USM 6 vs Hayward 3

Friday, in the first round of the Pines Classic Tournament in Eagle River, University School broke open a close game with three goals in the game's last four minutes and skated to a 6-3 victory over Hayward.

USM scored a goal in the first 9 seconds of the game.  Off the center ice face off, senior center iceman Alex Tesensky pushed the puck ahead, got it, and skated into the Hayward zone. From the top of the right circle, Tesensky shot it. The puck bounced off the pads of Hayward’s junior goalie Jeff Larson.  USM junior Simon Leahy was on the doorstep like the morning paper, and he deftly delivered the rebound to the net.

Hayward tied it up in the second period.  The Hurricanes’ junior Tom Hansen picked off a weak USM clearing pass at the point.  He fired it off the blocker of USM senior goaltender Dan Smyczek.  The puck bounced to Hayward senior Connor Sabin who quickly shot it in at 6:45.

USM went right back ahead on a power play.  Tesensky got the puck at the point in the Hayward zone.  He walked it along the blue line to the center and blasted a shot.  Leahy was in front and tipped it in at 7:26.

In the second period’s final minute, Hayward tied it up again.  On a power play, senior Ian Hansen intercepted a poorly conceived USM clearing pass at the right point, stepped in and blazed a shot through a screen and into the net at 16:04.

Hayward took its first lead of the game at 9:30 of the third period.  Junior defenseman Blake Orton prevented a USM breakout play and got the puck at the USM blue line.  He rifled a shot that hit Smyczek’s glove and bounced to the ice in the low right circle.  Sabin rushed to it and snapped it in.

Leahy achieved a natural hat trick to tie it back up at 3-3.   From the right corner in the Hayward zone, Tesensky passed the puck to Leahy in the near circle.  Leahy skated toward the net, toe dragged the puck across the crease, and eased it into the far side beyond Larson’s outstretched leg.  Time of the goal: 9:52.

As the clock ticked down, USM decided to step it up.  Working their power play, the Wildcats moved the puck around the Hayward zone.  Junior Aaron Storch got it along the left mid-boards and sent it to Tesensky at the point.  As before, Tesensky moved to the middle of the blue line with the puck and then fired a shot over Larson’s shoulder to put USM ahead to stay at 13:35 . 

The Wildcats cushioned their lead on another power play.  In the Hayward zone, Leahy moved a cross ice pass to Tesensky on the sideboards.  Tesensky moved in and laced a shot on net.  The rebound fell to senior Charlie James in front. Like a teasing older brother, James pulled the puck away from Larson and then whipped it past him at 15:42.

In desperation, Hayward pulled Larson.  USM junior Nick Hermberg took advantage of the situation by dumping the puck out of the USM end to classmate  James Shovers, who skated the puck across the center red line and sent a shot into the empty net with 21 seconds left in the game.

In the game Larson made 36 saves and Smyczek made 21 saves.

Hayward is now 9-6.  The Hurricanes play Mosinee, the loser of the tournament’s other first round game Saturday at 3:00 p.m.  USM improved its record to 6-7-2.  USM faces Northland Pines, which beat Mosinee 2-1 in overtime.  The tournament championship game is Saturday at 5:00 in the dome of the Eagle River Sports Arena.