JANESVILLE — The Rock County Fury opened the WIAA season with a 2-1 overtime win against Brookfield Glacier Nov. 20.
The contest was scoreless until Amery Stuckey lit the lamp for the first time this season, putting the Fury ahead with 6:03 left in the third period, with Emma Kilgora and Sara Loerke assisting. Brookfield scored just 83 seconds later to even it at 1-1.
In overtime, Kilgora came through the neutral zone with the puck and slipped past the defense on a breakaway, then deked the goalie and put the puck into the net with the game winner at the 6:54 mark. It was the first WIAA goal for the sophomore, as the program spent last season playing club level due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“(We) played a great game all around and fought hard to the end,” said Rock County coach Luke Steurer.
The game was marred by a slew of penalties — 14 in total. Rock County had 16 penalty minutes, while Brookfield was down a player for 12 minutes of game action. The Fury were penalized four times in the opening period, but were able to kill off eight minutes of power play clock. In the second period, there were seven penalties total in less than a 14-minute span, with three on Rock County.
The Glacier outshot the Fury 31-21, but senior goalie Olivia Cronin brought her A-game, finishing the night with a .967 save percentage.
Up next for Rock County is a three-game set at the Hartland Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 26-27. On the first day, the Fury face Arrowhead and Brookfield less than three hours apart. The next day, Northland Pines out of Eagle River will face the Fury.
Monroe boys co-op falls in opener, 4-2
MILWAUKEE — The Cheesemakers opened the boys hockey season with a tough 4-2 loss to Whitefish Bay at the MSOE Kern Center Nov. 19.
Whitefish Bay opened the scoring a with a goal 4:10 into the game, but Monroe answered 51 seconds later when Blaze Janecke scored unassisted. Whitefish Bay then re-took the lead about five minutes later.
The score would hold until the opening minute of the third period, when Whitefish Bay made it 3-1 nearly nine minutes into the frame. Janecke netted a second goal with an assist from Josh Haight six minutes later. A power play goal by Whitefish Bay with 41 seconds remaining capped the scoring.
There were six penalties called in the game, four on Monroe and two on Whitefish Bay. The Cheesemakers were outshot 28-19. Goalie Zander Obert had 25 saves.
Up next for Monroe is a road game Nov. 23 at Middleton, then a pair of games at the Beloit Thanksgiving tournament, with the first against Muskego Nov. 26, and the second game the following day. Monroe’s home opener at SLICE is slated for Dec. 4 against KMMO.
