Two local athletes, Lucy Nowak and Ayla Shepardson, represented Team Wisconsin’s 16U girls’ hockey squad at the North American Hockey Academy’s Labor Day tournament in Boston, where they experienced both triumph and heartbreak while drawing the gaze of more than a hundred collegiate coaches.
Tournament Highlights
In the opening match, Lucy Nowak, a junior in her third year on the team, guarded the net as the squad edged past Team Illinois in a 2‑1 overtime thriller, showcasing poise under pressure and sealing the victory with a decisive save.
Ayla Shepardson, a sophomore in her first season, contributed offensively by netting a goal in a closely contested 4‑5 overtime loss to the same opponent, demonstrating the depth of talent within the Wisconsin roster.
Both players had previously converged at a team camp in Verona, a prelude that prepared them for the rigors of the Boston showcase, where the competition attracted over one hundred Division I and Division II coaches scouting for future talent.
The exposure proved pivotal for the duo, as the heightened visibility offers a springboard for advanced opportunities, while the performances underscore the growing prominence of Wisconsin’s travel hockey programs on the national stage.
As the season progresses, Nowak and Shepardson will carry these experiences forward, embodying the aspirations of a region where grassroots participation fuels higher‑level competition.