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The Ice Wolves Peewee team kicked off 2014 with a weekend tournament in Sparta. While they didn't come home with the top prize, second place was enough to make the three game trip a success and further boost their confidence level heading into the second half of the season.
The first game ended up being one of those games a team wishes they could have back as they faced the Pettit Patriots from Milwaukee Saturday morning. The Ice Wolves seemed to have a hard time getting started while Pettit showed up ready to play and came out flying. Throughout the game Dodgeville got beat to loose pucks, lost one-on-one battles, and was outshot 55-8. Conner Rusch was stellar in goal for the Ice Wolves but, in the end, the team just couldn't get the puck out of their own zone to sustain any offensive pressure. The Patriots would score one goal in the first period, another in the third, and keep Dodgeville off the board to take the game 2-0.
After a few hours break the Ice Wolves returned to face the tournament host, Sparta. Again, they seemed to be just a step off early in the game, but managed to get on the board first on an unassisted goal from Matthew Berg. Despite getting the lead early, the Wolves still couldn't find a way to shift into the next gear. It would cost them, as Sparta would score early in the second period and early in the third to take the lead. With time winding down in the game Dodgeville got the needed spark they were looking for. Brock Turkington tied the game up on an unassisted goal. Less than a minute later he would give them the lead off a feed from Gabriel Vivian. Vivian would earn another assist three minutes later as Sean Wahlin scored an insurance goal to give the Wolves a 4-2 win.
The late-game surge seemed to pump up the Ice Wolves as they returned for their final game Sunday against Tomah. A win would secure second place in the round robin style tournament, and with game-time temperatures hovering at or just below zero, the Wolves felt right at home.
They came out strong right from the opening faceoff. A few minutes into the game Vivian scored an unassisted goal to start things off. Less than a minute later McKenna Bowers made it a two-goal lead with the assist going to Madeline Williams. Tomah wasn't about to give up, however, scoring two unanswered goals to tie the game up. From that point on it was all Ice Wolves. Wahlin dumped a pass in front of the net and Jason Gleichauf was there to bang the puck past the goaltender. Gleichauf would strike again on a similar play, with the assist this time going to Turkington.
Next to get his name on the score sheet was Anthony Bertram on a rebound shot from Turkington. That score sheet entry would be duplicated seconds later as Bertram again scored with an assisted from Turkington, who earned the playmaker by getting his third assist. Rusch kept the opposition off the board the rest of the way and the Wolves went on to win 6-2, earning them the second place trophy.
This week the Peewees return to the frigid confines of Ley Pavilion to prepare for the upcoming weekend. They return to league play Saturday, hosting Waunakee, followed by another home game Sunday against the West Madison Polar Caps.
As always, for more information on all things Ice Wolves please visit their website at iwyha.com.