The Wisconsin Selects rode the goaltending of Sydney Magnuson, a relentless defense and a red hot powerplay to defeat the East Coast Wizards 3-0, earning their first National Championship in program history. They avenged a 2022 championship game loss to the Wizards, Sunday morning, at Munn Arena in East Lansing, Michigan to become the Tier II 2A USA Hockey National Champions. The victory, was their fifth in a row after dropping their opening game of the tournament to the Boston Jr. Eagles.

It was a clash of titans as the 3rd ranked Selects took on the top ranked Wizards who were National Champions in 2018 and 2022. Both teams entered the championship game having won four straight elimination games. Wisconsin struck first late in the first period when Kayla Dogs banged home a powerplay rebound from the crease for a 1-0 lead. Addy Milota and Zowie Hunter assisted on the Selects ninth powerplay goal of the tournament. Third year head coach Emily Bauer said, “Scoring first is so important, we gain a lot of momentum from that.”

Bauer credited much of the powerplay success to assistant coach Steve Kirley. “We watched film every morning, and Coach Kirley always had some NHL powerplay goals for the girls to learn from. I really think it paid off.”

Shots were even at nine after the first period.

The second period would feature tight checking with the Selects holding a slim 6-4 advantage in shots. At 5:52, Wisconsin capitalized on an offensive zone opportunity when Addisyn Buesgen pounced on a rebound from a Kayla Dogs point shot and tucked a wrist shot over the shoulder of Lilly Prendergast for a 2-0 Wisconsin lead. Linemates Mallory Schmidt and Reese Duncan, who was also credited with an assist, created the sustained pressure that led to the goal.

The Wizards, who erased a 2-0 Alaska lead in the semi-finals on Saturday, for a 3-2 win, would not go down without a fight. Six penalties marred the final period, as the Wizards buzzed Magnuson with seventeen shots. The senior from Neillsville never blinked in preserving her shutout. East Coasts final push came late with Zowie Hunter in the penalty box and their goalie on the bench. Addy Milota sealed the championship when she hit the empty net from left face-off circle in the defensive zone. A minute later, the celebration was underway.

Magnuson finished the game with 30 saves and the tournament with a 4-1 record, 1.25 GAA and 92.4 save percentage. “She (Sydney) settled in and came up big for us in the third period,” said head coach Emily Bauer. After allowing eight goals in their first three games, Wisconsin would tighten up defensively allowing only two goals in their final three games.

“Really proud of this group and the way they put the team first and sacrificed their personal goals,” said Bauer, “It is the reason why we accomplished what we did.” She concluded, “We all helped push the piano.”

Wisconsin finishes the season with a 24-5-1 record.

Shots on Goal: Selects 9-6-2 – 17. Wizards 9-4-17 – 30.

Selects Scoring:

KAYLA DOGS – Milota, Hunter (05:29 1st)

ADDISYN BUESGEN – Duncan, Dogs (05:52 2nd)

ADELYN MILOTA - Ballweg (01:03 3rd)

Selects Goalies:

S.MAGNUSON (30 saves)

SEMIFINALS:

Sheehan Leads Selects Past Steel City

Reese Sheehan scored a pair of powerplay goals to lead the Wisconsin Selects to a 4-1 victory and a trip to the Chipotle USA Hockey National Tournament championship game. The junior from Hayward scored her third and fourth goals of the tournament.

Steel City entered the game with an undefeated tournament record, having allowed only two goals in their four games.

Zowie Hunter opened the scoring for Wisconsin and Gabi Heuser closed it out with an empty net goal. Defenseman Tiana Stindt had three assists and goalie Sydney Magnuson stopped 16 shots, allowing only one goal on a penalty shot by Chloe Downey.

Shots on Goal: Selects 14-8-12 – 34. Steel City 4-8-5 – 17.

Selects Scoring:

ZOWIE HUNTER – Stindt (13:10 1st)

REESE SHEEHAN – Gruhlke, Ballweg  (03:32 1st)

REESE SHEEHAN – Slupe, Stindt (15:27 3rd)

GABRIELLA HEUSER – Stindt  (02:25 3rd)

Selects Goalies:

S.MAGNUSON (16 saves)

QUARTERFINALS:

Selects Roll Past Glenview 8-1

Seven different players scored, as the Wisconsin Selects defeated Glenview, Illinois, keeping their quest for a national championship alive in East Lansing, Michigan. Wisconsin built a 4-0 lead as they defeated the Stars for the fourth time this season. Zowie Hunter had a goal and two assists, Reese Sheehan scored a pair of goals and Addy Milota added a goal and an assist. Sydney Magnuson and Greta Woelber split time in the net for Wisconsin turning aside 26 shots.

Shots on Goal: Selects 10-11-15 – 36 Stars 2-9-16 – 27.

Selects Scoring:

KAYLA DOGS - Hunter (07:05 1st)

ADDISYN BUESGEN - Unn (04:47 1st)

TIANA STINDT – Hunter, Milota (14:40 2nd)

REESE SHEEHAN - Gruhlke (12:35 2nd)

ADELYN MILOTA - Heuser (04:55 2nd)

REESE SHEEHAN – Purintun, Gruhlke (07:35 3rd)

ZOWIE HUNTER – R.Buesgen (04:45 3rd)

MALLORY SCHMIDT – R.Buesgen (02:26 3rd)

Selects Goalies:

S.MAGNUSON 42:44 (20 saves)

G.WOELBER 8:16 (6 saves)

2024 Tier II 2A National Champions

Kiera Ballweg, Badger City (Milwaukee School of Engineering); Brooke Brennan, Hayward; Addisyn Buesgen, CFM Sabers; Rhylee Buesgen, CFM Sabers; Abigail Dhein, CW Storm; Kayla Dogs, Warbirds; Reese Duncan, Hayward; Addison Gruhlke, Eau Claire Area Stars; Savannah Harris, Hayward; Gabi Heuser, CW Storm; Zowie Hunter, BR Falls (Marian University); Makenna Hutchison, Hayward; Sydney Magnuson, BR Falls; (Marian University); Addy Milota, Badger City (Augsburg University); Julia Purintun, Badger City;Mallory Schmidt, Northland Pines (Marian University); Reese Sheehan, Hayward; Ashley Slupe, CFM Sabers; Jillian Stephenson, ECA Stars; Tiana Stindt, Bay Area Ice Bears; Hannah Wilson, Warbirds; Greta Woelber, Hayward.

General Manager: Mike Cowan

Coaching Staff: Head Coach: Emily Bauer, Assistant Coaches: Steve Kirley, Greg Slupe, Dan Bauer.

Dan Bauer is a free-lance writer, retired teacher & hockey coach in Wausau, WI. You can contact him at drbauer13@gmail.com.