Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

With nearly a month of the schedule already behind the girlsí hockey team, it looks like the Rangers might have to adjust their preseason goals and make them even more ambitious. In early November, head coach Paul Kendrick was hoping the team could reach 14-15 wins by avoiding the slow start that seemed to haunt his squad throughout last winter. Despite a nice, 8-5 finish in 2005-06, Forest Lake was constantly digging itself out a 1-7 hole.

ìWe didnít do well against section teams during the season and thatís one of our goals this year is to get out of the shoot a little better,î Kendrick said ìbecause [a year ago] we played four section teams and we lost; we got the worst seeding in the section.î

Heading into Tuesday nightís game against Hastings on Dec. 5, the Rangers were 6-1, which included three wins over section opponents, victories over ranked schools like Stillwater and White Bear Lake, and their lone loss coming on the road to a highly respected Roseville program.

ìAnother goal we have is we wanted to beat some top 10 teams this year. We want to be one of those teams that people donít want to play,î Kendrick said.

Itís safe to say that Forest Lake succeeded in getting out of the shoot, so one goal has been taken care of. And after the Stillwater and White Bear Lake results, the Rangers are on their way to accomplishing goal number two. Now there is the ongoing challenge of competing in the Suburban East Conference, and the girlsí are well-prepared for the task.

For years, the varsity hockey team has been a young, up-and-coming program. But with a handful of seniors taking control, key ingredients like chemistry and decision making should boost the totals in the win column.

As one of the tri-captains, Stephanie Haider pointed out, while she is not one of them, there is a group of teammates who can trace their ice time with each other back to elementary school.

ìA lot of us have been playing together since they were little,î she said. ìSo those people have been playing together for quite a few years.î

Those seniors will be spread across the offense and defense, which is one reason Kendrick believes his team has balance.

The first line offense ñ the Gray Line ó has been senior Kate Haglund and senior captain Alexa Nelson, while junior Torri Shelafoe takes the role of center. Haglund has demonstrated her skills as an effective scorer, Nelson is as fast as anyone in the state and Shelafoe is simply a smooth, smart player.

Kendrick acknowledges the great speed and ability of that line, but thinks his second trio excels at moving the puck. The Red Line is comprised of senior captain Paige Patchin at center, and juniors Kelsey Blum and Kathy Crudo on the wings.

Backing them up is the ìBlue Line,î which has senior Kyla Lindstrom and sophomore Ashley Grell being centered by freshman Charise Kendrick.

ìTheyíre going to be expected to log important minutes to spot the top two lines,î coach Kendrick said.

The balance continues on defense, which is also returning a strong line-up. Haider and Briana Gray lead a crew that has junior Miranda Nelson and 8th grader Audrey Hanmer coming off the bench.

In front of the net, the Rangers have the advantage of carrying two great goalies in juniors Cassi Carpenter and Kim Fredrick. ìTheyíre both excellent,î Kendrick said after citing their matching 92 percent save percentages from a year ago.

Also expected to see significant ice time is the versatile senior Bri Craig, and the young and talented duo of freshmen Leah Crow and Sara Solheid.

Thatís a long list of girls who will make major contributions, which is why Kendrick likes what he sees.

ìAs far as the character of this team, they work hard. When theyíre on the ice they just go, theyíre relentless,î he said. ìOur conference has some pretty powerful teams, but we can be right there.î

Itís just seven games in, but the Rangers have proven they belong with those powerful teams and are now at No. 6 in the metro area rankings.

So about those preseason goals...

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