November 17, 2017 at 12:01 p.m.
Team preview: Rhinelander/Antigo girls' hockey
Northern Edge returns roughly 90 percent of its scoring from 2016-17
Team preview: Rhinelander/Antigo girls' hockey
A year after the program's all-time leading scorer Katie Detert graduated, scoring was down dramatically and the team's record followed suit. A4-15-0 mark was the Northern Edge's worst in five years.
Yet, with the core of last year's team returning and a few key additions, Edge coach Kevin Sandstrom is confident that the 2017-18 season will be a bounce back year for his squad.
"We have a lot of upperclassmen leadership, which is great when you look at the freshmen and sophomores that are coming in," he told the River News this week. "We just have to have the confidence in our own abilities. As long as we can do that, I think we're in for a pretty successful year."
While the Edge scored only 29 goals a season ago - with 25 of those coming in three wins against Medford and a victory over the Stoughton co-op - virtually all of the people responsible for last year's scoring return. Senior Kourtney Carrico leads the way. She had nine goals and three assists a year ago.
Sophomores Alicia Turunen and Jade Forster, who scored five goals each, are back along with senior Payton Bunnell (3 g, 6 a) who figures to be the team's top defender this season.
"They all look hungry," Sandstrom said. "I think they're all ready. When you look at last year, it was a down year in terms of offensive production. I think the ones coming back know that. I think they're a little angry about that, that they have something prove."
The team has added four freshmen and a sophomore to the roster this year, perhaps none more intriguing than Madi Losch, who opted to play co-ed bantams last year as a freshman. A standout at the youth level, Sandstrom said Losch's presence could provide an immediate lift to the offense.
"There is no intimidation factor whatsoever," he said, noting that he believes Losch has the potential to be one of the Great Northern Conference's best players by season's end. "She's stepped in. She knows her abilities, knows her skill, knows her talent and she's put it on display so far here. I think she's going to fit in very, very nicely. I think she had the potential to score a lot of goals, to have a lot of assists."
The Northern Edge didn't graduate many players from last year's squad, but the players they lost made an impact, most notably four-year starting goaltender Shea Petersen.
The Edge has had stability between the pipes over the last 12 years. Johanna Sommers, Sophie Schmidt and Petersen all started as freshmen and held the job for four years. The team hopes to continue that string with another freshman starter this year, Nevaeh Forster.
"It's a lot to ask of a freshman," Sandstrom said, adding that he hopes Forster "embraces the challenge" of being a freshman starter. "So far she's looked pretty good and it's going to be all about improvement, getting better, keeping her head focused and ready to go, not being overwhelmed by the task. So far it hasn't looked that way and I hope that it keeps that way."
Other notable returning players for the Edge include defenders Ellen Padgett and Grace Lenzner, along with forwards Ashley Adams, Danielle Doughty, Lauren Kefalinos, Claire Arbuckle and Gwen Fredrickson.
In addition to Nevaeh Forster, the program adds three freshmen from Antigo - Haley Thom, Evelyn LeVeque and Bailey Novy. Sandstrom noted that LeVeque, in particular, has stood out so far in practice.
Sandstrom hopes it all adds up to a much more competitive squad this season, one that could contend in a reconfigured Great Northern Conference. The GNC is down to four programs now that Waupaca has been absorbed into the Point/Rapids-Marshfield co-op. The four remaining teams will play each other three times during the season, creating a nine-game conference schedule.
Northland Pines won the GNC last year, but graduated a number of seniors from that squad. Lakeland/Tomahawk is the second-best returning team and while they return the majority of their scorers from last year, replace all-state goaltender Erin Sparks. The Edge will be tested right out of the gates as it opens against Lakeland/Tomahawk Tuesday night at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.
"It will be interesting to see what Lakeland, Medford and Pines bring to the table but, right away, it's exciting. It's a different vibe than the start of the year last year," Sandstrom said. "I'd like to see us have a shot to win the conference and I'd like to see us turn it around when it comes to the playoffs, nothing like last year in terms of record by more like a couple of years ago."
One thing the Edge doesn't have at the start of the season is a lot of depth. Sandstrom said the team will likely roll with two base lines and three defenders to start, rotating more players in as needed.
"If we stick with our workouts and dry land regiment and the dedication to getting better, I think it's a sport where any team can compete with any team," he said.
After the non-conference opener against Lakeland, the Edge will take on the Keweenaw U19 girls' team from Marquette, Mich. on Nov. 25 in a doubleheader in Antigo, and take part in the Lakeshore Invite in Kettle Moraine Dec. 1-2. The Edge opens GNC play at Northland Pines Dec. 4.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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