By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Colorful win over MG improves Monroe to 4-4
nathan ratke
Monroe’s Nathan Ratke skates up the ice in the second period of a 4-1 win over Monona Grove Dec. 12. - photo by Adam Krebs

MONROE — The Monroe co-op boys high school hockey team lost back-to-back games last week before netting a win against Monona Grove Dec. 12.

Monroe was bested by both Sun Prairie (Dec. 8) and Waunakee (Dec. 10), but skated to a solid 4-1 win over Monona Grove on Dec. 12 to improve to 4-4 on the season.

The Sun Prairie loss was a tight affair, but Waunakee, a team filled with talent from around the Waunakee and Madison commute area, was a different story. The game against Monona Grove was a rematch from the season opener that Monroe won 8-0 back on Nov. 23 at SLICE.

Hayden Roth opened the scoring against Monona Grove in the Dec. 12 matchup, putting the puck into the net less than three minutes into the game. Cade Janecke and Cash Anderson were credited with assists.

Just 30 seconds into the second period, Anderson lit the lamp thanks to assists from Janecke and Roth. Monona Grove broke the egg six minutes later when Max Unitan took a pass from Tyler Everix on a Monroe turnover and slipped the puck past Monroe goalie Jayden Johnson.

Hayden Roth
Hayden Roth - photo by Adam Krebs

Before the second period could close out, however, Monroe regained its two-goal lead when Janecke scored on a power play with a shot from a tight angle. Roth and Roman Bauer assisted.

The game got colorful late in the third. With 2:56 to play, Monroe was hit with a triple penalty; a hold, an unsportsmanlike by the goalie and a misconduct. MG pulled its goalie to make the 5-on-3 power play a 6-on-3 affair in hopes of a late push to score two goals. Monroe swapped out its defenders for a three-forward line of Janecke, Roth and Ryan Molitor. With 1:39 left in regulation, Janecke lit the lamp with an unassisted empty net short-handed goal for the game’s final score.

Monroe has six more games in December — all at home. Due to Dane County’s COVID-19 regulations limiting mass gatherings, Monroe’s rink is one of the few available in southern Wisconsin. Monroe’s high school club schedule with WAHA has 21 of 25 games at home. Scheduled next are DeForest (Dec. 15), Sun Prairie again (Dec. 17), Beloit Memorial (Dec. 19), Verona (Dec. 22), Rock County Raptors (Dec. 27) and New Berlin (Dec. 31).