In hockey, M.A. girls expand their notions of teamwork by joining with two local ‘rivals’

By Aaron Evans

Talon staff writer

The members of the Minnehaha Saints girls’ hockey team and their coach enjoy being a part of a team that comes from many different backgrounds. The Saints, a co-op team for three years, combining players from Minnehaha Academy, St. Agnes, and St. Croix Lutheran, will welcome a fresh group of players to this year’s team.

Junior left wing Jenn Bazzachini hopes that the seven new players will rebuild the team and make for a successful year.

“There are a lot of younger, new players and we’re hoping that this can rebuild the team and that we can have a successful year,” said Bazzachini. “I like how they all come from different schools and different backgrounds which creates a good atmosphere.”

Their coach shares the same feeling.

“My favorite part of coaching the Minnehaha Saints is getting the opportunity to bring different schools and different people with different backgrounds and being the leader of bringing the group together and meeting new people,” said Saints coach Evan Ziegler, who has coached the team for eight years.

The girls on the team all enjoy each other’s company and each have their own personal goals and goals as a team.

“Some of my personal goals are to work hard and have tons of fun on the ice and do what I love, skate,” said junior defender Sara Lind. “Some team goals are to beat St. Paul United, work together as a team and to just have tons of fun while we are at it.”

The coach of the Minnehaha Saints has his own goals for the season and for making the team the best that it can be.

“My goals are to help the girls get better, work on their goals and help them understand to get the best out of what they can do and what it takes to be the best team they can be,” said Ziegler.