University of North Dakota 2006-07 Women's Hockey Outlook
Fresh faces, new attitude and a revived outlook. This season things are a little different in the hallways of Ralph Engelstad Arena, the home of the University of North Dakota women's hockey team.
After graduating the first recruited class in program history last season, the 2006-07 team will have a vastly different look this season. The Sioux have 12 new players, 11 of which are incoming freshmen.
UND's head coach Shantel Rivard doesn't see the youth as a bad thing. Rather, it's an exciting change.
"When you have a young team, they're coming with their eyes wide open," Rivard said. "They're enthusiastic. They're excited. It's all new and there's lots of energy in the air."
The Sioux also have a different look for the coaching staff after previous assistant coaches Paul Colontino and Dawn Froats left the program last summer. There won't be any loss of talent, however.
Rivard hired Dennis Miller as the new associate head coach. Miller previously spent 10 years as the head coach at the University of Vermont.
"I'm really pumped up to have Dennis here," Rivard said. "He brings years and years of experience as a head coach. He's built a program from the grass roots (level). He brings a lot of knowledge and excitement, as well."
The Sioux also hired a recent Vermont alum to coach the goalies. Kami Cote, who played under Miller from 2001-05, will be the assistant coach. Cote was an ECAC Goaltender of the Year, an ECAC First Team All-League selection, a two-year captain and two-time team most valuable player.
On paper the 2006-07 team looks like it did five years ago in the early years of the program's history. However, there is one glaring difference - recruits.
Every person on the roster was recruited to play at UND. Most are getting scholarship money as UND approaches its maximum allowance of 18 full scholarships. That is a far cry from the first season, in which Rivard put together a roster in a few short months.
"I'm really looking forward to us taking a step forward," Rivard said. "I really think we are at a unique juncture right here. It's almost like we are starting over again, but it's at a much different place than four years ago."
Rivard added, "The group that we've brought in around that nucleus of players that we have coming back are really going to be the ones that put UND on the map. They are the true pioneers of the program - as far as going down that road and making it paved."
~Forwards~ The biggest need for the Sioux is offense. The top three scorers from 2005-06 are gone; however, Rivard thinks that 11 new freshmen will be a catalyst for success.
UND's two seniors will also be relied upon for goals, experience and leadership.
Alexia Gagnon Laplante (1-2=3) has dealt with injuries the previous two years, limiting her production. The Sioux are hoping she can return to the form she showed during her freshman season, when she scored 10 goals and seven assists.
"She wants to come back and prove something. I don't think she's been satisfied with her performances," Rivard said. "She's had some injuries in her sophomore and junior years and she's really ready to have the best year of her career."
The other senior, Aynsley Allen (1-2=3), will also be looked upon to fill a number of different roles for the Sioux. "She's another player that has filled in many different roles," Rivard said. "Last year she had some time on the power play. That became one of her key roles.
"She really proved that she could take a role and run with it."
UND's top returning scorers are sophomores Melissa Jaques (left) and Samantha Bowers. Both have great playmaking ability and both are very offensive oriented.
Rivard said Jaques (8-8=16) has been working hard all summer, working out and helping with summer hockey camps.
"She's the type of player that you love on the ice because every time she steps on it, she's ready to compete," Rivard said. "She loves the game. She's always staying after for extra ice, playing games and messing around with the puck."
Bowers (8-4=12) is a spark plug. "She makes things happen and she definitely has the offensive mobility," Rivard said. Rivard is also hoping that Randi Motsko (4-1=5) expands her role in her sophomore season.
"Randi is a player of untapped potential," Rivard said. "She got more confident as the year went in her freshman year. She started to get better and better and you really saw her accelerating at the end of the year. I expect her to pick up where she left off and keep accelerating."
The Sioux will have six freshmen forwards when the season begins and two players the Sioux are hoping will make an immediate impact are Andrea Cook and Ashley Paulson.
"(Cook) plays well on both ends of the ice. She is going to be strong on the forecheck and backcheck. We're also look to her to score a couple of goals here and there."
As for Paulson, "She could be one of our top forwards, as far being able to score some goals and making things happen on the ice."
The Sioux also have a lot of raw talent, which Rivard hopes to mold into prototypical collegiate athletes. Jodi Holland and Jade Schirado both have a strong high school hockey background. Holland was an offensive force at John Marshall High School, while Schirado, who spent the past two seasons at the North American Hockey Academy in Vermont, was the best player out of North Dakota this season. Jenny Porter is the sister of current UND men's hockey player Chris Porter. Rivard said she probably has the least amount of hockey experience on the team. But she has a strong skating background and was a figure skater before deciding to play hockey.
Alex Williams also has a UND connection. Williams, who's another small player that plays big, is the daughter of Brian Williams, a former Sioux men's hockey standout.
"She's the type of player that drives everyone else nuts because she'll be all over," Rivard said. "She has a good sense of knowing where to go and where to be."
~Defense~ Versatility is UND's greatest strength on defense. Rivard expects to have a hard-nosed group that has the ability to score.
"We are always looking for that person to create some offense up front," Rivard said. "We have the potential for our defense to be very offensive minded defensemen."
Junior Christey Allen (2-3=5) is the veteran of the group. Allen's steady play is something Rivard hopes that the rest of the defensive corps will mimic. "You always know what you are getting when she steps onto the ice," Rivard said. "I expect the same thing from her this year."
Another offensive-minded defenseman is Casie Hanson (0-3=3). Although she didn't score a goal last season, Hanson sets up the goals by doing the little things - forechecking and scrumming in the corner.
"The athleticism that she brings to the ice is unbelievable," Rivard said. "She helps our players on the offensive end, forechecking in the corners. She's just so strong."
Sophomore transfer Kelsey Fletcher, who comes to UND from Clarkson University, will also be in the mix. Rivard said she probably will pair Fletcher with sophomore Christy Carlson (3-1=4).
Freshmen Ashley Lynch, Samantha Turner and Cassandra Flanagan will also play a role.
"We have the potential to move people around," Rivard said.
~Goalies~ One of the biggest question marks for the Sioux will be the goaltending. After graduating two goaltenders that have played virtually every game for the past four years, the Sioux have two freshmen between the pipes this season.
Neither Brittany Kirkham nor Jody Karnik has a leg up on the spot. Rivard said each will get a chance to compete and whoever is playing the best will get the nod.
Kirkham has been rated as one of the best goaltenders in North America last year. The Nepean, Ont., native last played on the National Capital Competitive Program Junior Raiders in Canada.
"She's solid technically and she has a good head on her shoulders," Rivard said. "I'm really excited to see her in action."
Karnik hasn't been playing goalie for as long as Kirkham, but the Overland Park, Kan., native is an athlete. Karnik is a former gymnast and very athletic.
"She has the most potential for rapid improvement under some good coaching," Rivard said. "She has the personality and the character to really, really push herself to be the best. I'm really looking forward to seeing improve."
First and foremost, Rivard said, is that the goalies need to be mentally ready for the brutal WCHA schedule.
"The biggest thing for our goaltenders is making sure they stay on top of the mental part of their game," Rivard said. "It is a long season, so keeping their confidence up will be a big part of their game."
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