(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Betsy Anderson 2 goals, 19 assists, all-Missota Conference
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Last winter the Tigers sailed through their Missota Conference season with a perfect 12-0 record and won their second straight league title. They did so behind the one-two scoring punch of Krystal Baumann and Hannah Alexander, a standout goaltender in Jessica Erchul and a fast-improving defense.
Buamann and Alexander graduated last spring, taking 71 of the team's 98 goals with them and leaving a Grand Canyon-sized hole in the offense.
Senior Erchul is back in the nets and the veteran defensive corps is mostly in tact but if a three-peat is to be in the cards, the 2011-12 edition of Tiger hockey will have to earn it in a different manner.
"Although losing Krystal and Hannah is an obstacle to overcome, I believe we have the personnel to gradually fill the void," coach Jon Holmes said. "As we progress we will come to grips with having a more spread out, balanced approach to scoring. This will help us at the end of the season by having a team that relies on everyone showing up for every game and executing.
"This year's team also has a very unique chemistry and works well together on and off the ice. This will only benefit us as the season progresses."
Holmes welcomed back 15 letterwinners to the opening day of practice on Oct. 31, including Erchul and senior defenders Betsy Anderson, Katie Burgess and Molly Friedlund. Erchul and Anderson were both all-Missota Conference players last season.
Underclassmen returnees include junior forwards Haleigh Zwart and Grace Gavin; sophomore forwards Haley Doll, Maddie Strid, Shaye Jenrich, Brenna Raske and sophomore defenders Scootie Donnelly and Rachel Welzin and freshmen forwards Chloe Batta and Emily Johnson and freshman goalie Ashley Corcoran.
Newcomers expected to vie for varsity ice time include freshmen forwards Morgan Medved and Michaela Tonsager and eighth grade forward Maddie Oines.
"Over the past three years we have graduated only seven seniors," Holmes said. "This year we have four seniors and two juniors so once again we are a young team. This means we will be looking to those young but experienced players for more and more as well as having the newcomers come in and learn fast.
"We have a lot of work to do, but we expect a lot out of our players no matter what grade level they are. We will definitely be a blue-collar type of team."
Leading the blue-collar effort will be the defensive quartet of Erchul (2.2 goals against average), Anderson (21 points), Burgess and Friedlund.
"The three defenders have a combined 16 years of varsity experience and as a veteran goalie Jessica brings a calmness to the game that turns mistakes into memories.
"We have pledged to each other as players and coaches that we will take pride in taking care of our defensive zone. We want to keep opponents away from good shots and clear rebounds. There are many philosophies about how to win hockey games."
Holmes said he isn't lowering the expectations bar at all, meaning a third straight league title is right at the top of the team's to-do list.
"We will have to work harder than ever to get it," Holmes said. "Both Chaska/Chanhassen and Shakopee will be extremely tough and Red Wing will also be in the mix. We'll have to battle night in and night out to get there."
Holmes picked Lakeville South the team that defeated the Tigers in the Section 1AA finals last year, and Lakeville North as the teams to beat in the race for post-season honors.
The Tigers return a veteran group of assistant coaches, including Jason Kohlbeck, Dan Pickens and Al Jenrich.
Farmington opens the 2011-12 season Thursday night with a non-conference game with Rochester John Marshall at Schmitz-Maki Arena.
