Boys Hockey: Skaters drub NR, lose key BRC game to Abes

• Phil Drewiske gets checked into the New Richmond goalie

Phil Drewiske gets checked into the goalie as the Raiders pressure the New Richmond net. Photo by Joe Winter

Talk about it

A 4-2 win over New Richmond came fairly easily, but early in the week the Raider boys hockey team allowed goals in two spurts and ended up on the back end of a 5-1 score against Eau Claire Memorial.

That tally was the more important of the two, as the Old Abes claimed sole possession of second place over Hudson in the Big Rivers Conference, as the regular season winds to a close.

“Memorial was a tough loss because of the conference results. We played hard and we played well, we just didn’t score enough,” said Coach Mike Stoskopf.

Hudson opens its regional play with a home game against a lesser seed, which will be one of two smaller schools, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19.

“New Richmond was a hard fought game, and their goalie played very well. Still, it was a solid effort and a good win,” Stoskopf said.

The game was tied at zero for a while, before Hudson got its own binge of scoring, and for a time held a three-goal lead.

“Evan Huseboe, Adam Dardine and Phil McSorley have played very well as a line,” Stoskopf said. “Hopefully their added depth can help give us a good run in the playoffs.”

Unlike at some juncture this season, Memorial made it a point to get the first goal and have momentum, rather than playing from behind, its coach and players said. They made the most of their opportunities, which included a three-goal spurt in the second period and two goals within a minute of each other in the third. The shots on goal for the two teams were virtually even.

Caleb Kostick cut the lead to 3-1 with a power-play goal early in the third; but the Old Abe defense, with some key players seeing extended action, wouldn’t let Hudson closer. Josh Perron got the lone Hudson assist.

It was the first-time in eight games Taylar Zarfos hadn’t scored and first time in seven for Cody Johnson, as they faced what was called a commitment to defense.

Tags: sports, hudson, boys, hockey, raiders