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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield boys hockey team wrapped up its regular-season schedule with a 7-0 wipeout of Merrill in a Wisconsin Valley Conference game Tuesday at the Marshfield Youth Ice Recreation Center.
Bo Howard scored a hat trick and added an assist for the Tigers, who won their first Valley game of the season and finish the regular season with a record of 6-16-1 and 1-10 in the conference.
Howard scored twice and Bryce Gadke added another goal to push Marshfield out to a 3-0 lead aft3er one period.
Cole Irish, Jake Andreae and Howard added goals in the second period and Avery Wellens scored in the third to round out the scoring for the Tigers.
Marshfield goalies Brad Krueger (four saves) and Austin Pickhard (three) combined for just seven saves in the shotout win as the Tigers dominated the action.
Stephen Simon had 28 saves for Merrill (1-12, 0-4 WVC).
Marshfield opens the WIAA postseason with a regional semifinal Tuesday at home against Medford (3-18). The game will start at 7 p.m. at the Marshfield Youth Ice Recreation Center. Marshfield won a regular-season meeting over the Raiders 7-0 on Jan. 8. The winner of that game moves on to a regional final on Feb. 14 at Eau Claire Regis/Chippewa Falls McDonell.
Tigers 7, Bluejays 0
Merrill 0 0 0 – 0
Marshfield 3 3 1 – 7
First period: 1. MAR, Bo Howard (Bryce Gadke, Jacob Draves), 15:16; 2. MAR, Gadke (Howard, Draves), 15:41; 3. MAR, Howard (Cole Irish, Bobby Leggon), 16:26.
Second period: 4. MAR, Howard, 9:08; 5. MAR, Jake Andreae (Andy Wittman, Justin Twardowski), 11:46; 6. MAR, Irish (Nelson Spindler, B. Leggon), 12:03.
Third period: 7. MAR, Avery Wellens (Andreae), 5:16.
Saves: MER, Stephen Simon 28; MAR, Brad Krueger 4, Austin Pickhard 3.
Records: Merrill 1-12, 0-4 Wisconsin Valley Conference; Marshfield 6-16-1, 1-10 Wisconsin Valley Conference.