November 24, 2020 at 11:24 a.m.
Team preview: Northern Edge girls' hockey
Edge looks to build off of last year's success
Team preview: Northern Edge girls' hockey
While most of last year's squad has returned for the 2020-21 campaign, with only 17 games currently on the schedule due to COVID-19 concerns, it will be difficult to match last year's win total.
The Edge, playing without conference affiliation for a second straight year, will face tough competition from throughout the northern half of the state - including the team's season opener tomorrow night at defending state champion Fox Cities.
"We've got to roll with whatever comes up," coach Tom Roeser said. "We're going to play (Northland) Pines a couple times. That's kind of a conference game, but everyone's a conference game. We're going to play Green Bay a couple times. I think we've got a solid schedule. We're going to have to work every game."
Already the team has had to roll with some changes and the biggest question mark going into the season will be at goalie. The Edge graduated three-year starter between the pipes Alicia Turunen, who was 7-4 last year with a 2.34 goals against average and a .927 save percentage.
Anna Maulson (6-4-0, 2.87, .911) figured to be this year's starter, but opted not to go out for the team. That means the Edge is breaking in a new goalie, Ellie Stank. It will be a trial by fire for the Antigo sophomore, who was penciled in as Maulson's backup during the offseason. She's getting a crash course during practice from goalie coach John Fesnick.
"She's doing a great job and she's working hard," Roeser said. "Anna leaving was kind of sprung on us. We had planned on Ellie being her backup this year and taking us through the next two years after (Maulson graduated), but we're happy with where she is. She's working hard and she's got a great attitude. Every team deals with some sort of adversity. We're dealing with it and, actually, it's going great."
The other key departure from last year's squad is defender Madi Losch, an end-to-end threat who led the Edge with 16 goals and 10 assists a season ago.
The team figures to be OK in the scoring department, however, as the team's next seven scorers are all back, led by Lakeland seniors Isabella Boyer (12 goals, 12 assists) and Kate Vizanko (12 g, 11 a). Those two will likely see a familiar face on the top line as another Lakeland senior, Callie Johnson, returns to the team after studying abroad last year. Johnson tallied 12 goals and 12 assists for Lakeland as a sophomore in the 2018-19 season.
"We've got the three Lakeland girls on a line together. We'll see how they work. I think we're pretty happy with the depth we have at forward," Roeser said.
A pair of Rhinelander sophomores, Wyndi Saari (4 g, 5 a) and Maddi Roeser (2 g, 5 a), will figure prominently in the offensive rotation, as will Wabeno sophomore Kassidee Linssen (1 g, 2 a), who was hampered by injuries last season. Also, the team is experimenting with the possibility of moving Antigo senior Evie LeVeque (5 g, 1 a) from defender to forward.
Assuming LeVeque plays up front, that will leave only one upperclassman on the blue line for the Edge, Antigo senior Emily Kassler (8 g, 7 a). She figures to be joined by a pair of sophomores from Lakeland -Caitlyn Fesnick (3 g, 9 a) and Maria Gironella (2 g, 7 a) and newcomer Mackenzie Wissbroecker, a freshman from Antigo.
"We're not really seasoned at D, however the people we've got we're real happy with," coach Roeser said. "They look really good and they make really good choices with the puck, which is a big deal."
Roeser added the team has been hard at work during the first couple of weeks of practice, working on conditioning as well as introducing systems ahead of tomorrow night's opener at Fox Cities.
The schedule does not get much easier from there, with games against Northland Pines, Chippewa Falls/Menomonie, Wisconsin Valley Union and Hayward all on the docket before the holiday break.
The second half of the schedule includes rematches with Hayward, Northland Pines and Fox Cities, along with dates against perennial powers Central Wisconsin and Bay Area.
"We've got to work to get better. I really want us to be stronger, more physical," coach Roeser said. "I think that's how you play teams like Northland Pines and beat them. Because they are strong and physical. That's how you play Bay Area. I think we've got to get stronger, more physical and learn to play in tight games."
Due to COVID, the team will not host its annual Hodagland tournament over the Christmas break this year.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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