Crookston Pirate Girls Hockey 2012-2013 Season Preview:

Updated: Thrusday 11-15-12 8:49am (CT)

     By: Chris Awender

Following the departure of the four seniors from the 2011-2012 season the Pirates look at an interesting year this year competing in the Greater Minnesota Conference and Section 8A Conference in the Minnesota State High School League.

The preseason talk has been the talk of who is going to be playing goaltender for the Crookston Pirates this year? With the departure of senior goaltender Rachel Biermaier the Pirate coaches have been scratching their heads figuring out who with be the starting goaltender for the Pirates. The Pirates have three goaltenders coming into this year- Erica Allrich (Jr.), Lexi Cormican (8^th grader), and Sidney Erickson (Jr.) will be fighting for starting spot between the pipes.

Last season the Pirates had some tough games against some non-Section 8A and Section 8A teams which include the Bemidji Lumberjacks (4-3W, 6-0L), Moorhead Spuds (4-3L), East Grand Forks Greenwave (4-3W, 6-5L), and Thief River Falls Prowlers (7-0L, 9-4L). The Pirates look at the 2012-2013 season to bounce back and show these teams what the 2012-2013 Pirate hockey team is going to be like with the return of key players Natash Skala (Sr., Defense), Brianna Breiland (Sr., Forward), Amber Trostad (Jr., Forward), Mariette Geist (Fr., Forward), and Sabrina Delorme (Fr., Forward).

While the Pirates offense was powerful last season, averaging 3.64 goals on 15.1 shots a game. The Pirates look at the 2012-2013 season to get better and get these stats going in a better direction.

Despite advancing to the ninth Section 8A playoff hockey tournament in Pirate history the Pirates fell to the eventual Section A State Champions the Warroad Warriors 7-2 to complete the 2011-2012 season.

With Sixteen players returning for the Pirates and key players coming back Brianna Breiland (Sr., Forward) with 60 points, 46 goals, and 14 assists, Natasha Skala (Sr., Defense) with 18 points, 8 goals, and 14 assists, Amber Trostad (Jr., Forward) with 12 points, 6 goals, and 6 assists, Mariette Geist (Fr., Forward) with 12 points, 5 goals, and 7 assists, Sabrina Delorme (Fr., Forward) 10 points, 2 goals, and 8 assists, and a record of 13-12 last year, the Pirates are looking at bouncing back and keep the winning tradition going on in Crookston.

The Pirates are a young team but are looking to compete against any of the teams in Section 8A and also in the Greater Minnesota Conference in the 2012-2013 season.

The Pirates will be playing 9 Section 8A game, 7 Nonconference games, and 15 Greater Minnesota Conference games. The Pirates will play Warroad, East Grand Forks, Thief River Falls, Lake of the Woods, and Park Rapids for Sections games. Brainerd/Little Falls, White Bear Lake, Eveleth/Gilbert, Fergus Falls, Proctor/Hermantown, Hibbing, and Fargo North in nonconference games. Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Detroit Lakes, Lake of the Woods, Moorhead, Roseau, Thief River Falls, and Warroad in the Greater Minnesota Conference games.

The Pirates will have their first game of the regular season on the road at Brainerd/Little Falls on Friday, November 16,2012 and then come home to open the regular season at home against White Bear Lake on Saturday, November 17, 2012. The Pirates will open up Section 8A and Greater Minnesota Conference play on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at Thief River Falls at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.