The Waterloo-Freeburg hockey team honored its seniors last Tuesday night during a game against East Alton-Wood River and marked the occasion with a another win.

The Oilers jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period, but Raging Bulldogs player Parker McDonald scored late in the period to cut the lead to 2-1.

“The game didn’t start out how we planned. We outshot them 11-3 in the first period yet were trailing 2-0,” coach Scott Parker said. “We made sure the boys knew the importance of the game during the first intermission. Minus the first period, the boys played great. Kept the win streak alive.”

Waterloo came out flying in the second period, keeping pressure on the Oilers. Senior Adam Gauch would tie the game at 2-2 midway through the second period on a beautiful setup from Austin Patton.

Scott Nanney scored on a breakaway one minute later to put the ‘Dogs up 3-2, then added an unassisted goal at the 4:45 mark to extend the lead to 4-2.

The Oilers scored late in the period to cut the lead to 4-3 heading into the final period.

Gauch would score his second goal of the game to give the ‘Dogs some breathing room early in the third. Then, midway through the period, Patton scored to give the ‘Dogs a 6-3 win.

Coach Parker praised his seniors.

“Gauch is our team leader. Whenever we need a goal, we know we can count on him to get the job done. He’s every coach’s dream to have a goal scorer like him on their team,” he said.

“Travis Bittle is our captain, a great team leader. He knows his role on the team and that’s to lead the boys and hit everything in site. And that’s what he’s done for us all season long.

“Nick Harries is our anchor on defense. He’s our only senior defenseman. He’s scored a few big goals for us this year.”

The ‘Dogs played Jerseyville on Monday night in a game that went down to the wire.

Harries, Nanney and Bittle scored goals, but the Panthers battled back to tie the game at 3-3 before Gauch netted the game-winner with 30 seconds left. With the 4-3 win, the ‘Dogs extended their winning streak to five games.

Columbia stays hot

The Columbia Ice Eagles played Jerseyville on Thursday night and picked up right where they left off, notching a lopsided 10-0 win.

Senior goalie Josh Fleming has recorded back-to-back shut-outs, and the Ice Eagles are riding a streak that has seen them win eight of their last nine games.

Mitchell Cookson and Joey Matthews both netted hat tricks for Columbia. Christopher Wagner scored twice and Garrett Poole and Blake Bulger each added goals, as the Ice Eagles currently sit at 9-6-1 on the season.

“Blake played forward the first period of the game. He started the season at forward, but we moved him back to defense to help strengthen the team,” head coach Kevin Feager said. “At the time of the move, nine games ago, he was leading the team in points. It was nice to see him move back to forward for a period and pick up where he left off.”