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Leader on and off the ice

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

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Star Tribune names Irondale's Lorence the Metro Player of the Year


Irondale's Meghan Lorence in the 2009 state tournament. /Bruce Bisping, Star Tribune


Meghan Lorence

As Irondale team prepared for a fourth overtime period in the Class 2A, Section 5 quarterfinals against Blaine, senior captain Meghan Lorence tried her best to rally the tired troops.

“She said to the girls, 'I’m not ready to be done,’” Knights coach Tom Rodefeld said. “I think that went a long way to giving us a little extra energy.”

Lorence then went out and assisted on the game-winning goal, fulfilling her important dual role as Irondale’s leader by words and deeds. The past two seasons, Lorence helped good Irondale teams reach the state tournament. Graduation claimed most of the top players from those teams. This season, Lorence, a Gophers recruit and Ms. Hockey finalist, scored 45 goals and led an inexperienced team to a solid 17-9-1 record.

For her considerable efforts on and off the rink, Lorence was chosen as the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year.

“I knew what it would be like coming into the season, but I didn’t really know how tough it was going to be both physically and mentally,” Lorence said. “But I feel like the girls came a long way. It was a great group of girls that pushed one another to get better.”

Many times those youngsters simply played follow the leader. Lorence’s 45 goals provided almost half of the Knights’ offense. During a three-game stretch in late December, she scored all eight of her team’s goals. Irondale won two of those games. And she factored into all three goals in the marathon playoff victory against Blaine despite skating through a leg injury that diminished her speed and skill.

Even when she was at full strength, Lorence endured being a marked player all season.

“It was definitely a huge challenge knowing the team’s success was basically in my hands,” Lorence said. “I just came to the rink ready to give everything I had. I saw double and triple teams throughout the season, but I just tried to fight through it.”

Her efforts did not go unnoticed.

“Most of her friends have graduated, so she could’ve phoned it in this season,” Rodefeld said. “To me, a good citizen puts the needs of others ahead of their own needs.”

Lorence, who has been home-schooled since second grade, said she has gained as much from her six years with the varsity hockey program as she has given.

Lorence said of her teammates, “Their positive attitudes helped me a lot. Seeing our little seventh-grade forward with a smile on her face every day helped. These girls were a bunch of hard workers who had the same feeling I did. They didn’t want the season to end.”

Impressive career totals of 219 goals and 360 points do not represent Lorence’s value to the community. She has volunteered her time at nursing homes and collected food shelf donations. She helped create an inner-city skating program and a mentoring program that pairs older Irondale players with underclassmen.

“Her ability has made us a better team,” Rodefeld said. “Her character has made us better people.”

Past Metro Players of the Year

A look back at the previous winners of the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year award
• 1995: Jamie DeGriselles, Apple Valley
• 1996: Winny Brodt, Roseville
• 1997: Ronda Curtin, Roseville
• 1998: Natalie Darwitz, Eagan
• 1999: Krissy Wendell, Park Center
• 2000: Krissy Wendell, Park Center
• 2001: Renee Curtin, Roseville and Jody Horak, Blaine
• 2002: Ashley Albrecht, South St. Paul
• 2003: Erica McKenzie, Hastings
• 2004: Erica McKenzie, Hastings
• 2005: Maggie Fisher, South St. Paul
• 2006: Chelsey Jones, Stillwater
• 2007: Katharine Chute, Blake
• 2008: Lauren Smith, Holy Angels
• 2009: Becky Kortum, Hopkins
• 2010: Bethany Brausen, Roseville
• 2011: Meghan Lorence, Irondale

Star Tribune All-Metro teams
Meghan lorence might be player of the year, but who else made the all-metro team? find out who made the cut here

Team leaders

State Tournament News

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