2005-06 Review: Several First-years Emerge

The 2005-06 Blazer ice hockey team finished the season with a 4-16-3 overall record and a 4-11-3 MIAC mark. Saint Benedict began the season with several new faces and a new attitude of taking their game to the next level.

Interim head coach Neil Andruschak directed a team that was comprised of a core of veteran skaters supported by several impact first-year athletes.

CSB started the year with a two game series against Finlandia University (Mich.). The series proved to be very close, but Saint Benedict would fall short in both contests by scores of 5-3 and 4-3. the following series would place the Blazers against a MIAC opponent in Concordia-Moorhead. A 1-1 tie was the outcome of the first game, but the floodgates opened in the second game in which the Blazers defeated the Cobbers 10-1.

Throughout the season, senior captain Lisa Bush and junior assistant captain Stephanie Gassert provided CSB with veteran leadership vital to a young team looking to capitalize on opportunities to succeed.

Saint Benedict split two games with Hamline in their third series of the year winning the first game by a score of 5-3 and losing the second contest 6-2. CSB would then go on a 15 game stretch without a victory. During that stretch, the Blazers went 0-12-3 with four games going into overtime.

CSB rebounded with a series sweet against St. Catherine by winning the first game 6-2 and second game 5-4 in overtime. Bush scored the game winning goal, assisted by Erin Baldwin and Sarah Wilson.

The Blazers season ended after being shutout in back to back games by Gustavus, the eventual MIAC champions.

The 2005-06 season also featured several promising events including the emergence of several young skaters.

First-year Alicia Behr was named to the All-MIAC honorable mention team as well as the All-MIAC rookie team. Behr collected three goals and two assists on the year.

First-years Stephanie Kendrick and Patty Kling also had strong years on the ice for Saint Benedict. Kendrick was named to the All-MIAC honorable mention team and recorded a team leading 16 points off of 10 goals and six assists. King collected eight goals and five assists for 13 points (tied for second on the team).

Bush capped off her collegiate athletic career at CSB by being named the recipient of the Shelia Brown Award. The Award is given to a women's hockey player in the MIAC who exhibits strong leadership qualities and is committed to making her program better.

Overall the season was a success for the Blazers who plan to build off the performances of several young athletes they hope will get them to the MIAC playoffs in the future.

Athletic Department
College of Saint Benedict
37 South College Avenue
St. Joseph, MN 56374
320-363-5301
Fax 320-363-6098