2009-10 Season Outlook
Celebrating a Decade of Women's Hockey at St. Cloud State University
Jeff "Goose" Giesen will begin his fourth season as the head women's hockey coach at St. Cloud State University in 2009-10. A native of Blaine, Minn., Giesen is the third head coach since the inception of the women's program in 1998 and has accumulated an all-time record of 45-51-16 in three seasons along with a 29-43-12 mark in the ever grueling Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
Jennifer Kranz and Jason Johnson return to the Husky staff as assistants to Coach Giesen. Kranz, a native of Waukesha, Wis., is in her fourth season as an assistant coach for the SCSU women's hockey staff in 2009-10. Prior to joining the Husky staff in 2006, Kranz served as the assistant girls' prep ice hockey coach at Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minn., since 2004. At SCSU, Kranz's responsibilities include recruiting, working with the forwards and monitoring team academics. Johnson joined the SCSU women's hockey staff in 2007-08 after serving as an assistant men's hockey coach at nearby Saint John's University from 2003-2007. Johnson's responsibilities at St. Cloud State include recruiting, video breakdown and working with the defensemen.
Felicia Nelson, SCSU's senior forward, was named the team captain after serving as an alternate team captain in 2008-09. The St. Paul native played in 33 games last season and scored 21 points (3g, 13a). The trio of seniors Danielle Hirsch, Caitlin Hogan and Holly Roberts were all named alternate captains for the upcoming season.
St. Cloud State returns eight forwards this year after losing some of their top scorers from a year ago. Caitlin Hogan (Oakdale) is the Huskies returning leader scorer after charting 31 points (14g, 17a) during her junior stint. Team captain Felicia Nelson (St. Paul) and Holly Roberts (St.Cloud) are also back for their senior debuts, as Nelson finished last season with 21 points (8g, 13a) and Roberts posted nine goals and 11 helpers on the year. Also returning to the forward core group is Meaghan Pezon (Eden Prairie), Katie Kemmerer (Anchorage, Alaska), Brittany Toor (Hartland, Mich.), Ashlan Lambert (Eden Prairie), Alecia Anderson (Brooklyn Park) and Courtney Josefson (Bemidji).
Danielle Hirsch leads the helm at the blue line in 2009-10 after setting a Husky single season record for defenseman assists with 18 last season, which also led the team in that category. The WCHA Defensive Player of the Week and Bloomington native totaled 20 points on the season (2g, 18a), which proved to be a personal career season best for Hirsch. Joining Hirsch on defense this year is sophomore Jaclyn Daggit (St. Paul Park), junior Diana Karouzos (Chicago, Ill.) and seniors Kelly Meierhofer (Sauk Rapids) and Jenaca Fredheim (Campbell River, B.C.).
The Huskies are happy to welcome eight new faces to the squad in 2009-10. The incoming first year players include Canada natives Katherine Allen (Red Deer, Alberta) and Jocelyn Zabrick (Airdrie, Alberta), four-time All-Conference and two-time All-State selection Kylie Lane (Roseau), Minnesota's Ms. Hockey finalist Alexandra Nelson (Andover), All-State forward Callie Dahl (Stillwater), Minnesota Prep Athlete of the Week Haylea Schmid (Oak Grove), All-Classic Lake Conference player Elizabeth Sitek (Edina) and All-North Suburban Conference player Lisa Martinson (St. Louis Park).
Ashley Nixon (Blaine) is back for her junior season and will lead the way in the goaltending category. As a sophomore, Nixon tallied her first career shutout in last year's season opener at Quinnipiac on Oct. 3, 2008. A WCHA and USCHO.com Defensive Player of the Week honoree, Nixon led the Huskies with a .909 save percentage, 11 wins and three shutouts last year. Nixon is joined by sophomore net minders Tayler VanDenakker (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Anna Donlan (Hillsboro, Wis.). Van Denakker made nine starts during her rookie stint, going 4-4-1 overall and posting a team best 2.76 goals against average.
The 2009-10 St. Cloud State women's hockey squad will open its season of competition on Sep. 26, with an exhibition game against Team USA, part of Team USA's Qwest Tour.
SCSU will then open its regular season on Oct. 2-3, with a pair of home dates against non-conference rival Niagara University at the National Hockey Center. The Huskies will hit the road on Oct. 10-11 for the WCHA opener at Minnesota Duluth.
To kick-off the New Year, the Huskies will host the Easton Holiday Classic on Jan. 2-3, at the National Hockey Center. Minnesota State and Mercyhurst will open play in the Easton Holiday Classic on Jan. 2 with a 12:07 p.m. game. SCSU and Providence will then square off at 3:07 p.m. On Jan. 3, the Easton Holiday Classic will wrap-up with Minnesota State and Providence playing at 12:07 p.m., followed by SCSU and Mercyhurst at 3:07 p.m.
"We have a very competitive schedule this upcoming season," SCSU coach Jeff Giesen said. "In addition to our always tough WCHA games, we have national runner-up Mercyhurst and Hockey East power Providence competing in our Easton Holiday Showcase this season at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud."
