Girls’ hockey: Northland Pines co-op shutout in weekend games

The Northland Pines girls’ hockey co-op was blanked in a pair games over the weekend, losing at Houghton/Hancock, Mich. 2-0 Friday night and to Chippewa Falls/Menomonie 6-0 on Saturday afternoon in Eagle River.

The Eagles allowed two goals in the first six minutes on Friday night and that proved to be the difference in  what was otherwise a fairly even contest. Shots ended 25-23 in favor of Houghton/Hancock. 

Jalyn Zadnik, a junior from Rhinelander, made 23 saves in defeat.

“We have lots of numbers this season, but we are a young team,” Pines coach Jeff Stebbeds said. “They are working very hard for us, and will improve as the season continues.”

Chippewa Falls/Menomonie peppered the Eagles with 41 shots on goal through the first two periods and broke the game open with three goals in a 90-second stretch in the first four minutes of the second. The Eagles were outshot 47-9 in the game. Lucy Nowak, a freshman from Northland Pines, made 41 saves in the loss.

"We played a strong Chippewa Falls team on Saturday," Stebbeds noted. "Our goalie Lucy Nowak did a great job between the pipes for us. She gave us an opportunity to stay in the game. We just could not find the net on offense. They are a team that plays well together as they have lots of upper classmen." 

The co-op includes six skaters from Rhinelander, which joined forces with the Eagles after the Northern Edge co-op dissolved prior to the start of the 2023-24 season.

The Eagles (1-2-0) will play back-to-back games again this coming weekend, facing Arrowhead and Brookfield Friday and Saturday at an invitational in Medford.