Card girls honor hockey players

• Michelle Anez

Echo Press file photo Alexandria’s Michelle Anez was named the most valuable player on the 2008-2009 Cardinal girls’ hockey team. The Redbirds finished the season with a 13-15 record, but made a run to the section finals for the sixth straight season.

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The Cardinal girls’ hockey team wrapped up its season with its annual awards banquet to commemorate the players responsible for helping Alexandria to the Section 6A championship this year.

Michelle Anez was the Cardinals’ spark on offense with 31 goals and 10 assists this season. She was recognized for that by being named the team’s most valuable player.

Beth Rindy received the Most Valuable Defensive Player Award, while Claire Illies came away with the Hardest Worker Award.

Brittney Lind earned the Most Improved Player Award after accounting for 13 points on eight goals and five assists. Alexis Nielson took home the Coaches Award, and Ally Nielsen accepted the Courtney Walsh Award.

Nielsen was second on the team with 30 points. She scored 15 goals and assisted on another 15.

As a team, the Cardinals had an up and down season after losing a lot of talent off their state championship team of 2007-08. Alexandria finished 13-15 this year, but still made a run to the section finals for the sixth straight season. Fergus Falls ended the Cardinals’ run of five straight section titles with a 4-2 win.

Alexandria loses three seniors off this year’s team. Megan Trenne, Breanna Lind and Brittney Lind will all be lost to graduation this spring. The rest of the team should return next season with the hopes of getting back to the top of the Central Lakes Conference.

ALEXANDRIA

GIRLS’ HOCKEY

SEASON-ENDING AWARDS

MVP – Michelle Anez; Most Valuable Defense – Beth Rindy; Most Improved – Brittney Lind; Hardest Worker – Claire Illies; Coaches Award – Alexis Nielson; Courtney Walsh Award – Ally Nielsen

2008-09 SEASON

STATISTICS

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS – Breanna Lind – 17 points, 9 goals, 8 assists; Megan Trenne – 11 points, 9 goals, 2 assists; Brittney Lind – 13 points, 8 goals, 5 assists; Beth Rindy – 12 points, 6 goals, 6 assists; Michelle Anez – 41 points, 31 goals, 10 assists; Allyson Nielsen – 30 points, 15 goals, 15 assists; Alexis Nielson – 11 points, 1 goal, 10 assists; Alyssa Haugen – 4 points, 2 goals, 2 assists; Claire Illies – 18 points, 7 goals, 11 assists; Alia Kopischke – 6 points, 2 goals, 4 assists; Heather Hvezda – 2 points, 1 goal, 1 assist; Brooke Aaberg – 2 points, 1 goal, 1 assist; Rachel Finley – 7 points, 4 goals, 3 assists; Erin Wilkins – 2 points, 2 assists; Shelby Iverson – 8 points, 6 goals, 2 assists; Shanee Herd – 7 points, 7 assists; Quinn Kragenbring – 1 point, 1 goal; Danielle Carlson – 1 point, 1 assist; Stacey Paulzine – 3 points, 1 goal, 2 assists

GOALTENDING – Stephanie Drown – 1339.53 minutes, 11-15, 493 saves, 573 shots faced, 80 goals allowed, 3.05 GAA, 86.04 save percentage, 2 shutouts; Lindsay Lien – 177.47 minutes, 2-0, 93 saves, 106 shots faced, 13 goals allowed, 3.74 GAA, 87.74 save percentage

Tags: hockey, alexandria, cardinals, girls, banquet