Women's hockey team looking forward to a winning season
10/27/2009
By Brendan Willis
Contributing Writer
After a somewhat frustrating 2008-2009 season in which the women's hockey team encountered many injuries and were eliminated in the NCHA tournament with a 17-8-2 record, the team seems to be heading for an extremely successful 2009-2010 season.
Head Coach Dan Laughlin has added Jamie Stauber, working as an assistant coach with the Proctor/Hermantown/Marshall Mirage Girls High School hockey team, helped guide the Mirage to an overall three-year record of 53-25-3.
In all, the Lady ‘Jackets are looking at an impressive amount of talent and depth this year.
“This year’s team is probably the most talented I have had here in about 7 years,” said Laughlin. “We have a great bunch of players with great character and if we keep our focus then we should be headed in the right direction,”
The squad is led by senior captain Jasmine Pollock (Virden, Manitoba) who looks to follow up on a productive 21 point season last year.
Besides Pollock, the ‘Jackets’ forwards have plenty of depth and experience to help them get much needed offense in the tough NCHA division.
Leading the depth is the ‘Jackets’ top scorer from last season, senior Jodi Holland (Rochester, MN), who tallied 29 points including 19 goals.
Junior forwards Teagan Cassan (Medora, Manitoba), Shana Katz (San Jose, Ca), Lindsey Legree (Sioux City, IA) and senior forward Jessica Tyra (Fridley, MN) will be counted upon again to put up impressive offensive numbers.
Also, sophomores Ashley Martin (Superior, WI), Ashley Birdsdall (Duluth, MN), Ashlee Olson (Superior, WI), Taylor Stutsman (Duluth, MN), junior Kayla Chilstrom (Arden Hills, MN) and senior Amy Hasbargen (Lake of the Woods, MN) will be looked upon to improve their impressive 2008-2009 campaigns and help the team up front.
Complementing the talented group of returning forwards is a quartet of impressive recruits.
Sophomore transfer Torri Shelafoe (Forest Lake, MN) is coming from a successful University of Minnesota-Duluth women’s team in which she suited up for 5 games last season.
Senior transfer Sammi Bowers (Littleton, CO) comes from Wayne State University, where she recorded 11 points in only 19 games.
Sophomore transfer Becca Kent (Princeton, MN) comes to UWS from Concordia University-Moorhead, where she was the leading scorer last season.
Rounding out the forward recruits is freshman Chelsey Wierschem (Willmar, MN) who played for the Willmar Women’s High School hockey team.
On the backend, the ‘Jackets look to be extremely consistent and well-rounded led by five returning defensemen and three recruits.
Seniors Kim Schmeichel (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Brittany Dunkel (Warroad, MN), Brittany Bembeneck (Dryden, ON), and Heidi Chandler (Coon Rapids, MN) will look to be counted on for the leadership and consistent play this season.
Junior Allie Pullar (Hibbing, MN) will also be looked upon to follow up her impressive play last year with solid play this season.
Rounding out the d-corps are three talented recruits led by junior transfer student Alyssa Breu (Faribault, MN) from the University of North Dakota who compiled a couple of points in 18 games last season.
Freshman Ashley Hietpas (Little Chute, WI) and Kaiti Graham (Middleville, MI) round out the recruiting class and will be looked upon to step in right away.
Solid goaltending wins championships, and the ‘Jackets have two great goaltenders for the upcoming season. Seniors Melissa Kunzelmen (Brandon, Manitoba) and Amie Meyer (Aitkin, MN) will handle the load this year, and each one of them seems to have the confidence and skill to win any game the ‘Jackets play.
Kunzelmen looks to improve her impressive 1.92 GAA from last year, and Meyer, a former UMD recruit, seems destined for a big year.
If everything goes as planned for the ‘Jackets, a return to the Final Four may be in store. But hard work, and most of all, teamwork, will have to come into play before the dream of a national championship can jump into their minds.
Head Coach Dan Laughlin has added Jamie Stauber, working as an assistant coach with the Proctor/Hermantown/Marshall Mirage Girls High School hockey team, helped guide the Mirage to an overall three-year record of 53-25-3.
In all, the Lady ‘Jackets are looking at an impressive amount of talent and depth this year.
“This year’s team is probably the most talented I have had here in about 7 years,” said Laughlin. “We have a great bunch of players with great character and if we keep our focus then we should be headed in the right direction,”
The squad is led by senior captain Jasmine Pollock (Virden, Manitoba) who looks to follow up on a productive 21 point season last year.
Besides Pollock, the ‘Jackets’ forwards have plenty of depth and experience to help them get much needed offense in the tough NCHA division.
Leading the depth is the ‘Jackets’ top scorer from last season, senior Jodi Holland (Rochester, MN), who tallied 29 points including 19 goals.
Junior forwards Teagan Cassan (Medora, Manitoba), Shana Katz (San Jose, Ca), Lindsey Legree (Sioux City, IA) and senior forward Jessica Tyra (Fridley, MN) will be counted upon again to put up impressive offensive numbers.
Also, sophomores Ashley Martin (Superior, WI), Ashley Birdsdall (Duluth, MN), Ashlee Olson (Superior, WI), Taylor Stutsman (Duluth, MN), junior Kayla Chilstrom (Arden Hills, MN) and senior Amy Hasbargen (Lake of the Woods, MN) will be looked upon to improve their impressive 2008-2009 campaigns and help the team up front.
Complementing the talented group of returning forwards is a quartet of impressive recruits.
Sophomore transfer Torri Shelafoe (Forest Lake, MN) is coming from a successful University of Minnesota-Duluth women’s team in which she suited up for 5 games last season.
Senior transfer Sammi Bowers (Littleton, CO) comes from Wayne State University, where she recorded 11 points in only 19 games.
Sophomore transfer Becca Kent (Princeton, MN) comes to UWS from Concordia University-Moorhead, where she was the leading scorer last season.
Rounding out the forward recruits is freshman Chelsey Wierschem (Willmar, MN) who played for the Willmar Women’s High School hockey team.
On the backend, the ‘Jackets look to be extremely consistent and well-rounded led by five returning defensemen and three recruits.
Seniors Kim Schmeichel (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Brittany Dunkel (Warroad, MN), Brittany Bembeneck (Dryden, ON), and Heidi Chandler (Coon Rapids, MN) will look to be counted on for the leadership and consistent play this season.
Junior Allie Pullar (Hibbing, MN) will also be looked upon to follow up her impressive play last year with solid play this season.
Rounding out the d-corps are three talented recruits led by junior transfer student Alyssa Breu (Faribault, MN) from the University of North Dakota who compiled a couple of points in 18 games last season.
Freshman Ashley Hietpas (Little Chute, WI) and Kaiti Graham (Middleville, MI) round out the recruiting class and will be looked upon to step in right away.
Solid goaltending wins championships, and the ‘Jackets have two great goaltenders for the upcoming season. Seniors Melissa Kunzelmen (Brandon, Manitoba) and Amie Meyer (Aitkin, MN) will handle the load this year, and each one of them seems to have the confidence and skill to win any game the ‘Jackets play.
Kunzelmen looks to improve her impressive 1.92 GAA from last year, and Meyer, a former UMD recruit, seems destined for a big year.
If everything goes as planned for the ‘Jackets, a return to the Final Four may be in store. But hard work, and most of all, teamwork, will have to come into play before the dream of a national championship can jump into their minds.