BELOIT — The Monroe boys’ hockey co-op defeated Beloit Memorial 5-3 to win the Beloit Thanksgiving Shootout on Saturday, Nov. 26.

The two teams battled back and forth in the first period before a tripping call on Monroe gave Beloit a man advantage. The Knights had an extra skater for just 35 seconds before one of their own ended up in the penalty box for interference.

In the 4-on-4, Wyatt Janecke stick-handled around a Beloit defender and faked the goalie for his first goal of the game. His second came but a minute later, as Gavin Roth’s shot on goal trickled away from Jameson Flanagan. Janecke, positioned out front, put it in the back of the net.

Beloit cut the deficit to one with a goal from Jayden Piccione. The Knights swarmed the crease, and Monroe’s defense was unable to clear the puck for goaltender Xander Obert.

In response, Janecke won the face-off, skated into the offensive zone and put a shot past Flanagan. With just over two minutes left in the period, Janecke had recorded a hat trick. 

“It not just about me scoring, but its about the whole team working together to shoot the puck. Even though we all come from different areas and schools, we work well together.”

The Cheesemakers took a 3-1 lead into the second period. In its first three games, Monroe has scored 11 first-period goals. 

“They are buying to the idea that we have to get out to a fast start,” assistant coach Thomas Stauffacher said. Stauffacher coached the championship game in absence of head coach Barry Einbeck. “It makes things easier as you are rolling along. You don’t press as much when you are in a lead position.”

Monroe kept its foot on the gas in the second with two early scoring opportunities. Two minutes into the half, the Cheesemakers broke through with a goal from Haden Barker.

With a three-goal margin, the game got physical. Beloit and Monroe committed offsetting roughing penalties, followed by a cross-check by the Knights a minute later. Senior Cash Anderson was then sent to the locker room with a butt end game-disqualification penalty. Further discipline is under WIAA review.

While shorthanded, Janecke added to the lead with yet another goal.

As the period wound down, Beloit scored its second goal. Monroe was unable to clear its defensive zone and left two skaters wide open in front of the net. Forward Max Allen connected with Sam Rowald, who one-timed it past Obert.

Despite the late goal given up, the Cheesemakers came out firing in the third period, as Easton Dreyfus’s shot hit the pipe. 

It was the Knights who scored in the third, though. Nolan Bodensein was called for a roughing and a cross-check — served by Christen Carpenter — and Beloit scored on the subsequent power play. Cole Rowald got a pass from Piccione and buried it in the back of the net.

Leading 5-3 with 52 seconds left, Monroe sent another player to the sin bin for roughing. Beloit pulled its goalie for an extra skater, but the Cheesemakers held strong and didn’t allow a goal.

Janecke led the team with four points, all from goals. In three games, he’s totaled nine points. Bodensein chipped in with two assists. In goal, Obert made 38 saves with three goals allowed. Piccione scored two points for Beloit, both from assists. Flanagan stopped 46 shots on goal while allowing five through. Combined, the two teams served 55 penalty minutes.

To get to the championship, Monroe defeated Milton 8-1. Bodensein led the team with four points from one goal and three assists. Three other players tallied three points: Seth Brandt, Patrick Alt and Nathan Ratke. Kyle Theorin got the start in net, allowing just one goal with 17 saves. 

In their first three games, the Cheesemakers have outscored their opponents 24-5 for three wins. Last season, Monroe had just three wins. While this gives the team confidence, Janecke knows the Badger conference is another test entirely.

“It can only help,” Stauffacher said of the winning streak headed into conference play. “Once you get going on a roll, kids start believing and every shift is faster than the one before. Even when the kids get down on the bench, they know they are still in control.”

Monroe hosts Edgewood, a top team in the Badger, on Thursday, Dec. 1 to open conference play.