OREGON — The Cheesemakers nearly avenged an 8-0 loss thanks to a wild comeback Jan. 11 at Oregon. 

Just five weeks earlier, the Panthers decimated Monroe at SLICE. In the rematch, sixth-ranked Oregon (11-6, 5-3 Badger West) led 8-2 headed into the third period, but the Cheesemakers (1-14, 0-6) came out of the second intermission with a truckload of fight.

“The boys never quit,” Monroe coach Barry Einbeck said.

Blaze Janecke scored back-to-back goals within 55 seconds of each other, the first of which on a power play. Then, just 60 seconds later, Nathan Ratke scored another power play goal to make it 8-5. The comeback continued, as Cash Anderson got in on the action just 67 seconds later, scoring his second goal of the evening.

With 6:03 left on the clock, Aiden Grey lit the lamp, pulling Monroe to within a single goal at 8-7. 

The rally was not enough, however, as a pair of Monroe penalties put Oregon on a power play, which led to Andrew Jicha scoring one last goal with 2:37 left in regulation. Jicha scored six goals and added two assists for Oregon, while Kyle Rohrer had two goals and seven assists.

Blaze Janecke finished the game with a 3-goal hat trick. Grey, Anderson, Hayden Barker and Cole Buholzer each had an assist, while Wyatt Janecke and Josh Haight had two assists each. Seth Brandt assisted three goals.

Oregon outshot Monroe 43-27.