CEC spoils SHS homecoming

The Superior High School boys hockey team played its first home game since Dec. 8, a span of 13 games, Tuesday night against Cloquet-Esko-Carlton.

Unfortunately for the Spartans, the Lumberjacks spoiled their homecoming with a 4-2 victory Tuesday night at Wessman Arena.

The loss drops the Spartans to 13-6-1 overall and 2-2 in the Lake Superior Conference.

CEC improves to 12-5-2 overall and takes over first place in the LSC at 3-0.

Zach Reiswig had 29 saves for the Spartans and Justin Ketola stopped 16 shots for Cloquet.

The Spartans took a 1-0 lead in the first period on Daniel Mikel’s third short-handed goal of the season with assists from Dane Sislo and Kyler Krob.

The Lumberjack tied it up at 7:06 of the second period on Tanner Robideaux’s goal with assists from Weston Michaud and Ryan Lind.

The Spartans regained a 2-1 lead later in the second period when Beau Reder’s rebound attempt, after a shot by Aaron Miller, went off the post and then the skate of CEC goaltender Justin Ketola before crossing the goalline.

Cloquet tied the game at 2-2 when Karson Kuhlman scored with a helper from Michaud with more than 12 minutes remaining in the third period.

The Lumberjacks put the game away with goals 20 seconds apart late in the third period.

Nate Niemi scored at 12:09, with assists from Koby Bender, and Drew Dincau scored at 12:29, with help from Robideaux and Michaud.

The Spartans host Chippewa Falls at 2 p.m. Saturday. The game will be carried live on WNXR 107.3 FM.

SPARTAN SPIN: Superior's last home game was a 5-4 overtime win over the New Richmond Tigers.

'Showdown in Titletown’

The Spartans team went 3-0 in the “Showdown in Titletown” this weekend in Green Bay.

After winning 2-1 Friday night at Wausau West, the Spartans defeated Madison Edgewood 4-1 Saturday afternoon and Fond du Lac 3-1 Sunday morning at the Cornerstone Community Center in Green Bay.

In Sunday’s win over Fondy, Aaron Miller scored two goals and Aaron Wakefield-Zubiate scored one. Tyler Nystrom assisted on two goals and Wakefield-Zubiate scored on Miller’s second goal early in the third period.

Jack Nejedlo’s goal cut Superior’s lead to 2-1 in the second period.

Paxton Paine had 16 saves for the Spartans, who put 36 shots on the Fondy goal.

SHS 4, Edgewood 1

In Saturday’s win over Edgewood, the Spartans trailed 1-0 after the first period.

Superior tied the game in the second period on Mikel’s short-handed goal with an assist from Sislo.

Superior took a 2-1 lead on Miller’s unassisted goal at 6:22 of the third period then sealed the victory with tallies from Nystrom, from Miller and Wakefield-Zubiate, and Anthony Bronson, from Wakefield-Zubiate.

Reiswig picked up the win in goal for Superior, finishing with 22 saves.

SHS 2, WW 1

The Spartans also trailed 1-0 after the first period Friday night in Wausau and then tied the game on Mikel’s second-period goal.

Nystrom followed with the game-winning goal midway through the third period.

Things got interesting late when Superior successfully killed off back-to-back penalties in the final 4:41 of the game.

Paine had 25 saves for the Spartans, who put 31 shots on Wausau West’s goal.

SPARTAN SPIN: Superior is now 5-3 all-time against Wausau West. The Spartans are also 4-0 all-time vs. Edgewood and 4-2 against Fond du Lac. ... Fondy (16-3-1), which began the tournament ranked No. 2 in Wisconsin, fell to No. 4. The Spartans are ranked No. 9. … The 17th annual Spartan hockey pancake breakfast is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday in the SHS cafeteria. The cost is $5 for adults and $4 for children 12-and-under (3-and-under are free). Kids wearing their Superior Amateur Hockey Association jerseys will get $1 off. Take-outs are available and there will be a back sale on site.

Fond du Lac 0-1-0—1

Superior 2-0-1—3

First period: 1. SHS, Aaron Miller (Tyler Nystrom), 5:30. 2. SHS, Aaron Wakefield-Zubiate (Nystrom), 5:58.

Second period: 3. FDL, Jack Nejedlo (Michael Wilson, Ian Tess-Wanat), 9:29.

Third period: SHS, Miller (Wakefield-Zubiate), 0:57.

Saves: Charlie Blagoue, FDL, 33. Paxton Pain, SHS, 17.

Madison Edgewood 1-0-0—1

Superior 0-1-3—4

First period: 1. ME, Paul Luebke, 9:41.

Second period: 2. SHS, Daniel Mikel (Dane Sislo), 11:49.

Third period: 3. SHS, Miller, 6:22; 4. SHS, Nystrom (Wakefield-Zubiate, Miller), 10:55 (pp); 5. SHS, Anthony Bronson (Wakefield-Zubiate), 12:52.

Saves: Charlie Bucholtz, ME, 16; Zach Reiswig, S, 22.

Superior 0-1-1—2

Wausau West 1-0-0—1

First period: 1. WW, Justin Anderson (Tanner Gould), 12:00.

Second period: 2. SHS, Mikel (Nystrom), 8:45.

Third period: 3. SHS, Nystrom (Wakefield-Zubiate), 8:45.

Saves: Paine, SHS, 24; Sam Wiegert, WW, 29.

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