Rainy River Community College has two national championships and a runner-up finish over the past three seasons in Division 2 of the ACHA.
As the favorite this weekend to win their third title in four years – the tournament’s been around only five years – the top-seeded Voyageurs (17-2-3) aren’t ready to call themselves a dynasty … yet.
“I’ll call it extremely fortunate,” RRCC head coach Evan Amdahl said when asked if he’s coaching a dynasty.
“I do have to give the girls a lot of credit,” he added, noting opponents give their best effort against RRCC night in and night out because they’re playing the best.
“We’re not cocky. We’re confident,” sophomore captain Kyla Thorne said.
“We definitely want it,” fellow sophomore captain Courtney Scholler added.
Out of the six teams heading to nationals, the Voyageurs have owned South Dakota State University (West No. 2 seed) and the University of Minnesota-Duluth (West No. 3 seed), finishing a combined 7-0 against the two schools this season. However, that’s where the familiarity ends in Kalamazoo, Mich.
“They’re from out east,” Amdahl joked when asked what he knows about Delaware, West Chester and the University of Connecticut. He had to look up West Chester, and noted legendary UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma and former Minnesota Viking Joe Senser are alumnus there. The Voyageurs also defeated Delaware 3-1 at nationals last year, but know very little about the three teams from the East Region. RRCC opens tournament play Friday against UConn, and has West Chester to compete with in its three-team pool. The top two teams advance from each pool into the semifinals.
“We have a lot of skill on this team for sure,” said Voyageurs sophomore Stevie-Lee Langford, who will play in her fourth national tournament (there are six years of eligibility in Division 2 of the ACHA). “We definitely have a big chance to win.”
Langford, a two-time All-American, Brenley Anderson and Jessie Baker lead an electric first line for RRCC. Anderson leads the nation in scoring with 62 points in 17 games, and Baker is second with 52 points in 17 games. Scholler, Carlee Bosma and Kaylynn McBurney-Flett make up the second line, while Katrina Wreggitt, Nicole Moore and Cassandra Cochrane man the third line.
Defensively, preventing goals begins and ends with goalies Katie Stearns and Kelsey Fuerst, who have split time all season. Stearns is second in the nation in both goals against average (1.23) and save percentage (.950), while Fuerst is 11th in save percentage (.880). Jenna Brady and Lori Martinez team together on one defensive pair, while Thorne and Cateline Fafard round out the Voyageurs defenders.
When Amdahl took over the program three years ago, he had eight skaters and a goalie.
The three sophomore captains – Anderson, Thorne and Scholler – want a lasting memory for their hockey careers, which could end this weekend.
“We have nothing to lose,” Thorne said.
And a dynasty to gain.
The national tournament ends Sunday with the semifinals and championship.
