Special Contribution to WisSports.net
By Jeremy Mayo
HodagSports.com
Sommers Proving to be an Elite Goalie RHINELANDER – When building a competitive hockey team, no doubt one of the first things on the checklist is excellent goaltending. As Rhinelander builds its new co-op with Antigo, the Northern Edge, the team already has that foundation in place with senior Johanna Sommers between the pipes.
Sommers, who already has visions of playing at the next level, was as excited as anyone to lace up the skates when practice officially kicked off this past Monday.
“They’re all really great girls and I can’t wait to keep playing with them,” Sommers says of her team. “It’s going to be a good season. I can’t wait.”
Sommers has already been honored for her efforts on the ice. As a sophomore, she was named to WHCA’s All-State Team. She’s been one of the busiest goalies in Wisconsin over the last two seasons. She has stopped 1,553 shots in that time frame, including a mind-boggling 798 saves last year. That’s an average of over 36 saves a game.
Her save percentage has gone up each year – from 0.86 as a freshman, to 0.89 as a sophomore, to 0.90 as a junior. With the additional defensive prowess that Antigo brings to the team, Sommers could be in line for her best season to date.
“It’s a great foundation to build our team around,” Northen Edge head coach Wil Losch says of Sommers. “We’ve also got some solid defenders coming from Antigo. (Assistant) Coach (Bill) Berg brings a real strong defensive philosophy. Antigo Hockey is traditionally known for being strong defensively.”
Added Sommers, “I want at least a couple of shutouts this year. That’s always been my goal is to get the big goose egg. (I) definitely want some more wins this year. I can already see we’re going to be a better, closer team, a stronger team.”
During the last two years, Sommers has recorded five shutouts, none perhaps more memorable than her performance against Webster in the 2008 Playoffs. Rhinelander was outshot 31-9 that night, but Sommers stopped all 31 as Rhinelander pulled off a 1-0 overtime upset.
“When she’s on, I’d take her over any tender in the State,” Losch says. “Our best moments over the last three years coincide with her best nights. I know she’s excited about this year. She’s got some goals for playing after this season. What she does this year will be pretty important.”
Sommers already has her sights set on one school in particular, Gustavus Adolphus in Minnesota. Though it is a Division III program, it’s one of the best in the country, currently ranked second in the USCHO Poll. It will be a tough lineup to crack as the team currently plays a pair of sophomores in goal.
“I’ve already talked to (Gustavus Adolphus) coach Mike Carroll. He’s a good guy and it seems like a team I could play for. I’m looking for playing time,” says Sommers.
This summer, given a lack of numbers, a lack of monies and co-op deals that fell through, there was the distinct possibility that Sommers would not get to play at the high school level this winter. But an 11th hour deal with Antigo kept the sport alive in Rhinelander.
This season Sommers will be in charge of bringing together a team that is playing as one for the first time. Of the 21 girls on the Northern Edge roster, 11 are from Antigo and 10 are from Rhinelander.
“I know she’s real excited about this co-op. She might be the most excited player out here,” says Losch.
Sommers was an assistant captain for Rhinelander last year. It is likely that she will have a “C” or an “A” on her jersey again this year.
“I love leading these girls,” she says. “It’s been a goal since freshmen year to lead these girls and I love doing it. I like being a role model for freshmen. It’s quite enjoyable to me.”
Sommers has done just as well off the ice as on it. She is in the top ten percent of her class with a 3.972 GPA. In college, she wishes to major in Athletic Training, Kinesiology or Physical Therapy.
Today is the first day the WIAA coaches and players get to be on the ice together to prepare for the 2009-10 hockey season. As we prepare for the season, we know WIAA Girls Hockey has grown by three teams: Kettle Moraine Co-op; Bay Area Ice Bears (Green Bay East Co-op) and the Medford Raiders. Rhinelander has formed a co-op with Antigo and will be known as the Northern Edge.
Questions abound:
1. Can the St. Croix Valley Fusion (River Falls Co-op) continue their winning ways? 1 loss over the last two seasons.
2. Will one of the new teams be able to follow the same path Beaver Dam/Randolph did last season and make it to the Alliant Energy Center?
3. How will the Fondy-Waupun Warbirds fare under a new head coach? Coach Nejedlo replaces Mike Cowan who is now coaching the Women's Hockey team at Marian University.
Five games are scheduled for November 20th. They are:
USM Wildcats vs Appleton United (Appleton West Co-op) in the Fond du Lac Tournament at 6:00 PM
New Richmond Tigers vs Webster Blizzard in Grantsburg at 7:00 PM
St. Croix Valley Fusion (River Falls Co-op) vs Hastings in Hastings, MN at 7:30 PM
Northern Edge (Rhinelander/Antigo) vs Bay Area Ice Bears (Green Bay East Co-op) in De Pere at 8:00 PM
Rock County Fury (Beloit Co-op) vs Fondy-Waupun Warbirds (Fond du Lac Co-op) in the Fond du Lac Tournament at 8:00 PM
32 teams 1 Goal. Hoist the Gold in Madison.
I am trying to build my contact list for the High School Hockey Coaches. I have some of the email addresses for coaches, but I have lost some when I got my new iphone and tried to sync everything up. All help in getting the email address sent to me via email or through the PM would be greatly appreciated. The coaches in blue I have an email address for.
The following is what I have for the 2009-10 coaches:
Appleton United (Appleton West Co-op)
Head Coach Patrick Dier
Assistant Coach Joe Kennedy
Assistant Coach Elsa Westmark
Arrowhead Warhawks
Head Coach Tom Whelan
Assistant Coach Tanya Wolf
Assistant Coach Craig Buntenbach
Badger Thunder (Baraboo Co-op)
Head Coach Jim Cabaj
Assistant Coach Rick Mieske
Assistant Coach Joe Canepa
Beaver Dam Golden Beavers (Beaver Dam/Randolph)
Head Coach Paul Uttech
Central Wisconsin Storm (Mosinee Co-op)
Head Coach Denny Drake
Chippewa Falls Cardinals
Head Coach Andrew Skelton
Assistant Coach Melissa White
ECA Stars (Eau Claire North Co-op)
Head Coach Marty Fadness
Assistant Coach Jeff Watkins
Assistant Coach Tom Bernhardt
Fondy-Waupun Warbirds (Fond du Lac Co-op)
Head Coach John Nejedlo
Bay Area Ice Bears (Green Bay East Co-op)
Head Coach Keith Brunette
Assistant Coach Jessica Guzek
Hayward Hurricanes (Hayward/Spooner)
Head Coach Steve Billings
Assistant Coach Scott Turnbull
Assistant Coach Brian Ahlgren
Hudson Raiders
Head Coach Dan Dietrich
Kettle Moraine Co-op I believe the team name is the Glaciers
Head Coach Robert Perry
Assistant Coach Brian Geary
Assistant Coach Ashley Perry
Lakeland Thunderbirds
Head Coach Rick Zelm
Assistant Coach Rae Lundberg
Marshfield Tigers
Head Coach Nate Sparbel
Medford Raiders
Head Coach Dave Lemke
Assistant Coach Brad Meyer
Assistant Coach Ken Koyer
Menomonie Indians
Head Coach Kurt Rudiger
Assistant Coach Dave Halama
Metro Lynx (Middleton Co-op)
Interim Head Coach Brittany Spencer
Assistant Coach Krystal Strassman
MSO Icebergs (Stoughton Co-op)
Head Coach Sean O'Hearn
Assistant Coach Katie Schieldt
Assistant Coach Ryan O'Hearn
New Richmond Tigers
Head Coach Brian Peterson
Assistant Coach Rick Melby
Assistant Coach Hillary Wolski
Northern Edge (Rhinelander/Antigo)
Head Coach Wil Losch
Assistant Coach Bill Berg
Northland Pines Eagles
Head Coach Al Moustakis
Onalaska Hilltoppers (Onalaska Co-op)
Head Coach Mark Wagner
Point-Rapids Red Panthers (Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln Co-op)
Head Coach Hayli Hupp
Rock County Fury (Beloit Co-op)
Head Coach Darrel Moore
Assistant Coach Mike Groessel
Assistant Coach Kaley Hatch
South Central Freeze (Reedsburg Area Co-op)
Head Coach Scott Imhoff
St. Croix Valley Fusion (River Falls Co-op)
Head Coach Matt Cranston
Assistant Coach Karl Erickson
Assistant Coach Ann Rock
Sun Prairie Co-op
Head Coach Mike Johnson
Assistant Coach Michelle Mancuso
Superior Spartans
Head Coach Scott Van Damme
Tomahawk Hatchets
Head Coach Don Nelson
Assistant Coach Pat Steffan
USM Wildcats (USM Co-op)
Head Coach Jason Woods
Assistant Coach Carly Udelhofen
Viroqua Blackhawks (Viroqua Co-op)
Head Coach Julia Hundt
Assistant Coach Andy Rogers
Webster Blizzard (Webster Co-op)
Head Coach Tim Bennett
Assistant Coach Darren Lien
Assistant Coach Allen Steiner
I am trying to build my contact list for the High School Hockey Coaches. I have some of the email addresses for coaches, but I have lost some when I got my new iphone and tried to sync everything up. All help in getting the email address sent to me via email or through the PM would be greatly appreciated. The coaches in blue I have an email address for.
The girls U16 National bound hockey team, due to Nationals being held in Green Bay this year, just completed a 9-game homestand 9-0. This weekend they will face a big test at a tournament being hosted by Shattuck St. Mary's. They will face the U16 Thunder Bay Queens, U16 Madison Capitols and U19 Minnesota Crunch, all of which are in their tournament bracket. The other bracket is comprised of Shattuck St. Mary's U16, Wisconsin Wild U16, Colorado Selects and L.A. Selects. They will then finish their "Before" season with three home games against Shattuck St. Mary's November 7th and 8th.
Here you can find the home page for the U-16 National bound squad and
here is where you can find the home page for the U-19 National bound team. Each page will give you the option of checking out their roster, game schedule and statistics.