DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

[eastsidehockey]

I noticed no one had a thread going yet so i figured i would start one.

nice article in yesterdays paper.

Emily Erickson, one of Minnesota’s best high school girls hockey players, gleans more satisfaction when others succeed.

The Greenway winger posted 80 points as one of five finalists for Ms. Hockey during her senior campaign, but the 18-year-old revels more in the success of her team, Grand Rapids-Greenway, and the progress of girls in area youth programs.

After Erickson’s Lightning made it to the 2008 Class AA state tournament title game, the team shared the experience with middle-school girls players.

“They were way into it,” said Erickson, whose team displayed their state tournament medals and encouraged the kids to make a similar run once they are on the varsity team. “They are only 10 or 12, but they were like, ‘Yeah! We are going to do that!’ It was awesome to see.”

Erickson’s personal success, selflessness and her team’s accomplishments make her the News Tribune Player of the Year.

Erickson’s giving nature meshes well with her plans to become a teacher and coach.

“Working with someone and seeing the look on their face after the first time they have achieved something is just amazing,” said Erickson, who tutors math at Greenway High School and is a volunteer youth hockey coach. “It’s a special feeling that you can barely put into words. I’ve had a lot of great coaches over the years. I respect my coaches. I hope to be one of those people when I grow up.”

Erickson joined Greenway’s varsity team in seventh grade. At the same time, she began coaching her peers on a youth team with her brother, Kyle.

“I asked her to come along [to practice] because the younger girls look up to her,” said Kyle, 23. “She was in the seventh grade and she would have been on the team if she wasn’t already on varsity. The other players are her friends, but they looked up to her as well.”

Erickson led the Lightning to Section 7AA titles the past two seasons, and she was a senior captain. Her high school career concluded in a 5-3 Class AA title game loss to Eden Prairie. She tallied 155 points in the last two seasons, and she will take her prolific scoring knack to Bemidji State next year.

“She is a game-changer,” said Hibbing-Chisholm coach Pete Hyduke, whose team lost to the Lightning by a combined score of 12-1 in two games last season. “What I saw was how Emily Erickson made teams adjust the way they play to her. She had the best supporting cast, but she used them so well. Teams are always adjusting for her speed. Defenses are always aware of her.”

Erickson becomes the third multiple winner of the player of the year award after Johanna Ellison (Cloquet-Esko-Carlton in 2004 and 2005), a junior backup goalie for Minnesota Duluth, and Andrea Nichols (Hibbing-Chisholm in 2001-03), who played for the University of Minnesota from 2003-07.

Erickson often relied on her speed to score earlier in her high school career, but now she has an array of offensive skills — shots, moves and improvisation.

“She is such a prolific scorer, you have to worry about her constantly,” Silver Bay Area coach Bill Crotty said. “She is a goal scorer and they are often hard to find.”


ANDY GREDER covers high school girls hockey for the News Tribune. He can be reached at (218) 723-5315 or by e-mail at agreder@duluthnews.com.

[eastsidehockey]

First Team
Emily Erickson
Grand Rapids-Greenway
Senior Forward
* The prolific scorer tallied 80 points (45 goals, 35 assists) and led the Lightning to the Class AA title game
* Could score with speed, moves or smarts and will play for Bemidji State next year
* Named to the Associated Press all-state first team and was one of five finalists for Ms. Hockey

Julia Gilbert
Proctor-Hermantown-Marshall
Sophomore forward
* The area’s second-leading scorer totaled 32 goals and 21 assists
* Named AP all-state honorable mention after leading the Mirage to the Section 7AA semifinals

Jamie Fenstermacher
Hibbing-Chisholm
Senior Forward
* Named to the Class A all-tournament and Minnesota Coaches Association all-state teams
* As a captain, she led the Bluejackets to consecutive Class A state tournament appearances
* Tallied 22 goals and 23 assists last season

Montana Vichorek
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton
Senior defender
* Notched nine goals with11 assists and was named AP all-state honorable mention
* The physical defender ran the Lumberjacks’ power-play unit
* After guiding CEC to the Section 7AA semifinal, she will play at Bemidji State next season

Heather Horgen
Grand Rapids-Greenway
Senior Defender
* Posted five goals and 22 assists
* The stout defender propelled the Lightning toconsecutive Section 7AA titles
* AP all-state honorable mention

Rachel Borchardt
Moose Lake Area
Senior goalie
* Received the most all-area goalie votes from coaches
* As the only senior on the Rebels, she led seven first-year skaters

Second team

Jami Weiss
Proctor-Hermantown-Marshall
Junior Forward
* Tallied 27 goals and23 assists for the Mirage
* Named to the AP all-state honorable mention team

Sam Downey
Silver Bay Area
Junior Forward
* Her 30 assists demonstrated her ability to distribute the puck
* Scored 27 goals and led the Mariners to the Section 7A semifinals

Sadie Lundquist
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton
Junior Forward
* Led the Lumberjacks in scoring for the fourth straight season with 21 goals and17 assists
* Took CEC to the Section 7AA semifinals two straight seasons

Tyra Kerr
Duluth
Junior Defender
* Registered nine points and was a key factor in goalie Laura Bellamy’s 1.73 goals-against average
* With stifling defense, she helped the Northern Stars reach the Section 7AA title game

Hannah Buchite
Proctor-Hermantown-Marshall
Sophomore Defender
* A solid defender who can shut down opposing scorers and handle the puck
* Had five goals and six assists for the Mirage

Jessica Havel
Grand Rapids-Greenway
Junior Goalie
* The Lightning backstop gave up 56 goals in 31 games
* She gave up one goal in the Class AA state tournament quarterfinal and semifinal wins

[Rocketwrister]

Good for the girls! Glad to see some small town girls represented too!!

[mnhcky23]

Well selected teams. Duluth newspaper did a good job. Anyone missing from the teams? Being from the metro I am not familiar with Rachel Borchardt as well as a couple of the others.

[boblee]

Well selected teams. Duluth newspaper did a good job. Anyone missing from the teams? Being from the metro I am not familiar with Rachel Borchardt as well as a couple of the others.

Molly Arola and Dana Gallop from GRG are missing, but the other girls are pretty good too.

[MNHockeyFan]

Molly Arola and Dana Gallop from GRG are missing, but the other girls are pretty good too.

I noticed that right away too. Both of them arguably could/should have made it.

[zamboni99]

Molly Arola and Dana Gallop from GRG are missing, but the other girls are pretty good too.

I noticed that right away too. Both of them arguably could/should have made it.

I also agree Arola and Gallop should be on that list. Also, Laura Bellamy, Goaltender for Duluth? She was a huge reason for that teams success this season.