Jan 4...Fond du Lac
The Fond du Lac Pee Wee A's dropped a home and home series here Sunday with Wausau to cap a 1-2-1 weekend overall.
The Warjacks jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first game Sunday before Connor Blanck scored Fondy's only tally. The Thunder was outshot 37-10 as Wausau won by a final of 7-1.
Wausau again built a comfortable lead in the second game before Jack Nejedlo closed the gap to 5-1 late in the second. The Thunder scored three times in the final period on goals by Blanck, Logan Mertens and Brady Sarauer but could not keep the Warjacks out of their own net and lost the game 8-4. The strong Wausau squad held a 35-31 edge in shots.
Fond du Lac traveled to Stevens Point Saturday and nearly escaped with a shutout until the Ice Hawks scored their lone goal with 54 seconds remaining. The game ended by a score of 6-1.
Shots were nearly even between the two squads but William Shober stood tall throughout the contest, making key saves under heavy pressure.
Both Mark Austin and Anthony Grebe scored twice in the game. Grebe's first goal came unassisted in the opening frame. Nejedlo jumped on the second period opening faceoff, stormed the Ice Hawk zone and got the puck to Austin, who backhanded it into the net. Grebe scored again unassisted two minutes later from the left face off circle. Later in the period, Austin skated behind the net and found Mertens out front to make the score 4-0. Brendon Gysbers put a hard shot on net from the point at 9:23, and Austin picked up the rebound for his second goal.
The Thunder went on the power play late in the final period and Nejedlo had a nifty backhander to put his squad on top 6-1.
Fond du Lac hosted DePere Friday in a 2-2 tie. Austin tipped in a Blanck centering pass early in the first period before Grebe outhustled the Voyageurs down the length of the ice to put Fondy on top 2-0 going into the first intermission.
Two DePere goals just 16 seconds apart in the next period tied the game and Fond du Lac had to settle for its second tie of the season.
The team, now 15-5-1, travels to Eau Claire for a tournament Friday through Sunday.
