The state’s top girls gathered in Chippewa Falls this past weekend for the 1st Annual Junior/Senior Festival. Over seventy girls representing the state’s four sectionals participated in the two day round robin tournament.
Section Two, fueled by eight members of the Central Wisconsin Storm, went undefeated on the weekend out-scoring their opponents by a 17-2 margin.
The Storm trio of Katelynn Ramthun, Elizabeth & Emily Bauer, who together was the state’s highest scoring line with 180 points, combined for 19 points on seven goals and twelve assists.
Section Two defeated Section Four 4-1 on Sunday, in the battle of the two undefeated teams. Emma Peterson of Superior led all goal scorers with six.
In goal Lakeshore Lightning’s Erin Connolly, the WGHCA Player of the Year, was perfect stopping all thirty-three shots she faced over the weekend. Hayward’s Lauren Tremblay made 52 saves in her only game of the weekend and Hannah Buchman, Fox Cities Stars and Rebecca Binder, Fond du Lac each allowed only one goal.
Section One, home of the state champion Hurricanes, played shorthanded most of the weekend, but won their final game on Sunday behind Peterson’s four goal outburst.
Coaches for the weekend included:
Section One- Rachel Graves & Dan Bauer
Section Two- Tony Menard & Greg Gamache
Section Three- Jake Haury, Allison Strickler & Duane Woeshnick
Section Four- Rick Carpenter & Mike Sullivan
The two day tournament is used as a tryout to select two teams one that will play in America’s Showcase in Pittsburgh, April 14-18 and the other in Plymouth, Minnesota April 21-24. Teams will be announced next week. The tournament was run in conjunction with the WAHA’s Girls Kohlman Cup.
Organizer Mike Cowan hopes to duplicate the great success of the boys senior tournament held in Waupun that he began in 1983. Cowan expressed his thanks to Bob Normand and the Chippewa Falls Hockey Association for hosting the event and to the WGHCA for sponsoring the event. Several college coaches/scouts were in attendance over the weekend.
