2007-08 Bemidji State Team Outlook
The 2006-07 season is one that the Bemidji State women's hockey team will be looking to build on in 2007-08, finishing the season with a 11-20-5 overall record and a 9-15-4 mark in the WCHA. The 9-15-4 WCHA record was good for a sixth place finish for the second straight season. The 22 points in league play were also the most BSU has attained in their nine-year Div. I era.
The Beavers have a different look for the coaching staff as head coach Steve Sertich added Heather Farrell to the staff. Farrell had spent the previous three years at Bowdoin College, where she an assistant coach from 2004-06 and interim head coach in 2006.
Along with 16 returning letterwinners, there are nine newcomers joining a squad that retains only 37% of its scoring from a year ago. With the Pioneer Press Player of the Year and the Minnesota State High School's leading scorer from a year ago joining the 2007-08 Beavers, things look positive.
Coach Sertich looks forward to the challenge of coaching a young but talented team.
"The strength of our team probably starts in goal," said Sertich, "as Emily Brookshaw had an excellent season last year and as a senior will be looked upon to have another solid year. With the loss of Kelly Hart and some of the offensive seniors we had, there are going to be some question marks as far as who is going to step up and fill those gaps."
With the loss of over 60% of it's scoring from a year ago and arguably the best class to come through the Bemidji State women's hockey program, the team has added six freshman and will look for them to help in the scoring column right away.
"The biggest need for us to be successful is offense; we need to bring in kids that are skilled offensively," Sertich said. "We need our kids to make plays and put the puck in the back of the net."
Forwards: The top five scorers from 2006-07 have graduated, however the Beavers retain good offensive talent and Sertich thinks that with 16 returners and seven incoming freshmen, that combination could be a catalyst for success.
Three of those five players who departed finished their careers on the top 10 list for career scoring at BSU in Kelly Hart (100 points, second all-time), Nikki Eckebrecht (70 points, 7th) and Helena Tageson (56 points, 10th). Other key losses were Kate Robinson and Jenn Sadler.
BSU returns nine forwards up front, with three seniors, two juniors and four sophomores. The top returning scorers at forward are seniors Tara Hiscock and Jessica Pullar. Both have great play-making ability and are offensive oriented. Hiscock (8-3–11), a two-year captain, will be looked upon to provide leadership for a young team and should be a spark plug offensively. Hiscock was second on the team in goals (8) and led the team in both game-winning goals (3) and power-play goals (3).
"Tara will be a captain for the third straight season, is one of our go-to players and can play key spots for us," Sertich said.
Pullar (2-4–6, 1 GWG) has been a steady force for the Beavers over the last three seasons and she will be looked upon to fill a number of different roles.
The third senior that will be looked upon for leadership is Jamie LeDuc, who recorded three points in 2006-07.
The Beavers also return two juniors in Lisa Kissick (2-3–5) and Monica Rawlings (2-1–3).
A talented group of sophomore forwards is back in Franny Dorr, Jessica Tyra, Nicole Rawlings, and Kailee Jaeger. Dorr led her class with four points (3g,1a), Tyra notched three points, Rawlings recorded two points, and Jaeger netted one goal.
BSU also welcomes six freshmen forwards in Annie Bauerfield, Julie Rising, Erin Johnson, Keeta Koalska, Carissa Ketcher, and Erin Cody.
"These girls have a history of putting points on the board," said Sertich, "and it will be interesting to see if they can continue their scoring trend at the next level."
Defensemen: The defense is also an area that needs to improve from a year ago. The Beavers allowed 110 goals in 2006-07, which amounted to 3.06 goals-against per game.
BSU lost two of their top defensemen in Mandy Bambrough and Nina Ziegenhals. Bambrough (2-5–7) was the second-leading scorer among defensemen a year ago while Ziegenhals was third with 2-4–6.
The Beavers will rely on all six of their returnees here to hold the blueline and tighten up the defense. Senior Haley Balcom (2-6–8) was one of three defensemen to appear in all 36 games last season and has not missed a game in her career, participating in 107 games through '06-07. Balcom had one multi-assist game last season and currently sits in fourth place for career points by a defenseman with 20 (4g,16a). Balcom's steady play is something Sertich hopes the rest of the defensive corps will mimic.
Junior Brooke Collins (1-3–4) also appeared in all 36 games last season and has not missed a game at BSU. She will be called upon, along with Balcom, to provide leadership to a young but talented defensive group. She currently sits in a fourth place tie with Balcom for career points with 20.
"In Brooke and Haley, I feel we have one of the top pairs defensively in the league," said Sertich. "
Wendy Bergh is the other returning junior defenseman. Bergh picked up one assist in 2006-07 and played in 21 games.
Ashley Leopold, expected to be a physical force this season, returns after a solid freshman campaign, where she played in all but one game and led all freshman in scoring with 2-3–5.
Jackie Robertson also returns after playing in 34 games last season and is a player who likes to create offense from the defensive end.
Casey Irving is the third sophomore defenseman returning. A nicely-skilled blueliner, Irving will bring added size for physical play in front of the net.
Redshirt freshman Lexy Parenteau will round out the defense.
Goaltending: BSU returns two solid goaltenders in Emily Brookshaw and Jessica Ptachick from a year ago. Brookshaw has played in 76 career games for the Beavers and has proven to be one of the best in the WCHA. She is just six games away from overtaking Bre Dedrickson for most games appeared in for a BSU goaltender.
As a junior, Brookshaw played in 35 games, starting 34. She earned a record of 10-20-5, with two of those wins being shutouts over UND on Jan. 13 and over UM on Feb. 9. The 10 wins is the most any goaltender has garnered in a season at BSU. Brookshaw also earned WCHA Defensive Player of the Week honors once last season, and sported a 3.03 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.
Ptachick (1-0-0, 1.88, .919) played in four games, starting two. Her win came on Nov. 25, 2006 in a 3-0 shutout vs Vermont, earning her WCHA Rookie of the Week honors.
BSU also welcomes Jennifer Bauer, who earned hockey and track and field MVP honors at St. Francis Secondary and also played for the Hamilton Jr. Hawks.
"We are hoping one of the two younger goaltenders can push Brookshaw and get some play experience also," Sertich said.