Ms. Hockey 2007
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
-
ghshockeyfan
- Posts: 6132
- Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2003 2:33 pm
- Location: Inver Grove Heights, MN
- Contact:
Very nice article about a very deserving player:jetjock wrote:Contratulations Erin Johnson for being in the top ten. Great kid to coach and watch play.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincitie ... 631108.htm
Posted on Tue, Feb. 06, 2007
Farmington's Erin Johnson is on her own
Farmington's Erin Johnson has flourished without Kallie Flor at her side, leading the state with 52 goals and 85 points.
BY RAY RICHARDSON
Pioneer Press
Farmington girls hockey players Heidi Hegseth and Katie LaDue didn't need much time to come up with a subject for a recent writing exam.
Hegseth and LaDue had to write a paper on a person they admire, and both chose teammate Erin Johnson. The decision flattered Johnson and validated how the senior right winger has handled what was expected to be a challenging role this season.
"It makes me feel good to know that I can have an impact like that on somebody's life," Johnson said.
If Farmington was supposed to have a transition season after the graduation last spring of Kallie Flor, a three-time all-state performer and the state's sixth all-time scoring leader (421 career points), it hasn't happened.
Johnson stepped in and helped Farmington (19-5-1, 11-3-0 Missota Conference) maintain its stature as one of the premier programs in Minnesota girls hockey. She leads the state with 52 goals and 85 points. She has had a productive season despite drawing extra attention from opposing players who no longer have to worry about Flor, now a freshman at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn.
Johnson and Flor combined to score 193 points last season for Farmington, which lost to eventual Class A state champion South St. Paul in the Section 4A final. There was uncertainty about whether Johnson would be effective without Flor, her linemate the previous two seasons.
"Erin has answered any doubts I had in my mind," Farmington coach Keith Revels said. "She's putting up big numbers again, and she's carried us when we needed her."
Johnson has had a goal or assist in every game this season. She averages 2.08 goals a game. In games against Kasson-Mantorville, Rogers-Zimmerman and Red Wing, she had five goals in each to set up dominant victories.
Last week against Red Wing, Johnson scored four goals in the first period and one more in the second period to give Farmington an 8-0 lead. Revels gave Johnson the rest of the night off, allowing her to enjoy the remainder of the game on the bench in street clothes.
"Every time Johnson scored, I held up eight fingers to remind our girls that they need to stay with her in the (offensive) zone," Red Wing coach Scott Haley said in reference to Johnson's No. 8 jersey. "We couldn't do anything with her. We tried to shadow her, and she still scored."
Many opponents have tried a similar approach with Johnson, assigning a player(s) to shadow her as much as possible, particularly in the scoring zone. The plan has had limited success. Revels has taken Johnson out of three games this season after Farmington built big leads. He is sensitive to running up the score and doesn't want to "bury" teams.
Johnson's skill, strength and 5-foot-6 height give her an advantage over most opponents. When play gets physical along the boards, she can outwork smaller players, but she also is crafty enough with her stick handling to set up teammates for scores. Johnson had five assists in Farmington's 6-4 victory over Shakopee on Saturday morning, raising her season total to 33.
Revels and Farmington players noticed early in the season that Johnson wasn't struggling without Flor.
"It's been different not having Kallie," said Johnson, who keeps in touch with Flor. "She's missed a lot, but we have a team with new goals and a new determination. A lot of players have stepped up and improved this season. I don't take a lot of credit for what we do. It's not just me. When things are left up to me, I do what I can."
Against Shakopee on Jan. 25, Johnson's leadership and passion surfaced when she got upset over an icing call. During the play, a Shakopee player hit one of her teammates, but no penalty was assessed. Moments after the faceoff, Johnson responded by taking the puck and skating in for a tough-angle goal.
"Erin always knows where to be to help us out," said Farmington junior left winger Rachel Ripley, one of Johnson's linemates. "She's been a great leader on and off the ice. Between periods, she really keeps everybody focused and encourages us."
With the playoffs approaching, Johnson hopes to continue making impressions on college coaches. Interest from NCAA Division I programs has been minimal, which frustrates Revels.
"Whoever gets Erin will be lucky," he said.
Johnson has visited several Division III schools, including Wisconsin-River Falls, St. Benedict's, Gustavus Adolphus and St. Olaf. She said she isn't spending any time wondering about her prospects for a Division I scholarship.
"I just want to play college hockey somewhere," Johnson said. "That's been my dream, whether it's a D-III or D-I school. I've been skating since I was 4, and I want to keep doing it."
Ray Richardson can be reached at rrichardson@pioneerpress.com.
People that don't appreciate just how hard it is to get a Division 1 scholarship should take a look at this article. Ms. Hockey finalist - tons of points - not much interest.
Hope she gets to go where she wants. I thought her teammate from last year received a scholarship late in the process - but I could be wrong -maybe I am thinking of someone else.
Hope she gets to go where she wants. I thought her teammate from last year received a scholarship late in the process - but I could be wrong -maybe I am thinking of someone else.
-
keepitreal
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 2:35 pm
-
keepitreal
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 2:35 pm
-
mn44hockey
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:14 pm
This award is always one of my favorite in that it gives young girls positive role models and also gives them something to strive for during their high school careers. All of these girls should be very proud of their achievements both on and off the ice and it's great that they can be recognized in this way because they have done so much to help the game of girl's hockey grow. Don't let some immature kid take away from the honor that these girls deserve!!!
TOP 5 ANNOUNCED!
And the top 5 Ms Hockey candidates are:
Katharine Chute, Blake
Ashlan Lambert, EP
Maria Stoa, EP
Terra Rasmussen, Coon Rapids
Jenna Kilpatrick, New Prague
Direct to you from LPH:
http://www.letsplayhockey.com/917cover.pdf
Congrats to all but especialy to my own personal favorite, Katharine Chute! GO BEARS!
Katharine Chute, Blake
Ashlan Lambert, EP
Maria Stoa, EP
Terra Rasmussen, Coon Rapids
Jenna Kilpatrick, New Prague
Direct to you from LPH:
http://www.letsplayhockey.com/917cover.pdf
Congrats to all but especialy to my own personal favorite, Katharine Chute! GO BEARS!
-
hockeytime
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2007 10:55 am
Congratulations to all of these girls. I hope Lambert and Stoa's chances don't diminish because of last night's loss. Both are excellent players and have had great seasons and high school careers. Teammate Feste also had an excellent year for EP as did all of EP's players. Feste has to be an early front runner for next year along with Smith of HA and Erickson from Bimidji. My top three picks at this extremely early time.
Again, congrats to all of these well deserved finalists. Great seasons for them all!
Again, congrats to all of these well deserved finalists. Great seasons for them all!
-
natedog228
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:35 am
- Location: Farmington, MN
Yes. In regards to the Kallie Flor college situation last season, St Thomas was all over here and looked to be a front runner, but Quinnipiac made a visit out to watch her play possibly one of her best games i've seen her play. I do beleive it was a late offer thoughSEMetro wrote:People that don't appreciate just how hard it is to get a Division 1 scholarship should take a look at this article. Ms. Hockey finalist - tons of points - not much interest.
Hope she gets to go where she wants. I thought her teammate from last year received a scholarship late in the process - but I could be wrong -maybe I am thinking of someone else.
-
puckmaster
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Feb 16, 2007 2:13 pm
ms. hockey
I am very happy for all of those ms hockey candidates but I believe alot of it was politics. There were a few girls that should have been in there from the top ten and weren't. Look at Trunzo for example, 83 points on the season and is coming towards her 300th point mark. She has great hands, is an excellent passer and her speed is tremendous. She is going to Dartmouth and also goes to a private school, so is that why she isn't in the top five? I am not taking away from any of these girls that got in the top five but I do beleive where you are going to college is a big factor and where you attend high school is a big factor as well.
?
Having the chance to see all of the five finalists in action recently, I have to go with Katharine Chute. Excellent player with the pretty complete skill set IMO. Knowing other factors are involved of which I'm uninformed...just my two cents. The suspense is killin' me. One last wish for good luck to all!
Having the chance to see all of the five finalists in action recently, I have to go with Katharine Chute. Excellent player with the pretty complete skill set IMO. Knowing other factors are involved of which I'm uninformed...just my two cents. The suspense is killin' me. One last wish for good luck to all!