Bemidji State Signs Eight to Join Squad in 2004-05
April 16, 2004
BEMIDJI, Minn. - Bemidji State head women's hockey coach Bruce Olson announced today the signing of eight recruits to join the Beavers in the 2004-05 season. Haley Balcom, Emily Brookshaw, Tara Hiscock, Tamara Price, Jessica Pullar, Millisa Smith and Andrea Staton have all signed National Letters of Intent to play for BSU. Aimee Collins, a transfer from Mercyhurst will also begin playing for the Beavers next season.
"We tried to strengthen all areas of our game with this class," Olson said. "These seven student-athletes should add more overall speed and skill along with more depth to our team."
Haley Balcom a defenseman from Elk River, Minn., helped the Elk River Area Elks win the 2004 Class AA state championship title. Balcom tallied 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points and earned all-state honors during her senior season. A teammate of fellow BSU recruits Jessica Pullar and Millisa Smith, Balcom gained all-state honorable mention honors from the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press for the 2003-04 season. She finished her high school career fifth all-time in scoring with 35 goals and 67 assists for 102 points.
"Haley is a very smart, heads-up player with both offensive and defensive skills," Olson said. "She doesn't make a lot of mistakes so she has the ability to make the right decisions and we have also been impressed with her hockey sense."
Emily Brookshaw, a goaltender from Webster, Wis., joins the Beavers after being named Minnesota's Let's Play Hockey's 2004 Senior Goalie of the Year during her senior season at Hill-Murray High School. Brookshaw becomes the first student-athlete in program history to receive Minnesota's top goaltender award. An all-conference and all-state recipient, Brookshaw recorded a 1.47 goals against average and a .928 save percentage in 15 games in the 2003-04 campaign. She has also played for the multi-state Central District team in the Chicago Showacase and participated in a Community Olympic Development program.
"Obviously, bringing in a goalie of the year from Minnesota like Emily improves our exposure across the state and the WCHA, Olson said. "For her to win this kind of award, it shows her ability to pick up her level of play in big games."
Aimee Collins, a forward from Pilot Mound, Manitoba, spent the past two seasons playing for the Mercyhurst Lakers of College Hockey America. Collins appeared in 35 games in the 2003-04 season, generating two goals and three assists for five points. In her two year career at Mercyhurst, Collins played in 68 games while scoring five goals and eight assists for 13 points. She lettered in hockey, fastball, volleyball and badminton during her high school career.
"Aimee is a very fast skater that should fit in well on our team," Olson said. "She brings a lot of experience, having already played two years at Mercyhurst and we are hoping she can contribute quickly."
Tara Hiscock, a forward from Bemidji, Minn., bas been a varsity hockey player at Bemidji High School since ninth grade, helping the Lumberjacks to two conference championships. A three-time all-conference and two-time all-state selection, Hiscock netted 28 goals and 13 assists for 41 points in her senior season. She is a member of the Minnesota Selects team and has taken part in the USA Hockey Development Camp. Hiscock was also a four-year letterwinner in soccer and softball.
"Tara is going to be an immediate impact player because of her overall skills," Olson said. "She is an excellent two-way player and her speed and strength should allow her to be a great college hockey player."
Tamara Price, a forward from Cloquet, Minn., notched 24 goals and 16 assists for 40 points during her senior season. Price helped lead the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Lumberjacks to consecutive Class A state tournaments, as her squad finished second in 2004 and fifth in 2003. An all-area selection in her junior and senior year, Price participated in the Minnesota Elite and Minnesota Selects programs in 2001. Price also helped her soccer team to state tournament appearances in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
"Tamara is an overall, aggressive and hard-working forward," Olson said. "She is the type of player that is always on the puck and not afraid to work in the corners or around the net in traffic."
Jessica Pullar, a forward from Elk River, Minn., was the leading scorer for the 2004 Class AA state champion Elk River Elks. Pullar chipped in 57 goals and 34 assists for 91 points in her senior season, including three goals and five assists in the state tournament. She is a four-time all-conference selection and a three-time all-metro and all-state recipient. Pullar is also a teammate of fellow BSU signees Haley Balcom and Millissa Smith.
"Jessica is a natural goal scorer as seen by the numbers she has compiled in her last couple years of high school," Olson said. "She is a very smart player and she has the skill to generate a lot of scoring opportunities."
Millisa Smith, a goaltender from Elk River, Minn., was a four-year letterwinner at Elk River Area High School and served as captain in her senior season. An all-state honorable mention selection in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, Smith earned all-conference honors during the 2003-2004 season. A teammate of fellow Bemidji State signees Haley Balcom and Jessica Pullar, Smith secured a 1.22 goals against average, a .921 save percentage and seven shutous in her senior year. She was the starting goaltender on the Elks 2004 Class AA state championship team.
"Millisa is a very active goaltender and she reacts well to where the puck is at all times," Olson said. "She also performs well under pressure, as she played very strong in the championship game of the state tournament."
Andrea Staton, a defenseman from Anoka, Minn., participated in four consecutive Class AA state tournaments for Anoka High School. Staton was a six-year letterwinner and an all-conference selection in her junior and senior year. She was a member of an all-section academic team in 2003 and 2004. Staton also received a letter in softball and two letters in weight training.
"Andrea is a defensive minded defenseman," Olson said. "She also has the
ability to step up into the offensive zone and can generate a lot of shots
from the blue-line."
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