alexandriacardinals

Sticking with a tried and true methodology, always lead a blog posting with girl hockey players!  We’re still stuck inside.  Just heard from a fellow member of the Fat Boys Walking Club that he will not be walking again tomorrow – he said the roads out of his association are solid ice.  So, just stay home and blog.  Oh, we heard from Dave Harris, Voice of the Cardinals, that the final score of the boys’ hockey game was 5 – 4.  Thanks, Dave.  That’s 3 different scores from 3 different sources – at least they all agreed that we won!  😉

FOB’s (Friends of the Blog) will recognize our celebrity guests above.  Always two of our favorites, because they were just fun, Sara and Andrea Toft in 2006.  On their 18th birthday, they were the stars of the . . . well, the by-line follows.  😉

[Super Fans, the supervisor and Vivian Annen join in.]

[This was at their high school graduation party.  They have long since graduated from Augsberg, where they continued their hockey careers.]

Editor’s note:  This blog has only been in existence for two years.  The Class of ’65’s, however, goes back to 2004.  If you should be so inclined, I was a contributing columnist back then on Cardinal sports at www.65roundup.blogspot.com.  I borrowed the one published there on February 17, 2006, about the Greatest Hockey Game Ever Played, because the Toft sisters were the stars:

What a night! or how the cub reporter learned, at the age of 58, he can still jump (though, granted, not very high).

By Tom Obert
Cub Columnist

Approximately half way through the SECOND overtime last night, Sara Toft, who with twin sister Andrea was also celebrating her 18th birthday, scored the winning goal to beat Totino-Grace, 3 – 2, to win the section 2, class A, girls hockey championship at the MAC in St. Cloud. The Cardinals will now make their 3rd consecutive appearance in the state tournament at the Xcel Center next weekend (I believe their games will be Friday and Saturday).

[The supervisor cheering the winning goal!]

The setup: All week long, Cardinal sports announcer Dave Harris had been creating unnecessary angst for cub reporter-in-training Bob Annen by telling him Totino was awesome. They had two college division 1 prospects – a tall, fast center who proved to be every bit as good as advertised, and a defenseman who appeared to be about 6’9″ and who never came off the ice. Of course, all this fed the pre-conceived notions of we outstate Minnesotans that the camel-hair coat, cashmere sweater metro-area private schools (description by the cub reporter-in-training and past Honeywell executive, though the cub reporter himself will admit to a similar bias) “employ” mercenaries on all their athletic teams against our home-grown, pinked-cheeked, apple pie and lemonade kids.

Nevertheless, the omens all week appeared to be good. Our girls basketball team won on a night the Alexandria Aces performed at halftime, the boys swimming and diving team completed an undefeated season with the conference championship, our boys basketball team beat Rocori (the No. 2 ranked team in the state) and won again Thursday, and our boys hockey team won at St. Cloud Tech (no minor accomplishment). This cub reporter felt good about our prospects.

On the advice of Mr. Harris, our caravan departed for the game wearing the same attire as had been worn for the semi-final game and with the idea of obtaining the same seats (which we did).

The moms told us before the game that the girls were very nervous – trying to get back to the state tournament for the 11 seniors with their best team. Probably because of that nervousness, they seemed very tight through most of the first period and were probably lucky to escape that period with a scoreless tie.

The pace picked up in the second period and Alex emerged with a 2 – 1 lead, with goals by Andrea Toft and Ashley Holmes, heading into the final period. The Cards maintained that lead well into the third period when they were hit with a “frivolous” (that isn’t the word we used at the time, but this is family friendly blog site) too many men on the ice penalty. Totino took advantage of that power play to score the tying goal. Nevertheless, throughout the game and the two overtime periods, sophomore Danielle Justice was spectacular in goal.

The first overtime, and then the second, exhausted players and spectators alike. When Sara finally scored the winning goal, bedlam broke out on the ice and in the stands. The cub reporter, in a total failure at maintaining professional dignity, found himself jumping up and down with and hugging classmate Bud Bruzek, and high-fiving parents all around. The girls on the ice collapsed in the corner in a pile of jubilation and tears. The cub reporter regrouped to try to capture as much of this as he could on film.

We returned to Alex driven by the cub reporter-in-training, who initially thought it would be a grand idea (well, all of us did), to follow the Alex buses home. The buses got lost somewhere in a St. Cloud subdivision, but we eventually found our way home by midnight. The cub reporter and Ruthie were dropped at Mom Obert’s to pick up their car where we discovered the following note stuck on the windshield by Mom: “What a game! Go Cardinals!  I guess the refs were terrible, but WE WON!” Apparently Mr. Harris was expressing some exasperation about the officiating over the air (probably something to do with our paranoia over metro-area favoritism). Abby William’s mom told us during the game that she was going to write a letter to someone in authority – she was quite upset that Abby was tripped, tackled, and otherwise maimed throughout the game without any penalties being called. But . . . we won and will move on.

Photos: Right after winning the game – Ruthie, in spite of her Hoosier basketball genes, has become quite the fan, and with Vivian, does all the cheers and belts out the Cardinal fight song; in the photo above, Sara (19) and Andrea (44) Toft, on their 18th birthday, talk with Echo Press photographer Arlan Anderson – in the background, Dave Harris (in red) is interviewing Coach Mitch Loch.

[Brittney Bruzek was also a main cog of that 2006 team – and her dad, Bud, just happens to be a fellow Alex Class of 65er!  🙂 ]

[Alums from the 2006 team, including the sisters Toft, returned for a game the following fall.  If only they would learn to have fun?]

[To the best of my knowledge, our hockey team did not have anything to do with the supervisor’s photo op with Boog Powell.  😉 ]

Also from the archives, hard to believe it’s already 5 years ago, a letter published in the Echo Press:

March 2, 2008

Dear Alexandria girls’ hockey team:

It’s really hard to write this without being maudlin.  I hate maudlin.  OK, it’s going to be maudlin. 

[Del and Abby, always a favorite photo.  They played on the same line together from the time they were in diapers.]

[In the championship year, Michelle Anez, two years their younger joined their line.  We’ll always remember a game in Fergus that year where an Otter fan harrumphed, “Well, you should win, you have the best line in the state!”  🙂 ]

On behalf of all the Super Fans, Ruthie & I congratulate you for your state championship season.  Of course, we always knew you could do it!  And we especially congratulate the seven seniors who led the team to five straight state tournament appearances – you were responsible for (yes, it’s all your fault!) growing the Super Fan base from a total of one five years ago to now over 20, with the additional distinction of having “snow bird” fans schedule their winter vacations to not conflict with the team’s schedule.

[The supervisor leads me into the RCC.]

We began following most of you when you were 8^th-graders.  We were attracted by the obvious joy and zeal you brought to the playing the game – the fun was evident even through the cages you wear over your heads.  We enjoyed following you through the fun bunch years – led by your upper class mentors, such as Brittney Bruzek; Ahna Olson; the Toft sisters, Alison, Andrea, and Sara; Ashley Weisel; Danielle Manthei; and, of course, Courtney Walsh (we all grieved with the team over her tragic death).  You all seemed to really enjoy playing with each other.  We were hooked!

[Michelle Anez, Ally Nielsen, Kat DelZoppo, Ashley Holmes, Abby Nelson, Stacey Paulzine, and an old guy]

After one game way back then, we chuckled as we watched you girls (not that there’s anything wrong with being a girl) look on in awe, from outside their circle, at your upper class teammates, then young women, as they chatted about whatever young women chat about.  We called Ahna “Mom,” because before the opening face-off of every game, Abby and Del would skate back to her defense position, look straight up (for Ahna was about a head taller) as if seeking final pre-game advice from their on-ice mother.  We laughed when Brittney would go into a corner to scrap for the puck, while Abby and Del would stand patiently outside the scrum waiting, like cats for a mouse, for it to pop out. Those teams were the foundation of this year’s state championship team.

The Super Fans have also received a degree of notoriety from the team’s excellence, and, of course, it has tickled us no end.  Many times complete strangers come up to us and ask if we are the Super Fans – and I, for one, was totally taken aback when it happened in Kuala Lumpur! 

Now you have created a legacy – and a participatory interest that already appears to be producing significant fruit at the junior high level.  So, to Abby Williams, Abby Nelson, Ashley Holmes, Caitlin Murphy, Danielle Justice, Kathryn DelZoppo, and Nikki Ecklund, you have been wonderful ambassadors for your school, and for your community.  We will miss you next year but wish you well as you move on to the next stage of your young lives.  And we thank you for introducing us to the sport of girls’ hockey – we will continue to be fans.

[Back, l-r: Abby Nelson, Caitlin Murphy, Kathryn DelZoppo, Danielle Justice.  Front, l-r: Abby Williams, Ashley Holmes, Nikki Ecklund]

Oh, and don’t worry about your moms when you go off to college next year.  They, and some moms from other sports who are also about to become empty nesters, have requested enrollment into the Super Fan contingency for next season.  Of course, all are welcome – and we’ll take good care of them.  They should just be aware, however, that they would significantly lower the average age of the group.

Sincerely,  Tom & Ruthie (the editor) Obert, Super Fans

[p.s.  Congratulations to Abby Nelson!  According to Friday’s Echo Press, she is engaged to be married.  We wish her all the best.]

[Sara and Andrea had graduated by then – but they helped set the table!]

[Certain Easterners in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, skate in a different century.]

It’s the next day.  Schools are closed today.  The icy rain continued all night and into the day.  I didn’t go out last night.  I heard from a fellow Super Fan – he was going to go to the hockey game, stepped outside at 6:45, and stepped back inside.  Next door neighbor, Dangerous Dan, just back from a month in a half in California, is waiting for his caretaker to come with 200 pounds of salt so he can negotiate his hilly driveway.

Here’s what I know (this won’t take long).  Our Cardinals won the hockey game last night, handing Tech its first conference loss.  The StarTribune reported the score as 4 – 3 – even gave period-by-period scoring and listed the saves.  An eyewitness to the game reported the score as 5 – 1?  Well, a win is a win. 😉  I don’t know if Fiddlin’ Sami was able to perform at SAWA last night?

So, regarding the above photos.  Our 2006-2007 hockey team.  We took them to dinner at the Pizza Ranch – probably in violation of a dozen NCAA rules.  Danielle was the Roadblock goalie, Abby was the leading scorer.  They are all growed [sic] up now and can legally drink adult beverages.  Makes me feel older than I am (if that’s possible).  We heard from Roadblock’s mom this morning about being featured in the blog yesterday – I told her today Danielle would be leading us off.  Beth Rindy, standing 3rd from the left, is a junior at Bemidji State, was home for the Cardinals game on Tuesday.

[“The Hoodie” was relief from a bad hair day?]

[No matter how much he denies it, Harris was reponsible for “Little Darlings!”  😉 ]

[If these photos seem randomly placed, it’s because they are.  I just plucked them from four old flash drives in no particular order.  Who wants to work hard enough to organize them?  Anyway, Aunt Mary Kay (a/k/a, Mookie) and The Biddies share a laugh in Mookie’s front yard in Desert Mountain, Arizona, 2009.]

[Rules for Life.  (Somewhere, in Texas, in the rain, 2009.)]

[The Biddies in a Texas cave, 2009.  They look good in the dark, but don’t tell them I said that!]

[We settled out of court.  Apparently I was the first one to ever set off every light in the chair, which caused a circuit overload, which caused a brush fire . . . well, it got ugly, but at least there were no injuries.]

[This was from 2006.  The woman on the right is nationally-known for being the daughter of the woman who taught “Weakie’s” kids in Wayzata.]

[Now we’re in 2010.  Ruthie’s younger sister, Faith, was getting married in Terre Haute.  I obviously thought this platter was a highlight of the day?]

[Our sister-in-law Carolyn at the wedding.  She’s a pistol!]

[Well, as long as we were in Terre Haute.]

[A new brew pub in Rita’s hometown of Nashville, Indiana.]

[The supervisor and I had to check the place out.]

[Hey, how ’bout another family wedding?  It’s 2007 and we’re in Stafford, Virginia, home of brother Chris and sister-in-law Janet.  Their daughter, a/k/a, our niece, Jessica, was getting married.  It was a hot today (see the photo at the top of the previous post – it was 100 degrees at their place).  They live on the Potomac River, and Chris took us for a ride in his Boston Whaler.  Sister Gretchen is his co-pilot here.]

[They live on the West side of the river – on the other side (a long way across), the Eastern shore is a haven for bald eagles.  Chris is trying to spot some.  Brother Cam’s right foot makes a cameo appearance in the right foreground.]

[The family Obert, last all seen together on the 1964 Christmas letter photo!]

[Father of the bride with his daughter.  And why “beautiful bride” is redundant.]

[Dum, dum, da dum.]

[Mom and Dad.]

[Son dancing with mom, daughter dancing with dad.]

[I always find the idea of marriage so traumatizing that when I got back home I was eaten by a tree within a week!]

Next up, part III?

This is an unplanned column.  Because we did not plan on being home tonight.  This is Alexandria.  There is much to do, out and about, every night.  We had hoped to go to the boys’ hockey game against St. Cloud Tech tonight.  Tech is undefeated in the conference, the Cards are in 2nd place – all the makings of a great game!  Then after the game we were going to SAWA to see the “comeback” of Sami Steidl.  Sami is the viola wunderkind who went off to the University of Colorado two years ago on a music scholarship only to discover the pain in her bowing arm and wrist was rheumatoid arthritis.  That has basically put her on the injured reserve for the last couple years.  She is undergoing treatments and is currently doing well enough to play occasionally.  I hope I got all that right?

So, why are we staying home?  Because it was 40 degrees today – on January 10th, for Pete’s sake!  What little snow we had has been reduced, and melted off the roof.  By dusk, 40 had dropped to 35 . . . with freezing rain!  Cars do not do well in freezing rain – neither do people in their 60’s trying to walk in it.  This is the awful winter weather that previously annoyed the Rust Belt all the way to D.C. (where I hated it for 30 years) – but now it’s moved north with climate change.  January 10th used to mean below zero temperatures here – you can do stuff when it’s below zero, you can’t do stuff in freezing rain.  The supervisor and I love to keep an eye on the temperatures reported in Pickle Lake, Ontario – and dream of winters as they used to be.

In the absence of otherwise being distracted, a potpourri.  For as as wise woman once said, those who can’t do, write; and those who can’t write, write even more!

[To sate our desire for snow, not that long ago at Rita’s (of Biddy fame) home, with her daughter Beth on the right and the supervisor on the left.  Her home is in Nashville, Indiana.  That’s 60 miles south of Indianapolis.  And there was snow there – lots of it!]

[This is in Bloomington, Indiana.  Home of Indiana University, where both Rita and the supervisor, and Joshua Bell, matriculated.  This is the Subway where Jared noshed – before he went on to become national spokesman for the chain.]

[A crack 2007 staff photographer for the blog and contributing columnist to Definitive Woman magazine , a/k/a, Roadblock’s mom.]

[If you have ever wondered why the Super Fans love it when our teams make a state tournament!  Also 2007 at Vescio’s in Dinkytown.  🙂 ]

[This was 2009.  I was returning to the scene of what I generally consider to be my all-time favorite meal.  Now who doesn’t have a favorite meal?  😉  This is downtown Portland, Oregon.  The restaurant in the background is Jake’s.  Several years before Basketball Dan and I were on one of our famous tour the country adventures, and we stopped at Jake’s for dinner.  I had a three salmon entree’ – a white salmon, a pink salmon, and a red salmon.  It was . . . spectacular.  Mmmmmm.]

[Also in Portland, 2009.  Jake’s was not open for lunch.  We opted for a place with a view.]

[The Biddies walk the beach in San Diego, still the 2009 trip.  We were there visiting Rita’s aforementioned daughter, Beth, and her husband, Chris, a/k/a, our niece and nephew.  The woman in the right foreground was there merely to provide perspective.]

[Chris drove us around San Diego in his Mini-Cooper convertible.  The Biddies liked it!]

[To be honest, I think we were looking for the nude beach.  It would have been a good place for one, because it was death defying to get down there!  😉 ]

[San Diego’s Cabrillo National Monument, famous in song and legend!]

[2004, you know it, you love it!]

[I was able to overcome objections from the supervisor in 2004, but I was determined to be one of the 42 people in the United States who could say they visited the capitol of South Dakota!]

[Some guys carved on a rock, 2004.]

[I think it’s famous!  Apparently you had to shave before you could enter.]

[If I may be so bold, a must to be at the top of anyone’s Bucket List!  This was my 2nd trip there.  The first time, in the 80’s, I remember just driving along and all of a sudden it just appeared.  That first ever sighting takes your breath away!]

[Condors in the Canyon.  It is indeed Grand.]

[Awesome]

[Awesome?  😉 ]

[A great place to just sit and contemplate your navel.]

[The supervisor is not exactly “looking over” the railing.]

[Tourists]

[Definitely tourists!]

[As I recall, I did not even venture out onto that precipice.  Are you people nuts?]

[I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now . . .]

[Adios, Grand!]

[Sedona.  Yup, Sedona.]

[The Biddies in Death Valley.  I have to admit to never being in a hurry to visit here – one of my last on the Western natural wonders list.  I was wrong.  The place is incredible . . . and I have to go back.  A reminder to always have back-up camera batteries.  On our 2nd day, before we left our lodging, I noticed my camera batteries needed re-charging.  We couldn’t wait – we would just use Rita’s camera for the day.  We went back up into the side canyons, and I know I got some marvelous photos.  Then the next day we lost Rita’s camera.  😦  Now I have to go back and re-create those shots!]

More stuff tomorrow.  It appears freezing rain will be afflicting us then again.

Just straight game reporting – whatta concept!  It seemed like it had been a long time since last we ventured into the RCC.  Our illness had caused us to miss last week’s game against Fergus.  In fact, this disease thing has been going around the country and the state for the last month or so – to the extent that the first question we ask hockey moms is, “Is everybody healthy?”  In this game, we noticed Taylor Ellingson seemed a little off her game.  Highly placed sources confirmed what we thought, Taylor was playing under the influence of . . . influenza, or a noroviris infection, or gastroenteritis – all of the wonderful little bugs that have been making life miserable around here lately.  But Taylor was a trooper and battled on.

River Lakes is another one of the those combination schools – around 7 of them in the Cold Spring area.  So, they are a class AA school (as are 4 of the 7 teams in our girls’ hockey conference*).  They have been a tough team for us over the years, playing a very physical style.  When we played them earlier at their place, we took a 4 – 1 lead into the 3rd period but they scored 3 goals in that period for a tie game.  Going into this game, we were in 2nd place in the conference and they were in 3rd.

[*Regarding the conference, only Alex, Fergus, and Willmar are “solo” schools for girls’ hockey and are the only class A (smaller size) teams.  In the “State of Hockey,” it’s interesting that there are only 121 girls’ hockey teams, while there are 445 girls’ basketball teams.  A lot of schools have to combine for hockey, because of the greater individual expense to play the sport and the need to have more players (than basketball) to field a team.]

[Lauren Niska (21), freshman defense, above and below.  Since I found out she is an alum of Victoria Heights, I have to admit to a certain bias on her behalf.  😉  At some point late in the game, she fired off a slap shot – and Robo, amazed, said, “And she’s just an 8th-grader, right?”  Nope, a freshman (ha!), but I have to note that McKenzie Revering, the 8th-grader, also has a slap shot that would rearrange the furniture in your living room.]

[Taylor (24) in warm-ups – we weren’t yet aware that she wasn’t feeling good.]

[Becca (37)]

[I seem to have pretty good luck capturing Taylor in stride.]

[ . . . and stick handling.]

[Ms. Niska again.  If I (could) put my feet that way, I would topple over – either forward or backward, depending on the direction of the wind.]

[Shanee’ (40), the occasional loneliness of captaincy.]

[Shelby (38) checks in with the boss.]

[Mitch Loch, the state champion coach.]

[Talkin’ old times with Vinnie, the rink manager.]

[Vinnie . . . still hoping for that 3rd sheet of ice?]

[Bring ’em out, bring ’em out, bring ’em out . . .]

[Bailey (35) and Amy (33) discussing something possibly only goalies could understand.  Probably something like, “So, do you wanna go skydiving tomorrow?”]

[Becca, the old pro, with freshmen Katie Bowen (26) and Mari Wosepka (18)]

[Shelby, another old pro.  😉 ]

[Hanah]

[OK, ladies, let’s talk fine dining . . .]

[I’m really not into a Blizzard tonight . . .]

[Pizza then? . . .]

[The Ranch or Angelina’s? . . .]

[I don’t care – I just don’t want chicken on a pizza!  Eeee-yew!]

[Two old pros.]

[Let me introduce you . . .]

[Her mom’s making a poster.]

[The starters are 4 old pros – and the 8th grader and a freshman on the end.]

[Let’s play hockey!!!!  Shelby centering Anna and Becca.  The team went on to play a really solid game against a pretty good opponent.]

[Into the offensive zone immediately . . .]

[And Becca scored before my buns even had a chance to warm my seat cushion! 🙂 ]

[And what could be more fun than celebrating a goal?]

[Then skate single file past the bench for the fist bump.]

[Shanee’ and Shelby have done this a few times.]

[Taylor’s line with Melissa and Madi.]

[Here come the Stars.]

[Chase ’em down, Redbirds!]

[Lauren protects her goalie.  I think Amy had her best game!  😉 ]

[Madi and Taylor in the Stars’ zone.]

[Cards storm the net.]

[Mel goes after it.  The Cards had many good chances early on – credit the Stars’ goalie.]

[Anna ready for a face-off in the zone.]

[Nicole, Lauren, and Madi.]

[Always keep your stick on the ice . . .]

[The Stars finally got out of their end.]

[But the Cards broke out again . . .]

[And, as usually happens, after lots of close in pressure, the Cards scored on a beautiful long shot by Shelby over the goalie’s right shoulder.   Cards up 2 – 0.]

[Really?  You don’t like chicken on pizza?]

[Gimme pepperoni!!!]

[Young Ms. Revering (29), now a grizzled veteran of several games.]

[C’mon, c’mon, pull one back to me and I’ll launch it!]

[Shanee’ appropriately framed by the Echo Press, without which I never would have been an Alexandrian.]

[End of 1 and we’re lookin’ good!]

[I started the 2nd period with a video.  When I got home, I discovered it began by initially focusing on “Weakie’s” hat, so the whole thing was out of focus.  Just as well – they got their only goal during that time.  We had a mid-ice turnover and they came in on a 2-on-0 or a 3-on-1, depending on how you’re keeping score at home.]

[Madi and Nicole.  Attack, attack, attack!]

[Madi’s at the front door!]

[Come to me, puck!]

[Swarm, ladies, swarm!]

[And now we’re swarming again in the 3rd period.  The 2nd period ended with us up 2 – 1, too close considering we were dominating.]

[Then Shanee’ scored on a rush from her defensive position.  We’re back up by 2!  🙂  ]

[Way to go, Shanee’!]

[Fist bumps!]

[Then Shelby capped off a terrific 2-goal game by blowing by all defenders and soloed in on the goalie.   🙂 ]

[Yay, Shelby!]

[Victory is ours.]

Next Week:  If you are the least bit interested in hockey, you should spend a lot of time at the RCC next week!  Three home games – and all biggies!  Tuesday night is a re-match with Brainerd-Little Falls (5:00 start!).  The Flying Warriors gave us our only conference blemish this year – it’s also still their only conference win?  Go figure?  Thursday night is a re-match with Sartell-Sauk Rapids (SSR) – the conference leaders with an undefeated record.  We tied them 2 – 2 at their place, so this game likely will decide the conference championship!  And Saturday night, it looks like we jump out of the frying pan and into the fire, again.  Another Metro-area school comes to town with a very impressive record.  North Wright County is in 1st place in the Mississippi 8 conference and has beaten SRR (7 – 0!), Roseau and So. St. Paul (perennial girls’ hockey powerhouses), St. Cloud, Centennial, among others . . . in other words, they’ve been quite good so far.  So, fasten your seat belt, turn off all electronic devices, do not wander in the aisles, and get ready for a fun week!  Oh, and if you’re not doing anything next Friday night, the girls’ basketball team is hosting the undefeated and No. 1-ranked Fergus Falls Otters (and if the refs foul Amanda out of this game, I’m filing a complaint with the NTSB, OSHA, and the Better Business Bureau!)  – but before the game, go to the girls’ hockey fundraiser at the Eagles from 5 – 8:00!  🙂