The fifth-seeded DC Everest Evergreens scored early and often to down the undermanned number twelve seed, Tomahawk Hatchets 11-1 in Regional semifinal action at the Greenheck Fieldhouse on Tuesday night. Alex Degner got things started for the host team just 33 seconds after the first puck dropped, and the Evergreens never looked back.
That quick goal seemed to take some of the spark from the visiting Hatchets, who started the game with but 12 skaters and a goalie. Everest scored five times in the first period, with Grant Dennis, Brady Borrell, Mathew Janke, and Michael Plaza joining in the barrage.
Tomahawk got a few shots on Evergreens goalie Michael Moe during their only power play opportunity in the first, and Moe ended the period with 3 save. Dan Hanke stopped 11 shots for the Hatchets.
Tomahawk came out for the second period with a new sense of purpose and played a much stronger game for most of the frame minutes, holding the Evergreens to one goal by Plaza at the 4:12 mark that put the contest into running time.
The Hatchets got on the board with a power play goal by Jakob Panzer just 12 second into the third, temporarily halting the clock. Bryce Dively got the six-goal lead back three minutes later, and the clock kept on running from there.
Everest added goals by Isaac Schiro, Cameron Kissinger, and two more by Dennis, completing his hattrick, and putting an end to Tomahawk’s season.
The Evergreens travel to KB Willett Arena in Stevens Pont (weather permitting) on Thursday night to take on the fourth-seeded SPASH Panthers in the Regional Final.