The opening of the season for RWD and Wisconsin Rapids provided some interesting play. Coaches are learning how players react in varsity game situations. Players, especially younger players, are learning/remembering how fast the action and reaction time have changed at this level of hockey. The officials are getting back into the stride of the hockey season.

The Red Raiders put RWD on their heels quickly in the first period and outshot RWD 9-2 in the period. Carsen Gause made the 8th shot of the period count, when he scored an unassisted goal from the slot at 6:32 of the first.  Griffin Schindler picked up a penalty for cross-checking at 6:45, but the Red Raiders penalty kill was up to the task. Wisconsin Rapids led 1-0 at the end of one.

Pagel Jax picked up the Red Raiders' second penalty at 1:06 of the second as he was called for cross-checking. However, it was Gause scoring a short-handed goal at 1:55 to give Wisconsin Rapids a 2-0 lead. RWD's Trey Laridaen was called for roughing at 2:27 putting Rapids on the power play, but RWD proved up to the task and kept in a 2 goal deficit. RWD ended up with a two man advantage at 6:22, when Gause and Josh Dekarske were both placed in the sin bin. Once again the Red Raiders killed off the penalty. RWD was finally able to get on the board, when Izak Elder passed the puck to Trey Laridaen in the defensive zone. Laridaen was able to beat Noah Petersen top-shelf to make it a 2-1 game at 8:15 of the second. RWD was able to come up with two more power play opportunities in the period. The first came at 12:44 as Ryan Deitz was called for the Red Raiders' fourth cross-checking penalty of the game. The second came at 15:26 as Gause was called for hooking. Unfortunately for RWD, they were not able to capitalize on either opportunity. The Red Raiders led 2-1 at the end of two.

Carter Renneberg of RWD was called for tripping at 1:07 of the third and this led to the only power play goal of the evening. A scramble in front of the net saw Michael McDonald score with an assist from Sayer Wilkens giving Rapids a 3-1 lead. The final goal of the evening was scored by Josh Dekarske with an assist from Ryan Deitz at 8:15 of the third. Wisconsin Rapids won 4-1.

Noah Peterson had 17 saves on 18 shots, while Alexander Griebe had 37 saves on 41 shots. 

RWD will be in Somerset for a hockey tournament on November 24th and 25th for their next games. Wisconsin Rapids will host Wausau West on November 28th.

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