Feature Story

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Bemidji’s Sarah Erickson named Ms. Hockey

In front of nearly 350 people at the St. Paul RiverCentre on Sunday, Feb. 24, Sarah Erickson of Bemidji High School was named the winner of the 13th annual Ms. Hockey Award. The award, presented to the top girls’ high school hockey player in Minnesota, is based on the following criteria: academics, community/extra curricular activities, citizenship, coachability and, of course, on-ice performance.

Despite missing six games in helping the U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team capture the gold medal at the inaugural International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Women’s U18 Championship, Erickson led Bemidji in scoring with 42 goals and 17 assists for 59 points.

The captain of both the Lumberjacks and the U.S. Under-18 Team, Erickson posted 12 multi-goal games, including six contests with three or more lamplighters. She notched a season-high five points (4-1—5) in Bemidji’s 6-1 win over North Wright County in the quarterfinals of the Section 8AA Tournament. In the semifinals, Erickson led the Lumberjacks to a 5-1 win over Moorhead with a goal and two assists. Bemidji fell 6-2 to No. 1 seed Elk River for the right to advance to the state tournament.

For her five-year varsity career (two years at Roseau HS, three years at Bemidji HS), Erickson compiled totals of 183-107--290. A five-time all-conference and two-time first team all-state honoree, Erickson has been the MVP of her team for four consecutive seasons (one season at Roseau). In 2006-07, Erickson tallied 65 points (36-29--65) to help Bemidji to the state tournament. She earned all-state honorable mention accolades in 2005-06 after compiling career-high totals of 48-21--69 during the Lumberjacks’ Section 8AA runner-up season.

Just last week, Erickson was named to the U.S. Women’s National Team preliminary roster. She was the lone Minnesota high school player named to the 27-player roster. If she makes the cut to the final 20-player team, Erickson will head with Team USA to Harbin, China for the IIHF World Women’s Championship in early April.

Following high school, Erickson will continue her hockey career at the University of Minnesota.

“Sarah is, in my opinion and in the opinion of many others, the best high school player in Minnesota, and some believe the nation,” Bemidji head coach Matt Menne said. “One thing that separates her from the rest of these amazing players is that she is always an offensive threat, can always move the puck and she plays 200 feet of the rink. She works harder in her defensive play then she does in her offensive play.”

Away from the ice, Erickson owns a 3.7 GPA and is a two-time Bemidji High School student of the week. She is a member of the BHS Student Council’s Executive Board and also serves with the Lumberjack Leaders and Positive Peer Relations, a pair of organizations dedicated to providing the communities with positive role models and mentors.

“Obviously, Sarah has been a ‘treasure’ for us,” Menne said. “When she came to Bemidji as a sophomore, she had the experience and drive of many seniors. Her maturity soon followed. She has been a natural leader with great physical and mental gifts as an athlete.”

The other finalists for Ms. Hockey were Emily Erickson of Grand Rapids/Greenway, defenseman Anne Schleper of the St. Cloud Icebreakers, defenseman Kelly Seeler of Eden Prairie and forward Lauren Smith of Holy Angels.

This is the 13th season Let’s Play Hockey has sponsored the Ms. Hockey Award. The award’s previous Ms. Hockey winners were: 2007 — Katharine Chute, Blake; 2006 — Allie Thunstrom, North St. Paul; 2005 — Gigi Marvin, Warroad; 2004 — Erica McKenzie, Hastings; 2003 — Andrea Nichols, Hibbing/Chisholm; 2002 — Ashley Albrecht, South St. Paul; 2001 — Renee Curtin, Roseville; 2000 — Krissy Wendell, Park Center; 1999 — Ronda Curtin, Roseville; 1998 — Laura Slominski, Burnsville; 1997 — Annamarie Holmes, Apple Valley; and 1996 — Winny Brodt, Roseville.

The 13th annual award, selected based on consultations with a panel of Division I and III college coaches from Minnesota and Wisconsin, is sponsored by Let’s Play Hockey and the Minnesota Wild.

Also honored at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet was Alyssa Grogan, the 2008 Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year, as well as the Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association’s all-state and all-state honorable mention selections, academic section and state champions, and coaches of the year.

Several current and former Division I and III college coaches spoke at the banquet, including University of Minnesota head coach Brad Frost, former Golden Gopher head coach Laura Halldorson, College of St. Benedict’s head coach Pat Michaud, Augsburg College assistant coach Tom Peart and Gustavus Adolphus College assistant coach Steve Carroll.