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Change is the theme for girls' hockey teams

By Written by Tim Froberg Post-Crescent staff writer, 11/28/12, 6:45AM CST

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United has new coach; Waupaca welcomes program

Written by Tim Froberg Post-Crescent staff writer -

Change is a part of high school athletics and it will be evident on the ice for Appleton area girls’ hockey teams.

Appleton United has a new coach in Marcus Nejedlo.

The Fox Cities Stars have shifted their top player, Rian Lennon, from center to defense.

And Waupaca has a girls’ hockey team for the first time.

Nejedlo was a varsity assistant last season at De Pere High School and takes over a solid program that must adjust to the graduation loss of elite forward Anna Westmark, who was named as Ms. Hockey Wisconsin. A first-team all-state selection, Westmark finished her prep career with more than 100 goals, including 28 last season.

United, though, has first-rate defensive players returning in Emma Kohl and Katie Trucco along with a skilled goalie in Libbey Breaker.

“We have a lot of experience coming back and our strength is on the blue line,” said Nejedlo. “We’re a good skating team and we’re going to focus on playing defense from the net out.”

Kohl received all-state honorable mention and was a finalist for the Molly Engstrom Award given to the state’s top defensive player. She scored 11 goals and had 12 assists.

Trucco received all-state honorable mention and had nine goals and 15 assists.

Breaker had a 2.21 goals against average with three shutouts and an .893 saves percentage.

“Libbey squares up as well as any goalie I’ve watched in some time,” said Nejedlo. “She’s very active in the net.”

Nejedlo likes the work ethic and love of the game he’s seen in his players.

“I expect our team to put in the work to make us a contender in the league,” said Nejedlo. “I don’t know if we have all the talent and all the depth to do it, but we definitely have the heart to do it. The girls have an unbelievable work ethic.”

Lennon scored 15 goals last season for the Stars and the switch to defense hasn’t hurt ability to put the puck in the net. She had a hat trick in a 6-3 season-opening win over Waupaca Area Schools and followed with two goals in a 6-3 loss to Fond du Lac.

“We’re looking for some big things from Rian (Lennon),” said Fox Cities Stars coach Pete Spinner. “We have a new goalie, so we felt we had to shore up our defense and she (Lennon) is my best hockey player.”

Freshman Morgan Talbot is starting in the net for the Fox Cities Stars following the graduation loss Allie Gloudemans, a first-team all-conference goalie.

This will be the third season for the Stars, who are comprised of players from the school districts of Neenah, Hortonville, Freedom, Kimberly Kaukauna, Little Chute, Xavier, New London and St. Mary Central.

Spinner has 16 girls on his roster, including five from Neenah.

“Everyone on this team is a good skater,” said Spinner. “These kids work hard and we’re going to look to out-grind teams. The conference looks very strong. I think it’s one of the strongest conferences in the state.”

Waupaca Area Schools is a co-op program consisting of players from Waupaca, Iola, Manawa and Amherst. The roster is comprised of 16 girls, 13 from Waupaca. The team will compete in the Great Northern Conference.

“The excitement level is high,” said Waupaca Area Schools coach Tim Guyer. “We have some experienced skaters. Our top-end players can really go. We’re just looking to keep improving,”

Two of Guyer’s top players, Tasha Smith and Mandy Tomlinson, competed on the Waupaca boys’ JV team a year ago.

“I think we’ll be able to compete with most teams and we’re just looking to keep improving,” said Guyer. “Hopefully, we’ll be see some of that progress in January and February.”

Coach: Marcus Nejedlo, first season.

Conference: Eastern Shores.

Home ice: Appleton Family Ice Center.

Last year: 13-10-2 overall, 5-5-1 ESC.

Top prospects: Katie Trucco, D, Sr.; Laura Larabell, F, Sr.; Jenny Miller, D, Jr.; Libbey Breaker, G, Jr.; Emma Kohl, D, Jr.; Natalie West, F, So.; Molly McKeever, F, So.; Greta Brown, F, Fre.; Leah Dreyer, F, Fre.

Outlook: Appleton United has a new coach in Nejedlo and graduated an elite player in Anna Westmark, but is expected to remain a highly competitive team that could challenge for the conference title. Defense is projected as the team’s strength.

Coach: Pete Spinner, second season.

Conference: Eastern Shores.

Home ice: Tri-County Ice Arena

Last year: 6-10 overall, 2-9 ESC

Top prospects: Rian Lennon, D, Sr.; Caiti Jansen, F, Sr.; Jennie Hackinson, F, Sr.; Mollie Patzke, F, Sr.; Molly Donellan, D, Sr.; Morgan Talbot, G, Fre.; Ally Fox, F, Fre.

Outlook: The Stars are breaking in a new goalie in Talbot, after the team’s projected starter, Hannah Buckman, decided to play at the Class AAA level. Lennon, Jansen and Fox, a talented freshman, lead the Stars’ scoring attack.

Coach: Tim Guyer, first season.

Conference: Great Northern.

Home Ice: Waupaca Expo Center.

Top prospects: Cassie Rasmussen, G, Fre.; Molly Guyer, F, Sr.; McKenna Orr, F, Jr.; Natasha Smith, D, Jr.; Mandy Tomlinson, F, So.; Chloe Koehn, F, Fre.; Brianne Huettner, F. So.

Outlook: This will be the first season for Waupaca Area Schools and Tim Guyer, the team’s coach, expects the squad to hold its own with most opponents. Smith is an outstanding skater and a top scoring threat along with Tomlinson.