New-look SPASH hockey ready to contend
Portage County Gazette
By John Kemmeter
With a roster full of players stepping into larger roles this season, the Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) boys hockey team will again look to contend for the Wisconsin Valley Conference (WVC) Title and a trip to the State Tournament.
After advancing to the Sectional Finals in each of the last three years, the Panthers are off to a 2-1 start this season, following a 3-1 victory over Bay Port (2-2) at K.B. Willett Arena Tuesday, Dec. 10.
“It’s going well,” said SPASH boys hockey head coach Brandon Busse. “It’s early on in the season, we’ve got to get some of the rust out, but we’re working hard every day and trying to get better every day.”
Last season, SPASH fell 8-6 to Wausau West in the Sectional Finals to finish 20-5-2, and lost Honorable Mention Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association (WHCA) All-State defenseman Jake Minch among its class of three seniors from a year ago.
Meanwhile, a trio of 2019 Honorable Mention WHCA All-State selections who would be seniors this season in forward Barrett Brooks (Austin Bruins of the NAHL), forward Dayne Hoyord (Northern Cyclones of the NCDC) and defenseman Cole Beilke (Lone Star Brahmas of the NAHL) are playing junior hockey this season, as is would-be junior Trey Zagrzebski (Barrie Colts of the OHL).
“There are a lot of new faces this year, and a lot of big shoes to fill,” said Busse. “Some guys are stepping up, and they’re starting to find their roles.”
Leading the returnees for SPASH this season is First Team All-WVC senior goalie Spencer Wierzba, who is in his third season as a starter, with junior Landen Kawleski and sophomore Jonathon Nafe in reserve at goalie.
“Spence is doing phenomenal, as he always does,” said Busse.
At defenseman, junior Austin Conley, sophomore Brandon Vlcko, senior Trent Metz and senior Austin Johnson all saw playing time last year, while junior Jacob Sankey and freshman Matthew Eiden will also look to contribute this season.
At forward, junior Brady Dillingham, junior Noah Spurlin, sophomore Lucca Weinkauf, senior Aidan Boettcher, senior Will Mason, senior Payton Marki, senior Gunner Zdroik, and sophomore Marcus Prondzinski all saw action on varsity last year, and have been joined this season by freshmen Kade Smigaj and Mason Keller, and sophomore Cael Bolton.
“It’s definitely tough losing our entire starting lineup, except Spence,” said Boettcher. “We have a young team, and it’s kind of like a fresh start.”
“Everyone on the team is contributing when their name’s called upon,” said Busse. “That’s all I could ask for.”
The Panthers opened this season with a 4-0 loss to sixth-ranked Neenah/Hortonville/Menasha Nov. 30, and followed with a 2-1 win at Marshfield Thursday, Dec. 5.
That led into SPASH’s home opener Tuesday night against Bay Port, where Boettcher scored on assists from Dillingham and Vlcko at the 11:04 mark of the first period to give the Panthers a 1-0 advantage.
“I would be mad if I missed, because it was an empty net,” said Boettcher. “But it was a good start to the game, an early goal.”
SPASH added to its lead in the second period, as Smigaj scored on an assist from Keller at the 4:04 mark to make it 2-0, while Bay Port had a goal 8:50 into the second period to close within 2-1.
It stayed that way throughout the rest of the second period and into the final minute of the third, when Smigaj scored an empty-net goal on an assist from Vlcko with 55.5 seconds left to close out the Panthers’ 3-1 victory.
“There’s always stuff to work on after these kinds of games,” said Wierzba. “But I think it was a good overall win, so I’m proud of the boys.”
“It was a very big win for us,” said Busse. “Bay Port took it to us for most of the second and the third there, but we were able to come out with a big win.”
SPASH is scheduled to host Wisconsin Rapids at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, and then will continue WVC play against Merrill/Wausau East in Merrill Thursday, Dec. 19.
Last season, the Panthers finished second in the conference, as Wausau West went 10-0 to win the WVC Title over SPASH (8-2), Marshfield (6-4), D.C. Everest (4-6), Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln (2-8) and Merrill/Wausau East (0-10).
“Conference is always tough,” said Busse. “Everyone’s going to play us tough; everyone seems to circle our game on the calendar, so we’re going to get everyone’s best.
“West has another good team, that’s going to be a test for us, but it’s going to be a battle all year long, and hopefully we can come out on top,” he said. “It’ll be a good test for us in the conference, to try to get back on top.”
Over the holiday break, the Panthers will compete in the Green Bay Notre Dame Invitational Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 26-28, while they will play a pair of games in the Sentry Classic at K.B. Willett Arena, starting with a matchup against Stoughton at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3.
“We’ll start off (our goals this season) with winning conference, winning the Sentry Classic, and the Christmas Tournament that we’re going to attend in Notre Dame,” said Busse. “And then hopefully winning the Sectional Championship, and then hopefully state.
“We’re going to take it one at a time,” he said. “And hopefully attain all of our goals.”