Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
Last Saturday morning, the new Merrill-Wausau East Bluejack Hockey coop made their season debut at Wausau’s Marathon Park, taking down Green Bay-United 6-4.
The ‘Jacks got the early jump with a Brendan Root (Asst: Austin Burgener/Joe Ladewig) goal at the 10:40 mark. Following a Green Bay answer, Merrill-East responded again with a goal from Ladewig, assisted by Burgener.
The bout would continue in slugfest fashion into the latter portion of the second period, when the Jacks took off on a three-goal run led by James Pawlicki (Asst: Adam Detert) and followed up by goals from Joseph Boutain (Asst. Ty Bailey and Burgener) and a solo goal from Christian Matson, setting Merrill-East up 6-3.
Despite another Green Bay goal in the third, the Bluejacks held on for the 6-4 win.
Senior goalie Austin Jensen enjoyed a solid performance with an 84% save percentage, allowing just 4 of 24 shots on goal.
GBU: 1 2 1- 4
BJK: 1 5 0- 6
Scoring: Burgener: (1 g, 3a); C. Matson (1g); B. Root (1g); Ladewig (1g, 1a); J. Pawlicki (1g); A. Detert (1a);
J. Boutain (1g); A. Bailey (1a); J. Boutain (1a)
Goal Tending: Austin Jensen 4/24
Joust with the Jaguars
Thursday night the Jacks made their Smith Center debut with a 2-2 overtime tie with Ashwaubenon.
Merrill-East would once again draw first blood with a Burgener goal (Asst by Ivan DeBroux and Ben Brown) at the 2:09 mark. The Jaguars responded late in the first and were soon countered by a Ladewig and Bailey effort early in the second to give the Jacks a 2-1 lead. The Jags would tie it late in the third and following an overtime stalemate, parting ways deadlocked at two.
Senior Goalie Bryce Broeking enjoyed a huge night allowing just 2 of 37 shots on goal for a 94% save percentage.
ABN: 1 0 1 0-2
BJK: 1 1 0 0-2
Scoring: Burgener (1g); Ladewig (1g); DeBroux (1a); Brown (1a): Bailey (1a)
Goal Tending: Bryce Broeking (2/37) 94%