12U hockey 0-0 stalemate

The 12U girls hockey players had to have their game faces on to stay with the Alex 12U team in recent puck action, but they were up to the task, with the Storm’s blue line control by the MBA Storm defense players Dani Schultz, Kelly Mahoney, Monica Lindblad and Lizzy Vick. The final horn sounded with a 0-0 stalemate on the scoreboard, but the game was much more interesting than those zeroes suggest. “Our defense has a couple of D to D players that kept the Alex girls on their heels,” coach Craig Lindblad said.

The MBA 12U team has two forward lines. Center Cassie Johnson, right wing Heather Heidecker and left wing Tedde Bellmore make up one. Heather and Tedde are both first-year players.
“Both girls are starting to get confident on the ice and with the puck,
which is very important,” Lindblad said. Heather made three or four nice breakout passes during the game. Tedde had a great game as well, coaches noted, always back-checking and fore-checking in the offensive zone.

Cassie Johnson was center. This is Cassie's second year and her skills have increased greatly, according to coach John Schultz. “Cassie is one of our strongest players in our defensive zone. She always has her opponent in check. She did a great job against Alex.”

The other line was Celyst Evenson as center, Kendra Schwendmann as right wing and Jaimie Bergerson as left wing. These girls have skated 12U for three years and it is starting to show, coaches noted, and the coaches continued with comments as follows: “Celyst played a very aggressive game for us, back checking when she needed to. Skating the puck through neutral ice is one of her strong points. Kendra has really come on for us this year. “She had a goal in every one of our first three games. One of Kendra's strong points is her fore checking in the offensive zone, not letting teams like Alex to get a breakout going. Jaimie is left wing on this line. She is starting to show her speed and puck control in neutral nice. Kendra has a knack for finding her on the ice. Jaimie also fore checks to stop the opponent’s break out.

“Our defense, Dani Schultz and Kelly Mahoney play as a team. Both girls are passing the puck very well for us this year and are playing a very strong offensive blue line, stepping up to break down the opponent’s break out. “Monica Lindblad and Lizzy Vick are our other defensive pair. They both played great position hockey out front of the net, not letting Alex set up and shoot at will. They also had nice defensive play on our offensive blue line, shutting down their breakout.”
Goalie Rachel Staton gets player of the game for this 0-0 tie, with a shutout and 30 shots taken on her. She stopped seven shots in the first period, nine shots in the second and ten in the third, and four in the overtime against Alex. This is Rachel's third year as goalie, and she has played outstanding for the 12U this year, coaches said. Coaches further stated, in general summation: “Great game girls.”

posted 12/14/05.