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Mikesch knocks in game-winner to send Bay Port to victory

By Michael Trzinski, WiPH Staff, 02/01/15, 12:30AM CST

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Rebound with 5.7 seconds left gives Bay Port 3-2 win


Austin Mikesch knocked in a rebound with just 5.7 seconds left in the third period to give Bay Port a 3-2 win over Notre Dame before a raucous standing-room-only crowd at the Cornerstone Community Center Saturday evening.

The Wisconsin Prep Hockey Boys Game of the Week was a hard-hitting affair from the opening shift, but the officials let the game flow, whistling only five penalties in the contest.

The first period was scoreless with visiting Bay Port holding a slight 7-5 shot edge.

The Pirates got on the board first early in the second period on a nice cross-ice pass to a wide-open back door play.

Martin Suda slid the puck across to Brady DeBouche, who snapped the puck into the open net at the 2:51 mark of the period. Logan Froberg also earned a helper on the score.

The period ended with that 1-0 lead, thanks in part to Pirate goalie Sean Angle, who made two sprawling saves on rebound attempts with just under three minutes left.

The Tritons outshot Bay Port 12-4 in the period.

Bay Port took a 2-0 lead midway through the final period on a rebound goal by Mikesch, with an assist to Froberg at 8:06.

Just when it seemed like the Pirates were going to make the Tritons walk the plank, Notre Dame stuck a spear in the Bay Port hopes with a goal to cut the lead to 2-1 just four minutes later.

After Angle made a couple saves, Jack Wied was able to stuff the puck past the goalie at the 12:08 mark, with assists to Collin Appleton and Tony Stillwell.

Less than a minute later, Froberg got free behind the NDA defense, but goalie Zach Krysiak made a great save as the Pirate forward skated across the low slot.

Bay Port took a penalty shortly after, and NDA coach Cory McCracken called timeout to discuss the power play strategy.

He should probably bottle that pep talk because the Tritons put the puck in the net at the 2:19 mark.

WiPH Game Summaries

Appleton's shot from the right circle snuck between Angle's left arm and the post, which were about four inches apart. Bryce Poshak and Stillwell were credited with assists on the play that tied the game at two.

Suda nearly put Bay Port back in the lead on a 2-on-1 rush, but Krysiak made a blocker save to keep the score tied with just under two minutes left.

Bay Port and Mike Buchan took a timeout twenty seconds later to discuss their strategy and in the end it worked out fine.

With less than thirty seconds left, Angle made a nice glove save of a Jake DeLeers shot to set up the exciting final seconds.

Skyler Kring went in on the left side as the clock wound down to ten seconds. His shot was stopped by Krysiak, but Mikesch made sure the rebound found a good home. Kolton Huff also received an assist on the game-winner.

Notre Dame held a huge 16-6 shot edge in the final stanza, but Angle was up to task, ending with 31 saves on the night. Krysiak stopped 14 shots for Notre Dame.

The game had a couple implications.

Bay Port ended their portion of the Fox River Classic schedule with an 8-2 record, with Notre Dame at 6-2. A likely scenario has the two clubs sharing a conference title, if the Tritons can win their final two FRC games.

The win also gives Bay Port a leg up on the top seed in Sectional Five. Other teams that are looking for high seeds are Appleton United, Notre Dame, and Neenah/Hortonville/Menasha.

And last but not least, top-ranked Notre Dame lost to #4 Bay Port, which will most likely (again) shake up the WiPH Top Ten poll.

Welcome to the late season!