The Verona Wildcats won 6-4 over the Madison West Regent at Madison Ice Arena last night in the WiPH Boys Game of the Week.

The contest was heading towards a Regents domination of the game until early in the second period, when a critical goal scored by junior Wildcat forward Brockton Baker with assists from junior forward Mason McCormick and senior Aidan Schmitt brought a much-needed spark that ignited three more goals to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game later in the middle stanza. 

The three goals to give the Wildcats the lead came from McCormick on a power play (assists by Baker and sophomore forward Mack Keryluk), Keryluk off another power play (assists by freshman forward Walker Haessig and freshman defenseman Nathan Jurrens), and McCormick on an even-strength goal (assists from Keryluk and Baker).

“As soon as our guys get one (goal) there is blood in the water, our guys get very excited,” Verona head coach Joel Marshall said after the game.

The game was filled with penalties on both teams. The Wildcats had 26 penalty minutes on nine infractions, while the Regents had 18 minutes from nine penalties. 

Jurrens (assist to Keryluk) and junior defenseman Jake Osiecki (assist by sophomore forward Cale Rufenacht) put away the game by scoring a goal each to end the game.

Regents junior forward Drake Baldwin scored two goals and an assist, while senior forwards Conor Huie and Sam Loving each scored a goal of their own. Loving also scored an assist, along with senior defenseman Kieran Garvey and senior forward Colin Pulkrabek.

Garhett Kaegi stopped 15 shots in earning the win for Verona, while West goalie Adam Buencamino turned aside 36 pucks for the Regents.