The Wisconsin Valley Union did not allow an epidemic of injuries to slow them down as they skated to a 4-2 win over Northland Pines, at Ice Hawks Arena on Monday. With five players missing, the Union dressed only thirteen skaters along with goalies Issie Wojcik and Kylin Wright. WVU took advantage of a slow start by the Eagles, scoring three times in the opening period. Since a four-game losing streak to open the new year, the Union has strung together five wins in their last six games.
“We are proud of the improvement we have seen,” stated head coach Rachel Graves. “We have so many coachable kids who are listening and applying. Their hockey IQ is increasing and the more they get their head up the more they are finding.”
Freshman Evelyn Fleming got everyone’s head up with some slick stickhandling, leaving a trio of Pines defenders on the boards, attacking the Eagle’s net and sliding the puck around goaltender Lucy Nowak. It was Fleming’s ninth goal of the season and gave WVU the lead at 6:40 of period one.
An ill-advised defensive zone player change by Pines led to WVU’s second goal. Cece Reissmann threaded a diagonal pass to Campbell Spees at the blue line. Spees used an effective screen by Maddie Bradley to fire the puck past Nowak for her fifth goal of the year.
With the teams skating 4 on 4 late in the period, Lily Cichy took advantage of the open ice, cutting east to west across the top of the Pines defensive zone, and unleashing an accurate wrist shot that beat Nowak to her glove side. Cichy had a strong game from the backend controlling play with and without the puck. Later she would add an assist on the Union’s fourth goal. “22 played an unselfish yet strong game,” Graves said, “and we are proud she is finding that rhythm and balance.” The period ended with the Union holding a 3-0 and 18 to 5 shots advantage.
Period two saw each team squander a powerplay opportunity, and neither team would change the scoreboard, despite WVU outshooting the Eagles 19-6. Nowak kept her team close as they headed to the final frame.
Union sophomore Ellie Czaikowski stayed hot, scoring her sixth goal in four games and her 13th on the season, pushing the WVU lead to 4-0, 4:13 into the third period. The Eagles started to gain some momentum from their powerplay midway through the period. Consecutive WVU penalties on Reissmann and Molly Fox gave Pines a 5 on3 advantage. Avery Renkes got the Eagles on the scoreboard. The junior showed off some great hands redirecting Jordyn Hahn’s waist high point shot past Union goalie Kylin Wright. The powerplay goal was Renkes’ seventh of the season.
Pines made it interesting with under three minutes to play when defenseman Lena Chiamulera pinched down and carried the puck behind the Union net before feeding Bella Nowak, who was parked near the paint for a one-timer. That made it 4-2 and the Eagles had some serious momentum. However, a late Eagles penalty ended their comeback bid.
Nowak chalked up a 46 save night for Pines and senior Kylin Wright won her 8th game of the season turning away 19 shots. Wright has quietly put together a nice season with a 1.58 GAA, 92.8 S% and four shutouts. With Issie Wojcik back from injury Coach Graves will have an interesting decision come playoffs. "22 played an unselfish yet strong game and we are proud she is finding that rhythm and balance," Graves commented. The vastly improved Eagles are 3-3-1 in their last seven and 5-10-2 overall.
It is very likely that these two will be back at Ice Hawks in about two weeks to do it all over again. Reading the tea leaves would predict a fourth seed for WVU and a fifth seed for Pines and rematch on February 19th.
For Graves and the Union, and every coach at this time of the season, there is still a laundry list of things to improve upon. “We still must work on confidence but at least we aren't playing afraid. We work on the walls, in the corners, and more kids are comfortable with the puck on their stick. We are working hard for each other and playing as a unit, and it is creating more opportunities.”
Jeff Stebbeds, in his second tour as head coach, certainly has the team headed in the right direction. “It’s been tough starting over, but I love being around this group,” he offered. “They will run through a block wall.”
The Union (11-8) will host Hayward (8-10-2) on Thursday and travel to Fox Cities (12-6) on Saturday. Pines (5-10-2) will play Black River Falls (14-6-1) in Antigo on Friday.
Three Stars of the Game: 1-Cichy, 2-Nowak, 3-Czaikowski
Blue Collar: WVU-Simcakoski, NP-Retallick
