Women’s hockey goalie. St. Scholastica’s Lori Huseby: Rising Star in Women’s College Hockey Goaltending

How did Lori Huseby become the starting goalie for St. Scholastica. What challenges did she face during the COVID-19 pandemic. How has her performance impacted the team’s success in the 2021-22 season. What are her academic achievements alongside her athletic career.

Lori Huseby’s Journey to Becoming St. Scholastica’s Starting Goalie

Lori Huseby, a senior at St. Scholastica, has emerged as a formidable force in women’s college hockey goaltending. Her journey to becoming the starting goalie for the Saints is a testament to her dedication, perseverance, and athletic prowess.

Huseby’s path to success began in her hometown of Babbitt, Minnesota, where she played varsity boys hockey for Ely High School. This unique experience provided her with valuable exposure to a high volume of shots, helping her develop her skills from as early as eighth grade.

Transition to College Hockey

Upon joining St. Scholastica, Huseby faced the challenge of earning her place on the team. For three years, she competed alongside All-American Lexi Thomeczek for starting positions, a rivalry that ultimately prepared her for her current role.

• Worked hard to earn every start
• Pushed herself and her teammate to improve
• Developed confidence in her abilities

Coach Jackie MacMillan recognizes Huseby’s determination, stating, “Lori had been chomping at the bit the last three seasons to be our No. 1 goalie and it’s shown. She’s done an incredible job, but beyond that, she has put herself in this position because of the work she has put in.”

Overcoming Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique obstacles for athletes across the globe, and Huseby was no exception. With limited access to traditional training facilities, she demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness and commitment to her craft.

Creative Training Methods

During the pandemic, Huseby adapted her training regimen to fit the constraints of her hometown environment:

• Conducted dryland training in her backyard
• Performed hill sprints at Birch Lake
• Utilized the beach for running exercises

Huseby’s dedication was evident as she explained, “I’d run up and down the beach. It’s kind of in a little dip, so all the cars going down to the boat landing, I’d be running up that hill. I got a couple strange looks, but not too much.”

Huseby’s Impact on St. Scholastica’s 2021-22 Season

Huseby’s hard work and preparation have paid off tremendously in the 2021-22 season. As the full-time starter, she has posted impressive statistics that have contributed significantly to the team’s success.

Impressive Statistics

Huseby’s performance in the 2021-22 season has been nothing short of remarkable:

• 11-0 win-loss record
• 0.94 goals-against average
• .961 save percentage

These statistics have played a crucial role in St. Scholastica’s undefeated 14-0 record, positioning the team for a championship run in the National Collegiate Hockey Association Slaats Cup Championship series.

Physical Attributes and Goaltending Style

At 6 feet tall, Huseby possesses an imposing presence in the net. However, her success is not solely attributed to her size. Coach MacMillan highlights Huseby’s well-rounded skill set, noting, “It’s funny, because everyone always comments on her size, and I’ve been telling her this for a couple years now, but she’s a lot quicker than she thinks she is. She is very quick left to right, so not only does she bring the size, she’s very good laterally. That combination makes for a pretty dang good goaltender.”

Key Attributes

• Impressive height (6 feet)
• Exceptional lateral movement
• Combination of size and agility

Academic Excellence Alongside Athletic Achievement

Huseby’s commitment to excellence extends beyond the ice rink and into the classroom. As a student-athlete, she has demonstrated an impressive ability to balance her athletic pursuits with academic rigor.

Academic Achievements

Huseby’s academic record is as impressive as her athletic accomplishments:

• Majoring in math and chemistry
• Adding computer science to her studies
• Maintaining a cumulative 3.78 grade-point average

This dedication to her studies showcases Huseby’s well-rounded approach to her college career and her ability to excel in multiple areas simultaneously.

Leadership Role and Future Plans

As a senior and team captain, Huseby has taken on a leadership role within the St. Scholastica women’s hockey program. Her influence extends beyond her on-ice performance, as she serves as a role model for her teammates both athletically and academically.

Extended Eligibility and Future Goals

Huseby, along with three other seniors on the team, plans to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision will allow her to continue her development as a goaltender and leader while pursuing her expanded academic goals.

• Returning for an additional season
• Continuing to lead the team as captain
• Pursuing additional academic interests

St. Scholastica’s Championship Aspirations

With Huseby’s stellar performance in net, St. Scholastica finds itself in a prime position to compete for the NCHA Slaats Cup Championship. The team’s undefeated record (14-0) sets the stage for an exciting showdown against Adrian College (18-0-1) in the championship series.

Championship Series Details

• Game 1: Friday at 7 p.m.
• Game 2: Saturday at 5 p.m.
• Potential mini-game if necessary

The series represents a significant opportunity for St. Scholastica, as they aim to overcome Adrian College, who has thwarted their championship aspirations in the past two years. With neither team having suffered a loss this season, the stage is set for an intense and competitive series.

Coach MacMillan expresses the team’s excitement and readiness for the challenge ahead: “Really excited — it’s going to be a great series. We’ve been building momentum towards this. The last couple seasons we’ve come on strong at the end, but we haven’t quite reached the top. Now, that all feels like it’s coming together. We’re really hitting our stride.”

Historical Significance

The 2021-22 season holds particular importance for St. Scholastica as it marks their final year in the NCHA before transitioning to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The team is experiencing its best season in program history and aims to cap off this chapter with a tournament championship.

For Huseby and her teammates, securing the NCHA Slaats Cup would be a fitting conclusion to their time in the conference and a testament to their hard work and dedication throughout the season.

The Impact of Teamwork on St. Scholastica’s Success

While Huseby’s performance in goal has been crucial to St. Scholastica’s success, the team’s overall strength lies in its well-balanced roster and collaborative approach. The Saints boast a mix of experienced veterans and talented younger players who have contributed significantly to their undefeated record.

Key Contributors

Several players have made notable contributions to the team’s offensive output:

• Rachel Anderson (senior): 11 goals
• Allie Bussey (freshman): 11 goals
• Kayla Kasel (junior): 11 goals
• Taylor Thompson (senior): 16 assists (team leader)

This balanced scoring attack, combined with Huseby’s stellar goaltending, has created a formidable team that has yet to taste defeat in the 2021-22 season.

Team Chemistry and Support

The success of St. Scholastica’s women’s hockey team can be attributed not only to individual performances but also to the strong team chemistry and support system within the program. Huseby’s journey from competing for starts to becoming the full-time goalie illustrates the team’s culture of healthy competition and mutual growth.

Coach MacMillan emphasizes the importance of this team dynamic: “We’ve been building momentum towards this. The last couple seasons we’ve come on strong at the end, but we haven’t quite reached the top. Now, that all feels like it’s coming together. We’re really hitting our stride.”

The Evolution of Women’s College Hockey

Lori Huseby’s success story is part of a larger narrative surrounding the growth and development of women’s college hockey. As the sport continues to gain recognition and support, players like Huseby serve as inspirations for young athletes aspiring to compete at the collegiate level.

Increasing Opportunities

The landscape of women’s college hockey has evolved significantly in recent years:

• More colleges offering women’s hockey programs
• Increased media coverage and visibility
• Growing fan base and support
• Improved training facilities and resources

These advancements have created a more competitive and professional environment for female hockey players, allowing talents like Huseby to thrive and showcase their skills on a larger stage.

Breaking Barriers

Huseby’s experience playing varsity boys hockey in high school exemplifies the perseverance and determination often required of female athletes in traditionally male-dominated sports. Her success at the collegiate level demonstrates that with dedication and skill, women can excel in hockey at any level.

As more young women see examples like Huseby succeeding in college hockey, it is likely to inspire future generations to pursue their athletic dreams and continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in women’s sports.

The Role of Coaching in Player Development

The success of Lori Huseby and the St. Scholastica women’s hockey team is also a testament to the quality of coaching and player development within the program. Coach Jackie MacMillan has played a crucial role in nurturing Huseby’s talents and helping her reach her full potential as a goaltender.

Coaching Philosophy

Coach MacMillan’s approach to player development is evident in her comments about Huseby’s progress:

• Recognizing and encouraging individual strengths
• Fostering healthy competition among teammates
• Providing opportunities for growth and improvement
• Building confidence in players’ abilities

This supportive yet challenging environment has allowed Huseby to flourish, transforming from a determined backup to a standout starting goalie.

Long-term Player Development

The coaching staff’s commitment to long-term player development is evident in Huseby’s journey. Despite not being the starting goalie for her first three years, the program continued to invest in her growth and preparation, recognizing her potential to lead the team in her senior year.

This approach to player development not only benefits individual athletes but also contributes to the overall success and sustainability of the program. By nurturing talent over time, St. Scholastica has created a pipeline of skilled players ready to step into key roles when the opportunity arises.

The Future of St. Scholastica Women’s Hockey

As St. Scholastica prepares to transition to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the future of the women’s hockey program looks bright. The team’s success in the 2021-22 season, coupled with the return of key players like Lori Huseby, positions them well for continued excellence in their new conference.

Building on Success

The program’s focus on player development, strong coaching, and team chemistry provides a solid foundation for future success. Key factors that will contribute to the team’s continued growth include:

• Retaining experienced players with extended eligibility
• Attracting top recruits based on recent success
• Leveraging the momentum from the 2021-22 season
• Adapting to new competition in the MIAC

With Huseby returning for another season, the team will benefit from her leadership and experience as they navigate this transition period.

Long-term Program Goals

Looking beyond the immediate future, St. Scholastica’s women’s hockey program aims to:

• Establish itself as a powerhouse in the MIAC
• Continue to develop NHL-caliber talent
• Increase national recognition for the program
• Maintain a balance of athletic and academic excellence

The success of players like Lori Huseby serves as a powerful recruiting tool and inspiration for future generations of St. Scholastica hockey players, ensuring the program’s continued growth and success in the years to come.

College women’s hockey: Babbitt’s Huseby finds home in net for St. Scholastica

During a normal year, that would have entailed working out of St. Louis, but in the COVID-19 era, for Huseby, that meant working from home in Babbitt.

That’s not to say Huseby’s mind wasn’t on hockey. Even with no available ice anywhere close, she did dryland training in her backyard or down at Birch Lake, doing hill sprints.

“Just anywhere around town,” Huseby explained. “I’d run up and down the beach. It’s kind of in a little dip, so all the cars going down to the boat landing, I’d be running up that hill. I got a couple strange looks, but not too much.”

Talk about dedication.

Huseby came into this season ready to lead the way, and the senior certainly has done just that as the Saints (14-0) take on Adrian (18-0-1) in this weekend’s National Collegiate Hockey Association Slaats Cup Championship series at Mars Lakeview Arena.

Game 1 is set for 7 p.m. Friday, with Game 2 at 5 p.m. Saturday, with an if-necessary mini-game to follow. Adrian has thwarted St. Scholastica for the title the last two years, and with neither team having a loss, something’s got to give this weekend.

This will be St. Scholastica’s final year in the NCHA before moving onto the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Saints are enjoying their best season in program history and would love to cap it off this weekend with a tournament championship.

“Really excited — it’s going to be a great series,” CSS coach Jackie MacMillan said. “We’ve been building momentum towards this. The last couple seasons we’ve come on strong at the end, but we haven’t quite reached the top. Now, that all feels like it’s coming together. We’re really hitting our stride.”

Nowhere is that more apparent than in goal, where Huseby has put up gaudy numbers in her first season as the full-time starter after the graduation of All-American Lexi Thomeczek.

Huseby is 11-0 this season with a 0.94 goals-against average and .961 save percentage, numbers she doesn’t really pay attention to, nor is really surprised by.

“Lexi and I had to work for every start we got,” Huseby said. “We were able to push each other, and coming into this year, knowing that I was the one, I was pretty thankful of all the practices where it was Lexi and me, just battling it out. Those last three years prepared me to where I knew coming in this year that I’d be ready. I had to be confident, and I really brought that into my playing style.”

The Saints have a nice mix of veterans and younger players, with senior Rachel Anderson, freshman Allie Bussey of Hibbing and junior Kayla Kasel leading the team with 11 goals apiece and senior Taylor Thompson tops with 16 assists.

Then there’s Huseby, who is a big goalie at 6-feet tall, but she is more than just a big body.

“It’s funny, because everyone always comments on her size, and I’ve been telling her this for a couple years now, but she’s a lot quicker than she thinks she is,” MacMillan said. “She is very quick left to right, so not only does she bring the size, she’s very good laterally. That combination makes for a pretty dang good goaltender.”

And she’s earned it.

Huseby, a captain, is one of four seniors on the team, with all four planning on taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility and returning next season.

Huseby is currently majoring in math and chemistry and will now add computer science to the list. She approaches school the same way as hockey, head on, with a cumulative 3.78 grade-point average.

“Lori had been chomping at the bit the last three seasons to be our No. 1 goalie and it’s shown,” MacMillan said. “She’s done an incredible job, but beyond that, she has put herself in this position because of the work she has put in. She’s been a great leader for us.”

Huseby played varsity boys hockey for Ely in high school because her school had a sharing agreement with Silver Bay, but that was farther than she wanted to drive, especially with her emphasis on her studies. While Ely’s boys program struggled, it was actually good for Huseby as she saw a lot of shots. She started games as early as eighth grade and only got better.

Huseby brought that work ethic to the St. Scholastica campus, and while she bided her time waiting for her chance, she took every opportunity to get better, whether she was starting or not.

“I really brought that same attitude into this year,” Huseby said. “I kind of chose the mindset this summer that I’m not going to be second. I wasn’t settling for that. The last three years really prepared me to take the reins this year. ”

UNH hockey goalie Nikki Harnett fights homophobia, works for inclusion

Al Pike
 |  Portsmouth Herald

DURHAM – As a young girl growing up in a hockey-mad Midwestern state, Nikki Harnett played goalie on a boys’ team where opposing players did more than shoot pucks at her.

They also targeted her with homophobic slurs and sexist remarks, and she handled the situation the only way she knew how at the time.

“I was really good,” she said, “so I kind of beat them on the scoreboard – where it hurt.”

Now a sophomore goaltender on the University of New Hampshire women’s hockey team, Harnett believes that response is no longer good enough and she needs to take a more proactive stance against that type of behavior.

“It’s easy to laugh it off and act like it’s OK,” said Harnett, who has a 2.04 goals-against average in six games this season for the Wildcats, “but it does get to you in a way.”

And now she’s doing something about it.

Taking action on a national scale

As a member of the Committee for Mutual Respect established by the Athletics Department at UNH, Harnett recently joined a national movement called College Hockey for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Earlier this month, she participated in a virtual news conference that introduced the initiative.

“At first we were really getting to know each other and what we’re passionate about,” Harnett said. “Now we’re really starting to get to work and we’re excited about what this group can do and what this group means and stands for.”

The organization currently has 27 members – student-athletes, coaches and administrators – representing each of the 11 NCAA Division I college hockey conferences. According to the mission statement, College Hockey 4DEI, which typically meets twice a month, is “dedicated to creating positive cultural change across our sport through communication, education, allyship and advocacy. Together we are working for a better tomorrow, one shift at a time.”

Understanding and owning problems before creating change

Harnett, who is from Plymouth, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, played primarily on boys teams until her sophomore year of high school.

“I experienced a lot of homophobia and sexism both on the ice and in the locker rooms so I know there’s a culture, especially within men’s hockey,” she said. “There are different problems in women’s hockey, that’s for sure, but some of the language that’s used on the ice and in locker rooms is not OK. It’s happening and I think that’s something we need to own up to before we can change it.

“I don’t expect change to happen overnight,” Harnett added. “We all know that. So little by little if we change one person that’s great, but I want to change hockey as a sport.”

Harnett wishes she had done more when she had the chance.

“Maybe I didn’t stand up the way I should have against that when I was 13, 14, 15 and that has changed me as a person,” she said. “It’s not that I want to right that wrong, I want to be able to learn and educate and make sure that doesn’t happen for anybody else, and if it is happening, that person has a support system around them that knows how to handle it because I didn’t. ”

Ready to do work on inclusion

UNH coach Hilary Witt recommended Harnett for the College Hockey 4DEI initiative.

“She has a good head on her shoulders and understands a lot of the issues and has a passion for it,” Witt said. “I think she represents UNH in an awesome way. I know that she wants to make changes and make a difference and make hockey more inclusive. She just has the right attitude for a committee like this.”

Harnett’s life experiences and outgoing personality also make her a good fit.

“For me, it definitely starts with conversations within my own locker room,” she said. “My coaches are very open to everything. They initiate conversations at times. I would like to sit down with my team and watch educational videos and have discussions where we can talk about these things and talk about experiences that we’ve had. I really do think that education is the gateway to change.”

“I think it’s a great thing that she’s getting involved with this to be heard,” said sophomore forward Tamara Thierus, a teammate. “There are things that we don’t talk about enough. Nikki is the one we like to listen to and I think it’s very important for her to be involved with that. I’ve learned so much about everything. She has very strong feelings about what she is involved in, and I think it’s a beautiful thing to see that she’s so passionate about what she loves.”

Harnett and Thierus are both members of the Committee for Mutual Respect on campus. Thierus is from St. Jerame, Quebec, and the only person of color on the UNH women’s hockey roster.  

“We had a march at the beginning of the year just for equality in general,” Thierus said. “It’s important for us to start that talk and get everyone involved. We’re all athletes. As much as I’m very comfortable in this environment of UNH, I think it’s something that has to be talked about. I think it’s very important and I’m fortunate to be in that group where you can see everyone’s point of view and it just opens your eyes to problems in the world.”

Harnett’s social activism goes beyond hockey. She was deeply affected by the events surrounding the death of George Floyd last year in her home state to the point where she was involved in Black Lives Matter protests last summer.

2020:George Floyd protests spark action for racial justice across Seacoast

“It was kind of the straw that broke the camel’s back for a lot of white people that we hadn’t necessarily been listening and with the way George Floyd’s murder kind of broke in the Internet we all saw what happened through our own eyes,” Harnett said. “I think that just brought everyone together collectively. It took a long time for us to realize that enough is enough. I think George Floyd was pivotal in that way.”

“I’ve been outspoken for years about this stuff and I’ve really tried to get educated on this,” Harnett added. “I’m a member of the LGBT community so a lot of my focus has been on my community in that way but at this point I’m more interested in the Black community and making sure there are answers to racial injustice, especially in hockey where we’ve been kind of blind to racial injustices. ”

“She’s definitely not shy and no matter the environment she’s in will have the confidence to say how she feels in a respectful way and make it known what she believes in,” Witt said. “She’s always there to push, stick up for and stand by everyone. It’s a perfect role for her.”

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According to the NCAA demographic database, there are at least 13 Black women on Division I or Division III rosters this season, up from four last year and nine the previous season.  

“You just can’t have progress overnight,” Thierus said. “Even if that progress happens over the course of five or 10 years, at least we have been a part of that and started the conversation. Of course, I think that progress has been made. Teammates want to join the group and I think it’s beautiful to see how people are here to support each other. It really is raising awareness and bringing people together. ”

Witt supports the need to have these conversations.

“I’m a true believer that people are good and sometimes ignorance is where we grow some opinions from rather than education and awareness,” Witt said. “I think educating people and being able to talk about our differences is really important.”

Harnett’s vision

“I expect this group to be around for a long time,” Harnett said. “I do hope that a large amount of change can be made but that change is going to come slowly and I think as I’ve gotten older I’ve turned away from the immediate gratification thing. I think we need to take it one step at a time. It can be overwhelming. There’s a lot to change and it can’t happen overnight.

“I want to change the world,” she added. “I want everything to change, but me as a person can’t do that. This group is a way that I can make change and change is what’s important to me in hockey and changing the lives of some people.”

1st Woman to Play in the NHL Recalls Road to the Big Leagues

TAMPA, Fla. — In 1992, she became the first woman to play in the NHL. Manon Rhéaume was once a little girl in tights and a leotard but it didn’t take long for her to trade those in for some hockey gear.

“Every time I wanted to play with my brothers,” Rhéaume said. “They would dress me up as a goalie and use me as a target. So my dad used to make an ice rink in the back yard and that was the only way they let me play with them.” 

She recalled the first time playing on an all boys team with her dad as the coach. “He didn’t want anybody to see that I was a girl, he wanted people to judge me for what I was doing on the ice,” she said.

Her talent in the net quickly took center stage. “I never thought that I would make it at the highest level because I never saw a woman play in the NHL. So for me, I wanted to play at the highest level where I was.” And she made it, becoming the first woman to play in a men’s major junior jockey game, one of Canada’s top junior ice hockey leagues.

“When I made that highest level,” Rhéaume said. “I really thought that okay now they are accepting me and they don’t care if I’m a girl.”

She kept proving that a woman can play hockey just like a man can — maybe even better. She suited up with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Manon Rheaume listens to the National Anthem prior to her professional debut against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1992 at the Tampa Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. The 20-year-old goaltender became the first woman to play in one of the four major pro sports leagues. (Chris O’Meara/AP)

“A lot of people said that to me, they are only inviting you because you are a girl and they want to promote the game. But I told myself so many times people said no to me because I’m a girl, so this time being a girl gets me, I’m still going to have to prove myself out there.” 

Rhéaume played an exhibition game with Tampa Bay, an experience she shares with her team today as the coach for a young girls hockey team in Michigan.

“I’m able to inspire the next generation and tell them if you are passionate about something and you work really hard, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to and most importantly you don’t need to fit a mold of what you should look like,” Rhéaume.

Canadian women’s hockey goalie Szabados plans to sign with men’s pro team

Fresh off her second Olympic gold medal and a practice with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, goaltender Shannon Szabados will join the Columbus Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League next week.

The Cottonmouths announced Friday the team intended to sign the Edmonton goalie. Szabados would be the first female to play in the 10-team SPHL since its formation 10 years ago, the team said.

It’s been an eventful two weeks for Szabados, who backstopped the Canadian women’s hockey team to Olympic gold Feb. 20 in Sochi.

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“When I got home from Sochi, I thought I’d be hanging my stuff up for the summer, but definitely excited to get over there,” Szabados told The Canadian Press.

“There’s three guys that I played college with that play on this team in Columbus and they’ve been bugging me for a couple of years to go there.”

“I had never talked to their head coach and he called me yesterday. Honestly, I thought he was calling to ask me if I would want to go there next year. It happened a little fast, but I’m excited.”

Szabados made 27 saves in Canada’s 3-2 thrilling overtime win over the U.S. to defend the gold in Sochi. She posted a 28-save shutout over the Americans in the women’s Olympic hockey final in 2010.

But the 27-year-old has spent the majority of her hockey career in men’s leagues.

She played for Sherwood Park, Bonneyville and Fort Saskatchewan during her four years in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Szabados was named the AJHL’s top goaltender in 2006-07 after helping Fort Saskatchewan to a league-best record of 45-11-0-4.

She then spent five years in Alberta men’s college hockey with Grant MacEwen and then NAIT.

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She set a league record in 2012-13 for the lowest goals-against average (1.58) and her NAIT Ooks won their first championship in 16 years. Szabados stopped 30 of 31 shots in the final game.

Cottonmouths captain Kyle Johnson, forward Jordan Draper and defenceman Andy Willigar are her former NAIT teammates. She suspects they paved her road to her first pro tryout.

“Probably the guys had a lot to do with it,” Szabados said. “It probably made the coach feel a little more at ease with the situation.”

Szabados will head to Columbus on Wednesday and will be introduced at a news conference the following day prior to a game at home against the Pensacola Ice Flyers. Winnipeg’s Andrew Loewen is the starting goaltender for the Cottonmouths

“I am very excited to get a world-class athlete that has competed and has faced, high-pressured situations,” Cottonmouths head coach Jerome Bechard said in a statement.

“She won a championship with NAIT last year alongside Andy Willigar and Jordan Draper so I know she can compete at this level,” Bechard said. “We are working on her immigration, and we are looking to sign her officially Thursday, where she will be backing up Loewen.

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“She will play when she feels comfortable and situated.”

The Cottonmouths are 23-22-3 and rank seventh in the league.

Szabados participated in an Edmonton Oilers practice Wednesday. The Oilers were short a goalie on trade deadline day awaiting the arrival of Viktor Fasth from Anaheim.

Szabados is grateful for that practice now because it’s the only time she’s been on the ice since winning Olympic gold Feb. 20.

“I haven’t been in the gym, I haven’t been on the ice, I haven’t been sleeping well,” Szabados confessed. “It’s been a whirlwind. I told (the coach) I’m not going to rush into anything. If I don’t feel comfortable I might not even play at all this year.

“I want to go there and get on the ice and see how I feel. I still have to unpack from Sochi and pack for this. I’m not too worried. It’s only been two weeks.”

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No woman has ever played in an NHL regular-season game. Goaltender Manon Rheaume became the first to play in an exhibition game with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992.

Canadian women’s star Hayley Wickenheiser has played as a forward in men’s leagues in Finland and Sweden.

The SPHL also includes the Bloomington Thunder, Fayetteville FireAntz, Huntsville Havoc, Knoxville IceBears, Louisiana IceGators, Mississippi RiverKings, Mississippi Surge and Peoria Rivermen.

Szabados is accustomed to joining male teams. She believes her former Ook teammates will help her settle into the Cottonmouths locker room.

“With having those three guys that I’ve played with and since this has happened, at least a handful have tweeted at me and reached out to me,” she said. “The older I’ve gotten, the easier the transition has been to a new team. I’m honestly not worried at all. They seem like a good group of guys.”

Ex-PC, Olympic goalie DeCosta-Hayes basks in women’s hockey golden win – Sports – providencejournal.com

Being on the first U.S. women’s hockey team to win gold was a once-in-lifetime experience for Sara DeCosta in 1998. Watching America’s second gold-medal win this year with her daughter was pretty special too.

WARWICK — Being a member of the first U.S. women’s hockey team to win an Olympic gold medal was a once-in-lifetime experience for 20-year-old Sara DeCosta back in 1998.

But sitting with her 13-year-old daughter at 3 o’clock Thursday morning watching this year’s U.S. team become America’s second women’s hockey gold-medal winner was a pretty special moment, too, for the now married DeCosta-Hayes.

“It was great. It was one of the most exciting hockey games I have ever seen and it was especially thrilling watching it with my daughter,” she said about the U.S. women’s 3-2 overtime shootout victory over Canada in the gold-medal game.

The live broadcast of the game started late Wednesday night in the U.S., but by the time three periods of regulation play had ended in a 2-2 tie; there was no scoring in 20 minutes of a sudden death overtime period followed by six rounds of a shoot-out, it was approaching 3 a.m.

So it’s a safe bet most Americans slept through the epic battle, but not DeCosta-Hayes or her daughter.

“Our whole family was piled into our bedroom” said DeCosta-Hayes, who with her husband Mark Hayes are parents of three children, 13-year-old Kiley and 11-year-old twin boys Cameron and Connor.

“The boys didn’t last to the finish, they fell asleep, but Kiley was there watching every second. She was texting back and forth with some of her teammates,” said DeCosta-Hayes.

For the record, dad (a former La Salle Academy hockey player) was awake with mother and daughter watching the American victory celebration.

She may only be 13 years old but Kiley Hayes understands in a sense she is part of American Olympic history.

“I think, to some degree she understand what the ’98 team meant to women’s hockey,” DeCosta-Hayes said about her daughter. “She plays hockey so her teammates talk about it sometimes and the kids seem to enjoy when I come to their classrooms to talk about the Olympics.”

Sara DeCosta, who had been an All-State goaltender for the Toll Gate boys team during her high school career, was a Providence College sophomore and a star goaltender for the Friars women’s team when she became one of the two goaltenders who rotated starting roles on the U.S. women’s magical ride to Olympic gold 20 years ago.

It was the first time the Olympics recognized women’s hockey as a medal sport. It also was the first year the National Hockey League allowed its players to participate in the Olympics. So when an American Olympic men’s team composed of entirely NHL players failed to even make the four-team medal rounds and a women’s team of all young amateur players won a gold medal, the women’s hockey team members became America’s darlings.

They returned home and were guests on national late-night TV shows and even had their picture on a Wheaties box. The Olympic gold created a huge, new interest in girls hockey in the hockey hotbeds of New England and the Midwest. Most of the members of this year’s U.S. women’s team began their hockey careers in the afterglow of that ’98 gold-medal performance.

DeCosta returned to Providence College, enjoyed an outstanding collegiate hockey career and graduated as a member of the Class of 2000. After college she remained a competitive player and was a regular goaltender on the 2002 U.S. Olympic team that won a silver medal in the 2002 Olympics.

She retired from competitive play a few years later; married and started raising a family. But in a sense she has never left the rink. She served as coach of the Noble and Greenough prep school (Dedham, Mass.) girls hockey team and also served as the Harvard University women’s hockey goalie coach.

For the past six years she and her former PC and ’98 Olympic teammate Vicki Movsessian-Lamoriello have run R.I. Sting, a girls hockey association with close to 100 players in various age divisions that play in the New England Girls Hockey League.

It’s probably not surprising all three of her children are hockey players and she has coached all of them at various times in youth hockey. But she is not working on the finer points of goaltending with her daughter.

“She’s not a goalie,” DeCosta-Hayes offered about her daughter. “She had showed some interest initially, but I firmly believe the first thing you need to be is a good skater so she did a lot of skating when she was younger. Now she likes being a forward.”

While girls hockey is still going strong, especially in Massachusetts, there’s no question some of the luster created by that ’98 team had worn-off on a national basis. That’s not really surprising. Young male hockey players can watch NHL players virtually every night on TV, but for young girls there isn’t any constant media or visual attention to women’s hockey.

The big showcase for women’s hockey is the Olympics every four years and since 1998, Canada had won all four Olympic women’s hockey golds. It was starting to look like that would be the case again this year as Canada held a 2-1 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in regulation play in the gold-medal game. But then the U.S. tied the score and eventually won by scoring the only goal in the six rounds of the shootout.

If you are an American hockey player — male or female — it was an epic victory.

For make no mistake, while in most aspects of American life Canadians are our friendly neighbors to the north, but if you are an American hockey player, Canada is enemy territory. It has always been that way. The NHL started in 1917, but it wasn’t until the 1970s when any appreciable number of Americans were playing in the League. Even today 49.7 percent of the NHL players are Canadians while only 24.2 percent are Americans. Then for the past 16 years Canada also had dominated women’s Olympic hockey.

But early Thursday morning (U.S. time), that Canadian domination ended when Maddie Rooney, a 20-year-old goalie from Andover, Mass., made a great stop on the final shot of the shootout.

“With all the social media these days, I think, I hope, it is going to blow-up even bigger than ’98,” said DeCosta-Hayes.

At a time when America needs some of type of hero; some positive story of American success, a group of young women on hockey skates has provided it.

“I was tweeting back and forth with some of my teammates on the ’98 team all throughout the game,” said DeCosta-Hayes. “It was like we were together again.”

Nobody was draping a gold medal around her neck this time, but it still was a night to remember for DeCosta-Hayes.

“It was definitely special,” she said about sharing a night of American triumph with her daughter.

You don’t always need a medal to experience life’s golden moments.

Team USA women’s goalie has trailblazing past

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea – Alex Rigsby confesses she didn’t even know what kind of history she was making that day.

“I had no idea,” says the Team USA goalie. “I knew the draft was going on. I was driving to pick up my brother from lacrosse practice. I’m starting to get all these texts. I thought they were just messing with me.”

The texts told Rigsby she had been picked No. 199 in the 2009 USHL draft. She was suddenly a member of the Chicago Steel.

That’s a men’s team.

The story she’s told goes like this: The head coach of the Steel at the time went to one of her club games to scout a male player and couldn’t help but notice the goalie. “That guy is really good,” he thought to himself.

He watched the goalie for a few more minutes and eventually spotted a ponytail.

“Please tell me,” he thought, “that’s a guy with long hair.”

It was not. And it didn’t matter. The team drafted her, and she became the first woman ever drafted into the USHL.

It wasn’t a publicity stunt. (There isn’t a ton of publicity for the Chicago Steel anyway.) Rigsby started at a goalie camp of around 50 and made her way through multiple cuts to the final three.

She was 17 at the time.

Rigsby’s history is a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it’s old news in her world. Gino Cavallini, a former NHLer who now runs the Chicago Mission traveling hockey club, has been used to Rigsby’s dominance since he spotted her as a 10-year-old in Wisconsin.

“When she came down to play for us in Chicago, she beat out boys,” Cavallini says. “One of the goalies that got cut went on to play D-I hockey.”

These days Rigsby spends her summers practicing on the same rinks as many NHL players. She joins them in their workouts, including the “Strong Man Circuit.” She’s just another goalie trying to hone her craft. “In no way am I intimidated,” she says. “It’s fun to go out there.”

But Rigsby’s trailblazing is not the point of her career or her dreams. What she wants is right in front of her now, here in South Korea.

Story continues

And it will be more difficult than anything else she’s done on a pair of skates.

*****

Team USA goalie Alex Rigsby is making her Olympic debut after she wasn’t selected for the 2014 team. (AP)

She was born in Illinois and her family moved around – first to California and then outside Milwaukee. She wanted to play hockey like her older brother, Zach, and like every other kid she rotated through the positions. Then she got to try on the goalie pads and that was it. She didn’t want to go back.

“By the time I was in third grade, I was one week as a goalie, one week as a skater,” she says. “By fifth grade I was a full-time goalie. I haven’t put on player skates since seventh grade.”

It was around that time Cavallini recruited her. It wasn’t something iconoclastic for him. He coached a local team and she was a standout. That’s it.

“For me there was no distinction,” he says. “Gender wasn’t involved. She was the better goalie. No one was doing her any favors. The first year I coached her, I had a younger assistant coach. I would tell her, ‘Don’t baby the puck. Shoot as hard as you can now. If she wants to make it, she’s gonna have to be better than the rest of them.’ ”

And she was. Through grade school and high school, Alex played on boys’ teams. She would change in a separate room or a stall and then finish dressing next to the boys.

“All the guys were super cool with it,” she says. “We were part of a team and they understand what I was doing and working toward. And they protected me on the ice. I never had to be afraid of getting run by other teams.”

The hard part came when Cavallini moved to Chicago to take over the Mission. He wanted Alex to follow him but she wasn’t even in high school yet. She couldn’t pick up and move her entire family.

So instead she commuted.

Alex Rigsby has a new mask for the Olympics that features a drawing of the famous V-J Day kiss. (Eric Adelson)

Three times a week, one of Alex’s parents would make the two-hour drive to Chicago after school. She would do homework in the car, practice with the Mission, and then drive back. They’d get home after midnight and set an early alarm for school the next day.

“It was a great opportunity we didn’t want to pass up,” she says with a shrug.

It was a travel club, too. Alex went with the team to Sweden in sixth grade. The next year, the destination was Moscow and neither of her parents could make it. Gino offered to take her – he had a son on the team so it was a family trip for them – and Alex’s mom had one condition:

“I learned how to braid her hair,” Gino says with a laugh. “I did learn how to braid a girl’s hair.”

*****
On an October afternoon, Rigsby sits in a Dick’s Sporting Goods and laughs at the memory of her coach doing her hair. Since those days, she won a national title at Wisconsin and won 100 games there to go with more than 3,000 saves. She underwent not one but two hip surgeries, overcoming doctors’ doubts about her future as an elite goalie. She felt she was good enough for Team USA in 2014, but she wasn’t chosen. She admits she’s still perplexed about that decision.

“I was happy with my performance [that year],” she says. “My name wasn’t called.”

The Americans lost a heartbreaker in overtime to the Canadians in Sochi and finished with silver.

Since then Rigsby has graduated, picked up some shifts at Dick’s to get by, and just recently got engaged to an old teammate: Gino’s son, Aidan.

“I’m happy for both of them,” Gino says. “They’re a great couple. They’ve known each other a long time. I’m a happy dad.”

Alex has spent every spare minute focused on making sure there is no Olympic disappointment this time. She won a world championship as a part of Team USA last year, but PyeongChang holds the ultimate prize. And if the pressure isn’t enough already, the team’s coach is former NHL goalie Robb Stauber. As of a day before the team’s first game, he still had not named a starting goalie for the opener.

“We know how bad they wanted it last time,” Rigsby says, “and how bad we want it now.”

Rigsby had a new mask made for the Olympics, with a drawing of the famous V-J Day kiss in Times Square. The history she herself has made is something for her to cherish when she has a moment to reflect. The history she wants is approaching fast.

More Olympic coverage from Yahoo Sports:
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• Opening Ceremony sets world record with over 1,200 drones
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• You may have been pronouncing ‘PyeongChang’ incorrectly this whole time

Son of NHL’s first woman goalie has all angles covered

Plymouth — Killing a penalty, just past 3:30 of the second period Friday night in a USHL game against Green Bay, USA goalie Dylan St. Cyr collected a puck behind his net.

St. Cyr, a U-18 player in USA Hockey’s elite National Team Development Program and Michigan commit next season, spotted teammate Brady Tkachuk open near the Green Bay blue line.

He turned and rifled a long airborne pass.

It carried all of the way to Tkachuk, who had just one Green Bay defender behind him. Moments later, after a nice cross-ice pass from Tkachuk to Josh Norris, the U-18 USA squad was up 3-1.

Sitting in USA Hockey Arena, St. Cyr’s mother was pleased. But she was neither surprised nor overly impressed.

Goalie Dylan St. Cyr gets an assist

Goalie Dylan St. Cyr was named USHL Goalie of the Week after getting an assist with a long pass in game. He lives in Northville and will attend the University of Michigan in September.

USA Hockey

The only woman to play in the NHL, Manon Rheaume is well aware of her son’s abilities.

“That’s a big strength of his, playing the puck,” said Rheaume, the former goalie who played two periods for the Tampa Bay Lightning during the exhibition seasons of 1992 and ’93.

“On the PK, he usually clears the puck. But the teammates know that. So they’re going to stop for the pass, if they see the play.”

Rheaume and St. Cyr, who have lived in Northville for several years after her five-year professional career, both know about striving for success in hockey against some stubborn odds.

The women’s game has expanded considerably in the past 25 years, including the establishment of the National Women’s Hockey League. But women have not followed Rheaume to the NHL.

And St. Cyr is a quality goaltending prospect, capable enough to have drawn Michigan coach Red Berenson’s attention. He is eligible for the 2017 NHL draft.

At 5-foot-8,  he faces a considerable challenge.

It has been long time since anyone that short played goalie in the NHL, although, at 5-feet-10, Jhonas Enroth has played 35 games for three teams the past three seasons.

“Oh, I’m extremely proud,” said Rheaume, who coaches girls for Little Caesars Hockey. “You know, Dylan is a very strong, substantial goaltender who can handle a lot of pressure.

“And, it’s funny, he’s facing a little bit like what I was facing. I was the only woman playing with the men. But with his size, you know he’s a smaller goalie, and he’s always facing the adversity of proving himself.

“And he’s been doing great. He’s playing well.”

St. Cyr won his second USHL Goalie of the Week honors this season, for his performance over the weekend.

For St. Cyr, who played in the Honeybaked youth hockey system in Metro Detroit, having a mother who was an NHL goalie is a big help. And it also helps that his dad Gerry St. Cyr had a long professional career in the minors, including for the Colonial Hockey League Flint Generals and ECHL Toledo Storm.

“I remember putting on little plastic skates growing up in California and rolling around on the hardwood floors, shooting up the walls,” he said. “That’s how it started and, no surprise, having two hockey parents, it just runs in the blood.

“They both know the lessons of what you need to learn and how to get where you want to be.”

St. Cyr’s dreams are a little different from his mother’s. Rheaume had a different arrival in the NHL.

“I didn’t have the dream of it because I never saw a girl play in the NHL before,” she said. “I think I just continued to be in the right place at the right moment and the opportunity just came up.”

To Rheaume, playing goalie is fun. Watching your son play goalie? Not so much. Too nerve-wracking.

Her other son, Dokada, 10, is a defenseman, this season.

“It’s hard for the parent of a goalie,” Rheaume said. “It’s a lot more stressful than a player.

“It’s fun as a goalie. But as a parent, it’s totally different, because you don’t have that control.”

Gerry St. Cyr describes his son as naturally talented, smart and quite capable of choosing his own direction with success.

“He does everything well,” the father said. “We’ve had a few conversations, but I try to let him make his own decisions.

“You try to guide them as much and as little as possible.”

Kevin Reiter, an assistant NTDP coach, describes St. Cyr as “an ultra competitive kid” with high goalie and hockey IQs.

“He plays the puck very well,” Reiter said. “So, we’ve just worked on getting him a little more under control and being patient.”

St. Cyr described it as, “Just trying to keep my feet as much as possible and reading the plays, because as a smaller goalie you want to try to make yourself look as big as possible in scenarios and stuff.

“If you can stay on your feet, or just staying big to react to the puck while you’re on your feet, it makes it a lot easier.”

As for St. Cyr’s diminutive stature, Reiter said he tells him, “Height doesn’t measure heart.”

For St. Cyr, an honors student at Northville High, it is a challenge met with simple considerations.

“It’s stuff that’s out of your control and you try not to worry about it too much,” he said. “But you also have to make up for it.”

He has hopes for the NHL draft, but says that is for another day.

“Just try to look into the now, and play the games that are going on in front of you,” he said.

His mom considers that wise.

Rheaume also makes certain her son hits the books.

It is something his future coach Berenson will appreciate, too.

“Because it’s important,” Rheaume said.

“He’s got a great work ethic in hockey and also in school, and he knows school is important. So, I’m not only proud of him in hockey, being a good student, too.

“He’s rounded. For a mom, you can’t ask better than that.”

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The history of women’s ice hockey

Women’s ice hockey has recently become a very popular sport. The inclusion in the program of the Olympic Games gave it special significance, which, in turn, determined the attention to this sport in our country.

A couple of decades ago, little was known about women’s ice hockey in Russia. Hockey was considered a purely male game, and it was impossible to see women playing hockey professionally on the skating rinks of Moscow. However, this situation, typical for our country, did not apply to hockey on the other side of the Atlantic.Moreover, even European countries already in the nineties sent their representatives to international ice hockey tournaments, and in 1998 women’s hockey entered the program of the Winter Olympic Games. However, many hockey fans would be surprised to learn that the history of women’s hockey began over a hundred years ago, at the end of the 19th century.

According to the Canadian Ice Hockey Association, the first ever known women’s match took place in 1892 in Barrie, Ontario.According to the NHL, back in 1889, a women’s hockey match took place in Ottawa. Be that as it may, it is safe to say that at the end of the 19th century, women were already holding hockey meetings at the skating rinks of Canada.

The development of women’s hockey was quite active, and by the twenties of the last century, matches were already taking place throughout Canada and the United States. An important role in this process was played by university communities – it was at universities that a large number of teams were created, and here hockey matches were most often organized.The trend continued in the thirties, and it was only during the Second World War that women’s hockey practically disappeared. Moreover, even in the fifties, hockey remained a predominantly male sport, and individual women’s matches and teams were viewed with great doubt. Evidence of the general attitude towards women’s hockey during this period was the story that happened to Abby Hoffman, a nine-year-old girl who spent almost an entire season on the hockey team, pretending to be a boy. When this became known, a scandal erupted.The case went to court and was decided not in favor of the girl who wanted to play hockey.

The revival of women’s hockey began in the sixties. Gradually, new teams appeared, and the girls began to play hockey again at universities and colleges. The first women’s hockey leagues were created, the first tournaments were held. So, in 1967, the Wallaceburg Lipstick tournament was held, in which 16 North American teams took part. In the seventies, the number of competitions and hockey leagues increased steadily.And in 1987 the first international women’s hockey tournament took place. It was attended by teams from the USA, Canada, Switzerland, Holland, Sweden, Japan and a local team from Ontario.

The year 1990 is worth noting separately: after all, it was then that women’s hockey made a decisive step forward – the first Ice Hockey World Championship among women was held. The winner of the tournament was a team from Canada, repeating their success the following year. Over the next ten years, the number of participants in such competitions grew steadily: more and more countries entered their teams to participate in regular games and international championships.

And, finally, in 1998, something happened that women hockey fans around the world and, of course, the players themselves had been waiting for for so long: women’s hockey entered the program of the Winter Olympic Games! This event was very important for his future – it was the final recognition of the official status of women’s hockey. So, from the Japanese Nagano, its history began at the Olympic Games.

In 2000, the Women’s National Hockey League was created, in 2004 – the Western Hockey League.The rivalry between the Canadian and American teams intensified. So in 2002, during a tense match that ended with the victory of Canada and brought the girls from this country the gold medals of the Winter Olympic Games, millions of TV viewers watched the confrontation between the two strongest teams.

Today, Canada and the United States remain the leaders of the world women’s hockey, but the situation is far from being as straightforward as it used to be. So, in 2006, the Swedish national team earned a silver medal and pushed the US team to third place, losing only to the Canadian team.Kim Martin, the goalkeeper of the Swedish national team, demonstrated amazing skills. In the future, more and more women’s ice hockey teams will compete for first places in the largest international tournaments.

Despite the constant development and growing popularity of women’s hockey, some girls continue to play in mixed teams – on a par with men. The most famous of them are goalkeepers Manon Rom and Erin Whitten, as well as ice hockey player Hailey Wickenheiser who plays in Finland. However, today it is rather the exception than the rule.Most women prefer to fight in their own teams and play their own game – women’s hockey.

The first Russian women’s ice hockey championship was held in 1996, the victory was won by athletes from the Luzhniki team (Moscow). The first goal of the tournament was scored by E. Besshaposhnikova (Moscow “Spartak”), who later became an international referee. Since then, tournaments have been held annually.

In the same season, the European Women’s Championship was held in Yaroslavl – the Russian national team, which made its debut in a tournament of this rank, won silver medals, losing first place to Swedish athletes.

2001 – the Russian women’s ice hockey team won the world championship medals (bronze) for the first time. Only the representatives of Canada and the USA were ahead of the Russian girls. The girl repeated this success in 2013.

Every year there are more and more hockey players, and soon we will most likely forget that hockey was once considered a man’s occupation

90,000 “Everyone thinks that we play hockey and make millions, but alas, this is not so”

Goalkeeper of HC “Agidel” and the Russian national team Anna Prugova expressed the opinion that society is biased towards women’s hockey, and also spoke about salaries in this sport.

– How do you feel about simulations on ice? Are they in women’s hockey at all?

– Well, not without it. In war, as they say, all methods are good. When an opponent does this, we are perplexed and indignant: “What is she simulating here? What a disgrace! ” And when one of our own people (and even earns two minutes), then on the contrary – we drive up and say: “Well done, I did everything right, and it should have been done,” Aleksey Kovalev, a Prugovoy correspondent for Match TV, quotes.

– Can you remember an example of the ugly behavior of rivals during the match?

– Once upon a time there were very ugly moments: the girls drove around and spat.Because of this, everyone got into a stupor and there were skirmishes on the ice.

– What are your main hockey fears?

– They are purely professional – skip the puck, for example. If there were any big, active fears, then there would probably be no point in going in for sports. He was created in order to overcome his fears and difficulties.

– Do you think Russian society is initially biased towards women’s hockey?

– I think yes.Because for the majority it is somehow a wonder. People are surprised: “Wow, do we have women’s hockey?” Thank you very much that we are now under the auspices of the KHL, and we are being developed as a separate league – WHL.

– What other stereotypes exist?

– Everyone thinks that if you play hockey, then you are a toothless wardrobe with a broken nose. I’m serious now. Although it seems to me that sports do not outwardly ruin a single professional athlete. It all depends on how you feel about yourself.How demanding you are of yourself – that is how you look.

– The time has come for the eternal questions about inequality in men’s and women’s hockey. Let’s start with salaries. How much does a girl hockey player earn?

– On average, probably 50 thousand. Per month. With bonuses. And in the middle peasant club, maybe 40. Everyone thinks that we play hockey and make millions, but this, alas, is not so.

– Does the Olympic team, for example, generate additional income?

– Which of the girls is included in the line-up goes to the bet.But the rate depends on the outcome. If you don’t bring medals, nothing will happen.

Read also:

90,000 Goalkeeper of the Russian student team: there was no despair in the final with the Canadians

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Goalkeeper of the Russian student team: there was no despair in the final with the Canadians

Goalkeeper of the Russian student team : there was no despair in the final against the Canadians 2019 against Team Canada, w… Sport RIA Novosti, 11.03.2019

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Universiade in Krasnoyarsk

Winter Universiade 2019

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KRASNOYARSK, 11 March – RIA Novosti, Anatolov.The goalkeeper of the Russian women’s student ice hockey team Nadezhda Morozova said that despite the difficult final of the 2019 Universiade against the team of Canada, she did not become desperate during the match. ended with the victory of the Russians with a score of 2: 0. Liana Ganeeva and Alevtina Shtareva scored goals for the hosts in the third period. Morozova managed to keep her goal “dry”, the goalkeeper prevented many dangerous situations, including two clean one-on-one outlets of the opponent’s players.“There was no mandrage, I always manage to stay calm,” the goalkeeper added.

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Winter Universiade 2019 , hockey

KRASNOYARSK, 11 Mar – RIA Novosti, Anatoly Samokhvalov .The goalkeeper of the Russian women’s student ice hockey team, Nadezhda Morozova, said that despite the difficult final of the 2019 Universiade against the team of Canada, she did not become desperate during the match.

The final of the Universiade Russia – Canada took place on Monday on the ice of the “North” arena in Krasnoyarsk and ended with the victory of the Russians with a score of 2: 0. Liana Ganeeva and Alevtina Shtareva scored goals for the hosts in the third period. Morozova managed to keep her goal “dry”, the goalkeeper prevented many dangerous situations, including two clean one-on-one outlets of the opponent’s players.

“A tense match, they followed the coach’s instructions. Somewhere something didn’t work out, but the coaches told us, we did everything possible to win today. Thanks to the team and the coach. There was a difficult moment in the game, but there was no despair, that’s all When I’m wrong, the team helps me, so catching everything that flies into the goal is my job and my favorite thing. Therefore, I tried to do everything possible so that they would not score me today, and the girls would not get upset once again, “said Morozova to journalists.

“There was no mandrage, I always manage to stay calm,” the goalkeeper added.

11 March 2019, 17:36 Universiade in Krasnoyarsk Russian hockey players won gold medals at the Universiade 90,000 The Russian women’s ice hockey team won bronze at the World Championship

The third place at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Kamloops, Canada was won by the Russian women’s team, who outplayed the Finnish team in shootouts and again became the best European national team on the planet.

Tournament Formula

In the Women’s Ice Hockey World Championship, eight teams participate in the elite group, and the tournament is held according to a rather intricate, unusual formula.

At the group stage, the national teams are divided into two subgroups, not by lot, but by the results of the previous tournament. The four best teams go to Quartet A, from which two go straight to the semifinals.

In group B, the places that took the previous world forum from the fifth to the seventh and the winner of the group A world championship in the first division play. The two best teams of this quartet advance to the quartet, where they meet with the two worst from subgroup A. Well, the outsiders of Group B in the series to two wins figure out who will stay and who will be kicked out of the elite.

Medals are played by the six best national teams in the world according to the Olympic system without any series, sorting out the relationship in one match.

This formula was invented for a reason.It’s all about the too different class of teams in women’s hockey, and in order for the results to be as stubborn as possible in the group stage – and so the USA and Canada always go straight to the semifinals – the teams are divided into the strongest and weakest groups.

Background

The Women’s Ice Hockey World Championships are held annually, excluding the Winter Olympic Games. This procedure allows the world forum to maintain the status of the main national team competition, crowning the season.

The Russian national team arrived in Kamloops as the fourth team in the world.Last year, the Russians lost to the Finnish national team with a score of 1: 4 in the match for third place.

The last time the Russian women’s national team won medals in 2013 (that is, two tournaments ago), when the same Finland was defeated in the bronze match with a score of 2: 0.

It is noteworthy that, having flown out of Group A after being defeated in the quarterfinals of the 2012 World Cup, Russia started the tournament in Quartet B the following season, passed it perfectly, then defeated Switzerland (2: 1) in a tense battle, lost to Canada (1: 8 ) in the semifinals and after that won the meeting for third place.

As a result, after that tournament, the goalkeeper of the Russian national team Nadezhda Aleksandrova was recognized as the best in her role at the World Championship.

In total, the Russian national team has twice won bronze medals at world forums. This happened for the first time in 2001 in Minneapolis.

Until now, no one, except the USA and Canada, has managed to reach the final, and the national team of Finland is the record holder for third places, taking bronze 11 times, while there were 17 world championships in history (together with the current one).

The path to the match for the bronze

This year there were no sensations, and four teams that played in Quartet A made their way to the semifinals.

The USA and Canada at the group stage, as always, left their rivals from Europe almost no chance, except that Finland managed to impose a real struggle on the representatives of the States, which, however, traditionally ended – 2: 1 in favor of the USA.

The meeting between Russia and Finland in the group took place already in the first round and turned out to be exciting and dramatic.Three times the Finns came out ahead in the score, but the Russians restored the balance.

However, after the fourth goal of Suomi, Mikhail Chekanov’s charges no longer had any strength left, and instead of restoring parity, they missed for the fifth time, which summed up the confrontation.

In the quarterfinals, Russia easily dealt with Sweden (4: 1), and Finland beat the Czech Republic even more confidently (5: 0), after which it was able to impose a fight on the Canadians, but still there was a beat – 3: 5.The Russians, on the other hand, had no chances in the confrontation with the United States at all – 0: 9.

Bullet Bronze

By all accounts, Finnish girls were the favorites in the game for the bronze. They performed more stable and slightly better than the Russians, won a personal meeting and are able, unlike our team, to impose the struggle for the result (albeit unsuccessful in the end) on the North American teams.

However, no matter how hard the meetings with the USA and Canada were for the Russians, there are no national teams in Europe that the Chekanov team was not able to impose a struggle on, and our girls have long been fighting for the bronze of the world championships for a long time.

It is not surprising that the meeting for the bronze medals turned out to be extremely intense and, in contrast to the group stage match, extremely closed.

Teams mostly fought, rarely bringing the matter to shots on goal, although the final score 0: 0 after 60 minutes of main and 20 minutes of overtime still looks amazing and unique.

Everything was decided in the end in the shootout, where the victory of the Russian team was brought by the reliable play of the goalkeeper Nadezhda Morozova, who repelled all the Finnish shots, and the effective attempt of the leading striker of our national team, Iya Sosina.

Stars and Stripes

Surprisingly, no goals were scored in regulation time and in the final match between the USA and Canada teams. The American women were favorites, but the Maple Leaves played at home, and in recent years they periodically beat their rivals, being in opposition to the constant underdogs.

In the main time in a tight fight, no one managed to distinguish themselves, and goalkeeper Alex Rigsby (USA) and Emerans Mashmeyer (Canada) reflected 25 shots each.

The real fun started already in the extra 20-minute, when there were much more chances and shots, including against the background of fatigue.

The Canadians disturbed Rigsby in overtime seven times in 12 minutes, but the US goalkeeper coped with all the shots, but the ninth shot on target Mashmeyer in extra time was decisive. The golden throw in the 73rd minute of the game was chalked up by Alex Carpenter.

Thus, the USA won the women’s world championship for the second time in a row and for the sixth time in the last eight years, while before this series, the world crown always went to Canadians who took the title eight times in a row.

You can get acquainted with other news, materials and statistics on page of the Russian national ice hockey team, as well as in the groups of the sports department in social networks Facebook and VKontakte .

90,000 The mask is not a protection for the “cowardly chicken”, but a guarantee of the goalkeeper’s fearlessness

In hockey gear, the goalkeeper’s helmet stands alone. And not only because it is perhaps the most striking and beautifully decorated piece in modern hockey gear.The goalkeeper mask hasn’t just evolved over the course of hockey history. She was born in her. And not so long ago – in the second half of the twentieth century.

Girl-goalkeeper was the first to use a mask in hockey

Not all modern fans will probably believe at all that until the 60s of the last century, hockey goalkeepers went to the match with open faces. But it is so! At first, they generally refused to wear even ordinary protective helmets.

For example, in 1956 the USSR national team won the Olympics for the first time in history.And our famous goalkeeper Nikolai Puchkov played there without a mask. As, however, all his opponents from other national teams.

Nikolai Puchkov bravely defended the goal of the USSR national team

Of course, hockey goalkeepers have had occasional and short-lived attempts to protect their face before. Incredibly, the first protective mask in hockey was applied by … a girl! It happened back in 1927, when the goalkeeper of the women’s team at Queen’s University in Ontario went to a match wearing a fencing mask.

For men, Clint Benedict of Montreal is considered a pioneer in this area. After a puck broke his nose and shattered his cheekbone in 1930, the Canadian returned to the ice wearing a mask made of leather and wire. However, he spent only five meetings in it, saying that too large a leather nose interferes with the view.

Japanese goalkeeper Teiji Honma shocked the sports press at the 1936 Olympics in Germany. He used a baseball mask at games. And the Japanese had a good reason for that – because of poor eyesight, he played with glasses and was afraid that they would be broken!

Montreal goalkeeper called chicken and coward for face protection

The main revolutionary who made masks an obligatory attribute of goalkeeper ammunition was again Montreal goalkeeper Jacques Plant.In 1959, a puck broke his nose and tore his cheek. The goalkeeper was promptly stitched right in the locker room during the match …

Here you need to know one important detail! In those days, goalkeepers played without substitutions. Therefore, the match was stopped and both teams waited for Plant to return and take a place at the goal. Then a real scandal broke out! The six-time Stanley Cup winner flatly refused to return to the ice without the homemade fiberglass mask that Jacques has been using in training for three years.

The Montreal coach was categorically against such experiments. He believed that the mask impairs the goalkeeper’s peripheral vision and generally reduces concentration. But the match demanded to continue, and Plant did not concede, and the team’s coach had to allow him to protect the disfigured face.

Jacques Plant not only defended the right to defense for the goalkeeper, but also founded a company to manufacture masks

But how did Jacques then get it for this demarche! Colleagues from the NHL openly mocked him.And in the press, the multiple winner of “Vezina Trophy” was instantly dubbed “coward” and “chicken”.

Fortunately for subsequent generations of goalkeepers, Plant turned out to be a stubborn man and steadfastly endured the hail of criticism and ridicule that fell on him. He continued to go out on the ice wearing a mask, making a kind of bet with the Montreal coach – to play with his face protected, the goalkeeper was allowed only as long as the team wins. In response, “Montreal” issued a streak of 18 wins! Only after that the coach “broke down” and stopped restricting his goalkeeper.

After completing his career, Plant founded his own company specializing in the production of glass fiber goalkeeper masks. They were tested for strength in an original way – they were fired from an air cannon, from where the pucks flew out at a speed of 120 miles per hour. However, they also had a serious flaw. Such masks protected faces from cuts and abrasions, but could not protect goalkeepers from concussions and head injuries. In addition, there have been several incidents where the ends of the clubs fell into the eye hole and severely damaged them.

Tretiak was one of the first to play in the birdcage

And here Soviet hockey players entered the stage! In the famous Super Series 72, the goalkeeper of the Canadian national team Ken Dryden played in the usual plastic mask that has already taken root among professionals. But his opponent, the goalkeeper of the Soviet national team Vladislav Tretyak, surprised the Canadian audience! He went out onto the ice wearing a regular hockey helmet, to which a protective metal grill was screwed. The lively North American press immediately mockingly christened the unusual mask with an offensive nickname – “birdcage”.However, professionals quickly recognized the benefits of such protection. Later, all goalkeepers in the world switched to similar masks.

Vladislav Tretyak impressed the hockey community with a metal grill

Actually, this Tretiak mask is the direct ancestor of modern goalkeeper helmets. Since then, of course, they have become more durable and aesthetic, good neck protection has appeared. However, in essence it is a helmet and a grill.

By the way, Tretiak himself believes that the mask not only protects the goalkeeper, but also has some karmic properties …

“The mask is a powerful psychological factor,” the three-time Olympic champion once said.- Put on a carnival mask – a millimeter of cardboard and other tinsel, and you are already a different person. You are confident in yourself. Even if you shoot with a pistol, you will behave differently. The share of fearlessness will increase several times. Therefore, without a mask, it is embarrassing and a little scary. After all, she not only protects the face, but also hides your emotions.

“Here I have a brick wall, planes, a Kuznetsk fortress …”

I am sure that many modern goalkeepers will agree with this opinion of the current president of the FHR.Although for them the helmet has long become not only protection, but also a way to express their own individuality.

Philadelphia goalkeeper Doug Favell once painted his Halloween mask bright orange. This made his head look like a pumpkin ritual for this holiday and greatly amused the fans. Since then, the faces of predators, the emblems of clubs, the faces of loved ones and idols, photos of their hometowns, and so on have been applied to helmets. Moreover, the drawing does not have to be permanent; it is periodically changed.

– I wanted something new, the permanent helmet is somehow not very good, – said, for example, our famous goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky, having signed a contract with Philadelphia. – Here I have a brick wall, my initials and number. Above – the emblem of the club, on the other side of the aircraft, which is associated with the name of the team. The Kuznetsk Fortress is a landmark of his hometown. On the reverse side is the coat of arms of Novokuznetsk and the flag of Russia.

One of Sergey Bobrovsky’s helmets

Night Hockey League goalkeepers keep up with their professional colleagues, and are happy to talk about why they chose these or those images.

– My idea of ​​designing a helmet is quite simple – it symbolizes Sochi, what our city is associated with first of all, – says the gate guard of Sochi LN Igor Pochivalov . – On the one hand, it has palm trees, on the other – mountains and the Olympic torch. Initially, when I was choosing what to do on the helmet, I was very careful to ensure that the helmet was in harmony with the colors of the team and the ammunition. Therefore, the helmet is white, the stickers are blue and the stripes are red. And in general, goalkeepers probably take care of the helmet the most.We even care less about the ammunition, and after each match we try to wash and clean the helmet … At least me! ( laughs ) The helmet is the most important thing for a goalkeeper. We are very kind to him.

Helmet of the LHC “Sochi LN” goalkeeper Igor Pochivalov

Bright and memorable helmet of the goalkeeper “Legends” from Tyumen Konstantin Kultikov

So now the goalkeeper’s helmet will not only save its owner from injuries, but also tell more about him than the most meticulous interview.

90,000 Bob and Vasilevsky are the best goalkeepers on the planet. So the NHL decided

The National Hockey League has published a rating of the best goalkeepers. There are ten names on the list. The first two places are occupied by the Russian goalkeepers Sergey Bobrovsky and Andrey Vasilevsky .

By what principle the NHL made the rating is not entirely clear, but it is difficult to disagree with the top 2. Bob and Vasilevsky are really the best goalkeepers on the planet. Without any “but” and “if”.

Sergey Bobrovsky, Florida

Statistics in the regular season 2018/19: 90,036 62 matches, 37 wins, 91.3%, KN 2.58, nine rusks

This in the summer Bobrovsky became one of the most demanded players in the free agent market.Several clubs fought for the right to sign a record contract for Russian goalkeepers. The Russian chose Florida, where he will earn $ 10 million a year. The case when the player fully deserves this money.

Bobrovsky is a two-time winner of the Vezina Trophy prize for the best goalkeeper of the season. He had problems in the previous championship, but they were far behind. Bob gathered closer to the middle of the regular season and gave his traditional performance of brilliant matches.As a result, Columbus not only made it into the playoffs, but also managed to pass the formidable Tampa. Nikita Kucherov and other “lightning” stars could not oppose anything to Bobrovsky.

This streak was good for the goalkeeper. He dispelled the myth about his non-kubkovity. Earlier in the playoffs, Bobrovsky really did not succeed in everything, but it was nothing more than a coincidence. The goalkeeper has proven that he can play equally well in both parts of the championship.

The pros of Bobrovsky can be enumerated for a long time, because he has no weak points.Now in the NHL, only one goalkeeper has come close to Bob’s level. And he also represents Russia.

Andrey Vasilevsky, Tampa Bay

Statistics: 90,036 53 matches, 39 wins, 92.5%, KN 2.40, six rusks

It is very strange that the current owner VezinaTrofi did not top the NHL’s fresh goalkeeper ratings. Vasilevsky won very confidently in the vote for the best goalkeeper of the season. Probably, league analysts expect Vasilevsky to play stable over several seasons.Plus Bobrovsky still made it to the playoffs a little further.

However, second place is very cool for a 24-year-old goalkeeper. Vasilevsky really had a phenomenal regular season. His contribution to Tampa’s success cannot be overstated. He pulled entire matches on his shoulders and allowed the “lightning” to break several records at once.

The playoffs were a disappointment not only for Vasilevsky – the whole team played poorly. They say the goalkeeper played in the Stanley Cup with an injury. Therefore, the wall effect that the goalkeeper created in the regular season disappeared.But this does not mean that the Russian suddenly became a bad goalkeeper. A successful playoff was not enough for him for the first place in the ranking.

The pluses of Vasilevsky are as well known as those of Bobrovsky. The goalkeeper has a phenomenal reaction, he has good speed and is impeccable in close quarters. It is difficult for an Ufa player to score even with a second throw. It is almost impossible to do it with the first shot.

Ben Bishop, Dallas

Statistics: 90,036 46 matches, 27 wins, 93.4%, KN 1.98, seven rusks

Former Vasilevsky’s Tampa partner Ben Bishop had an equally cool season, even if he played a little more than half of the matches.He was even considered the favorite in the dispute for the Vezina Trophy.

Bishop’s main advantage is that he plays practically without breakdowns. It’s hard to remember the frankly disastrous match played by the Dallas goalkeeper. But here it should also be borne in mind that the Stars love and know how to play defensively. The defenders help Bishop a lot on a nickle. Hence, a very high percentage of reflected throws – 93.4%. No one has such an indicator in the NHL.

Nevertheless, the league is difficult to blame for its choice. Bishop is one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the league.And in Texas, he found a second youth, although it seemed that the competition with Vasilevsky broke the goalkeeper.

Carey Price, Montreal

Statistics: 90,036 66 matches, 35 wins, 91.8%, KN 2.49, four “breadcrumbs”

The first questions about the rating arise from the name of Price … The Montreal goalkeeper is the highest paid goalkeeper in the NHL, with an average salary of $ 10.5 million a year. Does he play with this money? In recent seasons, this question has remained open.

Price was a miracle as good 4-5 years ago. Actually, then he received this contract. Then health problems started, not the most stable game. Of course, Carey remains the top, but is he among the top five goalkeepers in the league? Although the fans are still confident in the Canadian. He is the leader and favorite of Montreal.

Marc-André Fleury, Vegas

Statistics: 90,036 61 matches, 35 wins, 91.3%, KN 2.51, eight rusks

Fleury is a phoenix who rose from the ashes.He was calmly released from Pittsburgh. Admit it, you also thought that the Canadian would play out in Vegas, but he reached the Stanley Cup final in his first season with the new team.

His statistics in the last championship is not very impressive, but still eight zero matches inspire respect. Fleury, like Bishop, rarely falls below a certain level. Its high position in the ranking is due to its stability.

Tuukka Rask, Boston

Statistics: 90,036 46 matches, 27 wins, 91.2%, KN 2.48, four rusks

If Rusk was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy “After the Stanley Cup final, he could very well have made it into the top 3 best goalkeepers in the league.But St. Louis stole from the Finn not only the main NHL trophy, but also his personal prize. Nevertheless, Rusk had a good season.

Recently, the goalkeeper plays less and less in the regular season. This allows you to save your strength for decisive matches. Boston is constantly in the playoffs, so Rask is systematically preparing for the spring battles. He is not alien to recessions, bad play, he becomes the object of criticism from the Bruins fans. But all this does not prevent Rusk from being one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles

Statistics: 90,036 46 matches, 16 wins, 88.8%, KN 3.38, two breadcrumbs

Looking at Quick’s statistics, you can think – what is this guy doing in the ranking of the best goalkeepers in the NHL.But these people want to ask the question: what is Los Angeles doing in the NHL? The Kings’ level last season did not always match even the AHL.

At the same time, Quick managed to win some meetings even alone. But doing this regularly in a team that lacked defense as a species is impossible. At the same time, they do not intend to remove responsibility from the goalkeeper in Los Angeles. They also expect a good game from Quick in the next championship.

John Gibson, Anaheim

Statistics: 90,036 58 games, 26 wins, 91.7%, KN 2.84, two breadcrumbs

Gibson’s difficulties are similar to those of overcome Kuiku.Anaheim did not have the best season, in the team the restructuring, which was frankly delayed. Sometimes the goalkeeper himself is moping.

But even taking all the unpleasant factors into account, Gibson showed an excellent percentage of reflected shots – 91.7%. He cannot be called the best goalkeeper in the NHL, but the goalkeeper has a distinctive feature: no matter how badly his team acted, he knows how to keep his partners in the game.

Braden Holtby, Washington

Statistics: 90,036 59 games, 32 wins, 91.1%, KN 2.82, three rusks

The most controversial NHL goalkeeper.Someone calls him the best goalkeeper in the world. But there are also those who believe that the Canadian is greatly overvalued. It probably all depends on Holtby’s play at that particular moment.

It did not look like a stronghold of reliability last season. Some of the matches, “Washington” lost only because his goalkeeper was out of sorts. This is what caused the low place in the rating.

Jordan Binnington, St. Louis

Statistics: 90,036 32 games, 24 wins, 92.7%, KN 1.89, five rusks

Binnington is a sensation.Nobody knew him six months ago. And already in June, many were outraged why the goalkeeper was not awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy. He had a cool second part of the season, and the playoffs performed by the goalkeeper turned out to be truly magical.

He recently signed a new two-year deal with St. Louis with an annual salary of $ 4.4 million. This is a very modest agreement given the demand in the NHL market. The Blues probably want to see what a long distance goalkeeper is worth for an entire season.

90,000 in summer – football, in winter – hockey.How legends grow

An active childhood in the fresh air, a puck on a skating rink, ski jumping, yard general physical training and huge bruises.

On October 22, Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin would have turned 90 years old. SPORT.TUT.BY has collected several stories illustrating that Lev Yashin is unique in world football. But in hockey, the outstanding goalkeeper tried himself not without success.Here are excerpts from the material about the legend.

Won the Bronze of the Hockey Championship and the USSR Cup

In his youth, Lev Yashin loved not only to drive a soccer ball, but also to play ball hockey. When the country fell ill with Canadian ice hockey, Yashin also mastered this sport.

In professional hockey, Lev Yashin was invited by the coach Arkady Chernyshev , who in parallel worked with the youth of the football Dynamo.He saw how hard the young Yashin was going through failures and bloopers. Then Chernyshev invited Lev to try himself in the attack of the hockey “Dynamo”, but he preferred to play at the goal. Yashin played there more often like a football – for example, out of habit, he tried to catch the puck with both hands.

He never became the main goalkeeper of hockey Dynamo. But in 1953, together with the team, he won the bronze medals of the USSR championship and played the victorious final of the Cup at the goal.

Did not suffer from injuries, played hockey at the rink in winter

During his long football career, Lev Yashin did not have any serious injuries.The goalkeeper himself explained it this way:

“I’m just lanky.

Yashin was tempered by his Soviet childhood in the fresh air. In winter, he played hockey at the rink and was fond of ski jumping from the “springboard”, which served as a barn for the children.

– We fell, hurt ourselves, stuffed huge bruises, but we learned to hold on to our feet, not be afraid of heights and control our body, – the adult Yashin said.

Lev Ivanovich believed that active childhood helped him avoid injuries.And he explained the high injury rate of other athletes just by the lack of “yard” general physical training:

“They didn’t run much, jumped, fought, played football, skated and climbed trees.

Yashin ended his playing career in 1971 at the age of 42. And he received the Golden Ball at the age of 34. He is still the only goalkeeper in the world to receive this award.