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Skipper girls come back strong
BY JOHN SHERMAN - SUN NEWSPAPERS
Minnetonka High's girls hockey team, which won its first state title last year, got off to a rocky start this season with a 3-1 loss to Anoka.
But since then, the Skippers have returned to form. They stand 4-2-0 through six games and have wins over Northern Minnesota powers Warroad and Roseau by identical 3-2 scores.
Amy Petersen starred the Warroad game. She tied the score when she shot the puck off the back of the Warriors' goalie and into the net. Her second goal, in traffic in front of the net, won the game.
"Amy is a crafty player with a nose for the net," said Minnetonka head coach Eric Johnson. "She also had a goal in our win over Roseau."
Johnson said he enjoys playing Warroad and Roseau, perennially two of the best teams from up north.
"Both teams have great tradition," he said. "We wanted to prove to them that we can play, too. After the game, the teams always eat together. These are good rivalries for us."
Although the Skippers lost two Division I players to graduation, they have come back with solid performances thus far. The girls are excited to see former teammates Rachel Ramsey (Minnesota) and Julie Friend (St. Cloud State) playing well at the collegiate level. Ramsey and Friend led the Skippers to a benchmark season in 2010-11 with a 29-1-1 record.
"Winning the state championship last year makes us a big game for every opponent," said Johnson. "When Anoka beat us, their girls hog-piled the goalie, which was unusual for the first game of the season. I didn't feel it was poor sportsmanship. They were just excited about beating us."
Hill-Murray is the other team to defeat the Skippers this season. Minnetonka jumped out to an early lead before bowing 5-4.
"Hannah Brandt of Hill-Murray is the best forward in the state," Johnson said after the game.
Brandt's performance was over the top as she scored four goals. Skipper goalie Sydney Rossman was the No. 1 star for her team with 32 saves.
Johnson said the Skippers' tough non-conference schedule would get them ready for the Lake Conference wars.
"Edina is deep, Eden Prairie is solid, Wayzata is a lot better than last year and Hopkins is tough," said Johnson. "It should be another great season in the Lake Conference."
Minnetonka's roster is a mix of veterans and newcomers.
Returnees from last year are forwards Petersen, Maggie Bazany, Laura Bowman, Hadley Cookson, Darby Flatley Megan McGlynn and Kira von Steinbergs, defensemen Sydney Baldwin, Hannah Behounek and Sidney Morin and goaltender Rossman.
A new varsity goaltender is sophomore Hannah Ehresmann. New varsity forwards are sophomores Diana Draayer and Frankie Townsend. Ninth-grader Kelsey Crow is a new varsity defenseman.
Next for the Skippers is a non-conference game with the Duluth North Stars at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at Heritage Arena in Duluth. They will play Proctor the next afternoon at 5:30 in Proctor.
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