Sports Digest

RIA to hold Faceoff Banquet Nov. 16

The Rhinelander Ice Association is celebrating the hockey and figure skating season with its 14th annual Faceoff Banquet. 

The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 16 at Holiday Acres Resort in Rhinelander. Doors will open at 5 p.m. for the silent auction and cocktail hour. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. with a live auction and raffles to follow.

Tickets are $30 each, or two for $50, and can be purchased at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.

Since its inception in 2010, the event has raised more than $115,000 for the organization. All proceeds benefit the RIA. For more information, contact Brett Aylesworth at 715-550-0116.

Stebbeds named head coach of Northland Pines girls’ hockey co-op

Jeff Stebbeds was announced as the new head coach for the Northland Pines girls’ hockey co-op, the school announced in a press release last week. Stebbeds replaces Andrea Harman, who stepped down in early September. 

In its release, Northland Pines noted that Stebbeds has spent many years in the Eagle River hockey community, as both a coach and an official for youth and high school hockey.

“I am excited to get back into coaching after taking a few years off to officiate hockey,” Stebbeds stated in the release. “I am looking forward to continuing with the work of the co-op and building girls’ hockey numbers to better compete at the state level. I am ready to see what this group of girls can do this season. I have heard great things and I am looking forward to get to work.” 

A handful of Rhinelander High School skaters competed with the Eagles last year after the Northern Edge co-op folded into the Northland Pines program prior to the start of the 2023-24 season. The Eagles went 7-13-0 last year, using an overtime win over Wisconsin Valley Union to advance to the sectional semifinal round of the WIAA tournament. 

According to the WIAA, the Northland Pines co-op includes 10 schools — Northland Pines, Rhinelander, Antigo, Lakeland, Three Lakes, Wabeno, Hurley, Bessemer (Mich.), Ironwood (Mich.) and Wakefield-Marenisco (Mich.).