By Craig Marx, Editor

For the first time this season, overtime proved to be unkind to the Antigo hockey team, where in the second of two games from the Naga-Waukee Ice Arena this past weekend the Red Robins fell to the No. 3 Waukesha Wings 2-1 in extra time.

As Waukesha played without the help of one of their top scorers after being suspended three games for a fighting misconduct the night prior, the Wings still found a way to get on the board first. With just over ten minutes gone in the first period, Thomas Sanchez scored the first goal of the night off an assist from Kevin Broda.

Antigo responded in the second period with a game-tying goal from CJ Levis, his 10th of the season and second most on the team, assisted by Tyler Husnick and Adam Schmidt at the 5:17 mark of the middle frame.

The assist on Levis’s goal marked Husnick’s 24th on the year, tied for third in the state with Jack Gorniak (West Salem).

After a scoreless third period, it did not take long for Waukesha to use the extra hockey time to come away with a win. At just 46 seconds into overtime, Ian Malcolmson, the Wings’ top scorer on the season with 42 total points, netted a power play goal unassisted to give the hosts the victory.

The OT loss was the first of the year for Antigo after the Robins took down Northland Pines and Bay Port in back-to-back overtime thrillers in late December.

The Robins entered the Saturday game against Waukesha having defeated Kettle Moraine-Mukwonago-Oconomowoc (KMMO) on Friday evening 4-1 where Antigo went on a four-goal tear in the third period after trailing 1-0 entering the second intermission.

Husnick scored consecutive his first goal of the evening just 21 seconds into the final period and another just over six minutes later. Matt Winter netted a power play score at the 13:20 mark with help from Jack Shinners and Levis, while Shinners put the game away with an insurance empty-netter less than minute later in which goaltender Ben Bartletti was credited with an assist.

Bartletti finished his two-day outing in Southern Wisconsin with a .950 save percentage combined.

Antigo ends a three-game road trip against Waupaca on Thursday evening beginning at 7 PM.