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Top five finalists named for Senior Goalie of the Year Award

The puck stops here. It’s time to announce the five finalists for the 2009 Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year Award for girls’ high school hockey players.

The winner will be announced on Sunday, March 1 at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet at the St. Paul RiverCentre, the day after the girls’ high school hockey tournament.

The five finalists combined for a 2.01 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage in the regular season. The five finalists for the Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year Award are as follows, in alphabetical order (all statistics are regular-season):

Finalist School GP GAA SV% SO

Laura Bellamy Duluth Northern Stars 25 1.41 .921 3

Kaye Collier Hibbing/Chisholm 21 3.00 .932 1

Chelsey Froseth Roseau 20 1.36 .921 6

Jessica Havel Grand Rapids/Greenway 24 2.52 .906 1

Jessica Newstrom Cambridge-Isanti/Mora/Pine City 25 1.77 .937 6

Laura Bellamy, Duluth Northern Stars

A mainstay in the Duluth nets since a seventh grader in 2003-04, Bellamy has led the Northern Stars to the No. 9 ranking in Class AA with outstanding performances this season. Through the end of the regular season, Bellamy owns a 1.41 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage to go along with her three shutouts. Splitting time in the nets with sophomore Paige Turner, Bellamy has helped Duluth to an 18-4-3 overall record.

On the season, Bellamy has allowed two or fewer goals in 14 of her 16 starts and owns a 12-3-0 record. A five-time all-conference selection and an all-state honorable mention pick last season, Bellamy owns 11 career shutouts.

“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.

Kaye Collier, Hibbing/Chisholm

One of the state’s top goaltenders the last three seasons, Collier owns outstanding numbers despite Hibbing/Chisholm’s 4-18-2 overall record. Averaging 42 saves a game, Collier has posted a .932 save percentage and a 3.00 goals-against average during the Bluejackets trying season. Of the state’s goaltenders who have played 300 or more minutes this season, Collier’s save percentage ranks 12th overall and third among seniors.

Playing part of the season with a sprained MCL, Collier has posted six games with 50 or more saves, including an astounding 72 saves in a 5-0 loss to Roseville on Nov. 21 and 68 saves in a 5-1 loss to Blake on Jan. 1. A two-time team captain, Collier has had only four games with a save percentage under .900 this year.

“Kaye is our team this year!” Hibbing/Chisholm head coach Peter Hyduke said. “She has tremendous character and great concern for her teammates. Kaye always stays positive regardless of the number of shots she faces. She keeps sports in perspective and never loses sight that it is a privilege to be able to participate in hockey and represent your school and community.”

Off the ice, Collier is involved with Peer Mentors, school choir concert choir, 4-H and the Arrowhead Saddle Club. She plans on attending a four-year college and also playing hockey.

Chelsey Froseth, Roseau

The owner of a 16-4-0 overall record and six shutouts this season, Froseth has helped the Rams to a 20-5-0 overall record and a No. 4 Class A ranking. Through the end of the regular season, she owns a 1.36 goals-against average which ranks third among senior goalies with 300 or more minutes played. She also has posted a .921 save percentage.

On the season, Froseth has notched 16 games with two or fewer goals allowed, and has given up only two lamplighters in her last four games, three of which were shutouts.

“Chelsey is an outstanding goalie/person that has played on our team for three years,” Roseau head coach Brian Bergstrom said. “She is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed. On more than one occasion, Chelsey has had to elevate her level of play in support of the team. She is very focused and prepared to play no matter what the situation or how big the game may be. Chelsey is an outstanding goalie who gives her team a chance to win during every game.”

Away from the ice, Froseth volunteers and works at a Roseau nursing home. Owner of a 3.5 GPA, she also also volunteers her time with the Roseau youth 6U and 8U hockey programs.

Jessica Havel, Grand Rapids/Greenway

A member of last season’s Class AA runner-up, Havel has led the Lightning to a 15-7-2 overall record and a No. 8 ranking in this week’s poll. The owner of a 2.52 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage, Havel has played 1237:47 minutes this season to rank 19th in the state and fourth among senior netminders. She has been on the ice for all but 17 minutes this season.

Along with her 13-7-2 record, Havel averages 24 saves per game and has posted 12 games with two or fewer goals allowed. A 2008 all-state honorable mention netminder, Havel is planning on continuing her hockey career in college.

“Jessica is a gifted goaltender who understands the commitment it takes to be an elite player,” Grand Rapids/Greenway head coach Chris Granley said. “She is a very technically-sound goaltender that plays and practices with a true passion for the sport of hockey. We play a very difficult schedule, and with our young defensive corps this season, Jessica has really had to step up to help lead us to a 15-7-2 record.”

Off the ice, Havel has used her passion for the sport of hockey to raise money and awareness for cancer research by founding “Shut Out Cancer” (www.shutoutcancer.com). She has raised nearly $12,000 since launching the program.

Jessica Newstrom, Cambridge-Isanti/Mora/Pine City

A three-time all-conference goaltender, Newstrom has started in the Cambridge-Isanti nets since seventh grade. Playing all but 17 minutes of the Bluejackets games this season, Newstrom owns a 1.77 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage to go along with her 12-10-2 overall recrd. Of the state’s goaltenders who have played 300 or more minutes this season, Newstrom’s save percentage ranks seventh overall and first among seniors.

Newstrom has posted 17 games with two or fewer goals allowed, including six shutouts. She averages 27 saves per game and has posted eight games with 30 or more saves, including a season-high 55 stops in a 2-0 loss to Grand Rapids/Greenway on Dec. 20.

“Jess is a true athlete who plays the game very big and yet goes about her business, in every aspect of the game, with quiet confidence,” Cambridge-Isanti head coach Jeff McCann said. “She has the ability to make the big save every time we need her and that gives our team constant energy to feed off of.”

Away from the ice, Newstrom is a member of the Student Action Leadership team and the Cambridge-Isanti High School Student Council.

The winner of the Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year Award will be announced at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet on Sunday, March 1 at 11 a.m., at the St. Paul RiverCentre. The five finalists for Ms. Hockey will be named in the Feb. 19 edition of Let’s Play Hockey. Both awards are sponsored by Let’s Play Hockey, the Minnesota Wild and Reebok/CCM.

In addition to on-ice talent, criteria for the Senior Goalie of the Year Award include academics, community/extracurricular activities, citizenship and coachability.

The 2008 Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year Award winner was Alyssa Grogan of Eagan. Other past winners include: Ashley Nixon of Blaine (2007), Allana 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).

Other awards that will be presented at the banquet include the Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year Award, which goes to the top senior goalie in girls’ high school hockey, as well as the Minnesota Girls High School Hockey Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year, and All-State and All-Academic Award winners for the 2008-09 season.

Tickets for the banquet may be ordered by calling 612-729-0023 and are $25 per person.