Meet the Prior Lake girls hockey team
SAVAGE, Minn. — What does it take to play on the Prior Lake High School (PLHS) girls鈥� hockey team?
If you said skates, a helmet, and gloves, you鈥檙e only partially right. All the players on the PLHS team have the right kind of equipment, but what sets them apart is their strong desire to change the perception of girls鈥� hockey.
And every time they skate onto the ice, that鈥檚 exactly what they do.
Kiersten Nelson, one of the team鈥檚 coaches, gives us a little insight into how this athletic program started.
鈥淭he girls鈥� team started back in the 1997-98 season. Since then, Prior Lake has been trying to grow this program, retain athletes, and compete in strong conferences and sections. Girls鈥� hockey is a growing sport, and our goal is to get as many girls playing and enjoying hockey as possible.鈥�
The PLHS team has a lineup of coaches who are dedicated to improving the girls鈥� skills. They are Kiersten Nelson, Joey Larsen, Garrett Moselle, Joel Pykkonen, Kailey Schlink, Mikayla DeForrest, Sophie Kohlbeck, Alli Altmann, and Cody Nelson.
The team captains serve as the leaders, both on the ice and in the locker room.
鈥淥ur captains are Ava Guillemette, Courtney Rook, Jaiden Zollman, Brooke Holmes, Lula Swanson, and Katie Larson,鈥� Coach Nelson said. 鈥淭hese leaders are a vital part of the team鈥檚 success because they set the expectations for the rest of the team, they act as role models to younger players, and they help pick the team up when we need it.鈥�
Brooke Holmes (senior, captain): 鈥淚 look forward to going to the rink every day to spend time with my teammates and coaches. You know the program has something special when the coaches and players can have fun and get better at the same time.鈥�
Courtney Rook (senior, captain): 鈥淲e aren鈥檛 just a team, we are family.鈥�
The captains help set the tone prior to the game.
鈥淥nce the coaches leave the locker room before the first period, the team plays a couple songs with everyone dancing to the music,鈥� Coach Nelson said. 鈥淎s they leave, they each hit the cymbal on the wall.鈥�
They also celebrate their victories with music as they blast 鈥淎ll I Do Is Win鈥� in the locker room.鈥�
While music is a great motivator and a way to establish camaraderie, the team welcomes new members in special ways.
鈥淲e make everyone feel welcomed by doing pre-season and during season team bonding,鈥� Nelson said. 鈥淓ach girl is assigned a sister, someone that they do various team activities with and someone who they can trust.鈥�
The team鈥檚 big goal this year is to be a contender in the South Suburban Conference.
Coach Kiersten Nelson feels this is within their reach.
鈥淭he team has a different atmosphere this year,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not really one specific thing causing it, but there is a new wave of confidence and believing in our abilities.鈥�
You go, girls!
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