Lucas Punkari
The annual banquet for the Muskie girls’ hockey team Saturday evening at the Fort High cafeteria not only marked the official end of the 2011/12 season, but also the conclusion of the tenure for three players with the program.
Goalie Dana Cridland and forwards Taylor Dixon and Ericka Tymkin all are leaving the high school ranks after playing three seasons for the black-and-gold, which left the trio quite emotional as they looked back on their time with the team.
“It’s a sad feeling more than anything to part from this team,” Tymkin noted.
“To say goodbye to everyone that we know, and to also know that we aren’t coming back to experience this again next year, is very sad,” she added.
“But we all took a lot away from it.”
“We’ve all grown together and have become so close over these last three years, that it’s very tough to say goodbye,” agreed Cridland.
The impact of all three players leaving also was felt by first-year head coach Scott Clendenning.
“All three seniors are not only great characters, but they are great people and they are a huge part of this team,” he said.
“When you lose three people like that, others will have to step up from our junior core,” Clendenning noted.
“But these are going to be some very hard shoes to try and fill,” he stressed.
All three said their final season with the Muskies was among their most enjoyable, and not just because of their success on the ice after the squad pushed the Dryden Eagles to the limit in the semi-finals.
“The big part of the year for me was the coaching,” Tymkin said.
“They went in this year with a different way of doing things, and they definitely pushed us to be the very best that we can be, which is exactly what we did,” she added.
“Off the ice, we all became pretty close friends, which helped to build the team a lot,” Dixon noted.
“We all had a lot of fun with each other both on and off the ice, and I’m going to miss all of the girls,” she said.
As for the awards itself, Grade 10 forward Shelby Tymkin came away with the big honour of the night—taking home the Most Valuable Player trophy.
“I feel honoured to receive this award,” she smiled.
“I really worked hard on my play throughout the entire year, and I’m pleased and happy to get the award.
“It was a memorable season, and I’m glad that I still have two more years to play on the Muskie team,” she added.
“From start to finish, you could see the progression in her game and it was great to see everything come together,” Clendenning lauded.
“She finished off the year very strong, and hopefully she can pick up right where she left off heading into next year.”
Other award winners were Dixon (most sportsmanlike), Mallory Payne (most improved), Kaily Greengrass (coaches’ award), Shilo Beck (most dedicated), and Amy Penner (rookie of the year).
Although next season is still a few months away, Clendenning already is thinking about and getting things set up.
“We’ll have the girls getting on a four-week workout cycle plan during the summer, so hopefully they go through some of those routines,” he remarked.
“And with the Minnesota high school teams already booking their games right away, we’ve been setting up games with Roseau and different teams like that for next year,” he added.
