Julie Friend of Minnetonka named the Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year

Julie Friend of Minnetonka High School has been named the Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year, the newspaper announced today at the annual Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet. The award is presented annually to the top Minnesota senior goalie in girls’ high school hockey.

The owner of some of the best statistical numbers in the state, Julie Friend led Minnetonka to a 29-1-1 overall record and the school’s first state championship. Friend compiled a state-best .74 goals-against average and .957 save percentage, as well as 12 shutouts.

She posted a 23-0-1 record and allowed more than one goal in only five games this season. Friend finished her career with a record of 58-17-9 and is the Skippers’ all-time goals-against average leader at .940. She has not earned a loss since Hopkins downed Minnetonka 1-0 in the Section 6AA final on Feb. 19, 2010. Friend will continue her hockey career at St. Cloud State.

“Julie is a focused and intense competitor,” Minnetonka head coach Eric Johnson said. “She loves the game of hockey and her passion is contagious to the rest of our team. She will make a great coach someday as she is an expert on stats, a walking encyclopedia for hockey info. She anchors our defense with her skill and size as a solid backstop.”

The owner of a 3.91 GPA, Friend is involved with the MHS First Mate, Senior Leadership and Interact Club programs, as well as Relay for Life and DECA. She has also volunteered over 50 hours with the Minnetonka Youth Hockey Association.

“Julie is a generous person who has gone out of her way to make friends with the youth players who look up to her,” Johnson said. “She has been an exemplary teammate the past four years at Minnetonka High School.”

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 Shelby Amsley-Benzie of Warroad, Chloe Billadeau of Blake, Chelsea Laden of Lakeville South and Tiana Press of Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

This is the 13^th year of the LPH Goalie of the Year award. Previous winners include Kallie Billadeau of Hopkins (2010) Laura Bellamy of Duluth (2009), 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, Shock Doctor and DCS Image.