BLOOMINGTON KENNEDY GIRLS HOCKEY

IN THE NEWS 2008-2009

Bloomington Kennedy Girls Varsity and JV hockey teams. GO EAGLES!

•Numbers, optimism up for Kennedy girls
Eagles will field both varsity, JV teams this season
GREG KLEVEN • SUN NEWSPAPERS
Thursday, November 13, 2008 - page 31A

Depth has been a problem for Kennedy's girls hockey program over the years. But Eagle head coach Dennis Wineberg is pleased to report that participation numbers are up to 29 this season.

Kennedy will field both a varsity and junior varsity squad. The Eagles have not always been able to have two teams because of numbers.

Kennedy's optimism is also up this season with eight returning letter-winners. Those veterans helped the Eagles post a 9-16-1 record last season.

Kennedy will rely heavily on senior captain and defenseman Gretchen Mach. She was the team's leading scorer last season and attained all-conference honorable mention.

Returning sophomore defenders are Casey Mach, Nicole Loranger and Lauren Nelson.

Kennedy has three senior forwards back including captain Shannon Maiers, Emily Saba and Cody Block. Sophomore forward Ali Doyle also returns.

"We should be strong defensively with all our defensemen returning," said Wineberg. "We lost our all-world goalie Kari Hunter through graduation but we feel last year's back-up Samantha Olson and new-comer Kayla Booth have great potential and ability to fill the goalie position."

Olson is a ninth-grader and Booth has made the varsity as a seventh-grader.

"We have improved speed up front with junior Talli Mazzoni, ninth-graders Brianna Mrozek and Leah Gefroh and eighth-graders Beth Welna and Britta Mach," said Wineberg.

Kennedy is playing a full Lake Conference girls hockey schedule after its modified slate last season.

"This schedule means stronger competition, but we would like to improve on last year's overall record," said Wineberg. "To do this, we must improve our goal scoring and get contributions from all three lines."

Kennedy opens its schedule with a 7:15 p.m. game against Chaska Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Chaska Community Center Ice Arena.

The Eagles remain on the road to face Park of Cottage Grove at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Kennedy returns home to battle Lakeville North at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Bloomington Ice Garden.

Kennedy's JV squad is also playing a full Lake schedule.

Eagle JV players are sophomores Anna Bresnahan, Danny Brolsma, Emily Nelson, Caitlin Cole and Sarah Fredin.

Ninth-grade JV members are Hannah Crook, Anna and Alex Cole, Amanda Dusing, Jill Haram and Kelsey McWilliams.

Kennedy's junior varsity squad will also include eighth-graders Lauren Hoese, Kay Mach and Katie Wells.