Posted: 12/8/04
Experience should lead to an improved record in girls hockey
|
|
 |
Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
With every player back from last season's team, the Forest Lake High School girls hockey team is looking to improve upon their 2003-2004 record that was sub .500.
Rangers head coach Shawn Everson stated his team should be more competitive this year now that they have some experience of playing at the varsity level.
One thing that will give the team a boost this year is the addition of a second goaltender to the program. Last season freshman goalie Kim Fredrick was the lone Rangers goalie. When she suffered a late season concussion freshman Kathy Crudo had to put her forward stick down and strap on the goalie pads to fill in for the rest of the season. Freshman Casie Carpenter will give the Rangers some depth between the pipes and create some interteam competition.
ìThe two goalie situation is going to make a big difference,î Everson said. ìNot only will the girls push each other because they are both competitive and want to play, but if one is starting the other is behind her every step of the way. Itís nice to see how the two can compete for the starting position and be so supportive of each other.î
Senior Alicia Melbostad, junior Anna Johnson and sophomore Alexa Nelson will be team leaders as they are the Rangers captains this season.
Nelson along with sophomore Stephanie Haider will be looked to late in the game when the Rangers need some stability on the blue line. Both Nelson and Haider can add some scoring punch as Haider has a goal
and five assists and Nelson has a goal and three assists already this season.
On offense, Johnson is tearing things up with nine goals and two assists already this season. Everson says sophomore Keeta Koalska will be right behind Johnson in the scoring totals because she is a strong forward who already has four goals and four assists. Everson says freshman Kelsey Blum has made a lot of improvement from last season and should light the lamp some more this season. Blum has one goal and one assist thus far in the season.
Competition
There is never an easy game in the Suburban East Conference. Knowing there is no easy game, Everson says this year's team should be able to move up some in the standings compared to last year.
ìWe hope to compete a little more in the conference,î Everson said. ìI think weíll do fairly well when you look at the schedule. Roseville, Stillwater and Hastings will be the top teams, but after that the rest of the conference levels off and itís anybodyís to take.î
Come section time though Everson isn't so sure where the Rangers stand.
ìWeíll have to see where the regular season takes us,î Everson said. ìSection 7AA is competitive top to bottom and on any given night any team can win.î
This was evident Wednesday night when the Rangers battled 7AA rival Duluth East at the Maroon and Gold Arena. Duluth East outshot the Rangers 21-11 in the game but a goal early in the third period by Koalska, assisted by Melbostad and Johnson was the only goal of the night.
Goalie Casie Carpenter recorded her first shutout of the season stopping all 21 Duluth East shots to give the Rangers their first win of the season. The win gives the Rangers a 1-4-2 record on the season.
The Rangers started their SEC schedule with a 5-3 loss to Stillwater Saturday night.
Kelsey Blum gave the Rangers an early lead, but Stillwater tied the game shortly after with a short handed goal. With the first period winding down Nelson scored an unassisted power play goal but Stillwater again answered back a few minutes later with another short handed goal.
Stillwater netted a pair of power play goals in the second period then took a commanding 5-2 lead just 27 seconds into the third period. Johnson scored her tenth goal of the season as the Rangers tried to fight their way back into the game but it was too little too late as Stillwater went on to win the game 5-3.
The Rangers next game is today, Thursday, at Roseville at 7:45 p.m.
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605