MEQUON — The Cedarburg boys hockey team needed a game like Thursday, but it was not just the 4-0 victory over Appleton United that pleased head coach Dave Muth, it is how the Bulldogs handled business along the way.
“It was a good game,” the coach explained. “It was Teacher Appreciation Night here. I think they had something a little bit more to play for with their favorite teachers in the stands.
“I was pleasantly surprised to see the kids come out flying,” Muth added. “We didn’t get one in the first period, but we put a lot of good work in. We got a ton of shots on net. It was fun to watch the first period.”
As the coach noted, Cedarburg did not tally in the opening period, but the Bulldogs had some good looks and held a 15-12 advantage in shots on goal over the first 17 minutes.
Best of all, the team kept things going after having nothing to show on the scoreboard despite putting together a strong opening frame.
“That’s something that we’ve kind of struggled with throughout the year,” Muth admitted. “We’ll play two periods of hockey, we’ll play two-and-a-half periods of hockey, and I think this is the first time this year that I can honestly say we completed a game.”
Cedarburg took the lead in the second period, but the home team got a key play from Henri Shell first that kept the game tied. The Bulldogs were whistled for a penalty early in the frame, and just as it expired, Xavier had a golden opportunity to go ahead. The visitors took control of the puck and had two players skating toward the blue line in attack mode with just one defenseman in position to slow them down. Rather than get beat by slick passing while skating backward, the junior challenged both players and was able to shut down one angle, then he defended the challenge presented by the other forward once he controlled the puck.
The defenseman neutralized what was shaping up to be a golden opportunity for Appleton to take the lead.
“Hank’s playing big. He’s playing a lot of minutes for us. He’s deserved that. He’s earned that,” Muth said. “And his game has really transitioned from last year where he was playing JV to really being a big part of our team on the D core. I can’t say enough nice things about Henri. He’s a great kid and he’s filling a big role.”
It took a little time for Cedarburg to take the lead, killing two penalties along the way, but Nathan Huck eventually lit the lamp and the Bulldogs never looked back.
The sophomore’s first tally came with less than three minutes remaining in the period, assisted by Anders Larson.
“We had our defenseman pinch. He kind of kept the puck in. It allowed Nathan to grab the puck at the half wall,” Muth said. “He walked in and finished it off. It was a great, great goal.”
Just as that score was being announced inside the Ozaukee Ice Center, Huck was back on the attack.
“That was a good bounce going our way and Nathan kind of did the rest of work himself,” Muth said. “He took it from kind of like the red line, in between the red line and the blue line, and just beat the defensive wide. Exactly what we preached, beat them with your speed, and he was able to finish that one off, too.”
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The forward is making positive strides on the ice and has now scored five goals this year.
“He’s big in terms of checking,” Muth said. “He was taking some dumb penalties at the beginning of the year and we had a conversation. He understands his role and tonight he put two in the back of the net, which were big.”
Cedarburg extended its lead midway through the final frame. Eli King, who created opportunities throughout the contest but was unable to net a goal of his own, set up an insurance tally for Connor Komberec.
The senior forward got loose and skated behind the net, which got the Appleton goalie out of position. King then passed to Komberec, who had an open net, and he put it away.
“Eli is a big part of this puzzle this year. Teams I’ve noticed, they try and lock him down as much as possible, which honestly opens up other opportunities for his linemates,” Muth said. “Connor scored tonight, again off of a great play from Eli. He moved the puck right into the empty net.”
King leads the team with nine points this season, with four goals and five assists. Huck now has five goals to hold the lead in that department and Komberec has lit the lamp four times.
Cedarburg wrapped up the scoring with less than two minutes to play. Ty Bublitz was able to get the puck away from an Appleton player and Grady Thom took possession and delivered an empty-net goal that traveled most of the length of the sheet to account for the Bulldogs’ final margin of victory by netting his first varsity goal.
“Super happy for him. He’s worked hard the last year and a half,” Muth said about Thom. “He’s got a big smile on his face, ear-to-ear, and I’m proud of him.”
Ethan Bert completed the shutout, making 28 saves in the victory.
“He was the last person I congratulated tonight because of his shutout. I’m super proud of him,” Muth said. “He was battling something against WNS and had to come out of the game, and he worked hard this week to get back in and he dominated tonight. He cleaned up all the loose pucks, he took whistles when he had to and he got the honor of a shutout.”
Best of all, Cedarburg earned a needed victory.
“No hidden secret, right, that we got the goose egg out of our win column,” Muth said. “I’m really proud of this group. They’ve stuck with it. They believe in each other and getting that first win is a good feeling for the group.”
Cedarburg was back in action Saturday, taking an 8-0 loss on the home ice against Brookfield.
The Bulldogs, now 1-14, will host Arrowhead in a Classic Eight Conference contest Friday at 5:15 p.m.