There was no shortage of excitement at this year’s boys hockey senior night, the action included goals, flying pucks, and a Rambler ejection.

In the JV game, when Cotter’s  Logan Hein was ejected for boarding.

Hein is  a rarity,  a first year senior player. “This is my first year playing organized hockey.I’m a power forward, therefore I play   center, right wing or left wing, ”  said Hein.

“A highlight for me was  getting my first point, which was an assist.  My goal is to score my first goal before the season ends.”

“Senior night would’ve been fun, but I received a game misconduct and was ejected from the JV game.  I was trying to protect our guys against a player on the other team who had been a little overaggressive and I guess I took it too far,”  said Hein of the ejection.

“Other than that incident I have tried to be a good example for younger Cotter kids and knowing that you can be part of a team without being the best player.”

The varsity game started off slowly, with both teams playing solid, fundamental hockey. Then late in the first period  an Austin Packer defenseman lofted the puck straight to the stick of Winhawk forward Michael Lubahn. Lubahn proceeded to deke the goalie and send the puck top shelf toward the back of the net.  The Winhawks headed to the locker room with the lead at first intermission.

A dominating Packer offensive attack showed up in the second period, taking shot after shot but they simply could not put the puck past junior goalie Matt Schoh. Late in the frame the Winhawks finally constructed an attack. Ivan Covala found Michael Lubahn in the slot and again, Lubahn put it in the net with a quick wrister.

The Packers once again took control of the puck and finally snuck one past Schoh with under 3 minutes to go in the 2nd period. At the end of 2nd intermission the score was 2-1 in Winhawks favor.

The 3rd period kicked off with more determined Packer offense, but this period, senior defenseman John Rickoff and his linemates had other plans. The defense finally tightened up, the packer offense were having trouble putting a shot on goal.

Rickoff took a sharp check that left him with a bruised hip early in the final period.  He tried to skate one more shift but was a shadow of his normal force and played sparingly in the final minutes.

With Rickoff out late in the 3rd the Packers put the puck in the back of the net, tying the game, the Winhawk bench erupted demanding an interference call as the post was knocked of its spot. The winhawks got their wish, no goal.

With the score still  2-1 late in the 3rd period the Packers pulled their goalie. The Hawks sent the hometown fans home happy with a senior night victory.

Unlike Logan,  John, a defenseman, has been playing organized hockey his whole life and is one of the Winhawks best players. John was elected by his teammates as one of the team captains this year.

Looking back at his early career one of his favorite memories was having an undefeated season at the squirts level.

“We have had an up an down year, but we beat the team that knocked us out of the section playoffs last year.,” said Rickoff.  “We have had many close games with the top teams in the Big 9 conference. We have a lot more potential than our record shows, we just need to prove it.  The goal I have for the remainder of the season is to end in the top half of our conference and to go as far as we can in sections.”

John had bittersweet feelings before the senior night match, saying “I’m looking forward to it, but hockey is my favorite sport and it’s going to be tough watching it end.”

Rickoff does not plan to play junior hockey, like his older brother Alex, after high school, but does plan to play club hockey in college.