Cyclones sweep Peoria to start season 2-0
(Wausau, WI) –The Wausau Cyclones opened their 2024-25 season campaign with a road series sweep of the Peoria Mustangs at Owens Center. Wausau won 6-0 on Friday night and won going away 7-2 on Saturday evening.
Friday night, Wausau got on the scoreboard at 3:39 of the 1st period when Brandon Piwko found the back of the net. The goal was assisted by Eiji Hofmann and Spencer Dahl. Wausau led 1-0 after the 1st period. The 2nd saw the Cyclones score goals from Connor Dvorak and Jack Dawley. In the final frame was more of the same as Easton Plachetka, Hank Garrett and Micah Saxon all put the biscuit in the basket. The goals by Garrett and Saxon were their first career junior hockey goals. Goalie Tanner Bonjernoor picked up the win in net for Wausau after stopping all 22 shots.
Saturday night’s game would be a much tighter contest as Wausau and Peoria when blow for blow. The good guys scored first at 6:26 of the 1st period on a beautiful goal from defenseman Eastern Plachetka, which was assisted by Jake Garrow and Micah Saxon. Peoria answered back just seven minutes later as Johnny Switzer scored his 1st of the season. Forward Truman Zerse became the beneficiary of a mistake by Peoria as he dumped the puck in front of Peoria goalie Gunnar Zosel, who proceeded to allow a gift-wrapped goal. After a quiet first 15 minutes of the 2nd Peoria tied things up at two on a goal from Jack Mitchell.
Heading into the 3rd period tied at two Wausau showed its offensive power by scoring five goals in the final period to win in decisive fashion. The first three goals scored by Owen Gohn (2) and Brady Knutsen came in little over seven minutes of action. Ejiji Hofmann added another and Owen Gohm put an exclamation point on the 3rd period with a hat-trick at 18:32 to finish off the win. Brady Faille picked up the win after stopping 20 of 22 shots.
Don’t miss the Home Opener Friday, September 27th with Magnet Schedule Giveaway presented by Hiawatha Sports Bar. The first 250 fans September 28th receive a Cyclones Tote Bag Giveaway presented by Yummy Deli. Puck drops at 7:10 both nights. Visit wausaucyclones.com for tickets. Stay connected during the season by following the Cyclones @wausaucyclones on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and online at wausaucyclones.com. Subscribe to the Cyclones podcast “Inside Cyclones Hockey”, available on your favorite podcast network.
The Cyclones are members of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), one of three USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior leagues, serves as one of the top training grounds in the country by providing the best coaching, exposure and developmental vehicles available for student-athletes in its classification. The primary mission of the NA3HL is to provide a structured developmental environment for student-athletes who have aspirations of playing in the NAHL or United States Hockey League and eventually the NCAA or American College Hockey Association. For more information, visit wausaucyclones.com.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
