New opportunities create optimism on the ice for Pines

The Northland Pines High School girls hockey co-op welcomed 24 skaters to the first formal practice of the new season last week. Freshly hired head coach Jeff Stebbeds starts a new chapter with the program with 13 returning letter winners, creating optimism for the season.
Returning letter winners include Emalee Detienne, Sarah Nordine, Ruby Kasper, Jalyn Zadnik, Ella Koca, Avery Renkes, Olivia Peterson, Mia Tulowitzky, Ella Hahn, Ava Carrillo, Lilly Beitler and Reese Retallick.
He thinks the returning cast is bringing the heat early on in practice and the players can see the potential in each other.
“They are looking good,” he stated. “I think it’s going to be a fun and rewarding year for them and it’s making them work harder on the ice. I’ve seen a whole lot of hustle and we have a good dynamic, so we will play hard and set the tone of the game. I’m excited to see what this season has for us.”
Stebbeds was announced as the new head coach of the Eagles Nov. 1, replacing Andrea Harman who stepped down in early September.

Stebbeds graduated from Three Lakes High School and is a lifelong Northwoods resident. He has been part of the hockey community here as he coached and officiated youth and high school hockey.
Pines won just one game two seasons ago, while the new co-op was 8-13 last season.
“As it was our first year in the co-op, we weren’t sure how to blend together and it took a little while,” noted Renkes, a Northland Pines sophomore. “But when we got on the same page, we started to click.”
The Eagles finished the 2023-24 regular season with overtime wins against Viroqua and the Badger Lightning, followed by a big 3-2 upset win over Wisconsin Valley Union in the regional playoff opener, also in overtime.
This year they will be without two of the leading contributors from last year’s squad as seniors Mallory Schmidt of Northland Pines and Taylor Heleniak of Lakeland, who combined for 36 goals and 29 assists, graduated last spring. That won’t stop Pines from having other skaters step up into that type of role, with players and the coaching staff expecting to hit the ground running from where they finished last year.
“We feel we’re going to have a great season with each other,” said Detienne, a senior from Rhinelander.
Goalie Jenna Uhrine graduated after four solid seasons in the net for the Eagles, while Zadnick returns between the pipes for Pines.
Coach Stebbeds said the Eagles will challenge other teams to match their speed.
“This year we have three or four lines we can send out at any given time,” he said.
Renkes added, “I think we are going to be really strong and very competitive.”
Northland Pines became a co-op team before last season after concerns about low future participation numbers led them to merge with the Northern Edge co-op team.
That included Rhinelander, Lakeland and Antigo players who participated with the new Northland Pines co-op team. The team had also previously included Bessemer, Mich. and Hurley.
The team will open its new season by hosting Medford Tuesday, November 26, at 6 p.m., in the Eagle River Sports Arena.