March 16, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.
Team Review: Northern Edge girls' hockey co-op
Edge season ends with more wins, close calls
Team Review: Northern Edge girls' hockey co-op
The Edge won seven games - as many as the previous two seasons combined - and had chances in a few other contests.
It all culminated in a hard-fought regional final contest last month at fourth-seeded Wisconsin Valley Union where the Edge battled, but ultimately came up short 4-3 in a double-overtime heartbreaker.
"It was an emotional game, they came out and battled hard," coach Roeser said afterward. "In my five years, (these seniors) are the only group I've seen through their four years, and all five of them are nothing but class, great work ethic and great leaders on the them. They're going to be missed. It was emotional for everybody. The underclassmen watching them leave - a lot of emotion going on."
Here are five storylines from the recently completed season.
Success vs. three
The Edge went 7-13-0 on the season. All seven wins came against three teams - Medford, Northland Pines and Beaver Dam.
The Edge had a pair of battles this season against a Medford team that was much improved, especially in goal. The Edge managed 4-3 victories in both contests, taking the first meeting Dec. 20 in Medford on a Wyndi Saari game-winner with 24.2 seconds remaining. Taylor Heleniak got the game-winner in the rematch 4:47 into the third as the Edge erased a 2-1 deficit in a game Jan. 13 in Antigo.
"We didn't play very well the first period. The second period we came out and outplayed them. The third period it tightened up again. We're lucky to get the win," coach Roeser said after the second Medford win.
Roeser was 1-10-0 against rival Northland Pines in his first four seasons at the helm. That changed this year against an Eagles program that had a down season. The Edge swept all three games against Northland Pines, including a 10-2 rout in their final meeting Feb. 6 in Eagle River. Coach Roeser said that win was exceptionally rewarding.
"I think it was good to get some points on the board finally. It was kind of our goal tonight cause I think a couple teams kind of shorted us in the (seed meeting) last night," he said. "We seeded where we're supposed to just cause some other teams (seeded) correctly. But we wanted to come in here tonight and put on a good dominant performance, and I was happy we did."
The Edge, despite outshooting Beaver Dam 37-4, scrapped by with a 1-0 win when the teams met Jan. 28 in Beaver Dam. The Golden Beavers were without their starting goalie in the rematch two weeks later in Minocqua and the Edge sailed, 10-0.
Close calls
The Edge had a few close calls this season, highlighted by their playoff loss on the road at Wisconsin Valley Union. In that game the Edge took a 3-2 lead on a Kassidee Linssen goal with 1:31 left in the third period, only to see WVU tie it on a Kaydence McGregor goal with 33 seconds let in regulation. Jenna Jones then scored 1:31 into the second overtime to end the Edge's season.
That was one of three one-goal losses on the season for the Edge, all of which were decided on late goals.
The team fell 3-2 to the Stoughton co-op back on Nov. 26, giving up the game-winner with 1:14 left in regulation. The Edge couldn't hold on to a late lead in Baraboo Dec. 28 against the Badger Lightning. Badger tied the game with 1:02 left in regulation and then scored 5:50 into overtime to take a 4-3 win.
"It's unfortunate because there were times that we really controlled the flow of the game," coach Roeser said after the Badger loss. "We put some good pucks on the goalie and we just can't get them to fall. We've got to figure out a way to start scoring some goals and I think things will turn around a little for us."
Goalie shuffle
The Edge entered the season scrambling for a solution in net when incumbent starter Ellie Stank did not go out, hindered by sore knees.
Junior Hannah Mueller started for the first half of the season and had an up-and-down campaign in her first action in next since her freshman year. She went 2-6-0 with a 6.04 goals against average and a .813 save percentage.
The Edge switched to senior Kristiina Kunelius right after the first of the year. She appeared in 12 games in net, going 5-7-0 with a 4.28 goals against average and an .810 save percentage. She also recorded the team's only two shutouts of the season - both against Beaver Dam.
Like Mueller, Kunelius, had not played a game in net since the 2020-21 season.
"We didn't have a goalie coming into the season. Ellie (Stank) - she was still injured from last year. We started Hannah (Mueller), and when we decided to make a change," coach Roeser said. "Kristiina stepped up and said she'd do it. (She) volunteered to do it, didn't have to ask her. (It's) a pretty big deal for a senior who just put a couple points on the board to step up and say she'll play goalie for the betterment of the team."
Statbook
Prior to moving into goal, Kunelius was skating out for the Edge, and had her most productive offensive season - with four goals and two assists.
Overall, the Edge had more offensive success this season. The averaged 3.3 goals per game and were shutout only three times in a 20-game campaign. That's compared to 2.7 goals per game and two shutouts in a 15-game season last year.
Much of that success was thanks to Lakeland junior Taylor Heleniak, was named all-Independent for the second year in a row.
She finished the season with 46 points and her 33 goals were the most scored by an Edge player in a single season since the 2015-16 season when Katie Detert scored 47 times.
"Aside from just the goals she puts on the board for us, without Taylor we don't get a few of those wins. She really has a good nose for the net," coach Roeser said. "She brings a lot of energy to the game. (If they're) skating with her, they've got to keep up with her. I think she made the people around her better."
The Edge has some players to complement Heleniak's scoring. Saari finished the year with 10 goals and 13 assists. Defenders Maddi Roeser and Maria Gironella had five goals each.
What's next
Next year's squad will look much different as the Edge graduates Kunelius, Saari, Roeser, Gironella and Linssen. An already thin Edge roster will have to make due without their top goalie and five of their top seven scorers from this season.
"We never had locker room problems, (they) all just got along. Even if they didn't necessarily get along, they respected each other," coach Roeser said. "(There's) ... a lot of great character on that team, including the younger girls. The older girls - they've been that way the four years I've had them. They're gonna be missed."
The Edge will also be looking for at least one new coach, as Roeser announced plans to step down following the graduation of his daughter, Maddi.
Information from Lakeland Times sportswriter Brett LaBore was included in this report.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.