The Tier I Thunder Bay Queens scored with eleven seconds left in overtime in game two of the three game series, leading them to win the three game weekend series. The Selects rode the goaltending of Makenna Hutchison to a 1-0 game one win. Thunder Bay pulled away in the final game with a convincing 5-1 win. The games, played at the Hayward Sports Center proved to be every bit as competitive as advertised.

Hutchison, a hometown Hurricane, blanked the Queens stopping all 25 shots she faced, and Gabi Hueser scored her team leading 13th goal as Wisconsin held on for a 1-0 victory. It was Hutchison’s fourth shutout of the season. Thunder Bay stormed to a 10-1 shots advantage in period one. After two periods it was a 21-6 advantage, but Heuser’s goal gave Wisconsin a 1-0 lead. The Selects responded in period three out shooting the Queens 11-4.

Game two on Saturday night was the weekend’s most entertaining as the teams battled to overtime in front of a robust crowd in Hayward. Wisconsin opened the scoring when Rhylee Buesgen snapped a wrist shot from the top of the right circle past Queens goaltender Emily Jerry. It was Buesgen’s third goal in her last four games. Thunder Bay tied the game on a Mya Steele powerplay goal with 44 seconds left in the period.

The game remained tied until late in period two when Thunder Bay would strike to take a 2-1 lead. Minutes later, with Annika Olinski in the penalty box for tripping, senior Gabi Heuser would score one of the season’s grittiest goals shorthanded. It began as she blocked a shot just inside the blue line and then out-raced and out-muscled two defenders down the ice to the Queens goal where she lifted a shot over goaltender Jerry’s left shoulder to tie the game.

Tied 2-2 into the third period, the Queens would again take a lead 3-2 on a goal by Peyton Borton. Wisconsin clawed back on a beautiful backdoor pass from Colby Sprenger to a wide-open Reese Sheehan who calmly put it in the back of the net. Thunder Bay controlled the five-minute overtime, and it looked like Wisconsin would escape with a tie, when Steele converted for her second goal of the game to give the Queens a 4-3 OT win. Hutchison and Greta Woelber split the net-minding duties combining for 28 saves. Wisconsin finished with 19 shots on goal.

Sunday morning’s rubber match was another fast paced and physical contest. Baylee Schuh scored for the Selects as the teams skated to a 1-1 first period tie. Thunder Bay added a second period goal to grab a 2-1 lead, then with just twenty-six seconds remaining they scored a huge goal to go up 3-1. Sienna Ricciardi netted her second of the game for Thunder Bay midway through the final period. A late empty net goal completed the Queens 5-1 win. Woelber turned in 36 saves for the Selects.

Head coach Emily Bauer saw the positives in the weekend, “Thunder Bay brought a great pace, intensity and skill level. It was a very good test for us, I thought we battled all weekend.” Bauer continued, “Thanks to everyone in Hayward for their hospitality and for turning out to watch us play.”

The Selects are now 14-6-1 on the season and will conclude the pre-WIAA portion of their schedule on Saturday when they will face Badger City at 1:30 and 7:30pm at the Chippewa Area Ice Arena. Monday, November 11th the players will return to their high school teams to start the WIAA season.