The Eagles started off the last weekend in January by picking up a big 5-2 win over Great Northern Conference opponent Waupaca. Sammy Spencer passed the puck to Colton Raymond on the right side of the ice before Nick Dean slid the puck right between Walker Smith’s legs for the Eagles’ first goal of the night but were still trailing the Comets 2-1 going into the third period. 

Something must have clicked for the Eagles in the locker room between periods as Pines notched two goals (Raymond on a rebound and a tic-tac-toe play by Dean along with Raymond and Noah Wittkopf) to take the lead of the game. Connor Cox and Joe Maillette added on empty-net goals at the end of the game to cushion the Eagles’ victory. 

Just 24 hours later, Northland Pines found themselves taking the ice against Appleton United, the number one ranked team in the state. Pines dominated the first period but Dylan Phinney and Ethan Polich remained strong in their respective nets, keeping the score deadlocked at 0-0. 

Lucas McKinnon was quick to score in the second period for Appleton, bouncing the puck off the pipe off of a pass from Michael Alfaro. Both Pines and Appleton got more aggressive as the intensity of the game escalated. 

Connor Zillisch extended the lead in the third period, firing the puck just over Polich’s left hand. Nathan Zillisch added an empty net goal in the closing seconds of the game, awarding Appleton United a 3-0 victory and a shutout for senior net-minder Dylan Phinney. 

Northland Pines is scheduled to host Great Northern Conference rival Antigo Tuesday, February 2nd, for a rematch of a close game earlier in the season.