It's "first official practice" eve. Time to fire up this year's enthusiasm. We have a lot of new faces, including Niagara transfer Jess Hitchock, who grew up watching her sister play at the Whitt, and a number of Rookies with solid high school hockey resumes.
Coach McCloskey has been introducing them on his blog, http://wildcatwomenshockey.com/ , where you can also see photos of the group in action, but I'll post them here to get us rolling.
The Minn-e-so-tah Connection
SEPTEMBER 5, 2012 BY COACH MAC
On the surface, it might seem a stretch to imagine that Canadians and Minnesotans have a lot in common. Different countries after all. Then again, listening to the first impressions of Jonna Curtis, Sara Carlson and Meghan Armstrong, I’d have to say it sounds pretty familiar.
For openers Minnesotan’s, like their Canadian sisters, are a bit surprised at being told they talk ‘funny’. That can be a bit confusing, especially when everyone around you sounds like they’re the ones with the ‘funny’ nasal accent? Adding to the confusion is the bizarre vocabulary of easterners. Some 40 years ago I recall being in the same spot when someone at Dartmouth asked me if I wanted a “soda”? A what? You mean a pop?
So you can imagine the humor and irony I felt listening to the latest additions to our women’s hockey program from the land of 10,000 lakes as they shared some initial thoughts, impressions, likes and dislikes before today’s workout. I should add that this is an impressive trio. Jonna Curtis, Sara Carlson and Megan Armstrong all were honored last year by being named finalists for Minnesota’s Ms. Hockey Award. All three lead their respective high school teams to the Minnesota state tournament while racking up record career point totals.
However I’ll leave their rather lengthy and impressive statistical bio’s to the sports info department. I was more interested in discovering the really good stuff. I asked all three a lot of off the cuff questions. I should preface their responses by sharing that while all uniquely different, they concurred on one thing. When asked what they missed most these first two weeks their unanimous responses were ‘family’. Clearly you can take the ‘girl’ out of Minnesota, but you can’t take Minnesota out of the ‘girl’.
Jonna Curtis can be quiet, at least initially. The Elk River standout took some prodding to open up. Peanut butter and apple was her late night snack of choice. She confessed that ‘shopping’ ranked high on her list of free time occupiers. Favorites include steak, chocolate ice cream…or chocolate anything for that matter. Probably the best tidbit that we dragged out of her was that she ‘really’ likes school… affectionately calling herself a “nerd”. Jonna has one younger sister and as well as an older sister and brother. Family, her dog and her bed were one, two, three on her list of most missed! Maybe this is a Minnesota thing, but when asked where she’d go if she could fly anywhere in the world….her answer: Antartica. Now only a true Minnesotan could pick the coldest and windiest continent on earth…
Sara Carlson has a great smile. But who’d of thunk that under that angelic smile lurked the heart of a hells angel?? Well not really… but she caught me off guard when I asked what she liked to do away from hockey and school; ride her motorcycle! Sara was likewise a high school star leading her Hutchinson High team to the Minnesota state tourney. The youngest of four girls, Sara’s favorite devilish food was an ice cream called ‘cheesecake fantasy’. That was a new one on me. Most missed: family of course. Sara also commented that she missed knowing her way around! I told her that wouldn’t take long. Asked what she was most proud of Sara answered: ‘coming to play for UNH Women’s Hockey Program’!!!!! Now that’s a girl with Wildcat in her blood! She’s a fighter too! Asked where she’d like to go if she could travel back to any time in history: the Roman Empire.
Megan Armstrong is superstitious. I mean ‘very’ superstitious. A standout blueliner for the Edina Hornets, Megan likewise lead her squad to the Minnesota state tourney. Yes not to worry Mom and Dad, family was the first item on the most missed list. Adding some extra emotion to missing home was learning of the loss of their 15 year old golden ‘Pooh Bear’ this week. I can’t put into words what or why pets mean so much to most of us, but they do. When asked about her favorite non hockey, non school activity Megan answered like a real Minnesotan: going fishing at the family summer lake cabin. I was a bit taken back when I offered her a free trip back in time to any era or event and she answered with: The Miracle on Ice! I guess for us old folks that doesn’t seem that long ago, but for I have to remind myself that these 3 weren’t born yet. Megan is the youngest of 3 children in her family, loves cookie dough ice cream, Zack Brown band and spoiler alert *************** collects bobble heads!!! Now that’s a collection I have to see!
Coach McCloskey has been introducing them on his blog, http://wildcatwomenshockey.com/ , where you can also see photos of the group in action, but I'll post them here to get us rolling.
The Minn-e-so-tah Connection
SEPTEMBER 5, 2012 BY COACH MAC
On the surface, it might seem a stretch to imagine that Canadians and Minnesotans have a lot in common. Different countries after all. Then again, listening to the first impressions of Jonna Curtis, Sara Carlson and Meghan Armstrong, I’d have to say it sounds pretty familiar.
For openers Minnesotan’s, like their Canadian sisters, are a bit surprised at being told they talk ‘funny’. That can be a bit confusing, especially when everyone around you sounds like they’re the ones with the ‘funny’ nasal accent? Adding to the confusion is the bizarre vocabulary of easterners. Some 40 years ago I recall being in the same spot when someone at Dartmouth asked me if I wanted a “soda”? A what? You mean a pop?
So you can imagine the humor and irony I felt listening to the latest additions to our women’s hockey program from the land of 10,000 lakes as they shared some initial thoughts, impressions, likes and dislikes before today’s workout. I should add that this is an impressive trio. Jonna Curtis, Sara Carlson and Megan Armstrong all were honored last year by being named finalists for Minnesota’s Ms. Hockey Award. All three lead their respective high school teams to the Minnesota state tournament while racking up record career point totals.
However I’ll leave their rather lengthy and impressive statistical bio’s to the sports info department. I was more interested in discovering the really good stuff. I asked all three a lot of off the cuff questions. I should preface their responses by sharing that while all uniquely different, they concurred on one thing. When asked what they missed most these first two weeks their unanimous responses were ‘family’. Clearly you can take the ‘girl’ out of Minnesota, but you can’t take Minnesota out of the ‘girl’.
Jonna Curtis can be quiet, at least initially. The Elk River standout took some prodding to open up. Peanut butter and apple was her late night snack of choice. She confessed that ‘shopping’ ranked high on her list of free time occupiers. Favorites include steak, chocolate ice cream…or chocolate anything for that matter. Probably the best tidbit that we dragged out of her was that she ‘really’ likes school… affectionately calling herself a “nerd”. Jonna has one younger sister and as well as an older sister and brother. Family, her dog and her bed were one, two, three on her list of most missed! Maybe this is a Minnesota thing, but when asked where she’d go if she could fly anywhere in the world….her answer: Antartica. Now only a true Minnesotan could pick the coldest and windiest continent on earth…
Sara Carlson has a great smile. But who’d of thunk that under that angelic smile lurked the heart of a hells angel?? Well not really… but she caught me off guard when I asked what she liked to do away from hockey and school; ride her motorcycle! Sara was likewise a high school star leading her Hutchinson High team to the Minnesota state tourney. The youngest of four girls, Sara’s favorite devilish food was an ice cream called ‘cheesecake fantasy’. That was a new one on me. Most missed: family of course. Sara also commented that she missed knowing her way around! I told her that wouldn’t take long. Asked what she was most proud of Sara answered: ‘coming to play for UNH Women’s Hockey Program’!!!!! Now that’s a girl with Wildcat in her blood! She’s a fighter too! Asked where she’d like to go if she could travel back to any time in history: the Roman Empire.
Megan Armstrong is superstitious. I mean ‘very’ superstitious. A standout blueliner for the Edina Hornets, Megan likewise lead her squad to the Minnesota state tourney. Yes not to worry Mom and Dad, family was the first item on the most missed list. Adding some extra emotion to missing home was learning of the loss of their 15 year old golden ‘Pooh Bear’ this week. I can’t put into words what or why pets mean so much to most of us, but they do. When asked about her favorite non hockey, non school activity Megan answered like a real Minnesotan: going fishing at the family summer lake cabin. I was a bit taken back when I offered her a free trip back in time to any era or event and she answered with: The Miracle on Ice! I guess for us old folks that doesn’t seem that long ago, but for I have to remind myself that these 3 weren’t born yet. Megan is the youngest of 3 children in her family, loves cookie dough ice cream, Zack Brown band and spoiler alert *************** collects bobble heads!!! Now that’s a collection I have to see!
