Pines co-op defeats Medford again

EAGLE RIVER — The Northland Pines girls’ hockey co-op picked up its third win of the season on Monday as it defeated Medford 3-1 at Eagle River Sports Arena. It was the co-op’s second win over Medford this season.

“Tonight’s win was very exciting not just because it is a win, but every single one of our girls on the bench got to play today,” coach Andrea Harman said. “They at least got one shift in. It’s a big goal of ours to try and do that, and we finally — one other game we did it — got to do it again so that was very, very exciting for the entire team.”

The Eagle co-op, which picked up skaters from the defunct Rhinelander/Antigo/Lakeland co-op beginning this season, saw a bit of history from one of the players from the former Northern Edge.

Lakeland’s Taylor Heleniak scored twice in the game, setting the record for most goals scored in that high school’s girls’ hockey history. Her first goal was the record breaker, No. 62 of her career, and came in the second period.

Heleniak beat Medford’s defense, made a move and scored past Medford goalie Zayleah Leonhardt. The record-breaking goal gave Northland Pines a 1-0 lead. Mallory Schmidt had the assist.

“It means a lot. I know all the girls before me worked hard to get the records, and I know I just wanted to beat it, and I’ve only been playing high school for three years so it felt good to finally beat the record,” Heleniak said.

“Taylor is one of a kind,” Harman said. “She is such a sweetheart. She gives all the effort. She continues to bring the team up, she brings herself up. That goal — I’m so proud of her. I haven’t been with her her whole career, but she should be very proud of herself. Anyone that knows her should be proud of her. We are very proud of her, and we’re happy that we can give it to her.”

The goal gave the co-op a spark as they proceeded to score two more times in the second period. A pair of Rhinelander skaters hooked up to double the lead as Mia Tulowitzky shot and scored a power play goal, assisted by Emalee Detienne.

“That is super exciting,” Harman said. “She (scored) a power play goal so that’s always more exciting, right place right time, ready for it. She’s another one that — very proud. Everyone should be very proud of the talent and the attitude she brings to the team. She’s so funny. She’s just a light. She has a light personality, and it’s great, and it shows on and off the ice. That goal was beautiful as well.”

Less than two minutes later, Heleniak added to her record with another goal, beating Leonhardt to the spot. The goal came unassisted and gave Northland Pines a 3-0 lead.

All three of Northland Pines’ goals were scored in the second period on a total of 11 shots. 

“We changed the lines a little bit, but I don’t know that that really has anything to do it,” Harman said. “I think they dug down deep, and they wanted it more. Overall, Pines wanted it more.”

Though the co-op didn’t score in the first period, they put pressure on Leonhardt with 15 shots compared to Medford’s two. Overall, Northland Pines had a 38-15 shot advantage in the game. The Raiders got in the scoring column late in the third period with an unassisted goal by Kara Kennedy. The goal came with just 1:08 left in the contest.

That lone goal was the only blemish on goalie Jenna Uhrine’s record. She made a total of 14 saves on 15 chances.

“That was amazing,” Harman said. “She played a very good game. It’s always nice to see not a lot of shots on net. One slipped in, and it is what it is, but … overall it was such a good game. It was three periods of great hockey.”

Northland Pines played a clean game, committing only one penalty — Tulowitzky in the second period with a two-minute minor for tripping.

    Rhinelander players on the Northland Pines girls’ hockey co-op pose for a photograph following a game against Medford Monday, Jan. 7 at the Eagle River Sports Arena. Pictured, from left to right, are Reese Retallick, Maddie Legrey, Emalee Detienne, Mia Tulowitzky and Lily Pequet. Rhinelander goaltenders Jalyn Zadnik and Hannah Mueller were unavailable for the photograph. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Beaver Dam, Hayward contests

Monday’s win over Medford was bracketed by a pair of losses for the squad as it fell to Beaver Dam 5-2 at home last Saturday and then dropped a game to the Hayward co-op, ranked No. 5 in the latest Wisconsin Prep Hockey girls’ poll, 8-1 on Tuesday. 

The Eagles led 2-1 after one period on Saturday thanks to goals by Schmidt and Heleniak. Rhinelander’s Emalee Detienne assisted on Schmidt’s goal. Beaver Dam took the lead with three goals in the second period and one more in the third. Rhinelander’s Jayln Zadnik started in goal in the loss for the Eagles. 

The Hurricanes jumped on Pines for six goals in the first on Tuesday. Heleniak had the Eagles’ lone goal, assisted by Tulowitzky and Schmidt in the second period.

With two wins in 10 days. the co-op is looking to build some momentum going forward as they make their way through January into February.

“We can build from sticking to lines. So the first half is normally figuring out who meshes well together,” Harman said. “The second half of the season is when you really stick to the lines, and you let them practice together more and you do more line work in practice so that they talk more, they know just they don’t even have to look. They know that that girl is always where they are. They become compatible without even knowing it. After (Monday’s) win, I wish I would say we don’t have to work on anything because they came together and worked as a team. If we can continue to do that, we’re going to go a long way.”

The Eagles (3-9-0) have a rematch at Beaver Dam tonight and will then face the Badger (Baraboo) co-op on the road Saturday. Pines will host Medford again next Thursday, rounding out the three-game regular season series between the teams. 

Brett LaBore may be reached at [email protected] or [email protected].