Wisconsinprephockey.net is the go-to one-stop-shopping place for sports writers for stats, records, and basically any numbers relating to high school hockey. It's the at-your-finger-tips hockey numbers bible and a huge help. Numbers, at their base, can be boring sometimes, but they don't lie. Numbers and stats are also the foundation to trends and talking points and they help create and build a story. If a sports writer doesn't have accurate numbers, the foundation is weak and much more difficult to build a story while covering a game.       

What's definitely not boring are the profile pictures of the St. Croix Valley Fusion coaches on wisconsinprephockey.net. Fusion Head Coach Matt Cranston just finished his 20th year at the helm. Cranston's profile picture is a photo of Reggie Dunlap, the player/coach for the Charleston Chiefs in the classic cult hockey movie, "Slapshot." Three of Cranston's longtime assistant and JV coaches, Jon Zevenbergen, TJ Klund, and Zach Bresina have the three "Slapshot Hanson Brothers" as their profile pictures. Jordan O'Connor, UW-River Falls' National Champion goalie last year, is also on staff coaching the Fusion goalies, but O'Connor is tying those loose ends up with her regular profile picture.

The Fusion have fun and maybe part of it is because winning is fun. Cranston and the Fusion have definitely had a lot of both over the past 20 years with three state titles, five section final wins, and 13 Big Rivers Conference championships.

The Fusion just finished capturing their sixth consecutive conference title at the end of the regular season. The numbers predicted a close game between St. Croix Valley and Black River Falls. They split the two-game regular season series this year. The Fusion took home a 3-2 overtime win on Nov. 29 and the Tigers won 2-1 in Black River Falls on Jan. 23. Once again, the numbers were true to form. 

"It's usually going to be a close game with them (Black River Falls)," said Cranston. "They put their best skilled players back on defense which is not always the case. They win with defense."

Tigers' Head Coach Brady Mathison's daughter, Piper Mathison, is just a freshman, but she leads the team in points with 17. Tiger sophomore Camryn Steele's dad, Andy, is the assistant coach. Steele is second on the team in points with 15.

"Those two defenders snipe a lot of goals," said Cranston, "and they made it tough for us to get past them. Jane (Volgren) and Morgan (Kivel) usually get a couple break-a-ways during a game but it just didn't happen because of those two."

Black River Falls' Steele started the scoring at the 7:35 mark in the first period. The Tigers went into the first period break up 1-0.

The second period was full of fireworks, as Tigers freshman Mathison gave Black River Falls a 2-0 lead 31 seconds into the period. The Fusion, however, came storming back.

With a Fusion power play winding down, junior captain Oaklie Holldorf was at the top of the left circle and received the ricocheted rebound right in her bread basket. Holldorf's laser one-timer hit the back of the net and cut the Tiger lead in half.

Mathison was at it again just over a minute later weaving her way along the right side with gorgeous fluid speed through a slew of Fusion defenders. Mathison's rifle-style right-handed slapshot near the face-off circle had two distinct sounds. Her stick grazed the ice with "click" divot. When it connected with the puck, there was a loud "clank." The sound of the puck hitting the thick netted nylon was as muffled as the Fusion fans. Mathison's upper left corner goal gave her Tigers the 3-1 lead.

"They're just big and strong and aggressive, " said Cranston.

The Fusion have a big aggressive player of their own in sophomore Jane Volgren. Volgren and junior Morgan Kivel lead the Fusion in points with 33. Volgren is an athletic 6'0" forward that also dominates on the softball field in the spring. Watching her move on the ice, it's evident Volgren would dominate no matter the viscosity of the playing surface. An athlete is an athlete, whether on ice, dirt, or the hardwood.

Two minutes after Mathison showed her stuff, Volgren skated up the left side, fought off a defender hanging on her back, made a 90-degree angle cut to the right and sent a wrister sailing past Tiger goalie Alexa Moore. Volgren's 22nd goal on the season moved the Fusion back within one score and the home ice rink was rocking for St. Croix Valley.

Less than one minute later and under five minutes remaining, the Tigers’ Alexa Lowe scored to make it 4-2 and took the wind out of the Fusion and their fans' sails.

Both teams had 26 shots on goal and two penalties apiece.

"That's his (Tiger Coach Brady Mathison) philosophy (defense) and how he wants to do it," said Cranston, "and it worked."

Black River Falls dropped a 1-0 state semi-final loss to the Eau Claire Area Stars this past Saturday.

St. Croix Valley finished the season 15-10.

"In general, the first team goal in high school is to win the conference and we've hit that six times in a row, so I'm not complaining," said Cranston. "Our JV team is incredibly skilled. They've only lost two or three games during the last couple years."

Cranston said the Fusion are losing six seniors but have the best numbers they’ve ever had coming up.

“Girls hockey keeps growing, that’s for sure,” said Cranston.

Fusion senior forward Alexis Ralston signed to play for UW-Stevens Point next season.