Team work makes the Dream work.  That is the motto for the 2012-2013 Blaine girls hockey team.

The girls finished one game short of the state tournament last year, losing to Mounds View in the Section Championship game. “The girls competed hard.  They were proud of how hard they competed.” said coach Steve Guider. This season their goal is to go at least one step further and reach the state tournament. “This year the team is emerging offensively and plays very strong on defense. Our team is led by Kiersten Falck(11) and Alexandra Barber-Verdick(12).”

“Our top returners are Breanna Mahoney, Alexandra Barber-Verdick, Ally Mezzano, Gina Berg, Haley Warmuth, Alisa Wolens, Falck, Samantha Swanstrom, Katie Swanstrom, Abby Vogel and Courtney Jensrud.  Among these are our three leading scorers, Falck, and both Swanstrom sisters. We also have an experienced defensive core which consists of Alexandra Barber-Verdick, Abby Vogel, Hailey Lachinski, and the addition of Amy Schlagel.” said Guider.

The girls do as much off the ice as they do on it. Each year the team does community service. One of these is the Teddy Bear Toss. For this event, a contributer will pay 1 dollar to buy a Teddy Bear. Then at the next home game the JV players will throw the bears out onto the ice after the girls’ first goal. After being collected, they are delivered to sick children and elderly in the hospital. The girls also volunteer annually at Feed My Starving Children, and participate in KARE 11’s Toys For Tots.

This season the girls hockey team looks to get to the state tournament after falling just one game short last year. They look to strengthen their bond as a team both on and off the ice. And just as important, they will look to impact the lives of others through their charitable work.