On Saturday, the Varsity Hockey team played its second league game in as many days in a dramatic affair. The Eagles were sorely outplayed and outskated for most of the game, managing only a single goal in the first period. Senior Spencer ‘Sarge’ Pickett took a pass from linemate Junior Robby Lewis and beat several Warriors and the goalie with quick wrist shot on the ice to make it 1-0 after one period.

From there it was all Western who answered the lone Eagles’ goal with three of their own to build a 3-1 lead with under seven minutes to go via a soul crushing short handed goal from their captain Brady Hoffmeyer.

The game appeared to be out of hand. Assistant Coach Matt Busterna “I told Luke (Weinberger) to stop worrying about their crowd of ten students and play hockey. And then he does that.”.

What exactly did Weinberger do? He set the game clock to Berger-time and scored two goals in 17 seconds with under three minutes to go in the game to shock the boisterous Western student section into silence. Weinberger’s first of the night came after Senior Kyle Sierota worked the puck down the left side of the ice and found a streaking Weinberger who hammered home the puck. Weinberger’s second goal was again from Sierota who made a very fine touch pass that Weinberger willed through the Western goalie’s five hole.

The game went to OT when Dylan Huebner made a clean outlet pass to Junior Fisher Christian. Christian pulled the puck to his backhand and found Weinberger who beat the Warrior defenders to the puck shoveling it past an outstretched pad to complete the natural hattrick – his second hattie in two games and seventh with the Eagles.

Coach Ronayne on the come from behind win: “Sometimes you win games you don’t particularly deserve to win. Tonight was that and more. #9 (Hoffmeyer) for Western was the best player on the ice for 98% of the game. And then our top line does their magic in the span of three minutes. We’ll take the win but all credit to WLW who played a great game.”

The Eagles continue league play on Wednesday 1/19 vs. Lakes Area United.