MIAC Release
ST. PAUL, MINN. – October is typically associated with fall in Minnesota. The leaves are changing, pumpkins line the sidewalks and people can start to feel a slight chill in the air. To coin the popular
Game of Thrones slogan, winter is coming but not quite yet.
At St. Catherine University, and in the rest of Minnesota, there is one other indicator to let everyone know winter is coming: hockey. With snow expected in the forecast on Friday and the first game of the season on Saturday, October 28, St. Kate's hockey team is ready for a fresh, new season after a somewhat disappointing 2016-17.
The Wildcats were in the thick of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) playoff hunt in mid-season last year and carded some of the biggest wins in program history. St. Kate's upset then No. 7 ranked Lake Forest 3-2 in the opening series of the season before upending conference rival St. Thomas midway through the year. Unfortunately, the Wildcats were on the outside looking in during the MIAC playoffs after suffering some costly losses at the end of the season.
St. Kate's is ready to turn its fortunes around, though, in 2017-18. The Wildcats were picked to finish seventh in the MIAC Preseason Coaches Poll, released late Wednesday evening. With plenty of top players, including two All-MIAC honorees on defense, returning for the year and several new faces, this St. Kate's hockey team should be a force to be reckoned with for the next five months and maybe beyond.
Meet the 2017 St. Kate's hockey team (in 140 characters or less)
1 –
Kelsey Miller (Fy; Goalie; Rochester, Minn. / Century)
Earned Big-9 All-Conference honors. Graduated from Rochester Century in 2017
2 – Rebecca Prigge (Sr; Defense; Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater; Concordia University-Wisconsin
Returning for 2
nd season with St. Kate's. Scored the game-tying goal in Wildcats 3-2 win over No. 7 Lake Forest last year
3 – Melissa Smith (So; Forward; Maplewood, Minn. / Hill-Murray)
Played in 24 games for the Wildcats in 2016-17. Scored 1
st goal of collegiate career in 5-3 win over Saint Mary's
4 – Sara Brakke (Sr; Defense; Rochester, Minn. / Mayo)
One of the top returning defenseman for St. Kate's. Tallied five assists for five points in 2016-17 and logged minutes on top-defensive line
5 – Veronica Gruett (Fy; Defense; Woodbury, Minn. / Revolution)
Smooth skating defenseman who is able to move the puck quickly out of the zone. Sister is sophomore
Tori Gruett
6 – MacKenzie Ess (Jr; Forward; Burnsville, Minn. / Apple Valley)
Junior forward returning for third season. Scored 1
st goal of collegiate career in 3-3 tie with Gustavus.
7 – Morgan Tentis (Jr; Forward; Victoria, Minn. / Chanhassen)
Returning forward. Finished third on the team in points (16) and second in goals (7) in 2016-17, and finished top-5 in assists (9).
8 – Ashlyn Rakos (Fy; Forward; Waconia, Minn. / Holy Family)
Aggressive, hard-working dual threat on offense and defense. Graduate of Holy Family.
9 – Sarah Montrose (Fy; Forward; Rochester, Minn. / John Marshall)
Earned Big-9 All-Conference honors. Will be face off and special teams specialist. Graduate of John Marshall
10 – Tori Thompson (Jr; Defense; Rochester, Minn. / John Marshall)
2016-17 All-MIAC honoree. Led all active defenseman in MIAC in points (16) and power play goals (4); was 2nd in all other offensive categories
11 – Laken Muller (Jr; Forward; Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley)
In 2016-17, played in 25 games and led the team in total goals (11). Ranked in the top-3 in both points (21) and assists (10)
12 – Lexi Muller (So; Defense; Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley)
Tallied nine points with four goals and five assists in 2016-17 to lead all Wildcat freshman. Also ranked top-5 in MIAC in same categories
14 – Alison Hutter (Fy; Forward; Mayville, N.D. / Crookston)
First North Dakotan to play for the Wildcats since 2013-14. Passionate about hockey and learning as much as possible about the game.
15 – Paige Delahunt (Fy; Forward; Bemidji, Minn. / Bemidji)
Logged several minutes as a right/left wing for Bemidji. Strong offensive player ready to take her game to the next level.
16 – Karly Nelson (Sr; Defense; East Grand Forks, Minn. / East Grand Forks)
Returning senior defenseman. Played in 24 games with two goals and two assists in 2016-17. All goals were PPGs
17 – Tori Gruett (So; Forward; Woodbury, Minn. / Revolution)
Sophomore forward. Played in 25 games and scored two goals in St. Kate's 4-2 win over Finlandia
18 – Allie Guzy (Jr; Forward; Blaine, Minn. / Spring Lake Park)
Returning junior forward. Tallied eight points for St. Kate's during the 2016-17 season, including four goals
19 – Brede Postier (Jr; Forward; Byron, Minn. / Dodge County; Hamline University)
Transfer from MIAC rival Hamline. Scored six goals and tallied five assists for the Pipers in 2016-17. Also logged 43 penalty minutes
20 – Anna Carman (Sr; Forward; Lutsen, Minn. / Cook County)
Senior forward. Scored four goals in 2016-17, including game-winner in 5-3 win against Saint Mary's. Tallied eight total points
21 – Hunter Gallus (Fy; Forward; Delano, Minn. / Mound-Westonka)
Dedicated, hardworking player with high hockey IQ and strong puck handling skills. Graduate of Mound-Westonka
22 – Rachael Holm (Fy; Forward; Bemidji, Minn. / Bemidji)
Small, quick forward from Bemidji who plays bigger than her size. Also member of St. Kate's soccer team
23 – Emilee Anderson (Fy; Forward; Chanhassen, Minn. / Chanhassen)
All-around smart hockey player. Good puck handling skills and vision on the ice. Member of Chaska/Chanhassen's top line in 2016-17.
30 – Kristen Pechacek (Sr; Goalie; Park Falls, Wis. / Chequamegon; Team Wisconsin)
2015-16 All-MIAC & All-American. 2016-17 All-MIAC Honorable Mention. No. 3 in MIAC in save percentage (.934) No. 5 in GAA (2.40) & saves (442)
35 – Bryce Boreen (Fy; Goalie; Cottage Grove, Minn. / Park-Cottage Grove)
First year goalie from Cottage Grove. Mentally tough and works hard both on the ice and in the classroom
Head Coach: Brad Marshal
Enters 13
th season coaching the Wildcats. Overall record of 108-156-32. Voted MIAC Coach-of-the-Year in 2009-10
