When a new hockey season starts, coaches are still looking for some answers.  How will my team react to adversity?  Can they battle back from an early deficit? And many, many more questions.  Wisconsin Rapids and RWD coaches were able to get some early answers to these questions and more, but did they end up with some more questions only time will tell.

Wisconsin Rapids traveled to Reedsburg to open the 2014-15 season.  The game started with both teams moving the puck, but Rapids started keeping the puck in their offensive zone.  RWD's Jordan Brown was accessed a two minute minor for high sticking at 4:36 of the first period.  The Red Raiders' Sam Storlie scored a power play goal with an assist from Isaac Gilbert at 5:55 of the first period.  Rapids increased their lead to two, when Preston Witt and Casey Esselman assisted on Jared Sawyer's goal at 10:20 of the first period. Cody Kohls scared at 11:35 with an assist from Tanner Case to increase the lead to 3-0 for Rapids.  RWD's version of the Killer B's cut into the Red Raiders lead with an even strength goal by freshman Dylan Brown with Jordan Brown and Jordan Bill assisting on the play at 13:35 of the first period.  Ben Horzewski scored a goal with Logan Marsich and Andrew Schulenburg assisting on the goal for RWD with 2:48 remaining in the first period making the score 3-2.  Rapids' Sam Storlie was called for interference twenty-five seconds later.  The Red Raiders killed off the penalty and the first period came to an end with the score remaining 3-2.  Tyler Werne finished the first period with 5 saves for Wisconsin Rapids, while Michael Olson had 7 saves for RWD.

The second period saw Grant Scharmer called for tripping at 4:36 of the second period.  Once again Rapids killed off the penalty.  RWD was placing pressure on Werne, when Cody Kohls was call for cross-checking putting RWD on the power play at 6:53 of the second.  It was the third time Wisconsin Rapids was able to kill off a penalty.  Jacob Morman was called for Rapids' fourth penalty at 9:08 for tripping.  This time RWD was able to capitalize on the opportunity, when Jordan Bill scored an unassisted power play goal at 9:44 of the second period.  RWD's Jordan Bill was called for head contact at 13:08 and Rapids went on the power play.  However, it was Andrew Schulenburg scoring at short handed goal at 13:21 with an assist from Jordan Brown.  The second period came to an end with RWD leading 4-3.  Olson had 10 saves in the period, while Werne had 10 saves for Rapids.

Rapids came into the third period trailing by a goal after having led 3-0 in the first period.  Jordan Bill was called for his second penalty of the game at 4:08 of the third period.  Forty-two seconds later RWD's Austin Schyvinck was called for hooking giving Wisconsin Rapids a 5 on 3 power play.  Casey Esselman scored the power play goal at 5:26 with Luc Kreuser assisting to tie the game at 4.  Wisconsin Rapids took the lead back at 6:56 of the third period, when Erik Prochnow scored with an assist from Logan Conkey.  Rapids went back on the power play, when Darius Scholz was called for hooking with 3:18 left in the period.  RWD killed off the penalty.  RWD was on the attack with under a minute left in the game.  Michael Olson headed to the bench with 40 seconds left in the game.  Jordan Bill scored to tie the game at 16:26 of the third period with the Brown brothers (Jordan and Dylan) assisting.  The period ended in a 5-5 tie.  Werne had 4 saves in the third, while Olson had 12 saves for RWD.

Neither team was able to score in the extra 8 minutes.  Olson collected 3 more saves to finish the game with 32.  Werne had 4 saves and finished with a total of 23.