Girls Hockey: Trying to be more offensive

Michaela Tonsager was the leading goal scorer last season (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Last winter the Tigers managed to score just 40 goals in 26 games, resulting in a lackluster 4-19-3 record. This year coach Jon Holmes is hoping his team gets more offensive.

"We don't have any returning players who scored double digits goals last season," Holmes said, "so we will probably have to do it by committee. We certainly have a few players that are capable, especially once they break that threshold.

"We really need to get past scoring less than two goals a game. This will come by our entire team grinding grinding to net and creating more scoring opportunities."

The Tigers lost just three players from last year's team to graduation but all three were contributors. Rachael Peroutky was an all-Missota Conference selection and Grace Gavin and Haleigh Zwart each received all-league honorable mention.

Goaltender Maddie Bowe (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Holmes figures much of his offense will come from seven veterans, including Breanna Raske, Megan Stivers, Kaitlyn LaCroix, Maddie Kohlbeck, Michaela Tonsager, Shelby Klotz and Maddi Oines.

Tonsager, an all-Missota Conference player as a sophomore, was the team's top goal scorer last season. Klotz moves to the forward position after playing on the blue line last season.

 "We want to take advantage of her (Klotz) quickness and aggressiveness," Holmes said.

Several players from last year's junior varsity team are also expected to vie for varsity ice time this season, including Halea Wright, Emma Record, Maddie Yousse and Ellie Moser.

Senior captain Scootie Donnelly (photo by J. Lindquist)

Holmes said he is pleased to return a veteran defensive corps consisting of captain Scottie Donnelly, Blue Line Award-winner Brooke Raske, Rachael Welzin, Dani Wright and Tyler Words.

Goaltenders Maddie Bowe and Molly Singewald, co-Rookies of the Year last winter, return to patrol the Tiger nets.

"Defense will be our strength," Holmes said. "Our depth on the blue line allows us to move Shelby (Klotz) to forward...Our goaltenders got a lot of experience last year and both should bring a solid presence for us."

Holmes said he is optimistic about his team's chances in 2013-14 and for now is focusing on short-term goals.

"The kids hat are here are certainly dedicated and willing to put in the effort to get better," he said. "We'll be working on short-term individual and team goals early on. That will allow us to be checking our progress and making certain we make realistic goals for later in the season."

The Tigers kick off their 2013-14 season Friday, Nov 15, with a non-conference road game at Hastings.