MEDFORD HOCKEY - Four-goal period gives Medford first GNC hockey win
MEDFORD HOCKEY
With five hockey players out of the lineup due to illness and injury, the Medford Raiders went into Rhinelander Thursday with just 12 available players, but they came through with a strong 51-minute effort that gave them their first GNC win of the season, 5-1.
After a scoreless first period, Medford broke the game open with a four-goal second-period outburst. In the first varsity start of his career, sophomore Jaxston Malzahn made it stand, collecting 32 saves in goal, including 18 in the game-turning second period.
Five different players scored goals for the Raiders, who got their third win of the year and their first against a team other than the Chequamegon Co-op since a 7-4 win over Shawano on Feb. 6, 2023. It was the program’s first GNC win since a 7-5 victory over Waupaca on Dec. 19, 2022.
“We outplayed them and worked hard all game,” Medford head coach Klayton Kree said. “We were extremely shorthanded with injuries and sickness. Every player stepped up. Jaxston had a huge game. A couple clutch saves really saved us. They just continued to grind away the whole game.”
Rhinelander outshot Medford 9-5 in the scoreless first. The Raiders got the icebreaker just 1:17 into the second when Tucker Phillips beat Hodag goalie Asher Rivord with a Grady Crass assist. Logan Koski’s unassisted goal at 8:38 made it 2-0 and Shane Kiselicka got his first goal of the season at 9:51, assisted by Phillips.
“We talked before the game that they beat us netfront on (Jan. 11 in a 5-3 loss) and that we needed to win the net battles tonight,” Kree said. “Three or four of our goals came netfront. I’m so proud of the effort and the way they played. Our passing was looking great, the breakouts were smooth and offensive zone pressure was high, generating lots of chances.”
A minute after the Kiselicka goal, Rhinelander finally got one past Malzahn with Drake Nelson getting the goal off a Timber Cronauer assist. But Medford stopped any momentum the Hodags hoped to gain right there, and got the answering goal at 15:34 form Cole Pernsteiner. That score was assisted by Jacob Doyle and Crass.
On a third-period power play, Mason Harris closed the scoring with a netfront goal at 12:13.
Medford successfully burned off its two penalties in the game and was one for five on its power plays.
Medford last beat Rhinelander Feb. 11, 2020 in the GNC tournament by a score of 2-0. The Hodags had won eight meetings since.
The Raiders hoped to build on that momentum Tuesday, but their home game with Northland Pines was postponed by the extreme cold weather. That game will now be played Thursday, Feb. 6.
Medford will host Mosinee in an always-challenging GNC matchup Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. Shawano-Bonduel is at the Simek Center for non-conference play Jan. 30 before the Raiders visit the Frederic Co-op on Jan. 31.
