Eau Claire Memorial/Chippewa Falls hockey notes

A few nuggets for those of you out there who can't get enough of the local hockey scene:

- Chippewa Falls was at a disadvantage even before the game began Thursday, after losing a pair of second-line forwards to injury at Wednesday's practice.

Sophomore Jake Sullivan took a slap-shot off the foot during the team's final tune-up for Memorial and was unable to go in Thursday's game. Chippewa Falls coach Scott Parker believes the injury is just a bruise and hopes to have the team's seventh-leading scorer back soon.

The prognosis is less certian for fellow defenseman Jake Bruhn, who broke his hand during practice and is currently wearing a cast. While Parker is uncertain about the time-frame of Bruhn's return, he did say the sophomore wanted to get a playing cast for the injury in an effort to try and return for the playoffs.

"He said he'd like to try playing with it next week and we'll see what happens," Parker said.

Speaking of the playoffs, Parker admitted he'll be riding the hot hand in net when regionals start Tuesday. Parker has spent most of the season rotating sophomore Pat Moran and senior Ryan Darrow, but wouldn't hesitate to go with just one goalie down the stretch.

Darrow has been especially solid the past few weeks and held Memorial scoreless after entering the game in the second period Thursday, though he mostly was facing the Old Abes third and fourth lines. The decision, however, won't be made until the playoffs start.

"We'll see how it pans out," Parker said.

- With the season winding down, Memorial coach Mike Schwengler opted to give a few of his players some time to try and recover from injuries and illness in Thursday's game.

Sophomore forward Shayne McLaughlin, the team's second-leading scorer, suited up for the game but spent most of his time on the bench nursing some soreness. The sophomore saw the ice roughly three times during the game, all on the penalty kill.

Memorial was also without the services of Lukas Campbell, who was out while battling an illness.

In his stead, Schwengler got a good look at freshman Alex Dahl, the younger brother of star center Jefferson Dahl, who saw the first varsity action of his career. Joining Dahl for his first time at the varsity level was freshman netminder Saxton Soley, younger brother of former Old Abes forward Seth Soley (now playing in the USHL for the Omaha Lancers), who saw a little more than a period of action in his first varsity game.

"I thought they both played very well in their first experience at the varsity level," Schwengler said. "Alex made some plays with the puck and had a chance in the second period to pop one and Saxton was strong on the puck and obviously made the saves he needed to make."

-Adam Parks