By Reagan Hoverman

The St. Croix Valley Fusion girls hockey team, a co-op of student-athletes from River Falls, Baldwin-Woodville and Saint Croix Central, secured a 3-1 victory against the Western Wisconsin Stars in the season opener on Wednesday, Nov 23, at the United Civic Center in Baldwin.

With the win, the Fusion improved to 1 -0 for the season and 1-0 in Big Rivers Conference action. St. Croix Valley outshot the Western Wisconsin Stars 33-13 and dominated time of possession. Fusion head coach Matt Cranston spoke about getting the first win of the season.

“I’m happy that we won, but I’m not really happy with how we played and it’s kind of what you expect in the first game,” Cranston said. “(The Stars) have already had a game and they’re really well coached. It’s a conference win and it’s huge for us.”

Coach Cranston alluded to some of the early season rust throughout Wednesday night’s game in Baldwin. The season opener featured a scoreless first period in which the St. Croix Valley Fusion failed to convert on the first power play of the game. The power play struggles continued early in the second period when the Fusion had a five-on-three for nearly two minutes and still couldn’t find the back of the net.

With approximately 10 minutes remaining in the second period, the Fusion committed its first penalty of the game. Less than 40 seconds into the power play, the Western Wisconsin Stars took advantage of the five-onfour when freshman forward Charlotte Rea found a gap, shot the puck and scored to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.

Almost immediately after scoring, the Stars committed two more penalties and again gave the Fusion a five-on-three that they couldn’t capitalize on. However, with three minutes remaining in the second period, Fusion senior forward Trinity Mittl scored a timely wrist shot with assists from freshman Oaklie Holldorf and junior Kendall Sundby.

Mittl’s goal tied the game 1-1 heading into the third period.

“A couple of those power plays if you don’t score on a five-on-three that’s not good,” Cranston said. “We’re so rusty and we haven’t done it yet. We haven’t even worked on a five-on-three and you normally don’t. (The Stars) played uniquely and they pressured low, which took us a little by surprise.”

Less than two minutes into the third period, the Stars committed another minor penalty and went to the box. This time the Fusion cashed in on the advantage when the aforementioned Sundby scored on an unassisted breakaway to give St. Croix Valley a 2-1 lead

See FUSION HOCKEY, Rage B-2

St. Croix Valley Fusion senior forward Trinity Mittl begins the offensive attack during the Fusion’s season opener at home against the Western Wisconsin Stars on Wednesday, Nov. 23. Mittl had two goals in the 3-1 victory. Photo by Reagan Hoverman early in the third period.

It wasn’t until the Western Wisconsin Stars pulled their goalie with less than a minute left in regulation that the Fusion put the game away. The aforementioned Mittl scored the empty-net goal from nearly center ice to secure the 3-1 victory. It was Mittl’s second goal of the game.

While most of the aspects of the team will remain the same throughout the 2022-23 season as in previous years, the power play has changed based on the unique skill sets that Cranston has on the roster this year. He spoke about wanting to remain a defensively-minded team while also adjusting the power play.

“Yes, (the identity) will be the same as last year,” Cranston said. “Our power plays are different because of the different skill level we have and we’ve got more people that shoot a certain way than we did last year. Everything will be pretty close except the power play, which will be completely different.”

Despite struggling to convert on the power play in the first and second periods, the Fusion capitalized on the opportunities in the third period as both goals in the final frame came via five-on-four advantages. St. Croix Valley converted 2-7 power play opportunities against the Stars on Wednesday night.

While the Fusion’s offense found its rhythm late in the game, St. Croix Valley senior goaltender Jasmine Petersen had success throughout the game. After giving up a power play goal early in the second period, Petersen pitched a shutout the rest of the way.

After improving to 1-0 with the win against the Western Wisconsin Stars, the Fusion dropped the following two non-conference games, which were 4-2 and 4-0 shutout losses against the Bay Area Ice Bears, a team that finished last season 21-2-1.

The Fusion looks to bounce back on Thursday, Dec. 1, when they travel to Rochester, Minn., for a matchup with the Rochester Century, a team that is 2-3 through its first five games. That game is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Rochester Recreation Center.