The hockey postseason is underway after the St. Croix Valley Fusion finished the season with a seventh consecutive Big Rivers Conference Championship and the River Falls boys kicked off the postseason with a dominant 9-1 win.

“It means something to the team. These seniors, they’ve won the conference every year,” Fusion Head Coach Matt Cranston said. “The Big Rivers Conference is probably the best conference in the state… We have good systems, we have good kids and we’ve had the same coaches, so we have zero turnover.”

At 20-4 on the year and 7-1 in conference, the Fusion’s dominant season landed them a No. 1 seed and a bye. The top seed is going about two weeks without an official game on the schedule. While the break put an 11-game winning streak on a lengthy pause, St. Croix Valley has been simulating game situations in practice to stay ready. They also saw some skaters return to the ice from injuries in the time off.

“I would have rather played last week too, but our conference is so equal,” Cranston said. “This year, it’s probably good to have that bye.”

Cranston said three or four of the state’s top teams come from their section of seven teams, so there are no free passes in the postseason. The Fusion will match up against No. 5 seed Hudson in Baldwin on Feb. 24. River Falls beat Hudson 6-2 and 5-3 in the two matchups this season. The second game was especially close, with an empty net goal from Morgan Kivel sealing the game.

“They just work really hard. They’re a unique team. They don’t have a lot of flash, but they get it done. They really work hard for their coach,” Cranston said.

Fusion players Kivel, Eleanor Adams, Jane Volgren, Lily Mittl, Katelyn Gustafson, Jenna Volgren and Oaklie Holldorf each made the All-Conference teams this season.

River Falls Wildcats

The River Falls Wildcats are a No. 2 seed and took care of business against No. 7 West Salem 9-1. West Salem actually got the first goal of the game, but River Falls dialed in after with nine consecutive.

“They got that first quick one on us, and the message on the bench is just that we have to play our game. We have to settle down and take care of the puck,” Head Coach Tim Beres said. “If you look at our roster, I’ve got eight seniors, I’ve got just a couple juniors and then I’ve got freshmen and sophomores. So, I think it was just the nerves of that first playoff game.”

Jaxon Flanagan scored three goals, Calvin Vezina had one, Chase Rudolph had two, Ben Robinson had one, Charlie John had one and Kovi Prochnow had one.

Senior Captain Flanagan set the school’s all-time single season point record, upping his tally to 72 in 25 games with a three-goal, two-assist night. For many, a five-point night would signify the greatest game they ever played, but for Flanagan, it is one of 10 four-plus-point nights this season. Flanagan has recorded a point in all but one game this season, recording multiple points in 16 of them. He has an even 36 goals and 36 assists.

The previous points record was 69 set by Casey Jerry back in 2013. Flanagan was named Big Rivers Conference Player of the Year, joining teammates Chase Rudolph, Nolan Hoepfl and Jace Dougherty on the All-Conference teams.

Next up, the Wildcats host No. 3 Menomonie on Feb. 24. River Falls beat the Mustangs 7-4 and 6-2 in the two meetings this season.

“They’re a hard working team… They’re definitely playing pretty hot right now and we understand that, but we’re also playing pretty well,” Beres said. “Create some traffic in front of the net, take care of the puck and just be strong defensively and I think we should be just fine.”

Looking ahead, Beres wants to see his Wildcats remain solid on defense. He said some of the top teams have moved the puck efficiently and caught River Falls scrambling around, losing assignments.

“For us it’s going to be D-zone. We’ve struggled at times,” Beres said. “The teams are only going to get better. When they do take care of the puck, they cycle the puck really well.”