Tiger boys miss their chance

• Jake Bellows (6) tries to get free

New Richmond’s Jake Bellows (6) tries to get free from the grip of a Rice Lake player to play the puck near the Rice Lake net during last Tuesday’s game at the New Richmond Sports Center.

Talk about it

Missed chances were the difference for the New Richmond boys hockey team in a 3-0 home ice loss to Rice Lake last Tuesday.

The Tigers gave every indication that they could skate with the Warriors, one of the top teams in the Big Rivers Conference. In the early stages of the game, the Tigers had an overwhelming edge in every aspect of the game except scoring. The Tigers took the first 10 shots of the game. Rice Lake didn’t get its first shot until more than 12 minutes had elapsed, but that shot found its way into the Tiger net.

In the view of Tiger coach Adam Swanda, that goal likely shouldn’t have happened. The goal came on a shot from the point, that could have been broken up as it was being taken, but wasn’t. The shot was then screened in front of the net when a Warrior player wasn’t tied up sufficiently.

The first period was when the Tigers had their best chances to score. They put on heavy pressure, and several times the Rice Lake goalie left big rebounds in front of the net. But the Tigers couldn’t get in position to get their sticks on the rebounds.

After the big push by the Tigers in the first period, Rice Lake came out with a much higher intensity level in the second period. Rice Lake scored twice in the period.

Swanda said the best part of this game from the Tigers’ standpoint was the play of the defensemen. He said Eric Wergin and Zach Kier continue to evolve as the team’s top pair of defensemen. Tyler Montgomery, Nate Jones and Dom Peterson make the Tigers five-deep in reliable defensemen.

The Tigers will be counting heavily upon their defensive unit this week. On Thursday the Tigers look to avenge their only Middle Border Conference loss, when they play at Somerset. The Tigers will also be skating on Saturday, facing Eau Claire North at the Hobbs Ice Arena.

Tags: sports, boys, hockey, rice, lake