Seventh-seeded East ended the season for a short-handed, 10th-seeded Merrill squad in a 12-2 contest in the opening round of the WIAA playoffs at Marathon Park last Tuesday.
“This was a disappointing way for the season to end,” MHS coach Chase Nelson said. “To play them tough twice during the regular season – losing both games by one goal – and then to have this happen was rough. I felt that the kids skated hard for the most part, we just made too many mistakes in our defensive zone.
“Even at 6-1 after the second period, we never felt that we were out of the game. We did get into some penalty trouble at the end of the second and into the third, and with a short bench that didn’t help the matter.”
Merrill trailed 3-0 with :47 left in the first when Matt Ladewig netted a Michael Baumann assist. But East ripped off five straight into the third period to take a 9-1 lead. Kyle Kleinschmidt broke the string with an unassisted tally 1:40 into the frame.
“Tonight we lost seven seniors to graduation,” Nelson said. “It is always an emotional time of the year when it all comes to an end so abruptly. These seven young men have been through quite a journey. They had to make a decision as freshmen to play high school hockey, or stay back in youth hockey for one more year. Their decision had a huge effect on Merrill hockey because we may not have had enough kids to have a high school team that year, and we may have never had a team again.
“Their sophomore year, hockey was put on the chopping block by administration, and thankfully it survived a vote by the school board. They responded the next year by winning the most games (11) in school history in one season, and then this year winning eight more games. They finish their high school career with 25 wins, the most of any group of graduating seniors in program history. We coaches wish them the best of luck in the future!”
Saves–MHS–Stephen Simon 16-9-6–31, 8 G; Bryce Brokeing *-*-3–3, 4 G. WE–Neil Adams 4-7-4–15.