Page 16 Lake Conference Hockey • Thursday , December 12 , 2024
Experience is abundant with 13 seniors
JOHN SHERMAN john . sherman @ apgecm . com
Five games into the 2024-25 season , the Wayzata High girls hockey team looked faster , stronger and more capable than it did last season .
No wonder . The Trojans returned most of the 2023- 24 squad , including 13 seniors .
As a result of last year ’ s experience , the Trojans
won their first four games before losing a close battle with northern Minnesota power Moorhead 6-3 .
Wayzata captains are senior goalie Malin Erickson and the Britz twins - Jenna and Nicole - who are senior forwards . After a recent practice , they discussed expectations for the season .
“ We have a great coaching staff ,” Erickson said . “ We can feel their support every day .”
1 - Senior goalie Ava Erickson 2 - Junior defenseman Sofia Kallebo 3 - Sophomore forward Kara Knutson 4 - Junior defenseman Allison Lavender 6 - Senior forward Eva Schneider 7 - Senior defenseman Josephine Lindahl 8 - Sophomore forward Morgan Kennedy 10 - Ninth-grade forward Ava Molde 11 - Senior forward Claire Freed 12 - Junior forward Ava Hansen 13 - Junior forward Vanessa Swanson 15 - Sophomore defenseman Noelle Noble 16 - Sophomore defenseman Gabrielle Lewis 21 - Senior forward Addie Renner 23 - Senior forward Nicole Britz 24 - Senior forward Jenna Britz 25 - Senior defenseman Lauren Nerhus 27 - Senior forward Rhiannon Lawrence 28 - Junior forward Julia Ostapeic 30 - Senior goalie Cameron Edworthy 32 - Junior forward Madie Lyon 33 - Senior defenseman Jane Streeter 34 - Senior defenseman Cali Nagle 35 - Senior goalie Malin Erickson
WAYZATA TROJANS GIRLS HOCKEY
The Britz twins have run into some bad luck . Jenna , an All-Lake Conference player last season , missed several games with an injury . Nicole , also injured , has been ruled out for the season .
“ The twins are a vital part of our team ,” Erickson said . “ They add a lot to the team mindset and attitude even when they are not playing . The rest of the team plays for them and works hard for them .”
Head coach Brad Podiak , in his third season , said he hopes Jenna Britz will be cleared to play again soon . She is the team ’ s top returning scorer .
Erickson recalled meeting Jenna Britz when they were in fourth grade . “ We sat at the same table and became friends ,” Erickson said . “ Then , in fifth grade , Nicole was also in our class .”
Erickson might have become a high school forward , based on the early part of her hockey career . But circumstances on her Under-12 team caused a position change .
“ My dad was coaching me ,” she said . “ At that point I had never picked up a goalie stick in my life . We didn ’ t have a goalie on the team , so my dad made me the goalie .”
Even without the Britz twins playing , Wayzata seems to be in an earlyseason groove . On a trip up north several weeks ago , the Trojans scored wins over Fergus Falls 3-2 and Alexandria 4-2 . Wayzata also had a 4-2 win over Eastview and a 1-0 win over Blaine .
Erickson ’ s play in goal has been one of the keys . Her goals-against average was 2.21 through five games and her save percentage was . 911 .
“ It is nice to know we have a really competent goalie ,” Jenna Britz said . “ We know she will make the saves .”
Scoring has been balanced so far . Junior Julia Ostapeic , an All-Lake honorable mention forward last season , led the way with five goals in the first five games . Senior forward Rhiannon Lawrence was second with three goals .
Two sophomores , forward Morgan Kennedy and defenseman Noelle Noble , have been varsity players since eighth grade . Noble brings offensive skills from the back and had eight assists through the first five outings .
Jenna Britz talked about her experience playing for Wayzata : “ I get to come to the rink every day and see my best friends . We have created such a positive culture .”
With her injury preventing her from playing this season , Nicole Britz keeps statistics .
“ I like everything about hockey ,” Nicole said . “ My favorite thing ever is playing on the same team with Jenna .”
“ Nicole and I have played on the same line for a long time ,” Jenna said . “ I am the center and she is one of my wings .” The Wayzata girls are anxious to compete in sailor . com
( SUN PHOTO BY JOHN SHERMAN )
Wayzata High ’ s girls hockey captains for 2024-25 are , from left to right : Nicole Britz , Malin Erickson and Jenna Britz . the Lake Conference this season . With a more experienced team , they are in better shape to challenge perennial powers Edina and Minnetonka .
“ Edina is our biggest rival ,” Nicole Britz said . “ They back check really hard .”
“ Edina just keeps coming at you ,” Jenna Britz said . “ And they play the game the right way .”
Minnetonka has its best senior class in years , so the Skippers offer a similar challenge . The Lake Conference schedule is a double round robin with the Trojans playing Edina , Minnetonka , Eden Prairie and North Wright County two times each and Buffalo one time . Hopkins / St . Louis Park is in the Lake Conference , but does not play a Lake schedule .