By Jed Buelow
Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor, Sports and Nature Editor
The season came to an end for Hatchet hockey as they traveled to Eagle River Thursday with the tough task of taking on top-seeded Northland Pines Eagles in the opening round of the WIAA playoffs and fell by a score 14-0.
On paper the Eagles showed just how impressive they have been this season and it bore out on the ice at the Eagle River barn with the shutout win. Not only did Pines finish with the top offense in conference averaging 9.7 goals a game, they also entered the contest with the best defense giving up an average one goal per contest en route to the GNC’s best record at 8-0 and 22-4 overall.
Hatchet coach Chris Bembinster called it a tough ending to a season where the team never quite managed to find the winning combination on a consistent basis. The Hatchets finished the season without a win in the conference and 2-21 overall.
“We had a good group of kids but just never came up with the winning combination. My thanks to all those involved with our season this year,” the coach said in adding the Hatchet hockey program wishes the rest of the Hatchet teams the best as they continue to compete the rest of the way.
The loss to Pines also brought an end to the Hatchet careers of six Tomahawk seniors. They include Zach Grigg, Caleb Lund, Dominic Zattera, goalie Chris Callahan, Cody Scholz and Anthony Ierulli and they are wished the best of luck in future Hatchet athletics and all other endeavors going forward.