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Q&A with this year's best of the best

By David La Vaque, Star Tribune, 02/21/11, 9:45PM CST

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Star Tribune names its 2010-2011 All-Metro teams


Star Tribune All-Metro First Team (front, l-r): Meghan Lorence, Irondale; Julie Friend, Minnetonka; and Hannah Brandt, Hill-Murray. Top row (l-r): Rachel Ramsey, Minnetonka; Rachael Bona, Coon Rapids; and Milica McMillen, Breck. / Photo: Tom Sweeney

HOW THE TEAM WAS PICKED: The Star Tribune’s All-Metro girls’ hockey teams and Metro Player of the Year were chosen based on nominations from metro area coaches, conversations with a panel of coaches and staff observations. Five of the first-team selections — Rachael Bona, Hannah Brandt, Meghan Lorence, Milica McMillen and Rachel Ramsey — have committed to play for the Gophers. Julie Friend will play for St. Cloud State.

Hannah Brandt


Hannah Brandt

Hill-Murray | Forward | Junior

Led the Pioneers in scoring (42 goals, 23 assists) despite missing five games to play a key role in the U.S. Under-18 team’s gold medal run at the world tournament. Can dominate a game in various ways. Her hat trick in the Class 2A, Section 4 title game sent the Pioneers to their first state tournament.

What are three things you couldn’t (or wouldn’t) play without? Lucky bracelet,  iPod and fruit snacks

What movie (or movies) does the team always watch together?
"She’s the Man", "Baby Mama"

Which is your favorite arena to play in?
Aldrich Arena

What’s the best sports-related advice you’ve received?
Enjoy the moment because before you know it, it will all be over.

What team or player always gets your competitive fires burning?
South St. Paul

Meghan Lorence


Meghan Lorence

Irondale | Forward | Senior

Capped a stellar career with 45 goals for an inexperienced Knights squad. One metro area coach called Lorence “the one player I’d want if I were starting a team.” Lorence fought through extra attention from defenders this season with good speed, a strong shot and tenacity. Also emerged as Irondale’s vocal leader.

What are three things you couldn’t (or wouldn’t) play without? iPod, Gatorade and inspirational speech

What movie (or movies) does the team always watch together? "Miracle"

Which is your favorite arena to play in? Xcel Energy Center

What’s the best sports-related advice you’ve received?
Always work hard and have fun because you will never regret.

What team or player always gets your competitive fires burning?
Coon Rapids

Julie Friend


Julie Friend

Minnetonka | Goalie | Senior

Friend’s undefeated record (20-0-1) is just one of her statistical delights this season. She allowed 15 goals for 0.70 goals-against average and posted a .959 saves percentage plus 11 shutouts. Fundamentally sound and not easily rattled, Friend is the centerpiece of the Skippers’ stifling defense.

What are three things you couldn’t (or wouldn’t) play without? Helmet – I would like to have a face not indented by pucks when I’m older. Water bottle – I’d die of thirst. Neck guard – sprained collarbone without one two summers ago. Enough said.

What movie (or movies) does the team always watch together? We actually don’t have one specific movie that we always watch. Our team always has movie nights though and selections can range from "Easy A" to "Taken."

Which is your favorite arena to play in? I really like Parade Ice Garden, but I will have to say my home rink Pagel. The atmosphere when there is a ton of fans in those arenas is just amazing!

What’s the best sports-related advice you’ve received? Play the game because you love the game with no exception. Stop and enjoy every little moment that makes you smile on the ice. You’ll never regret it.

What team or player always gets your competitive fires burning? Milica McMillen. She’s a great player, so it’s always fun trying to stop her. Her shot scares me though.

Milica McMillen


Milica McMillen

Breck | Defense | Junior

McMillen is a player you notice on the ice. As one metro area coach said, “she could be playing Division I hockey right now.” A potent combination of size and skating ability, McMillen controls games and has the Mustangs back in the 1A tournament for the second time in her career.

What are three things you couldn’t (or wouldn’t) play without? A jamming session with my iPod, a pregame dance party and my teammates.

What movie (or movies) does the team always watch together? "Miracle." It’s the best hockey movie of all time, and it gets us stoked to play.

Which is your favorite arena to play in? The Breck School Lee R. Anderson Ice Arena. It’s like a second home to me, and the ice is perfect.

What’s the best sports-related advice you’ve received? “When you set a goal and give 100 percent to reach it, there is no room for self doubt or hesitation. Giving 100 percent is like a personal guarantee written from you to yourself.”

What team or player always gets your competitive fires burning? Julie Friend. She is the one goalie I have always had trouble scoring on!

Rachel Ramsey


Rachel Ramsey

Minnetonka | Defense | Senior

Considered by one Lake Conference coach as the state’s toughest defenseman to beat. Uses size (6 feet tall) and reach to disrupt opposing forwards. Helped the Skippers reach their first Class 2A tournament by leading a defense that allowed 27 goals in 28 games. Also provided 15 goals and 31 assists.

What are three things you couldn’t (or wouldn’t) play without? I couldn’t play without my stick and skates for obvious reasons, and also my Under Armor spandex because I hate the feeling of playing without it.

What movie (or movies) does the team always watch together? We tend to have team movie nights frequently so what we watch isn’t typically the same. Team favorites though have been "The Town" and "Taken."

Which is your favorite arena to play in? Braemar Arena is definitely my favorite because every time I play there it means a great matchup vs. Edina. Plus the ice is always perfect and the seating all the way around the rink makes for a great atmosphere.

What’s the best sports-related advice you’ve received? The game is just as much mental as it is physical so don’t let your mind stand in the way of letting you do your best. Think positive and stay level headed because how you play will always reflect what you’re thinking.

What team or player always gets your competitive fires burning? I get fired up to play Jordyn Burns since not only is she my best friend, but I’ve played with her on every team except our high school’s since I was 7, so we always get competitive.

Rachael Bona


Rachael Bona

Coon Rapids | Forward | Senior

A do-it-all player who led the Cardinals to the Class 2A state tournament with a hat trick in all three Section 5 playoff games. Posted 53 goals and 35 assists this season. Uses superior speed and vision to break the puck out, make good passes and get to open ice.

What are three things you couldn’t (or wouldn’t) play without? I couldn’t play without doing my pregame hand shake with my dad. I couldn’t play without wearing my lucky “beast mode” t-shirt. I couldn’t play without listening to “Long Live” by Taylor Swift before the game with the team.

What movie (or movies) does the team always watch together? "Miracle", "Toy Story 3"

Which is your favorite arena to play in? Cook!

What’s the best sports-related advice you’ve received? If it’s supposed to happen, it will happen.

What team or player always gets your competitive fires burning? Dani Lobejko, she gets everyone going with her pregame texts.

Star Tribune player of the year
Irondale's meghan Lorence is a leader on and off the ice, and now she's the Star Tribune player of the year. Read it Here.

Second Team

FORWARDS

Rachael Kelly, Rosemount, senior: Tallied 30 goals and 41 assists to lead the Irish to their first state tournament appearance.

Sami Reber, Edina, senior: Competitor who is at her best in big games. Key cog on the Hornets’ past two state tournament teams. Scored 26 goals.

Taylor Kuehl, Mound-Westonka, senior: Capped strong career with 52 goals and 50 assists for 102 points. Headed for Ohio State.

DEFENSE

Sam LaShomb, South St. Paul, junior: Leads the Class 1A state tournament bound Packers in scoring with 57 points. Controls the game in all three zones.

Lee Stecklein, Roseville, junior: Emerged as an offensive threat this season. Scored 13 goals while playing solid defense.

GOALIE

Maddie Dahl, Edina, junior: Thrived as the Hornets’ every day goalie. Stopped 29 of 30 shots in the section playoffs and moved her saves percentage to .941 on the season.
 

Third Team

FORWARDS
• Krystal Baumann, Farmington, senior
• Hillary Crowe, Blake, senior
• Jonna Curtis, Elk River, junior
• Morgan Fritz-Ward, Lakeville South, senior
• Emily Snodgrass, Eastview, senior

DEFENSEMEN
• Jordyn Burns, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, senior
• Audrey Hanmer, Forest Lake, senior

GOALIE
• Chelsea Laden, Lakeville South, senior

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