Forty-one wins make this very special year
Peter Fitzgerald, coach of the 15-and-Under A girls traveling hockey team, knows a lot about winning.
As a player, he helped Edina High’s boys team win the state championship in 1997. Now, as a coach in traveling hockey, he is a state champion once again.
Edina 15U had an historic season with an overall record of 41-3-4, and with the nucleus of the team headed toward the varsity level, there’s a good chance Edina girls coach Sami Cowger will add to her collection of gold medals earned in five state championship seasons.
Going into the 2023-24 season, Fitzgerald thought his team had the potential to win a state title. At the same time, he realized there were no guarantees.
“You expect Edina hockey players to be skilled because our program at the lower levels is so strong,” Fitzgerald said. “We looked at every practice as a chance to get better. It is a long season - from November to mid-March - and practice is where the real development happened.”
Edina was at its best toward the end of the season, allowing only one goal total in six playoff games at the regional and state tournaments.
“They say defense wins championships, and that was the case with our team,” Fitzgerald said.
Of course, a championship team also needs to score goals.
“We had three lines that were very even,” Fitzgerald noted.
While he had an enjoyable group to coach, Fitzgerald said, “My experience with all of the parents of the girls has been positive.”
There was a collective commitment to support the team.
“We were ranked No. 1 all year,” Fitzgerald said. “And the girls never let the pressure get to them. It sure was an exciting season for them. We have four captains and all of them played on state championship teams the last four years.”
While this 15U season was a thrill unto itself, it might also be a prelude for continued varsity success for the Hornets. Edina won the state Class AA high school title this winter. One of the key players, forward Audrey Davis, could have played another season on 15U, but coach Cowger decided she was ready for varsity. And for much of the season, Davis skated on the Hornets’ first line.
One thing that has nurtured success at the varsity level is the hard work the coaches put into youth hockey. In addition to Fitzgerald, the other coaches for Edina’s 15U girls are Dave Horan, Mark Rasmusson, Keith Jungels and Tella Jungels.
Team members are Olivia Brandes, Anna Brown, Elsa Carter, Evie Doebbert, Mae Fitzgerald, Emerson Fritz, Madeline Hansen, Lilly Horton, Kaylan Kapsen, KK McGarvey, Jia Morgan, Soren Peacock, Emerson Rock, Ellison Shute, Colby Williamson and Amelia Witherspoon.
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