Pines hockey programs sweep opening playoff round

The Northland Pines boys’ and girls’ hockey teams got off to big starts in the WIAA hockey playoffs this season. The No. 1-seeded boys team won its regional final game 10-2 against the 8-seeded Rhinelander Hodags Thursday night in Eagle River, while the No. 5-seed Northland Pines girls Co-op team won a 4-3 overtime road playoff game in Stevens Point after facing the Wisconsin Valley Union. 

Both advanced to the sectional round, where the semifinals will be played next Tuesday, Feb. 24. 

The boys' team got out to a quick start against the Hodags inside the Dome. The Eagles led 4-1 after one period and tallied another four in the second period to lead 8-2 after two. Pines tacked on two more goals in the third period during the win. The Eagles will continue to have home ice throughout the playoffs as long as they are winning. They will host No. 4-seed Lakeland Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. The winner would then advance to the sectional final game in Eagle River on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. The winner between Lakeland and Pines will face either No. 6 Pacelli Co-op or No. 2 Mosinee. For the girls, the fourth time was the charm for the Eagles. After losing three times to WVU during the regular season, Pines got an overtime-winner from Mya Renkes about five minutes into overtime to advance. In a low-shot first period, it was Jordan Hahn who scored two minutes into the game to give Pines the 1-0 lead. WVU outshot Pines 9-4 in the period, although the visitors held the lead. Avery Renkes made it a 2-0 score with just over two minutes left in the second period. That would be the score as the two teams headed into the final period. WVU remained scoreless for the first half of the third before tallying two unanswered goals at 9:25 and 14:11 to tie the game. Less than a minute later, Hahn got a feed from Laine Jelinski and buried the then go-ahead goal to make it 3-2. Sixteen seconds later, WVU forced the game into overtime at a 3-3 tie. Mya Renkes gave Pines the win with her overtime winner. 

The Eagles will now move on to face the top-seeded Central Wisconsin Storm in Wausau on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m.