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Brittney Huneke: Model defenseman

By By DAVID La VAQUE, Star Tribune , 11/11/10, 4:58PM CST

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Raiders captain Brittney Huneke prizes her relationships on and off the ice as she helps mold girls' hockey in Hastings.

Hastings senior defenseman Brittney Huneke verbally committed to play college hockey at Maine because of the "family-like atmosphere" she experienced on her recruiting visit.

It may sound cliché until you consider Huneke's strong ties to hockey in Hastings and the value she puts on those relationships.

She gets emotional just talking about being a part of Hastings' Little Sister Mentoring Program, about what it feels like to have groups of 8- and 10-year-old girls shrieking her name with delight and hugging her as she steps onto the ice at their practice.

"You get to know them, and you try to become a person they can look up to," Huneke said. "They look up to you more than they do the coaches."

As a role model, Huneke offers the complete package. She is a two-year captain, and coach Jeff Corkish said she is the first female defenseman from Hastings to go Division I.

She has run the Raiders' power play the past two seasons, scoring 10 goals last season and adding 16 assists. As a freshman she scored a power-play goal on a shot from the point in the third period to beat Eastview in the playoffs.

"Her best asset is her feet," Corkish said. "She skates so well. She gets to open ice and moves the puck well."

Off the ice, Huneke is one of the varsity players always taking part in bowling outings and pizza parties for the youngsters -- and volunteering to read at elementary schools.

Corkish said the good vibes fostered by Huneke and other varsity players are invaluable.

"For us to compete with the bigger schools in our conference, we have to get kids to keep coming out," Corkish said.

Hastings' enrollment of 1,576 students is the third smallest in the 10-school Suburban East Conference.

"And it's a tough world to live in. Having role models means everything to kids." Corkish said.

Huneke is part of a continuum within the program. Her father, Larry, was a Hastings defenseman. She was once a young player seeking an autograph from former star forward Erica McKenzie. Later she got rides to practice from standout Danielle Welch.

"That meant a lot to me," Huneke said. "I thought, 'I really matter to them.'"

And she means the world to younger players, who she teaches in practice to have fun while improving.

While the girls' skill development can be incremental, their constant smiles touch Huneke's heart.

"I started with these girls when I was a ninth-grader," she said. "Some of them were barely skating with a walker. Now, they're doing crossovers."

Turning her focus to the upcoming varsity season, Huneke is excited for the Raiders' chances. The team went 16-8-3 last season and reached the section semifinals.

Huneke, forward Courtney Boucher and goaltender Stefanie Wical return to give the Raiders a solid player at each position group and, Corkish said, "a pretty good chance to challenge for state."

If Hastings does reach the state tournament for the first time and plays at the Xcel Energy Center, Huneke will be able to take credit for helping build a cheering section.

David La Vaque • 612-673-7574
 

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