Why is Brad Navin considered one of Wisconsin’s top high school hockey players this season?
It’s easy to see after taking a look at the scoring column in the Waupaca Comets’ last two games.
The senior followed up a four-goal, two-assist effort against Medford with five more goals and a pair of assists Saturday, Dec. 18, in a win over Lakeland.
Waupaca improved to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the Great Northern Conference with the wins.
Waupaca 7, Lakeland 4
Navin had a hat trick by the end of the first period as Waupaca took a 4-2 lead into the second period.
He also scored both of the Comets’ goals in the second period.
Tyler Donaldson and Jordan Erickson also found the net for Waupaca, while Beau Ash finished with three assists and Donaldson added a pair.
Lakeland goalie Rory Will had a busy night, as he stopped 56 of Waupaca’s 63 shots.
“It easily could have been a 10-goal game,” coach Randy Flesch said. “We’ve been waiting to get ahead of these teams. This game can be mental. It’s really tough if you’ve got your head down and you’re trying to come back all the time. The boys really put it all out there tonight. Our team really played one of its best games.
“Lakeland’s always a good team,” he added. “They were playing three lines so we went with them three lines. Once we got them tired, we knew the game was over.”
Waupaca 11, Medford 2
Six other players scored for the Comets besides Navin Thursday, Dec. 16, in a win over the Raiders.
Bjorn Asher scored twice and had four assists, while Donaldson scored once and also finished with four assists. Ash had a goal and three assists, while Marcus Johnson, James Minton and Dante Grorich also scored. Natasha Smith added a pair of assists.
The Comets scored four goals in each of the first two periods and added three more in the third.
Waupaca outshot Medford 42-20.
The Comets will head to Appleton to face the Fox Cities Stars at 6 tonight (Thursday, Dec. 23). Waupaca’s varsity and junior varsity games at Eagle River against Northland Pines that were called off Saturday, Dec. 11, have been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 3. The JV game is set for 4:45 p.m., while the puck will drop for the varsity game at 7 p.m.