Ice Bears fall in state title game

The Bay Area Ice Bears had a dozen more shots on goal than the Central Wisconsin Storm but still came up one goal short in the WIAA state title game March 2.

The 4-3 loss started with a scoreless first period before the Ice Bears took a 1-0 lead at 4:04 in the second period on a goal by Addison Dahl and an assist from Julianne Bradford.

The Storm tied the game at 1-1 a minute later.

As the third period started, the Storm scored two more goals for a 3-1 lead. Pulaski sophomore Faye Brunke scored at 7:47 to make it 3-2.

However, Central Wisconsin took a 4-2 lead at the 15-minute mark, with the Ice Bears’ Hannah Von Haden scoring at 16:00 to end the scoring and Bay Area still trailing by a goal.

The Ice Bears were penalized six times for 23 minutes, while the Storm was called for eight infractions for 14 minutes.

The Bay Area Ice Bears were trying to repeat as state champions, after defeating Superior/Northwestern 3-0 in 2023.

Bay Area 5

St. Croix Valley 4

Pulaski sophomore Faye Brunke scored the winning goal as the Bay Area Ice Bears girls hockey team defeated St. Croix Valley Fusion 5-4 to advance to the state title game.

Trailing 4-2 midway through the second period, the No. 3 seed Ice Bears scored once in the second and twice in the third to beat the No. 2 seed Fusion on Feb. 29.

The game, played in Middleton, opened with the Fusion taking a 1-0 lead at 4:02 in the first period, only to have the Ice Bears tie it a 1-1 just 12 seconds later on a goal by Hannah Von Haden with assists from Tiana Stindt and Addison Dahl. An Emily Bill goal with assists from Kristina Kruse and Claire Gerarden put the Ice Bears up 2-1, only to have it tied 2-2 before the period ended.

The Fusion scored twice in the first seven minutes of the second period to go up 4-2. Ava McDonald scored with assists from Pulaski junior Briana Anundsen and Stindt to make it 4-3 in favor of St. Croix Valley at the end of the second period.

Von Haden scored with help from Julianne Bradford at 2:52 in the third to tie the game. Bradford assisted Brunke at 4:22 for the go-ahead and winning goal.

St. Croix Valley was penalized three times for six minutes, while Bay Area was called for five infractions for 11 minutes.

The Ice Bears recorded 33 shots on goal compared to 10 by Fusion players.

The victory advanced the Ice Bears to the state championship game against Central Wisconsin Storm, which defeated the Cap City Cougars 4-1 to make it to the title game.

All-conference honors

Also on Feb. 29, it was announced Bill and Bradford were named to the Eastern Shores first team all-conference. Earning honorable mention were Brunke, Dahl, McDonald and Parker Bartholomaus.

The Bay Area Ice Bears won the regular season conference championship with a record of 7-0.

Three Ice Bears were the recipients of the Eastern Shores Conference scholar athlete award. Winners of this award must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a senior.

• Must earn a varsity letter for two seasons in hockey during their career.

• Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher through seven semesters.

• Must have zero athletic code violations during their high school career.

Honorees were Bartholomaus, Sophie Gemianani and Brynn Osbahr.

kpasson@newmedia-wi.com