Yesterday, our Minnesota Golden Gophers inexplicably won a football game. I can only assume the supervisor’s placement of maroon and gold mums at our front door had everything to do with it. It even warranted a missive from Crazy Dave, already safely ensconced in Sarasota:
I watched the game on the Big Ten Network and it felt like the Super Bowl. They looked terrific. Now I have to watch the Buckeyes vs Wisconsin. It would be great if we won that one but I doubt it. Tonight I’m proud to be a Gopher. ~ Crazy Dave
Unfortunately, our Alexandria Cardinals were not similarly blessed – I guess we should have replaced the maroon and gold mums with red and black ones. Nevertheless, the Cards finished the season on a real uptick – their 25-20 loss yesterday to the section’s top seed, Rocori, at their place, saw four touchdowns scored, three by the Cards, in the last 9 minutes of the game. The volleyball team lost 3-0 in the sections at Bemidji – but all three games were close, with the last game going to 30-28 showing the Cards battled to the end. So now we look forward to the commencement of the hockey and basketball seasons – well, after the state cross-country meet in Northfield next Saturday. Hmmm, we have to be in the Cities anyway for Basketball Dan’s turkeyfest . . . but, of course, our first snow is also forecast for then, and it’s suppose to involve shoveling! Last year we were snowed out of turkeyfest and had to rush home a day early from Bemidji where we were watching Abby Williams’s Bemidji State Beavers host Ashley Holmes’s North Dakota Sioux.
But first, those of you who are delightedly on my e-mail list know I have a serious addiction to November sunrises – I sit by the window in the dark, in my rocking chair and shawl, camera in hand, awaiting those first rays of morning light. OK, I started a little before November this year:
Then I checked out the neighbor’s, Jo and Arnie, Norwegian red maple. Every year it is almost luminescent:
But those are just a tease. Terry Lang, an Alexandrian until 1960 and a professional photographer, submitted the following from his home Seattle area for your appreciation:
Girls’ hockey starts next week with an all-day scrimmage at the RCC. So, we decided to check in on some of our alums, whose college seasons have already begun. The stories and photos are on loan from their respective team websites.
Ashley Holmes had her best game ever for the Sioux this week – 3 assists!
 2010-11 (Junior): Served as the president of UND’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee … Played in all 36 games … Recorded one assist on the season … Had six penalties for 23 minutes … Had 21 shots on goal … Had at least one shot on goal in 21 games … Averaged 0.58 shots per game and 0.03 points per game … Earned her third letter.2009-10 (Sophomore): WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award recipient … Played in 30 games … Scored five points from one goal (career high) and four assists … Scored her first collegiate goal in a 7-2 win at Ohio State (2/6/10) … Recorded her second career and a season high 2-point game against Maine (11/27/10) … Recorded seven penalties for 14 minutes … Had 17 shots on goal … Averaged 0.57 shots per game, 0.03 goals per game, 0.13 assists per game and 0.17 points per game … Earned her second letter.2008-09 (Freshman): Played in all 36 games … Tallied six assists (career high) on the year for six points (career high) … Her six assists were good for third on the squad from defensemen … Had her first 2-point game against Minnesota State on Oct. 18 … Scored her first collegiate goal at Ohio State (2/26/10) and first assist (10/4/08) … Had 22 shots on goal … Racked up only three penalties for six minutes … Earned her first letter.Before UND:A 2008 graduate of Jefferson High School in Alexandria, Minn. … Lettered five times in hockey as a prep and was a Minnesota Ms. Hockey finalist as a senior … Led Jefferson High School to a state championship in 2007-08 and earned all-state, all-conference and state all-tournament team honors … Scored 14 goals and 31 assists and was a +71 in 31 games as a senior … Received the Herb Brooks Award … Served as team captain … Named to the U.S. Under-18 Team in 2006-07 … Also earned all-state and all-conference honors as a junior … Was an all-conference pick and an all-state honorable mention as a sophomore … Also lettered three times in softball and was a two-time all-conference performer … Member of the National Honor Society.Personal: Majoring in biology/pre-health … Daughter of Ryan and Jodie Houfburg and Joe and Tracy Holmes.
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GRAND FORKS, N.D. — The University of North Dakota women’s hockey team is starting to roll on all cylinders as it completed the series sweep over the Ohio State Buckeyes tonight with a 7-1 decision at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
With a special presentation today during the first intermission honoring members of previous Fighting Sioux (5-3-0, 2-2-0-0 WCHA) women’s hockey team that are celebrating their 10th anniversary this season, the Sioux put on a show this weekend outscoring the Buckeyes (3-2-1, 3-2-1-1) 18-2 on the weekend.
It is the most goals UND has scored in a series in its history, breaking the previous record that was set last weekend against Vermont (13).
The Fighting Sioux returned a majority of its nucleus of key players this season after disappointing finish to last season, although skating to a 20-13-3 record, which is its best season. But starting the season against the two teams that were in the national championship game last year, head coach Brian Idalski knew they would need some time to gel with some highly skilled newcomers.
After a start to the season where they had shown some signs of brilliance and others of growing pains, the Sioux were looking to put back-to-back games together which they had failed to do to this point in the season.
The Buckeyes entered the weekend in sole position of first place in the WCHA and the Sioux were looking to make a statement after starting the season 0-2 after getting swept by defending national champion Wisconsin.
Tonight, line mates Monique Lamoureux-Kolls (Grand Forks, N.D.), Jocelyne Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) and Michelle Karvinen (Rodovre, Denmark) combined to score all of UND’s seven goals.
Laura McIntosh put the Buckeye’s on the scoreboard first as she scored both of OSU’s goals on the weekend, but it was all UND after game-opening goal at 5:49.
The lead would be short lived as Lamoureux-Kolls scored the first of her hat-trick performance to tie the game at 8:51 in the first period. She would add the game-winner under three minutes later on the power play and nearly had a natural hat trick in the period but OSU netminder Chelsea Knapp successfully stopped her on a breakaway attempt.
Karvinen would close out the first period’s scoring with a goal at 18:12 and open the second period’s scoring with a power-play goal at 14:22. She added an assist in the game and finished the weekend with five goals and two assists.
Lamoureux would score both of the game’s final goals in the third period at 5:32 and 14:34 as the three line mates combined for 12 points tonight and 25 on the weekend.
Senior defenseman Ashley Holmes (Miltona, Minn.) had a career night with three assists and senior Alyssa Wiebe (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) added one assist to move within two points of becoming the first UND player to reach the century club (all 100 points with UND.).
The Sioux went 3-for-6 on the power play and have now converted multiple power-play goals in their last five games. They are 12-for-26 (.462) in those games after starting the year 1-for-17 (.059) in UND’s first three games.
Lamoureux-Kolls’ in back-to-back nights tied the school record with 5-point games helping the Sioux tie a school record of a four-game unbeaten streak at home.
The Sioux face another tough test early in the 2011-12 campaign next weekend as the head back on the road to take on WCHA rival Minnesota Duluth.
As a U of M alum, it pains me that Abby Williams was credited by her coach as the reason the Beavers were able to defeat the 2nd-ranked Gophers this weekend. OK, Abby still gets Super Fan priority! 😉
2010-11 (Redshirt-Sophomore)
• Academic All-WCHA
• WCHA Scholar Athlete
Played in all 35 games for BSU scoring two goals…first goal as a Beaver came on Feb. 4, 2011 against then-No. 1 Wisconsin…scored on Feb. 18, 2011 at Ohio State…had a total of 43 shots on goal…saw extensive time on the penalty-kill unit for the Beavers.
2009-10 (Sophomore)
Red-shirted for the season after transferring from Minnesota State.
2008-09 (Freshman at MSU)
Tallied an assist in a 3-3 tie, shootout loss to the Huskies on Feb. 6…had her first collegiate assist in a shootout loss to Ohio State (Dec. 13). Scored her first collegiate goal Nov. 30…played in every game last season and had four points (2G, 2A) on the season.
Prior to BSU
Led her high school team, conference and section in scoring with 42 goals and 38 assists her senior season, leading the cardinals to a Class A State Championship and setting the school’s record for wins in a season 27…Led the team in scoring her fresman (62 points) and sophomore (68 points) years…Tallied 365 varsity points in her high school career (187 goals and 178 assists)…during her high school career she led the team to a state championship, five section championships and three conference championships…was named to the to the state all-tournament team, all conference team five times, all-state her senior and junior year, all-state honorable mention her sophomore and freshman seasons…was a Herb Brooks Award Winner her junior year…named Team MVP five times and team captain her junior and senior seasons…received the EXCEL Award and Spotlight on Academics Award…is a member of the National Honor Society.
Personal
Abby Elizabeth Williams…born Jul. 21, 1989…daughter of Jim and Martha Williams…majoring in spanish education.
BEMIDJI, Minn. (Sanford Center) — Senior Zuzana Tomcikova (G, Bratislava, Slovakia) turned away 41 of 42 shots to lead the Bemidji State University women’s hockey team to a 2-1 victory over No. 2 University of Minnesota Saturday in a “Pink the Rink” game at Sanford Center. BSU got goals from Rachael Kelly (Fr., F, Rosemount, Minn.) and Sadie Lundquist (Jr., F, Cloquet, Minn.). Bemidji State improves to 6-2-2 (3-2-1-1 WCHA). Minnesota falls to 9-2-0 (6-2-0). No. 1 Wisconsin, the defending National Champion, is the only other team to defeat the Golden Gophers this season.
The victory marks the fourth time BSU has ever beaten the University of Minnesota and the third time BSU has beaten the Golden Gophers under head coach Steve Sertich. Saturday’s win is the third time BSU has picked up a victory over top five opponent under Sertich. All three victories have come within the last two years as BSU defeated No. 1 Mercyhurst College and No. 3 University of Minnesota Duluth last season.
“I don’t care where you play them or when you play them, we just found a way to win,” Sertich said. “It was truly a team effort. You have to look at Zuzana Tomcikova first of all. She made some amazing saves to keep us in the game. It was a great effort all around.
BSU got on the scoreboard first as freshmen Kristin Huber (F, Kelowna, British Columbia) and Kelly made the connection with Kelly netting her fourth goal of her young career. The assist was the third of the season for Huber. Huber played the puck off the boards to Kelly who put it past Minnesota goaltender Noora Raty.
The Beavers entered intermission with a 1-0 lead marking the first time a team has shut out the Golden Gophers in two periods during the season.
BSU added to their lead when Lundquist tallied BSU’s 13th power-play goal of the season off assists from Erika Wheelhouse (Jr., D, Crookston, Minn.) and Emily Erickson (R-Jr., F, Coleraine, Minn.). Wheelhouse originally shot the puck toward the net where Lundquist got a piece of it and put it past Raty. BSU came into the weekend ranked No. 3 in the nation for power play. The Beavers are 13-for-39 this season on the power play for 33.3 percent. The goal ties Lundquist with Erickson for the team lead in goals with six. Lundquist leads the team with 16 points on the season. The assist was Wheelhouse’s seventh of the season and Erickson’s ninth of the year.
The Beavers were able to stave off Minnesota again in the second period as they headed into the third period with a shutout, marking the third period the Beavers had held the Golden Gophers scoreless in the series.
Minnesota turned the pressure on in the third period as they out shot Bemidji State 19-2 and put Tomcikova’s skills to the test. Tomcikova continued to make great save after great save but finally allowed a shot past her at the 16:51 mark of the third period. Emily West tallied the goal for Minnesota off assists from Kelly Terry and Rachael Bona.
The Golden Gophers continued to keep it on full throttle until the final buzzer sounded signaling a BSU victory, 2-1 over their WCHA rivals.
The Beavers were led by five shots on goal from junior Mackenzie Thurston (F, Ottawa, Ontario). Kelly and Tess Dusik (So., F, Oak Bluff, Manitoba) each chipped in four shots.
Sertich changed up the lines Saturday, deciding to match-up the line of Abby Williams (R-Jr., F, Alexandria, Minn.), Lauren Williams (Sr., F, Eagan, Minn.) and Kristi King (So., F, Stillwater, Minn.) against the Golden Gophers top line of Amanda Kessel, Jen Schoullis and Sarah Erickson. Minnesota’s top line was responsible for all four goals for the Golden Gophers Friday night. The line, which has dubbed themselves as “the Smurf line” because of their diminutive stature, responded keeping the top line for the Gophers off the scoreboard.
“I thought the Abby Williams line did a great job against Schoullis, Kessel and Erickson,” Sertich said. “That is one of the best lines in college hockey right now and we shut them down.”
The win continues the hot start for Bemidji State as they now have 10 points and are currently fourth in the WCHA standings. BSU’s 6-2-2 record marks the most wins the team has had through 10 games since they started 6-4-0 in the second season of the program in 1999-00.
Tomcikova picks up the win in goal and is now one win away from tying Bre Dedrickson’s record for most wins.
Minnesota was paced by Bemidji-native Sarah Erickson’s seven shots on net. Noora Raty suffers the loss on the night after giving up two goals and making 25 saves.
The Beavers will look to gain further momentum in the WCHA as they head to Mankato, Minn. for a two-game series with Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Danielle Justice’s Gusties haven’t started the season yet. We’re looking for “Roadblock” to make a really good run at All-American this year!
And we’ll be following Angela Christianson with her new team this year.
#31 Angela Christianson
Position: Guard
Height: 6-0
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Alexandria, Minn.
High School: Jefferson
2010-11: Started three games for the Drake Bulldogs…averaged 8.0 points per game while playing 20.4 minutes per game…fourth among all Bulldogs with 3.8 rebounds per game…shot .889 (56-63) from the free throw line and .362 (51-141).
Prep: Four year starting guard for Jefferson who averaged 25 points per game during her senior season…earned three-straight Central Lakes Offensive Player of the Year awards, along with four-straight all-conference nods from 2006-10…named to the Associated Press all-state Second Team during the 2007-08 season, in addition to an honorable mention nod in 2008-09…earned all-state laurels again as a senior…also a four-year starter and four-year all-conference honoree for Jefferson’s volleyball team.
Personal: Born Feb. 7, 1992 in Alexandria, Minn…daughter of Gary and Jean Christianson…has one brother, Chris (22) and one sister, Amanda (14)…business studies major.
Finally, and I know this is the part you waited for, I said good-bye to my “jammies” this week. They gave me several decades of yeoman service. Like most guys (and sister-in-law, Rita, can verify this based on her experiences doing laundry here), I prefer my lower body under garments when they basically become elastic waistbands, and little else. I hope I never have to go to the hospital!
alexandriacardinals 
All you want for Christmas…………………………….????? Rita