This group of Alexandria girls hockey players put together one of the program’s most notable accomplishments in recent years by becoming the first team to make a Class AA state tournament this winter.
Jordan O’Kane, Anna Doherty, Marki Oberg, Hanley Block and MaKenna Aure were all big parts of that as all of them earned All-Section 8AA honors. Alexandria (14-5-2) got the third seed in the section field and proceeded to beat the top two seeds in Brainerd-Little Falls (13-5-1) and Roseau (14-6-1) on the way to the championship.
O’Kane, a junior goaltender, allowed just three goals in three-plus games during the section tournament after needing three overtimes against Brainerd on March 18 in a 2-1 win. She then almost led an upset of Minnetonka in the state tournament with 57 saves in a 2-1, double overtime loss on March 27.
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O’Kane earned Alexandria’s Most Improved Player Award from her teammates. While splitting time with fellow junior Hailee Bailey in net, O’Kane posted team-highs in minutes played (795:15) and wins at 12-1-2. She had 396 saves and just 18 goals allowed for a 1.15 goals-against average and a .957 save percentage to go with three shutouts.
Block won Alexandria’s Offensive Player of the Year Award. The junior forward tied Doherty for the team lead in points with 23 as both finished with nine goals and 14 assists.
Doherty was named the Cardinals’ Hardest Worker Award winner. She reached her 100th-career point with her game-winning goal in the section semifinals.
Aure earned Alexandria’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. In addition to her defensive work, Aure also scored 16 points on four goals and 12 assists.
Alexandria players voted all three of their captains in Doherty, Oberg (11 goals, 9 assists) and Ali Castle (2 goals, 6 assists) as Above the Line Award winners for their leadership. That trio is part of a group of important seniors the Cardinals will graduate that includes Ella Johnston, Reise Waldorf and Maya Klimek. Klimek was Alexandria’s Hobey Baker Character Award winner -- a coaches award given to a senior on every high school girls and boys team in Minnesota.
ADDITIONAL ALEXANDRIA GIRLS HOCKEY HONORS
ALL-CENTRAL LAKES CONFERENCE PLAYERS: Jordan O’Kane, Anna Doherty, Marki Oberg; Honorable mention - Ella Westlund, Lauren Maras, MaKenna Aure, Hanley Block
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ACADEMIC ALL-STATE SENIORS - Maya Klimek, Reise Waldorf, Anna Doherty, Ali Castle
CLC SCHOLAR ATHLETES (Seniors) - Maya Klimek, Reise Waldorf, Anna Doherty, Ali Castle
