The 2017 Star Tribune girls' hockey All-Metro first team (left to right): Metro Player of the Year Grace Zumwinkle (Breck), Emily Oden (Edina), Taylor Wente (Maple Grove), Grace Bowlby (Edina), Emily Brown (Blaine) and Coco Francis (Maple Grove). Star Tribune photo courtesy of Jerry Holt • jerry.holt@startribune.com
School: Breck | Year: Senior | Position: Forward
College Committed: Minnesota
Booming slapshot clocked upward of 80 mph. Tallied hat tricks in nine games and would often ask coaches afterward how she could improve. Led the Mustangs with 42 goals and added 16 assists. Won a gold medal with Oden, Wente and seven additional Minnesota high school players with Team USA at the Under-18 women’s world championship in January. Click to read more on Zumwinkle.
School: Edina | Year: Junior | Position: Forward
College Committed: Minnesota
Powerhouse of a player who stands out among the Hornets’ five Division-I bound forwards. Potent blend of strength, speed, skill and a drive to make plays. Scored 23 goals and added 15 assists.
School: Maple Grove | Year: Senior | Position: Forward
College Committed: Minnesota
A player as dynamic as she is complete. Excels at hockey’s nuances. A leader who makes teammates better and earned their respect on and off the ice. Finished with 26 goals and 27 assists.
School: Edina | Year: Senior | Position: Defense
College Committed: Wisconsin
Catalyst for Edina team that lost just one regular season game. Breathtaking skater who controls the game’s tempo. Provided 11 goals and 18 assists while consistently shutting down top forwards.
School: Blaine | Year: Senior | Position: Defense
College Committed: Minnesota
Repeat first-team selection showed great offensive prowess (14 goals, 27 assists) and fueled Blaine’s state tournament run. Equally adept at getting the less-glamorous work in front of her own net done.
School: Maple Grove | Year: Senior | Position: Goalie
College Committed: Union
Never rattled and instills confidence in her teammates. Went 13-2 for the Crimson with a 1.12 goals-against average. Great puck control. Stopped 94 percent of shots faced and earned four shutouts.
First play on your highlight reel? | Preferred pregame meal? | On the women’s Frozen Four getting televised. | |
---|---|---|---|
Grace Bowlby | We were down to Breck 4-1 in the second period. I scored the tying goal with about a minute left in the third to bring it to overtime and we ended up winning. | Bagel with eggs, cheese and bacon. Also, a smoothie. | Makes watching the games easier and I’m excited to tune in. |
Emily Brown | Scoring twice against Hill-Murray. My second one tied the game up with only a few minutes left. | Jimmy John’s B.L.T. and an Edible Arrangements smoothie. | It’s really exciting to see the women’s game grow. |
Coco Francis | Against Wayzata I blocked a backhand with my glove but the puck popped over my shoulder and I dove to cover it right before the goal line. | Jimmy John’s sandwich and a Glacier Cherry Gatorade. | Younger girls will be able to watch great female players and be inspired to grow up and be like them. |
Emily Oden | We were killing off a penalty against Centennial. I got the puck at the top of the circle and sent a slapshot upper left for a goal. | Chicken with a side salad and a baked potato. | It demonstrates to the youth that women’s sports are also important. |
Taylor Wente | Two shorthanded goals on the same shift against Eagan. | Subway Italian B.M.T. | More fans will come out and support their local teams after watching. |
Grace Zumwinkle | Hat trick against Edina or scoring five goals against Centennial. | Jimmy John’s and Starbucks. | It will be awesome to see championship hockey showcased on a national stage. |
FORWARDS
Abigail Boreen, Hill-Murray, junior: Elevated her game to provide scoring punch (31 goals, 30 assists).
Anneke Linser, Centennial, junior: Delivered the puck in the right areas (41 assists) and finished (22 goals), too.
Naomi Rogge, Eden Prairie, senior: Scored 35 goals including the game-winner in double overtime of the section final.
DEFENSE
Tina Kampa, Maple Grove, senior: Puck seems taped to her stick. Power-play quarterback with 29 assists.
Madeline Wethington, Blake, sophomore: Aggressive defender with all the tools. Scored 10 goals for defending Class 1A champs.
GOALIE
Breanna Blesi, Maple Grove, senior: Finished with five shutouts and stopped 94 percent of shots faced.
FORWARDS
Maddy Fiedler, Chaska/Chanhassen, sr.
Gabbie Hughes, Centennial, jr.
Paetyn Levis, Rogers, jr.
DEFENSE
Hannah Schultz, Spring Lake Park/Coon Rapids, sr.
Taylor Wemple, Hill-Murray, sr.
GOALIE
Calla Frank, White Bear Lake, soph.
The Star Tribune’s All-Metro 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.
Tag(s): MSHSL Conferences IMAC Blake Breck Lake Eden Prairie Edina Metro East Hill-Murray Metro West Chaska/Chanhassen Mississippi 8 Rogers Northwest Suburban Northwest Suburban - North Blaine Centennial/Spring Lake Park Northwest Suburban - West Maple Grove Spring Lake Park/Coon Rapids Suburban East White Bear Lake Class AA Class A Section 5AA Section 5A