By John Kemmeter

With a mix of veterans and underclassmen contributing, the Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) boys hockey team has been on a roll heading into the final weeks of the regular season.

Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) freshman defenseman Noah Spurlin controls the puck from his knees during the sixth-ranked Panthers’ 6-0 win over the Pacelli Co-op boys hockey team at K.B. Willett Arena Friday, Jan. 12.
(John Kemmeter photo)

The sixth-ranked Panthers (15-2-0) went 2-0 to win the 20th Sentry Classic at K.B. Willett Arena Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12 and 13, and followed with a 4-3 win at second-ranked Wausau West (10-4-1) Monday, Jan. 15, to move into a first-place tie with West at the top of the Wisconsin Valley Conference (WVC) standings and run their winning streak to 12 games.

“We’re playing very well,” said SPASH boys hockey head coach Brandon Busse. “We’ve counted on some guys to step up big and they have, and the younger guys have, too.

“So, we’re very happy with the way we’ve been playing,” he said. “We’ve been on a pretty good stretch here, and we just want to continue that into playoffs.”

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Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) senior forward Carter Smigaj (2) prepares to fire a shot during the Panthers’ 6-0 win over Pacelli during the 20th Sentry Classic at K.B. Willett Arena Friday, Jan. 12.
(John Kemmeter photo)