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USM Shuts Out DC Everest

By Tom Geilfuss, 12/07/13, 9:30AM CST

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The night was cold, but the Wildcats were hot

The University School boys’ hockey team defeated DC Everest 5-0 in a non-conference game at USM Friday night.

The night was cold, but the Wildcats were as hot as a conflagration in a dry forest. They blazed 34 shots on the Evergreens’ net and fired many more nearby. The Evergreens, who have not scored a goal in their first three games, were further mystified by the goaltending magic performed by USM senior Bryan Botcher.  Botcher made 17 saves and recorded his second straight shutout of the young season.

USM’s coach Tim Quinn provided some thoughts on the game, “After a good showing during the first weekend and a fair amount of positive press afterward, I was half expecting us to have a let down and come out flat, but the boys showed their mental toughness by continuing the strong pace we established during the opening weekend of the season and jumping on DC Everest from the opening face-off.  I was pleased that we were able to spread the scoring around a bit, and that our power play, in particular, continues to get better.  I have a lot of respect for the DC Everest squad. They did not give up, despite being down by more than a few goals, and really put some pressure on during the third period.  Thankfully, Bryan Botcher made a number of strong saves to preserve the shutout.”

The Wildcats scored three goals in the first period.  The first came just 4:24 into the game.  The Wildcats got the puck into the Evergreens’ zone and moved it around.  It went to sophomore Jake Kandel on the right boards.  Kandel fed it to sophomore defenseman Tommy Ferrara who was stepping in from the near point.  Ferrara blasted a low shot toward the net, and senior Duncan Brown slyly tipped it past DC Everest’s senior goalie Michael Moe for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

USM added another goal just over two minutes later.  On the play, junior Hayden Brown got the puck along the left sideboards near the Evergreens’ blue line.  Brown went for a skate down the boards, along the end line, and around the DC Everest net.  He swirled out front, and like he was stuffing the goalie’s stocking, he jammed the puck into Moe.  The rebound caromed to the slot.  USM junior Peter Barney snared it, pulled it away from a defender, and whipped it into the upper twines of the net at 6:54.

The Wildcats continued to pummel the Evergreens with shots, but they did not score their third goal until the final two seconds of the first period.  Botcher started the play by sending the puck to freshman Nick Epperson.  Epperson skated deep it into the DC Everest zone.  He turned and passed it to senior Vadim Sukhanov along the mid boards.   Like an artillery gunner, Sukhanov unloaded a quick blast that roared past Moe to give USM a 3-0 lead.

The Wildcats scored a goal in each of the next two periods. Both came on power plays.

During a power play early in the second period, the Wildcats got the puck in the Evergreens’ end, moved it around, and took several shots at the net.  Eventually the puck went to senior defenseman Chris Keliher at the left point.  He slid it down the boards to Duncan Brown.  Brown skated toward the slot looking at the net.  Like a scholar, Brown studied his options.  As he swept through the slot he found the correct answer and fired a low bullet inside the right goalpost at 6:32.

The Wildcats scored another power play goal in the third period.  Once again the Wildcats had the puck in the Evergreens’ zone and liberally fired it at the net.  Senior Justin Brandt got a rebound and knocked it toward Sukhanov who fired a shot.  The puck went to junior Ben Hrabak in the slot.  Hrabak pulled it away from the beleaguered goalie, Moe, and fired it into an open side of the net at 12:32.

USM is now 3-0.  The Wildcats will put their undefeated record to the test at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 7th when highly ranked Wausau West invades USM for a non-conference clash.

WiPH Game Summaries