The Capitols U16 team hosted TW U16 for two games at Bob Suter’s Legacy 20 Arena in Middleton on Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5.

Game one: TW won 6-1

The two-game series opened on Saturday night. On paper these are two evenly matched teams. The Caps entered the game ranked 7th and TW 8th in the Central District, according to myhockeyrankings.com.

TW got on the scoreboard first. One minute into the game Josh Thombs from the Waukesha Wings was deep in the offensive zone near the boards and he put an innocent looking shot on net. The Caps goalie was unable to control the puck, and it miraculously found its way over the goal line.

TW extended its lead to 2-0 a little over three minutes later. Defenseman Eric Palm of the Hudson Raiders did what coaches preach; get a puck through traffic and on net. Palm’s shot beat the Caps goalie to give TW a 2-0 lead. The first period ended with TW up 2-0.

A minute into the second period Tomahawk’s Jett Reilly received a beautiful pass from Brookfield’s Archer Hillig. Jett raced in like he was full of high-octane fuel and ripped a shot past the Caps goalie like a sharp hatchet splitting wood for a campfire. TW is up 3-0.

TW extended its lead five minutes later. Hudson’s Eric Palm got his second goal of the game with assists from Archer Hillig and Braydon Hannula. Palm’s goal gave TW a 4-0 lead. The second period ended with TW up 4-0.

TW was the first team to score in the third period. Archer Hillig lit the lamp a little over three minutes into the period to give TW a five-goal lead.

The Caps finally got on the scoreboard at the midpoint of the third period when Eli Ehrhardt scored with an assist from Ryder Richards. TW’s lead is now 5-1.

TW extended the lead back to five goals with five minutes remaining in the game when Wausau West’s Owen Pergolski scored with an assist by Archer Hillig.

Team Wisconsin won 6-1. Archer Hillig led TW with three assists and one goal. Zach Burdick of SPASH gave up one goal on 17 shots.

Game two: TW won 5-2

Outside it was a sunny and peaceful Sunday morning. Inside the rink game two was intense and physical. Just seconds into the game, Easton Brown of the Caps was sent to the penalty box for introducing himself a little too affectionately. With Brown in the penalty box, Archer Hillig capitalized on the man advantage and scored a power play goal to give TW a 1-0 lead.

The Caps didn’t flinch. They played with resilience Sunday, and they evened it up five minutes later when Cole Richards scored with an assist to Max Segelstrom.

One minute after Cole Richards scored for the Caps, Carter Oliphant gave the Caps their first lead of the weekend. Oliphant, a big strong forward, scored with assists to Easton Brown and Ryder Richards, to give the Caps a 2-1 lead and momentum.

Momentum shifted back to TW five minutes later when SPASH’s Max Mittelsteadt tied the game 2-2. Mittelsteadt’s goal was assisted by his SPASH teammate Beckett Carroll and Brookfield’s Archer Hillig.

TW regained the lead in the final minute of the first period when Braydon Hannula scored with assists from the Brookfield duo of Brody McKay and Archer Hillig.

TW scored two goals in the third period. Neenah’s Preston Liedke scored with an assist from Brody McKay with 6:30 remaining to give TW a 4-2 lead. In the waning minutes Braydon Hannula put an exclamation point on the victory when he scored an empty net goal with assists from Archer Hillig and Eric Palm.

Team Wisconsin won 5-2. Archer Hillig led TW with three assists and one goal, and Evrett Leslie of Northland Pines was solid in net.

“We played our game. We stuck with the plan. Our team is getting better each week. That’s a testament to the kids in our locker room. Win or lose they stick together.” Rick Dorman, Team Wisconsin U16 Coach

TW 16 is coached by Rick Dorman, Dawson Schwengler, Shayne McLaughlin, and Jack Andringa. For more information regarding TW, please visit www.teamwisconsin.net

Yours for hockey,

Matt Carey