There was something missing as I watched the Hurricanes and Storm in the battle of the weather systems. Both teams had good scoring chances, but like the bone-chilling wind chills outside Greenheck Ice Arena, both teams were ice cold on the scoreboard tied at 1-1. It was eerily familiar to the last time these two met in the sectional final last February, a 2-1 overtime win by the Storm.
As the third period unfolded it came to me, literally, in the form of Storm alumni Gabi Heuser, who walked into the arena. That’s who was missing on the ice, her and her counterpart for the Hurricanes, Reese Sheehan. A year ago, Heuser and Sheehan went neck-and-neck to the wire for the state’s scoring race, with Sheehan finishing with 70 points and Heuser 64. Either team could have used a goal or two from their departed top guns.
Early returns would indicate both scorers are missed as the Hurricanes goals per game is down from 3.50 a year ago to 2.38 and for the Storm an even more precipitous drop from 5.38 to 2.33. Granted it is early and no doubt each team will adjust with the likes of Jayden Yirkovsky stepping up for the Storm and Olivia Webster for the Canes. Yirkovsky notched 29 goals a year ago and Webster scored 27. Zandra Land, who has moved from defense to forward, could also have a big impact on the Hurricanes offense.
While offense may be a concern for both teams, their bread and butter is really their goaltending and stingy defensive play. Currently the Storm has the second-best goals allowed per game at 0.67, just behind the Bay Area juggernaut.
Central Wisconsin greeted the Hurricanes with some early pressure and tested All-State goalie Makenna Hutchison several times. Senior Madeline Kelter fired a couple of rockets over the net from prime scoring space. Hayward’s Savanah Harris got a backhand in tight on Storm goalie Cami Flohr but was denied.
Hayward got what looked like the first break of the game when Jayden Yirkovsky was called for elbowing. Off the face-off, Storm defenseman Ava Whitmore tried to clear the puck off the wall, but Zandra Land knocked it down but couldn’t control the puck. Isabelle Janke pressured Land and her attempt to put the puck deep hit Janke and bounced into the neutral zone. The speedy junior was off to the races, gathering herself at the top of the circles then snapping a wrist shot over the glove of Hutchison giving the Storm a 1-0 lead. Janke’s goal would prove to be critical, but so would her minutes killing penalties as the game wore on. Hutchison turned aside 12 shots in the period, that ended with the Storm leading 1-0.
Period two was a much more even period with both teams squandering some scoring opportunities. It would set a pattern of 2 on 1 rushes that failed to move the puck and create a high danger goal scoring chance. It was as if somebody had closed the mythical ‘royal road” at Greenheck Ice Arena. “We had a lot of chances, but couldn’t capitalize,” said Canes head coach Emily Peterson.
Hayward tied the game on what started as an innocent puck rimmed up the wall. Zandra Land pulled it off the right-wing boards and cut across the top of the circle. The Storm allowed her too much time and space, and the sophomore ripped a shot past Flohr into the top shelf. Harris and Olivia Webster provided a screen in front. The goal came as the period was closing at 15:10 and both teams left the ice tied 1-1.
The big ice sheet won the third period and overtime as the pace of the game slowed. Hayward owned a 20-17 lead in shots over the final 30 minutes. The exception may have been CWS’s Jayden Yirkovsky, who elevated her play and at times looked like she would end the game.
Storm head coach Jana Wimmer agreed, "Jayden and Madeline played well. On the big ice, their speed can take over and they are always two of the hardest working players on the ice. It is without a doubt that this year we will go as they go."
The Hurricanes got a 4 on 3 powerplay opportunity in the second overtime. Webster got a great rebound chance early in the powerplay. With two minutes left in the second overtime, Land made a great play at the blue line, knocking down a pass from Janke, intended for Kelter that would have sent her on a breakaway. With ten seconds remaining, Hayward’s Baylie Schuh came off the wall and reached the dot, but Flohr was there to close the door.
The final horn sounded and the goaltending clinic ended with Hutchison leading Flohr 35 saves to 32. As for the superiority of section one, the jury was still out. Ties always make for good debate come seeding time.
"As always, it was a good, hard fought game with Hayward," said Wimmer. " I have joked with Emily that our games with them give me more grey hair every year. They are a well coached team and we always know it will be a battle."
For the Storm (4-1-1) this was only their second game in last 19 days. They will jump back into action on Monday with a trip to Black Rivers Falls (3-3-1). Hayward (3-3-2) won’t return to the ice until Monday, December 29th when they will kick-off the WiPH Holiday Classic on their home ice against the Coulee Region Cyclones (1-4-0).
- Three Stars of the Game: 1-Janke, 2-Hutchison, 3-Flohr
- Blue Collar: CWS-Yirkovsky, H-Elliott
