Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Bethel's women's hockey team has earned a spot in the conference playoffs in three of the last four seasons, setting the bar for excellence higher each year. In 2008-09, the Royals showed they could skate with some of the best teams in the nation. Of the eight games that went into overtime last year, four of them were against nationally ranked opponents, including Bethel's first-ever point in the MIAC standings against Gustauvs.

Much of the team's success last season could be attributed to a strong senior class. Head Coach Charlie Burggraf said, "That group was a fun bunch to coach, and the success they had in their four years is a testament to how hard they worked and encouraged the younger players around them. But in college athletics, we can't dwell on the past - we have to move on, and we've brought in some players who either are, or are going to be equally as talented."

On offense, the Royals will use a mix of experienced upper classmen with some newcomers who have shown they are ready to play at the collegiate level in the first few weeks of practice. "We're going to have to be smart on offense, make good passes, and really be assertive. There are some very good defenders and goalies in our conference and it's going to take more than just a hard slap shot to get the puck past them," said Burggraf.

Defensively, Bethel returns a veteran crew of defenders and adds some freshman to man the blue line. "I think if there's any area we're going to be pretty strong in, it's defense," said Burggraf. "We're still relatively young at the blue line, but with the playing experience each of our defenders have, we're going to make the other teams earn their shots."

As for goaltenders, a number of players will compete for time between the pipes this season. "I liked what I saw from our goalies last season, and that was a big part of our success. This year, I have no doubt that we'll be challenged, but [Assistant Coach] Mitch Baker does a great job with the goalies, and I believe they will answer the challenge when called upon to do so," said Burggraf.

Overall, Burggraf is looking forward to developing his young team with the goal of making the conference playoffs for a third consecutive season. "We've got some good talent, and we're definitely improving the quality of our depth at each position. The MIAC is a tough conference, and so the learning curve for some of our less experienced players is going to be steep, but with the leaders we have on the team, I think we're going to have a lean, tight-knit group that will work hard and that will be fun to watch."

The Concordia women’s hockey team will be looking to be a little more casual in 2009-10. The Cobbers are hoping to get rid of the ties and make more games casual Friday’s and Saturday’s. Last year the Cobbers recorded a team-record five ties, including four in conference play. Despite the four ties, CC finished fourth in the league standings and hosted only their second playoff game in program history.

Concordia fourth-year head coach Ace Gregg returns 11 players from last year’s team and has a core of players that have been to back-to-back MIAC playoffs. The Cobbers finished fourth in the MIAC last year after ending up in third place in 2007-08. The top-level conference finishes should help Concordia through the long grind of the five-month long season.

The Cobbers return four of their top seven scorers from last season. Leading the way up front will be Kayla Thorson (Sr., Rugby, N.D./Minot HS). Thorson was named to the MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention Team last season. She finished the year with five goals and 12 assists for 17 points. She led the team in assists and her point total and assist total were career highs. Thorson had three goals and seven assists in the MIAC and was in the top 15 in the conference for assists. She started the conference season by recording a point in six of the first eight games and also had at least one point in eight of the first league games.

Joining Thorson as top returning scorers will be Kaylee Black (Sr., Barrie, Ont./York University), Katelyn Dold (So., St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Tech HS) and Emily Sell (Jr., Williston, N.D.)Black finished 2008-09 second on the team in assists with 10 and fifth in overall scoring with 15 points and had a career-high three assists in two different games last year. Sell had seven goals and four assists last year and had a hat trick against Concordia University on Jan. 3.

Leading the way on the blue line for the Cobbers will be sophomore Allie Bondy (Moorhead, Minn.) who was named to the MIAC All-Conference Team as a freshman last year. She was the team's most consistent defenseman last year and played on the power play and penalty kill units for the Cobbers. Bondy only finished the year with one assist but was one of the top Concordia players as far as logging a ton of ice time. Sara Sonnenberg (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) will join Bondy in giving CC experience on the blue line.

Senior Maddie Haroldson (Sartell, Minn.) will need to be the anchor in goal for the Cobbers. Haroldson is the lone returning netminder. If experience is the key to success for a goalie, then Haroldosn should have another successful season. She has played in over 2,000 minutes for the Cobbers and during that time has posted a solid 2.42 goals against average. Haroldson also has a career save percentage of 92.0% making her one of the top returning statistical goalies in the conference.

Concordia will open the season with three non-conference road games before squaring off against UW-Superior in their home opener on Nov. 13-14. The Cobbers will then open their conference schedule at home on Nov. 20-21 against St. Olaf.

The College of Saint Benedict Blazer ice hockey team returns to the ice a year after narrowly missing out on the playoffs last season. After finishing the season tied for the fifth and final playoff spot, the Blazers were edged out in the tiebreaker by Saint Olaf College. A successful season highlighted by improved play from veterans and poise from first-years; the Blazers finished with an 8-8-4 record, including a 6-4-0 winning record on the road.

After losing four seniors to graduation, the team welcomed 11 talented first years to a squad already loaded with talent and potential.  Protecting the goal, the Blazers boast the talented services of junior Abbie Helminen and sophomore Lauren Herzog. Helminen, who started 15 games last season, returns after posting a career best .923 save percentage and 2.11 GAA a year ago. Herzog, voted the teams most improved player from a season go, also returns boasting a .910 save percentage and 2.68 GAA. Skating on the ice, the team will rely on a core of veterans including senior Janae Coauette, juniors Holly Reinking, Gretchen Leyendecker, and sophomores Amie Ernst, Jennifer Yelle, Kerri Graske, and Rachel Welz. Leyendecker, an All MIAC selection from a year ago and the team’s captain and leader, recorded eight goals and three assists last season. Ernst, the first Blazer named to the All First Year Team since 2002, led Saint Benedict recording ten goals and five assists last year.

The team will be getting some help from a stellar first year class that includes Catherine Pollock, Sarah Williams, and Ashley Olson who will contribute to the depth and skill of Blazer ice hockey.

This year with the team motto being “Expect Excellence”, the Blazers look to take advantage of every opportunity on the ice this season knowing  from firsthand experience just how important every period of every game can be.