skip navigation

RWD "edges" Crusaders in extra period

By sjm, 11/23/11, 9:28PM CST

Share

Bjorklund tallies five points in win

The defending Badger North Boys High School Hockey Champions, Reedsburg-Wisconsin Dells (RWD) knew they had a tough early stretch to start the 2011-12 season, and it started with game one. On Tuesday (11/22) they opened on the road at Madison Ice Arena to face Badger South foe Madison Edgewood.

It was the visiting RWD at the 10:45 mark who lit the lamp for the first goal of the game, a power play goal by senior defenseman Nick Christensen, with an assist credited to Luke Bjorklund. Just 49 seconds later though Edgewood senior defenseman Carl Beglinger ripped a shot from the blue line that found the back of the net to even the score.

With the score knotted up at one apiece after 17 minutes of play, and Edgewood seemingly holding the time of possession advantage, RWD went into the locker room with some well-earned confidence.

Edgewood appeared to be just a bit off in their defensive schemes and gave up several odd-man rushes. Senior Crusader netminder Patrick Annen turned away several of RWD’s scoring attempts early in the second stanza. But it was another 3-on-1 RWD rush that produced one of those ‘bing-bang’ goals as Bjorklund slid home a nice feed from freshman Sean Teske. End of two periods and the visitors had the edge 2-1.

The scrappy RWD skaters had to kill off a penalty before Bjorklund tickled the twine at the 3:54 mark of the third period. Bjorklund wasn’t done with that shift as 17 seconds later fed his freshman linemate Teske who made the score 4-1. But the Crusaders weren’t going down that easy on opening night.

With the third period slipping slowly ticking away, senior Crusader forward Justin Peter brought his team to within two goals at the 8 minute mark, and it’s now 4-2 RWD. Then, with just seven seconds remaining on a 5-on-3 man advantage for Madison, senior forward Taylor Brown inched his team to within one goal of the visitors. Coach Rothering calls a timeout for his Crusaders with 1:13 remaining in regulation, needing one goal to erase a three-goal deficit and send the game into overtime.

With the extra attacker on the ice, the relentless forecheck and RWD trying to hang on, it was Crusader senior defenseman Alex Brown who slammed home a loose puck with just 22 seconds in regulation. Game tied 4-4.

In overtime Edgewood dominated the first 1:30, until RWD skaters pushed the play into Edgewood’s zone. Once again, the Bjorklund-Teske tandem played a role, as they assisted on junior forward Matt Olson’s overtime winning goal. Final score, Reedsburg-Wis. Dells 5, Madison Edgewood 4.

RWD Coach Neil Mattson said his team was looking forward to this match up since it was put on the schedule. “I told our guys if we could withstand their (Edgewood’s) pressure, we could be in this game,” said Mattson.

Mattson said he thought this would be a good morale booster for the team and he was proud of the resiliency of the young skaters. “We lost a lot of guys to graduation, so we have some really young players having to step up. I’m proud of those kids the way they played tonight,” said Mattson.

Next up for Madison Edgewood are the Fond du Lac Cardinals on Saturday at Madison Ice Arena, while RWD stays on the road, playing in the Beloit Tournament this weekend.

 Photos by Tom Fonfara