Women's Hockey Returns Strong Group for 2010-11

Posted: Nov 04, 2010

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team is set to take the ice for the 2010-11 season opener tomorrow at St. Mary's University (Minn.).

The Blugolds welcome back a strong group of returners with 13 of last year's letterwinners back on the team, plus one from the 2008-09 season. A total of 21 players make up this year's squad.

Headlining the returners is Kristin Faber (Sr.-Austin, Minn.), a two-time first team All-NCHA selection. She led the Blugolds in goals and points last year with 19 and 34, respectively, and is the program's leading point scorer, holding a career mark of 81 points. She needs just six goals to become the school's top goal-scorer and nine assists to become the program's leader in assists.

The Blugolds return players that accounted for 69 of the team's 90 goals last year and 147 of the 208 points. Six of the top seven point-scorers from last year are back.

A season ago, Christine Dickinson (Sr.-Layton, Utah/Shattuck-St. Mary's) scored 14 goals, which was second best on the team while Taylor Jenkins (Jr.-Austin, Minn.) had nine, fourth best on the team. Dickinson is also working her way up the Blugolds' career charts.

In goal, the Blugolds return just one player with experience, Mara Stormer (So.-Waunakee, Wis.). She played in two games, starting both, and recorded a 0.50 goals against average and a .977 save percentage. Two freshmen, Jordyn Quiring (Fr.-Calgary, Alberta/Edge School) and Ally Derthick (Fr.-Knoxville, Tenn./New Hampton Prep) will also compete for between the pipes.

Mike Collins returns for his 11th year and both the program and coach Collins are seeking their 100th career win. The Blugolds will need just one victory to reach the milestone as they are currently at 99.

While the Blugolds start on the road, they will have a stretch of four home games between Nov. 6 and 16. After that they will be in Hobbs three more times before the winter break and will also be at home Jan. 2. They will wrap up home action with six straight games between Jan. 21 and Feb. 5.