City Times Staff
WISCONSIN DELLS — The Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings Hockey Club completed a weekend road sweep of the Dells Ducks to pick up wins 30 and 31 on the season and moved into sole possession of second place of USPHL Mid West Premier.
Friday night Feb. 9 saw the Riverkings start out the weekend right with a 5-0 victory. In the first period it was Brooks Hatfield getting the Riverkings on the board scoring a Power-Play goal with Matyas Kacirek and Ryan Mantz picking up the assists.
In the second period, the Riverkings came out firing and added three more goals. A minute into the frame, Austyn Quarters made it 2-0 Riverkings with help from Alexander Mavrogiannis and Raymond Flemming. Jacob Gaydos would strike on the Power-Play to make it 3-0 with Brett Delaat and Mantz grabbing the helpers. Rounding out the second period scoring to make it 4-0 was Kyle McCauley who lit the lamp with Jesse Edwards picking up the lone assist.
The Riverkings would add one more in the third period to make it a 5-0 final as it was Adam Peterson finding pay-dirt with Tommy McManus on the assist. Erik Schuette shut the door all night long making 15 saves in the crease to pick up the win and his second shut-out in as many games. The Riverkings Power-Play went 2-6 on the night and the Penalty-Kill killed shut down all three of the Ducks Power-Play chances.
On Saturday, the Riverkings completed the weekend sweep with a 7-1 victory. Just like the previous night, it was Brooks Hatfield getting the Riverkings on the board with Delatt and Flemming contributing with the assists. Later on in the first period Ryan Mantz made it 2-0 Riverkings as Kacirek and Flemming would pick up the assists.
In the second period, the Riverkings would add three more goals with two of them coming on the Power-Play. Mavrogiannis would make it 3-0 Riverkings scoring a Power-Play goal with Quarters and Cole Creger grabbing the assists. Jacob Gaydos would strike on the Power-Play later on to make it 4-0, as Mantz and Kacirek would get the assists. 14 seconds later it was Gaydos lighting the lamp again to give the Riverkings a 5-0 lead heading into the second intermission.
In the third period the Ducks would net a goal to make it 5-1 ending goaltender Erik Schuettes shut out streak at 165 minutes.
Brett Delaat made it 6-1 Riverkings scoring on the Power-Play with Gaydos and Kacirek helping out on the goal. Rounding out the weekend scoring was Cole Creger, making it 7-1 Riverkings, as Al Mcphee and Dylan Nurse grabbed the helpers.
Schuette picked up the win in the cease making 29 saves on the contest.
With the two wins on the weekend the Riverkings run their record to 31-10-1 on the season. The Riverkings will conclude the 2017-2018 regular season with two more home games as they take on the Minnesota Mullets Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16-17.
Puck drop for both games is slated for 7:30 at the South Wood County Recreation Center.
