Preview: Defending state champ Central Wisconsin Storm open season at Wisconsin Valley Union on Tuesday night live on 98.9 WXCO

When it comes to girls’ High School hockey in the state of Wisconsin over the past two decades there has been on program better than the Central Wisconsin Storm. The Storm, a co-op of D.C. Everest, Wausau West, Wausau East, Mosinee and Wausau Area Virtual Education, earned a record 5th state championship last March with a 4-3 win over the Bay Area Ice Bears in the final. In addition to 2024, the Storm have won state titles in 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2022. The drive for a 6th state title for the Storm begins on Tuesday night in Stevens Point vs. Wisconsin Valley Union in a game that will be broadcast live on 98.9 WXCO, online at wxco.fm, mobile devices by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app.

The 2024-25 edition of the Storm will be somewhat different and somewhat the same from the team that lifted the gold trophy at Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena in March. The differences start in net as, arguably, the top two goalies in the state last year will not return. Claire Calmes has been a three-year standout between the pipes and won all four playoff games in route to the title last winter. Calmes has signed on to play Division 1 college softball at the University of Wisconsin starting in the 2025-26 school year and will not be playing hockey this season. Calmes suffered a concussion in the final seconds of the state championship game and has been advised not to play HS hockey this season. Calmes was 16-4 last season with a 1.63 GAA. The second part of the Storm’s goalie duo last season was Ilsa Brunner, who was 6-0-1 in net with a .96 GAA as a freshman. She has moved on to play junior hockey with the Chicago Mission U-16’s. The Storm will also need to replace their top scorer and state tournament hero Tristan Wicklund. Wicklund scored a team-high 24 goals and added 18 assists last season.

Despite those losses, the Storm do bring plenty back including coach Jana Wimmer. Wimmer returned for her second tour of duty as Storm head coach a season ago and added the state title to her already fine resume. The Storm also bring back plenty of offensive firepower with the return of 2nd leading scorer Gabi Heuser, who lit the lamp 17 times last season. In fact, the 2nd through 7th leading scorers for the Storm are back including 10 goal scorer Jayden Yirkovsky. Other returning forwards include Madeline Kelter, Sophie Bohlin and Ava Whitmore.

Defense has always been a foundational piece of the Storm success over the years and this year shouldn’t be different. While losing 1st Team all-state selection Madi DePuydt (4 goals, 14 assists last season) from their defensive corps, 2nd Team all-state performer Ava Rode is back on the blueline along with Taylor Freidel to provide support for the Storm’s new (and very young) goaltenders. A pair of freshmen from Wausau West are the goalies on the varsity roster. Taylor Simonson and Camille Flohr will look to continue the tradition of top goalies going back to Hillary Drake, who recorded the shutout in 2008 that gave the Storm it’s first state championship.

The season opener at Wisconsin Valley Union looks like it could be a challenge on Tuesday night at Ice Hawks Arena. WVU started their season off with an 11-0 win over Viroqua on Friday. It’s an experienced group that will be waiting for the Storm as WVU returns their top six scorers from last season plus their starting goaltender. Jenna Jones led Wisconsin Valley Union with 21 goals a season ago and scored four in the first period of their first game of this season. WVC returns five players who scored at least 7 goals last season. Sophomore goalie Issie Wojcik stopped all 9 shots she faced on Friday in recording the shutout. She was 5-7 a year ago with a 3.32 Goals Against Average and .866 save percentage.

Again you can hear the Central Wisconsin Storm season opener in Stevens Point vs. Wisconsin Valley Union live on 98.9 WXCO, online at wxco.fm, mobile devices by searching WXCO and on the Civic Media app starting with the pregame at 6:50 pm and faceoff at 7.