You couldn’t have asked for a better game of hockey to watch at the Waupun Community Center Thursday when #7 ranked Neenah Rockets visited the Waupun Warriors for a Badgerland Conference battle for the outright conference lead. Both teams entered the contest 3-0 in the Badgerland.
“This was a great game to watch for both sides,” commented Coach Mike Elkin of the Neenah Rockets. “Both teams played their hearts out. A classic Badgerland battle.”
Both teams skated to a 0-0 tie in the first period. Both teams had chance but the 2 Senior Goalies: Preston Long for Neenah/Menasha/Hortonville and Caleb Sauer for the Warriors were able to turn all pucks away from the twine. The shots were pretty even in the first period with Sauer saving 11 and Long saving 9 shots.
The second started just like the first ended: both teams skating up and down the ice trying to sneak one past the goalies. Waupun was the first to strike with 11:47 left in the second period, Jarrett Buchholz broke the ice and put the biscuit in the net. Cousin Baron Buchholz took control of the puck at the blue line, saw an opening in the defense and skated toward the net. At the top of the circle, Baron took a shot that stayed on the ice and hit Preston Long in the pads. The rebound squirted out just to the left of the net where Jarrett was sitting. Jarrett Buchholz took control of the puck bounced the first off the pads of Long, gained control again, and was able to put it past the Rockets goalie.
Deja vu from the Marquette Hilltoppers game from the Holiday Classic for the Warriors. They took the lead on Hilltoppers 1-0 until late in the game before having to go to OT.
Now the Rockets, who are ranked number 7 in the Coaches Poll were in the same position for Waupun.
Waupun took the lead 1-0 and held the lead through the 2nd. The Warriors had taken control out-shooting Neenah 14 to 9. Sauer stopped all 9 shots giving the Warriors the lead after 2 periods just like the Marquette game.
Neenah/Menasha/Hortonville came out liked a team possessed. For half of the 3rd period the Warriors turned away each attack and was able to counter by putting their own pressure on Long to get that second goal.
Unfortunately for Waupun, at 9:22 left in the 3rd period, Carter Flegner for the Warriors tried to hit a long stretch pass that was intercepted at the blue line of the Warriors by Owen Engel of the Rockets. Engel had a 2 on 1 placing Flegner and Sauer in tough positions. Engel just inside the right hand faceoff circle below the dot sniped a shot in the upper corner over the shoulder of Sauer making it 1-1.
WiPH Game Summaries
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And the game stayed that way to the very end. Both teams had power plays in the final two and half minutes of which Long and Sauer, along with the strong defensive efforts, didn’t allow the puck to pass over the goal line. Sauer stopped 10 of the 11 shots and Long stopped all 12. OVERTIME!
And what an overtime. Both teams were hungry for this victory! The winner takes the lead in the Badgerland Conference. And how on earth could little Waupun, which is not co-oped with any other schools, hold off a co-op of over 6,000 students? Well, it happened. Once again in OT, both teams played short handed. And again the Senior Goalies were fantastic and turned away all shots: 6 a piece. SHOOT OUT!
Since it was important in determining the Conference title, the teams had to go to a shoot out. Officially the game goes down as a 1-1 tie for WIAA purposes. If you haven’t been to a high school hockey game with a shoot out in a while, you have missed out on an electric atmosphere unless you are a goalie parent.
Three person shoot out was set up for determining the Badgerland Conference leader. Waupun shot first with Cameron Beek taking the puck toward Long. Beek tried a deek but Long stood his ground making the save.
Senior Cody Dias stepped on the ice for the Rockets and took the puck toward the net. He also tried a deek move around Sauer with no success.
Waupun Senior forward and Captain, Caleb Baxter took the puck next and was able to pick the corner of the net where Long was guarding, scoring the first goal for the Warriors.
Neenah Captain Alec Elkin stepped to center ice. he gathered speed and took the puck to Sauer. Sauer made a nice poke check knocking the puck off Elkins’ stick. 1-0 Waupun.
Carter Flegner was next for the Warriors and just missed a chance to put it past Long.
The Rockets final shooter was Ethan Long, brother of the Neenah goalie. He gathered a lot of speed and went right at Sauer. Once again, Sauer played the puck perfectly and stopped it.
Warriors won 1-0 in the Overtime to be 3-0-1-1 in the Badgerland Conference. Sauer and the team exploded off the bench to celebrate the 'pseudo' win over the Rockets.
Preston Long finished the game with 39 saves on 40 shots. Sauer threw his gear in the air and celebrated the big victory with his team. Sauer saved 38 of 39.
Next the Warriors will take on the Brookfield Stars in the 6th Annual Pink Out the Rink game on Saturday evening at 7:30pm at the Waupun Community Center.
The Pink Out is a fundraiser for the Womens Health Care unit in the Waupun Hospital to battle Breast Cancer and to provide funds to help a local cancer victim battle the disease. All money collected from the gate, concessions, and raffles goes toward the event. Come on down. Watch some good high school hockey and be a part of the solution to beating cancer.
