TRAVERSE CITY — The second season of the Bay Reps girls hockey program is off to a 1-1 start after Friday and Saturday’s action at Centre Ice Arena. But building the Reps into a formidable team and a viable path for young girls to take is more important than wins and losses at the moment.
“We’re really looking forward to year two, building upon the things we instilled in the team last year and developing the players,” Bay Reps head coach Erin Tschantz said. “It’s going to be great.”
Tschantz is in her first year as head coach, taking over for Taylor Lundberg who led the Bay Reps to nationals in their inaugural season. Tschantz said the Reps’ “ultimate goal” in the 2024-25 season is to win a state championship.
“We’ve got a lot of new players and lost a handful, so it’s definitely a new team,” Tschantz said. “We’re sticking to a lot of the foundation that we built last year.”
The co-op program, which represents eight schools from the area, hosted Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Grosse Pointe South as they opened the “Father Fred Face Off Weekend. Attendees gained free entry with a donation of non-perishable food items that equalled $5 or more. Donations throughout the weekend will go to help the Father Fred Food Pantry in northern Michigan.
The Reps won 5-1 against OLSM on Friday but could not complete the comeback in a 3-2 loss against second-ranked Grosse Pointe South on Saturday.
Brynne Schulte scored the Reps’ first two goals of the season, lighting the lamp on an unassisted score in the first period against OLSM and then finding the back of the net on an assist from Taryn Beamish in the second. Gillian Evina made it 3-0 in the third period before Piper Wilson and Kate Classens also added goals in the 5-1 victory. Classens’ goal came on an assist from Brynne Schulte.
The Reps found themselves down 3-0 to Grosse Point South on Saturday, but they came back to make it a game and had a chance to tie it late thanks to two goals from Beamish — including a nifty no-look, behind-the-back shot the snuck by the Blue Devils’ goalkeeper to make it 3-2 with 8:16 left in the game.
“I kind of looked over my shoulder and saw the net and was just hoping for the best,” Beamish said. “I heard my teammates talking to me, saying ‘Shoot, shoot.’ So I just went for it.”
Assists on Beamish’s goals went to Wilson and Evina.
“We’re excited. It’s the beginning of the season, so we have our ons and offs,” Beamish said. “It was a tough game. We played well in the second and third, and I think we’ll be ready for tomorrow.”
The Bay Reps wrap up their three-game home series Sunday when they take on the Mid Michigan Alliance at 11 a.m. back at Centre Ice. A donation of canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, pasta and pasta sauce, soup, rice, macaroni and cheese, canned chicken and/or tuna, basic hygiene products and diapers is still good for free admission.
“We had a ton of energy coming into our first game, we were so excited to be here. But after the win, it took a couple periods today to get where we wanted to be,” Tschantz said Saturday. “I’m hoping we can come with the same energy (Sunday) that we had (Friday) and in the third period today.”
Playing three games back to back to back is no easy task, especially at the start of the season when players are still building their stamina.
“The pros are that you get to see three teams right out of the gate and see how we play against different teams in our league,” Tschantz said. “Cons are that after the first game, you don’t really have time to go and work on anything.”
Fortunately, the Bay Reps have a full season to work on improving. Tschantz said keeping the program going to provide this athletic opportunity for girls in northern Michigan is vital.
“One of my main goals is to grow girls hockey in Traverse City,” she said. “If it weren’t for this team, half these girls wouldn’t have anywhere to play. This team is really, really important.”
Beamish agreed.
“It means a lot to me that we have a girls hockey team here now,” Beamish said. “We’ve always really wanted this, and I’ve played with a lot of these girls for a long time now.”
Beamish is also proud to be a part of the teams that are laying the groundwork for younger girls to follow in their footsteps.
“It’s amazing,” Beamish said. “I love having the younger girls come out and skate with us. … I feel like it really shows that this is going to be a real thing and that this is how girls hockey is going to evolve here.”
8-PLAYER FOOTBALL STATE SEMIFINALS
Crystal Falls Forest Park 49
Onekama 24
UP NEXT: The Portagers end their season just like where your hands should be on the steering wheel — at 10-2.
Pickford 34
Inland Lakes 18
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs end their season at 11-1.
BOYS ICE HOCKEY
TC Central 4
Petoskey 0
Traverse City Central: Carter Humphrey 1 goal (first varsity goal); Ben Burley 1 goal; Drew Zrimec 2 goals; Graham Peters 3 assists; Luke Weaver 2 assists; Cash Conaway 1 assist; Kiel Knapp 10 saves.
UP NEXT: The Trojans (1-0) travel to Houghton on Friday.
Bay Reps 2
Saginaw Heritage 1
Bay Reps: Michael Frederick 1 goal; Colton Davidson 1 assist; Lewis Walter 1 goal; Eddie Walter 1 assist; Tyler Boynton-Fisher 30 saves.
UP NEXT: The Reps (2-0) welcome Cranbrook Kingswood at Centre Ice Arena on Thursday.
Grand Haven 5
Gaylord 2
UP NEXT: The Blue Devils (0-4) host Petoskey on Wednesday.