The Wisconsin Selects rode the goaltending of Sydney Magnuson, a relentless defense and a red hot powerplay to defeat the East Coast Wizards 3-0, earning their first National Championship in program history.

They avenged a 2022 championship game loss to the Wizards with an April 7 victory at Munn Arena in East Lansing, Michigan, to become the Girls Tier II 2A USA Hockey National Champions. The victory was their fifth in a row after dropping their opening game of the tournament to the Boston Jr. Eagles.

The Selects are a team comprised of Wisconsin high school girls who play together before and after their WIAA season. Wausau West’s Gabi Heuser and Mosinee’s Abigail Dhein are members of the team. The team’s head coach is former Wausau East High School grad and CW Storm player, Emily Bauer. One of her assistants is her father, former Lumberjack and Storm coach, Dan Bauer.

It was a clash of titans as the third ranked Selects took on the top ranked Wizards who were National Champions in 2018 and 2022. Both teams entered the championship game having won four straight elimination games. Wisconsin struck first late in the first period when Kayla Dogs banged home a powerplay rebound from the crease for a 1-0 lead. Addy Milota and Zowie Hunter assisted on the Selects ninth powerplay goal of the tournament.

“Scoring first is so important, we gain a lot of momentum from that,” said third year head coach Emily Bauer.

Bauer credited much of the powerplay success to assistant coach Steve Kirley.

“We watched film every morning, and Coach Kirley always had some NHL powerplay goals for the girls to learn from. I really think it paid off,” Emily Bauer said.

Shots were even at nine after the first period.

The second period would feature tight checking with the Selects holding a slim 6-4 advantage in shots. At 5:52, Wisconsin capitalized on an offensive zone opportunity when Addisyn Buesgen pounced on a rebound from a Kayla Dogs point shot and tucked a wrist shot over the shoulder of Lilly Prendergast for a 2-0 Wisconsin lead. Linemates Mallory Schmidt and Reese Duncan, who was also credited with an assist, created the sustained pressure that led to the goal.

The Wizards, who erased a 2-0 Alaska lead in the semi-finals on April 6, for a 3-2 win, would not go down without a fight. Six penalties marred the final period, as the Wizards buzzed Magnuson with 17 shots. The senior from Neillsville never blinked in preserving her shutout. East Coasts final push came late with Zowie Hunter in the penalty box and their goalie on the bench. Addy Milota sealed the championship when she hit the empty net from left face-off circle in the defensive zone. A minute later, the celebration was underway.

Magnuson finished the game with 30 saves and the tournament with a 4-1 record, 1.25 GAA and 92.4 save percentage.

“She (Sydney) settled in and came up big for us in the third period,” Emily Bauer said.

After allowing eight goals in their first three games, Wisconsin would tighten up defensively allowing only two goals in their final three games.

“Really proud of this group and the way they put the team first and sacrificed their personal goals,” Emily Bauer said. “It is the reason why we accomplished what we did. We all helped push the piano.”

Wisconsin finishes the season with a 24-5-1 record.

Shots on goal: Selects 9-6-2 – 17. Wizards 9-4-17 – 30.

Selects scoring:

Kayla Dogs – Milota, Hunter (05:29 1st)

Addisyn Buesgen – Duncan, Dogs (05:52 2nd)

Adelyn Milota – Ballweg (01:03 3rd)

Selects goalies:

S. Magnuson (30 saves)

Source: Dan Bauer