Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this article are solely those of Matt Carey and do not reflect the opinions of Wisconsin Prep Hockey or its partners.
The Wisconsin Seniors started the 8AM Sunday game against Colorado with the intensity of Lionel Richie’s song Easy Like Sunday Morning. Colorado scored about 30 seconds into the game to take a 1-0 lead. A few minutes later, Colorado scored again and now had a 2-0 lead. But it would not last long.
Wisconsin Seniors changed tunes about halfway through the first period. It was Metallica’s Enter Sandman the rest of the game. Carsen Gause scored with assists by Bryce Dahl and Andrew Jicha with 8:37 remaining in the first period. Wisconsin finished the first period outshooting Colorado 14-8 but trailing 1-2.
In the second period Wisconsin Seniors put it together. Josh DeKarske kicked off the second period scoring spree. With 12:25 on the clock, Dekarske scored with an assist by Jackson Hoem. A minute later, Vincent Greene scored with an assist by Drew Sparacino.
Colorado’s frustrations of being outplayed resulted in penalties. Thirty seconds after Vincent Greene’s goal, Will McDonald scored a power play goal with an assist by Mason Johnson. Forty seconds later, Mason Johnson scored another power play goal with an assist from fellow Big Rivers Conference player, Dylan Byrne. The second period ended with Wisconsin Seniors leading 5-2.
Wisconsin Seniors entered the third period with a three-goal lead and momentum. Josh Dekarske kick started another scoring spree. Dekarske scored a shorthanded goal with an assist by his Wisconsin Rapids teammate, Carsen Gause, with 5:12 on the clock. With Dekarske’s goal Wisconsin Seniors are up 6-2.
Thirty seconds after the duo from Wisconsin Rapids connected, Wisconsin Seniors took a 7-2 lead when Andrew Jicha scored with an assist by Catcher Langeness. A minute later, Jicha scored again with an assist by Caden Feinstein. Wisconsin Seniors are now up 8-2.
In the final two minutes of the third period Wisconsin Seniors scored two shorthanded goals. Ryan Hilbert scored with an assist by Drew Sparacino, and Evan Burchardt scored with an assist by Dylan Byrne. Wisconsin Seniors won by a final score of 10-2.
Wisconsin Seniors finished the 2024 NIT on a two-game winning streak, and a final record of 2-2 in the prestigious tournament.
“The team continued to get better over the weekend and really showed how well they can play in the 2nd and 3rd periods of this morning’s game.” Tim Ebner, Wisconsin Seniors Head Coach
