Duluth’s Laura Bellamy nets Senior Goalie of the Year Award

 

Laura Bellamy of the Duluth Northern Stars and Duluth Denfeld High School has been named the Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year, the newspaper announced at the annual Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet. The award is presented annually to the top Minnesota senior goalie in girls’ high school hockey.

 

A mainstay in the Duluth nets since a seventh grader in 2003-04, Bellamy led the Northern Stars to a top 20 ranking in Class AA with outstanding performances this season. Bellamy posted a 1.38 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage to go along with her three shutouts. Splitting time in the nets with sophomore Paige Turner, Bellamy helped Duluth to a 19-5-3 record.

 

On the season, Bellamy allowed two or fewer goals in 15 of her 17 starts and owned a 13-3-0 record. A five-time all-conference selection and a first team all-state pick this season, Bellamy registered 11 career shutouts. The Northern Stars fell one game short of appearing in their second state tournament, falling to Proctor/Hermantown/Marshall School in the Section 7AA final.

 

“Laura has a natural ability to lead others in a positive direction,” Duluth co-head coach Amber Fryklund said. “She consistently strives to become better and makes those around her better. As a goaltender, she is able to make key saves and provide our team with the opportunity to win.”

 

Away from the ice, Bellamy is an exceptional student, ranking first in her Duluth Denfeld High School class of 228 with a 4.0 GPA. A Harvard recruit, Bellamy was chosen as one of six female finalists for the Wendy’s High School Heisman award, which recognizes outstanding high school seniors nationwide who excel in athletics, academics and in the community. Bellamy also serves in her school’s student government and as the president of the National Honor Society.

 

The Senior Goalie of the Year Award is based on nominations from high school coaches and is selected based on consultations with a panel of high school coaches, and Division I and III women’s college coaches. The award is based on the following criteria: academics, community/ extracurricular activities, citizenship, coachability and, of course, on-ice performance.

 

The other finalists for the award were Kaye Collier of Hibbing/Chisholm, Chelsey Froseth of Roseau, Jessica Havel of Grand Rapids/Greenway and Jessica Newstrom of Cambridge-Isanti/Mora/Pine City.

 

This is the 11th year of the LPH Goalie of the Year award. Previous winners include Alyssa Grogan of Eagan (2008), Ashley Nixon of Blaine (2007), Alannah McCready of Centennial (2006), Johanna Ellison of Cloquet/Esko/Carlton (2005), Emily Brookshaw of Hill-Murray (2004), Robin Doepke of Chaska (2003), Amber Hasbargen of Warroad (2002), Jody Horak of Blaine (2001), Shari Vogt of River Lakes (2000) and Katie Beauduy of Blaine (1999).

 

The award is sponsored by Let’s Play Hockey, the Minnesota Wild and Reebok/CCM.