Eau Claire Memorial/North hockey notes

Here's a few extra tidbits that didn't make their way into the game story:

-- For two seasons Memorial coach Mike Schwengler has wanted his defensemen to be a little more aggressive in the offensive end and it appears senior David Donnellan has taken his coach's desires to heart.

Donnellan was all over the ice Thursday against Eau Claire North, taking his chances against Huskies goaltender Conrad Kersten and, in particular, was especially aggressive skating the puck into the offensive zone.

According to Schwengler, the aggressive approach from Donnellan when pushing the puck into the offensive zone is a way for Memorial to combat opponents who try to pinch the Old Abes wings when they advance through the neutral zone.

"We're still having trouble regrouping in the neutral zone and we want our guy in the middle to move to one of the wings because teams with speed are pinching us," Schwengler said. "His reads are, if he doesn't see anyone in the neutral zone moving, he's going to take off and go."

-- Memorial has a tough turnaround after Thursday's game against North as the Old Abes play Rice Lake at 4:30 p.m. on Friday at Hobbs Ice Arena. The game was rescheduled following its cancellation because of Tuesday's inclement weather, though Schwengler isn't worried about the effect it might have on his team.

"We did it over Christmas over the Christmas tournament and if we're fortunate enough to make it to tourney time its something we'll have to do then."

-- Memorial's Jefferson Dahl and and Mike Miettenun both continued streaks in Thursday's win. Dahl scored a goal for the fourth-straight game while Miettenun extended his assist streak to six games.

-- North's Tim Shea didn't return to action after a first-period hit by Donnellan left the junior forward sprawled out on the ice. Shea went to the locker room and didn't suit up the rest of the game, though coach Tom Bernhardt doesn't believe he suffered any serious injury in the collision.

"It's probably a precautionary thing," Berhnardt said. "Hopefully he'll be back for us next week."

-- North sophomore Cody Matthes, who spent most of the year playing at the JV level, has seen his role vastly increase the past few games. Matthes skated a regular shift throughout the game was on North's third line Thursday with Derek Lund and Andrew Tylka, and scored his first goal of the season on a breakaway in the first period.

"He's done a good job with the JV team and he's earned some playing time with us," Bernhardt said. "He's a big, strong kid and he just needs to gain some confidence at this level and he's doing a good job for us and we're happy he scored his first goal."

-- Adam Parks