SHS, Reiswig blank Rice Lake

The Superior High School boys hockey team won a battle of hot goaltenders in a 1-0 victory over the Rice Lake Warriors Tuesday night at Wessman Arena.

Senior Zach Reiswig picked up the shutout for the Spartans with 16 saves. Rice Lake senior Marc Hayton was just a notch behind, finishing with 37 saves.

SHS sophomore Bryan Bergstrom spoiled Hayton’s clean slate with his first varsity goal with 1:34 remaining in the second period.

After a scoreless first period that saw the Spartans outshoot the Warriors 13-3, Superior also dominated the second period with an advantage of 16-7 in shots on goal.

Hayton kept the game scoreless with a glove save on a breakaway attempt by Aaron Wakefield-Zubiate and a toe save on Tyler Nystrom’s shot from near the right post. He then received some help when Aaron Miller put a shot off the cross bar.

Hayton wasn’t as fortunate a couple of minutes later when Bergstrom’s shot from behind the goal bounced off something out front and snuck into the net.

Beau Reder picked up his first varsity assist on Bergstrom’s first varsity goal.

The Spartans opened the season by defeating Eau Claire Memorial 5-1 in the third-place game of the ECM Holiday Tournament Saturday afternoon at Hobbs Ice Arena. Superior lost to Green Bay Notre Dame Academy 10-3 in the semifinals Friday night.

Nystrom scored two goals and assisted on two others for the Spartans against the Old Abes.

Superior also got goals from Wakefield-Zubiate, Miller and freshman Preston Michaud and 27 saves from junior goaltender Paxton Paine.

Not only was Michaud’s goal his first as a Spartan, but Grant Hanson and Matt Hinaus picked up their first varsity points with assists.

Miller and Hanson had two assists apiece and Wakefield-Zubiate had one.

Against GBND, Wakefield-Zubiate scored two third-period goals for the Spartans and assisted on Nystrom’s goal late in the first period.

Miller assisted on both Wakefield-Zubiate goals, and Nystrom and Trent Olson added an assist each.

Paine and Reiswig combined to make 36 saves in goal for Superior.

Notre Dame led 4-1 after the first period and 7-1 after the second.

Notre Dame defeated Wausau West 7-1 in the championship game. Wausau West advanced to the title game with a 3-2 shootout win over ECM.

Superior hosts Hudson at 1 p.m. Saturday then plays at River Falls at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

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