goal of the game, but Waupaca quickly regained momentum. Lockwood added his fourth goal just 18 seconds later, and Reed Rogers capped the period with an even-strength goal at 14:55 to give the Comets a commanding 6–2 lead heading into the third.

Chequamegon mounted a strong comeback attempt early in the final period. Hugh Hueckman scored just 39 seconds in, followed by Kranig’s third goal of the night at 1:50. A power-play goal at 2:56 pulled Chequamegon within one, cutting the deficit to 6–5 and shifting momentum.

Waupaca answered quickly to seal the win. Captain Nate Hines scored at 3:41, finishing a play set up by Lockwood and Thomas Thiel, restoring a two-goal cushion that the Comets would protect the rest of the way.

Lockwood led all scorers with four goals, while Hines contributed a goal and multiple assists in the win. Kranig recorded a hat trick for Chequamegon, accounting for more than half of his team’s scoring.