Team Review: Northland Pines co-op girls’ hockey

Northland Pines won just one game a year ago. This season, with the addition of the Northern Edge girls’ hockey co-op, Pines increased its win total to eight.

The new Northland Pines girls’ hockey co-op finished 8-13 this season. In a brand new co-op, Northland Pines added schools Lakeland, Rhinelander and Antigo to their co-op that previously included Bessemer, Mich. and Hurley.

“I think the season went very, very well,” coach Andrea Harman said. “It exceeded my expectations of the season. All the girls got along coming from so many different schools. I was a little nervous seeing how everyone would mesh if friendships would be there. When you look at the team from the inside you see a sisterhood. You see bunch of girls who love the same sport and really empower each other.”

With the addition of rival schools, Harman was nervous about how the season would go. It ended up being a huge blessing.

“Our ending wins were eight so coming from a year having only one win and having eight this year is a huge accomplishment for us and for the girls,” Harman said. “They put in the hard work, and it really showed this year.”

Here are a few key storylines from the season.

Taylor’s impact

Heleniak, a senior, was the only skater from Lakeland Union High School to join the new co-op. She had skated for the Edge the past two years.

Heleniak became one of Northland Pines’ best players and made an immediate impact. She was on Pines’ top line, finishing second team all-independent at forward for the second time in her career.

“Taylor brought a huge impact this year. In the past few years, we haven’t really had multiple strong skaters, and if we had not co-oped, we would’ve only had a few strong skaters, and she brought another,” Harman said. “She was another person to bring great attributes. She works hard, she continues to lift the team up. ‘Let’s try this, maybe that’ll help’ or when a new skater would go out there she was the first one cheering them on. She’s a very good hockey player.”

In 21 games this season, Heleniak scored 24 goals with 18 assists for 42 points. All those numbers rank in the top three all time for Lakeland girls’ varsity hockey history in one season. She was the top goal-scorer for Northland Pines this season. 

Heleniak and senior Mallory Schmidt (Northland Pines) became a top duo on the ice. In the regular season, they combined for 33 goals, 23 assists and 56 points.

All four years

Schmidt was crucial to Northland Pines’ success this season. In 17 regular season games, she scored 12 times and had 11 assists for 23 points, second-most on the team. She finished honorable mention all-independent at forward and skated all four years under Harman.

Schmidt showed her leadership on and off the ice to become one of the captains of the co-op, along with Heleniak. Senior MacKenzie Wissbroecker of Antigo and Northland Pines senior Jenna Uhrine were assistant captains.

Uhrine started in the net for the majority of the season. She went 6-10 in the regular season with 357 saves for a save percentage of .823. She had a goals against average of 4.87 and picked up one shutout on Dec. 30 over the Icebergs.

Two Northland Pines freshmen showed just how bright the future is for the co-op. Avery Renkes and Lilly Beitler combined for 11 points. Beitler had more goals (three) while Renkes picked up five assists during the regular season. Renkes was named honorable mention all-independent at defense.

Hodag influence

The Rhinelander Hodags made their presence known on the ice. Juniors Mia Tulowitzky and Emalee Detienne, sophomore Lily Pequet and freshman Reese Retallick all got playing time. Sophomore goalie Jalyn Zadnik backed up Uhrine.

“Last year, we had about 12 girls. This year, we had 23 skaters. They bring a lot of good attitude,” Harman said. “Lily Pequet got the Spirit Award this year which is very fitting for her. Reese got the Rookie of the Year award. She … continues to learn and asks questions. And then Mia got our Unsung Hero award this year. Unsung Hero is someone who has great skills and a great attitude but doesn’t always get the recognition they deserve. Mia kept pushing, works hard. She didn’t get all the goals, she didn’t get all the assists. Without everyone, we’re not a team, and I’m so proud to be a part of this team. And lucky — I feel very lucky to be a part of this team.”

During the regular season, Tulowitzky scored two times with two assists for four points. Both of Tulowitzky’s goals were game-winners. Detienne had four assists for four points as well. Retallick made an impact as a freshman with two goals and three points. Pequet picked up an assist. In just over 66 minutes of ice time, Zadnik went 0-1 with 28 saves on 36 shots on goal.

OT thrillers

The Northland Pines co-op ended the regular season with a bang. They won two straight overtime games on back-to-back days.

The first overtime win came Feb. 9 in the co-op’s one and only game at Lakeland Ice Arena, home ice for Heleniak. In double overtime, Heleniak passed the puck to Schmidt who shot and scored to beat Viroqua 2-1.

The following day, the co-op beat Badger Lightning 6-5 in Eagle River. Once again, Schmidt played hero with the game-winning goal.

The overtime wins gave the Northland Pines co-op a lot of momentum heading into their playoff game with Wisconsin Valley Union on Feb. 15 in Stevens Point. The co-op had a flair for the dramatic once again.

Two goals by Schmidt and Detienne gave the co-op a 2-0 lead. Wisconsin Valley Union came back to tie the game at two apiece. Going into overtime, Beitler scored a power play goal to give Northland Pines the playoff victory. Heleniak had the assist for the co-op’s third straight overtime win.

“We kind of said throughout the whole season that it doesn’t really matter how the entire season goes, playoffs is where it counts,” Harman said. “We love our wins, we love our losses, we learn from both of them. I think that playoff game against Valley Union — I think it really showed. For us to be a five seed beating a four seed who we lost to earlier in the year I think is a great accomplishment and a great confidence booster for the girls.”

The season came to an end in Superior against the top-seeded Spartans. Superior won 10-2 in a sectional semifinal game on Feb. 20.

Next year

As of right now, it is unclear if anyone from Lakeland will join the Northland Pines co-op next year.

The co-op will continue another season. Heleniak, Schmidt, Wissbroecker and Uhrine will graduate. They can return Tulowitzky, Beitler, Renkes, Detienne and Retallick to a team that won seven more games than they did the previous season.

“We’re losing four players this year, and we’re gaining four next year,” Harman said. “Numbers should stay the same. I think that the girls that were here this year, especially our freshman, learned how fast the game is coming up from a U14 team or Bantam team. I don’t know they realized coming into high school hockey you’re playing seniors that have played this game for four years already. They know what they need to do in the offseason in order to fill the shoes that are leaving.”

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