Sports Digest

Detienne’s goal leads Eagles past Viroqua

Rhinelander senior Emalee Detienne scored with 2:49 remaining in regulation Friday night to lift the Northland Pines girls’ hockey co-op past Viroqua 2-1 on the road. 

It was the third win of the season for the Eagles (3-7-0) and first against a team other than Medford.

Detienne netted her first point of the season with the goal, which was assisted by fellow Rhinelander senior Mia Tulowitzky. Rhinelander has six skaters in the co-op, which it joined after the Northern Edge folded prior to the 2023-24 season. 

The Blackhawks scored first on a Mari Buros power play goal 8:09 into the second period, but their lead was short-lived as the Eagles answered with a goal by Antigo freshman Larken Paff just 25 seconds later. 

The Eagles outshot the Blackhawks 36-27 in the contest, including 16-5 in the final period. Northland Pines freshman Lucky Nowak stopped 26 shots in the win. 

Northland Pines hits the road tonight for a tough contest against No. 3 Central Wisconsin in Wausau.

Hodag Nordic Challenge nixed again

For the second straight year a lack of snowfall has forced race organizers to cancel the Hodag Nordic Challenge, which was scheduled for Jan. 18 and 19 at the Cedric A. Outdoor Classroom near Rhinelander. 

The decision was announced by the Northwoods Nordic Ski Club Saturday. A warm spell just after Christmas rendered the trails at CAVOC too thin to race on and, with no significant snowfall in the extended forecast, the decision was made to cancel the event. 

“The weather forecast has a 5-inch event predicted for January 17 that is just to little, too late,” NNSC president Brian Hegge stated. “By canceling this far in advance we are hopeful that participants can cancel travel plans appropriately.”

The event was slated to bring in more than 400 high school and middle school racers from around the state in the largest interscholastic race of the year, outside of the Wisconsin Nordic Ski League state championships. 

A Junior National Qualifier event was scheduled to take place in conjunction with the race. The club stated organizer CXC will be looking for an alternate location for that event. 

After a promising start to the year, Mother Nature is once again wreaking havoc on the Nordic Ski schedule. The Lakeland Invite rescheduled for today and this coming Saturday’s Snekkevik Ski Race in Wausau have both been canceled due to a lack of snow.