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Badgers Start Spring Semester Hot
The Badgers kicked off their spring semester of the 2021-22 season on a high note vs. Minnesota State.
Starting after a rough drive from Madison to Mankato, MN, the Badgers were looking to set the tone vs. the Mavericks.
The scoring opened when Seth Gehrke (get used to hearing that name) scored off passes from John Simon (this one too) and Dominic Valentini. Gehrke scored off a great rebound shot from Simon after entering the zone from the Valentini pass. The 1-0 lead would last for a few minutes before a squeaker beat Sean Goss above his pad to tie the game at 1. The tie would hold until the end of the first.
John Simon started the scoring in the second with his second point of the night - Trace Tompkins with the assist to put the Badgers up 2-1. After killing a John Simon penalty, he and Seth would notch a few more points. Gehrke scores his second of the night, putting the Badgers up 3-1 late in the second. Assists going to John Simon and Quinn Friedow. The Badgers would take that lead into the intermission. Badgers lead 3-1.
Less than a minute into the third, Jake Feldt roofed a shot to make it 4-1 good guys. John Simon and Friedow would assist the goal. With just over 5 minutes to play in the game, Valentini would score five hole off a rocket of a snap shot to make it 5-1 Badgers. Gehrke and Travis Kernen would assist the effort. The team would ride out the final 5 minutes with a comfortable lead, winning by a Final of 5-1.
Box Score:
John Simon - 1G 3A
Seth Gehrke - 2G 1A
Dominic Valentini - 1G 1A
Jake Feldt - 1G
Quinn Friedow - 2A
Trace Tompkins - 1A
Travis Kernen - 1A
Game two took place a mere 8 hours after game one, but that didn't hinder the Badgers at all. A minute and a half in, Jake Bailey's outlet pass connected with Eli Padilla who made a nifty pass to Travis Kernen to make it a 1-0 lead for the visitors. About a minute later, Gehrke blasted one home to make it 2-0, John Simon and Feldt grabbing the assists there. The very next shift, John Simon scores to make it 3-0 less than five minutes into the game. Feldt grabbed an assist with the secondary going twin two, Joe Simon. A tough defensive turnover late in the period gave the Mavericks life, making it 3-1 Badgers. That score would stand after a hectic first period.
Kernen would open the scoring the second making it 4-1 Badgers. Feldt with the primary, Ty Bailey with the secondary. The offense would stall for both teams until the Mavericks score their second of the game about 8 minutes into the second. 4-2 is the new Badger lead. A tough defensive battle would ensue, forcing the Badgers to ride the two goal lead into the third.
The third period would prove to be a challenge for the Badgers as about 6 minutes in, Nathan Rehm would take his first penalty in about three years, putting the Badgers on the kill. After a questionable holding call sent John Simon to the box, the Badgers would have to kill 5 on 3. But, the Maverick power-play, which was abysmal all weekend, couldn't find the back of the net - back to full strength. The Badgers' power-play couldn't find the back of the net either later in the period, keeping the score at 4-2. The teams would ride that score for the entirety of the final frame, giving the Badgers the win and the weekend sweep.
Box Score:
Travis Kernen - 2G
John Simon - 1G 1A
Seth Gehrke - 1G
Jake Feldt - 3A
Joe Simon - 1A
Jake Bailey - 1A
Ty Bailey - 1A
Eli Padilla - 1A
The Badgers are on the road for the second week in a row to start the semester next week against Bethel. Game 1 is 9:15PM at the Super Rink in Blaine, MN. Game 2 is at 4:20PM at Ken Yackel-West Side Arena, in St. Paul, MN. The team will look to add 4 more critical points in the WCCHA standings and continue to climb the ACHA Central Region Rankings. The team is currently in Second Place in the WCCHA SE Division and #12 in the Central. The top 14 teams will go to the Central Regional Tournament in LaCrosse, WI in late February.
We would like to thank everyone for their continued support! We hope to see you all at the rink soon!
