Page 24 Lake Conference Hockey • Thursday , December 12 , 2024 sailor . com
Youth movement to power team on Lake ice
JASON OLSON jason . olson @ apgecm . com
Hopkins / St . Louis Park girls hockey has several familiar faces back on the ice this season , including senior captains Lucy Johnson and Rowan Jansen .
Johnson posted a teamhigh 27 points , including 14 goals , while Jansen tallied 10 points ( three goals , seven assists ) after posting 17 points as a sophomore and five as a ninth-grader .
Johnson said the vibes around the start of the season are positive , and there is a lot of excitement to see how the potential turns into goals and wins this season .
“ Everyone is excited to be here . There are a lot of good attitudes to bring in some momentum for a long season ,” she said . “ There are so many different ages ; it ’ s fun to make those connections and bonds because we were all in that position
3 – Senior defenseman Sophie Hoschka 4 – Sophomore forward Lianna Hess 5 – Sophomore forward Ella Koethe 9 – Ninth-grade defenseman Amelia Harmston 11 – Senior defenseman Katy Geiser 12 – Ninth-grade forward Hazel Schenkelberg 13 – Senior forward Taylor Voigt 15 – Ninth-grade forward Cassidy Voigt 16 – Junior forward Rayna Stecklein 17 – Senior forward Sophia Kotila 18 – Eighth-grade defenseman Louisa Beach 19 – Sophomore defenseman Lainey Hartley 20 – Sophomore forward Sydney Schwartzenruber 21 – Junior forward Kayci Helmstrom 23 – Ninth-grade forward Paige Johnson 24 – Junior defenseman Summer Seurer 33 – Junior goalie Helen Sautter 44 – Junior forward Lucy Johnson 51 – Ninth-grade goalie Harper Hatch 55 – Senior forward Rowan Jansen
HOPKINS PARK ROYALS GIRLS HOCKEY
when we were younger . It ’ s an opportunity for many friendships you might not normally have .”
A big first-year class last season contributed on both ends of the ice as sophomores Ella Koethe and Lianna Hess added nine and three points , respectively , to lead the way for another sizeable ninth-grade class to impact the lineup this season .
The freshman who had the most significant impact on the lineup last season was Hazel Schenkelberg , who finished with 13 goals and nine assists for 22 points , the third Royals skater to collect at least 20 points last season .
Hopkins / Park head coach Ryan St . Martin is ready to see what this group of ninth graders can do at the next level .
“ We ’ ve known this group of freshmen is coming through the ranks for many years now , and now they are high school-aged , so this is our biggest roster we ’ ve had over the last 9-10 years ,” the coach said as DeLaSalle High School is an addition to the cooperative this season .
Last season , the Islanders were part of the Metro South program , which included DLS , St . Paul Academy , Burnsville , Faribault and Bethany Academy . Hopkins also partners with DLS on the boys side .
That ninth-grader class includes goaltender Harper Hatch , forwards Schenkelberg and Paige Johnson , defenseman Amelia Harmston and Cassidy Voigt , who will split time between forward and defenseman .
As for defensemen back , senior Katy Geiser and sophomore Lainey Hartley were two of four skaters who collected two points , as 14 skaters accounted for the scoring .
Seven skaters ended up on the positive side of the player rating (+/ - ), which awards one point for being on the ice for a Royals goal or takes away one point for being on the ice when a goal is scored on the Royals .
Of the returners this season , Schenkelberg leads the way with a + 4 rating , while senior Taylor Voigt was a + 1 . Johnson and Jansen evened it out at a zero , scoring as much as they allowed by the end of the season .
The Royals will turn to two new faces between the pipes in junior Helen Sautter and ninth grader Harper Hatch .
Sautter played in the Metro South program last season , making over 300 saves in over 400 minutes on the ice . She compiled a 3-5-0 record with a . 891 saves percentage and a 4.32 goals against average .
Last season ’ s starter , Evelyn Oslund , graduated after posting a 3.63 goals against average with a . 886 saves percentage in more than 1,305 minutes playing
( SUN PHOTO BY JASON OLSON )
Captains are Lucy Johnson ( pictured ) and Rowan Jansen .
in 26 games . She posted a 7-16-2 record , making 720 saves .
With a wide age range and teammates coming from three schools , the opportunity to build friendships and connections creates a unique situation .
The roster is between Hopkins and Park students , with a few more DLS students .
With a more extensive roster , St . Martin said the key to success is the right attitude , not necessarily the number of roster spots .
“ If everyone has the right attitude , both are advantageous ,” he said . “ I think everyone is ready to take the next step from last year , and much of that has to do with camaraderie in the group .”
Despite being years apart in age , many on the team know each other because they have multiple sets of siblings , including the Johnsons and Voigts .
Lucy and ninth-grade sister Paige Johnson , senior Taylor Voigt , and ninthgrader Cassidy Voigt give multiple siblings .
“ You ’ ve seen the younger ones , been over to their houses , and it ’ s a nice mix and natural fit because these kids are motivated ,” St . Martin said .
Lucy Johnson said she looks forward to the return of the routine and getting back on the ice with the team .