St. Cloud State
Minnesota
Players Mentioned
Insider: Huskies set to celebrate the Class of 2018
2/1/2018 4:43:00 PM | Women's Hockey
SCSU’s four graduating players will be remembered for their exceptional work ethic
ST. CLOUD—Four graduating St. Cloud State women's hockey (6-17-4, 4-13-3-0 WCHA) players will skate their swan songs at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center this weekend as the Huskies host in-state rival No. 7 Minnesota (19-8-2, 12-6-2-0) for a two-game WCHA set.
The SCSU Class of 2018—comprised of senior forward Alyssa Erickson, senior defenders Brittney Anderson and Emma Turbyville and redshirt junior goaltender Taylor Crosby—has played an integral role in establishing the Huskies as a program on the rise. In addition to winning 36 games, they have led by example and their work ethic, passion and dedication to the sport has set the standard for all classes that follow.
"It has been a fun group to be around," head coach Eric Rud said. "It is a group that has showed up to work every single day and have been our leaders in that regard. They always show up with a good attitude and they do not take days off and they do not take games off."
"It has been fun to spend four years with them. They are good kids and we are definitely going to miss them."
Tickets for the series against the Gophers are available at scsutickets.com or at the arena box office on game day. SCSU students with a valid university ID, fans ages 18 and under and Huskies men's hockey season ticket holders receive free admission to all women's hockey home games.
No. 7 BRITTNEY ANDERSON
Defenseman | Hudson, Wis. | 131 Games, 38 points (5 33)
Anderson served as the Huskies' captain this season and was the hero of the team's Hockey Day Minnesota outdoor game, scoring the shootout-winning goal in the sixth round to defeat Minnesota Duluth. With 38 points in her career, Anderson will finish her four years at SCSU as one of the top-10 highest scoring defenders in program history. She is also a two-time WCHA All-Academic team honoree.
"Brittney has been a very good captain for us this year," Rud said. "She shows up every single night to compete and has done that every single game for four years. She competes hard and, from her freshman year until now, has always had the respect of her teammates."
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Plans for the future: "To pursue a career in forensic science."
Favorite on-ice memory at SCSU: "Playing in the Fill the Bowl game at Wisconsin last season in front of an NCAA women's hockey record crowd."
Best advice she has received: "Don't wish time away because these four years will fly by."
How she has grown since freshman year: "Being a student athlete is hard work and I think it has helped me mature and become someone who is ready to take on any challenge."
What being a Husky has meant to her: "It has been great being a Husky. The school pride on this campus is amazing and having the support of everyone has really made it the best experience. I am proud to be a Husky."
What she will miss most about SCSU: "Hanging out with my second family every day. I have made some great memories while being a part of this team and nothing will ever top coming to the rink every day and doing what I love."
No. 29 TAYLOR CROSBY
Goaltender | Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia | Nine games, 4.54 GAA, .868 save percentage
Crosby came to St. Cloud State after one season at Northeastern University and played nine games between the pipes for the Huskies, including a memorable 52 save performance against Wisconsin last season that ranks as the seventh-most saves in a single game in program history. Earlier this season she was featured in a story in The New York Times and is a former WCHA All-Academic team honoree
"Taylor has been a big time positive force for our team in a lot of situations," Rud said. "She has been a tremendous teammate and a tremendous ambassador for our university. She will do well in whatever she decides to do in her life. She is a great kid and we will miss seeing her every day."
Major: Mass Communications- Public Relations
Plans for the future: "Traveling as well as pursuing a career in public relations or marketing."
Favorite on-ice memory at SCSU: "My first time playing the Badgers. Although it was a loss, it was fun to make so many saves and be able to play a game at home. The Hockey Day Minnesota game this year was also fun to be a part of."
Best advice she has received: "Most of the things I have learned at SCSU were through my own personal experiences, but although it is a cliche many people have stressed to enjoy every moment, as time flies by. They were right."
How she has grown since freshman year: "I have learned to not stress about the things I cannot control and only focus on what I can. To only worry about what I can do, personally, and to be the best version of myself whether it is on or off the ice."
What being a Husky has meant to her: "While obviously being an honor to represent your school at the NCAA Div. level, for me being a Husky has symbolized learning, and growing up. Whether it was lessons learned on the ice or off of it, being a Husky has taught me a lot."
What she will miss most about SCSU: "I will miss my teammates and the game of hockey itself. It will be a hard good bye."
No. 27 ALYSSA ERICKSON
Forward | Mission, British Colombia | 132 Games, 39 points (21 18)
Erickson, the Huskies' assistant captain, has been one of the team's most consistent and reliable presences over the last four seasons. She has regularly featured one of SCSU's top two lines and will finish her career as one of the program's top career scorers with 21 goals and 39 points, including a career-best eight goal, 15-point campaign a season ago. Erickson is also a two-time WCHA All-Academic Team honoree.
"She can play in any situation and that is the highest compliment I can give a player," Rud said. "When I look down the bench, in any situation, I can say her name and know she is going to go out there and compete. She is always in the right spot and has a very high hockey IQ. There is going to be a very big hole in the lineup without her next year."
Major: Social Work with a minor in Human Relations
Plans for the future: "Get my master's degree in social work and become a school social worker."
Favorite on-ice memory at SCSU: "The Fill the Bowl game against Wisconsin in Madison last year as well as the Hockey Day Minnesota outdoor game in St. Cloud this season."
Best advice she has received: "The best advice I have received is from my assistant coach, Jinelle Siergiej, over my four years here."
How she has grown since freshman year: "I think since freshman year I have matured and grown both as a person and a hockey player, along with realizing the thing I am most passionate about."
What being a Husky has meant to her: "Being a part of a hockey family and getting the opportunity to meet all my teammates and coaches is truly something I am so grateful for. This experience has been nothing but amazing."
What she will miss most about SCSU: "The college lifestyle, my teammates and my coaches."
No. 10 EMMA TURBYVILLE
Defenseman | Chicago, Ill. | 112 Games, 14 points (1 13)
Turbyville, one of the team's assistant captains this season, is enjoying a standout senior campaign. She is among the team leaders with eight assists and eight points, which are both nearly double her previous career highs, and is ranks second on the Huskies in blocked shots. Turbyville is also a two-time WCHA Scholar Athlete and WCHA All-Academic Team honoree.
"Her passion for the game is unmatched," Rud said. "She a love for the game of hockey that I wish I still had. She is such an infectious player out there and has the best intentions every single time she steps out there and in any situation."
Major: Criminal Justice
Plans for future: "To start applying for jobs back in Chicago."
Favorite on-ice memory at SCSU: "Scoring my first collegiate goal at Ohio State last season."
Best advice she has received: "To take advantage of every opportunity presented."
What being a Husky has meant to her: "Being a Husky these past four years has showed me the Husky community is truly one big family. There is so much support for each other and everyone works together for us athletes to have the best opportunity for success."
What will you miss most about SCSU: "I will miss all the friends I have made throughout my four years. I will miss all my teammates and being able to go to the rink everyday and forget everything and just play hockey with them. I will miss the fun road trips together and being part of such a fun and wonderful experience."
UP NEXT: St. Cloud State (6-17-4, 4-13-3-0 WCHA) vs. No. 7 Minnesota (19-8-2, 12-6-2-0 WCHA)
Friday, February 2 and Saturday, February 3 | 3:07 p.m. (both) | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (St. Cloud, Minn.)
| SCSU WOMEN'S HOCKEY CENTRAL: Feb. 2-0, 2018 |
| LIVE STATS: sidearmstats.com/wisconsin/whockey/ |
| RADIO: None |
| TELEVISION: Fox Sports North (Saturday) |
| VIDEO STREAMING ($): scsuhuskies.com/live (Friday) | Fox Sports Go (Saturday) |
| GAME NOTES (PDF): SCSU vs. Minnesota |
ABOUT THE SERIES: SCSU vs. MINNESOTA:
- SCOUTING THE GOPHERS: Minnesota comes into this weekend fresh off a sweep of Minnesota State, 4-2 and 2-0, at Ridder Arena. The Gophers are ranked No. 7 in the country in both polls and sit in second place in the WCHA with 38 points, but just one point ahead of third place Ohio State. They wield the league's second most potent offense (3.24 goals/game) and its second-stingiest defense (2.14 goals against/game). Minnesota's attack is led by freshman forward Grace Zumwinkle with 30 points (13-17) and junior forward Nicole Schammel with 14 goals and 25 points. Senior goaltender Sidney Peters has started 20 games and leads the team with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.
- SCSU is 0-10-2 in 12 games against ranked opponents this season, including 0-4-0 at home. However, five of its six wins on the season have come at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center and the Huskies are 5-7-2 (.429) at home overall.
- ALL-TIME SERIES: The Huskies trail Minnesota, 3-78-2, in their in-state rivalry series. They are winless in their last 37 meetings against the Gophers, including 0-3-0 this season and 0-4-0 last year. Their last win in the series was a 6-3 triumph at home on Feb. 13, 2010.
- LAST MEETING (Jan. 9, 2018): After a slow start, a resurgent St. Cloud State effort came up just short on a one-goal, 2-1, non-conference loss at then-No. 6 Minnesota. The Huskies fell behind, 2-0, after two periods but drew within one late in the third courtesy of junior forward Julia Tylke. But, despite a flurry of chances late with the extra attacker, that was as close as SCSU came. Freshman goaltender Emma Polusny was stellar between the pipes with 27 saves to fuel her team's comeback hopes.
- CLOSE CALLS: Two of SCSU's three losses to Minnesota this season have come by just one goal—4-3 on Saturday, November 18 and 2-1 on Tuesday, January 9. The Huskies are 2-6-0 in one-goal games this season, including an 0-4-0 record against top 10-ranked opponents.
- Freshman forwards Emma Bigham and Laura Kluge, junior Julia Tylke and senior Alyssa Erickson have all scored for the Huskies against Minnesota this season. Among returning players, sophomore forward Kayla Friesen led SCSU with one goals and two points against the Gophers last year. Friesen (1-1-2), Erickson (2-0-2), senior defender Brittney Anderson (0-2-2) and junior forward Hannah Potrykus (0-2-2) are tied for the Huskies active career scoring leader against Minnesota.
KEY NOTES TO CONSIDER:
- LAST TIME OUT: In its last outing, St. Cloud State battled to a hard fought midweek draw, 1-1, against Minnesota Duluth on Wednesday, January 31. Erickson scored her fourth goal of the season and freshman goaltender Emma Polusny made 33 saves to ensure the Huskies of a point and, despite dropping the shootout, four of six points from the series against the Bulldogs that began with SCSU's 3-2 win on Friday, January 19. The tie also wrapped up a season best 3-3-2 (.500) month of January for the Huskies.
- CLASS OF 2018: This weekend's home games mark the last in the careers of SCSU's four graduating players: Erickson, senior defenders Brittney Anderson and Emma Turbyville and redshirt junior goaltender Taylor Crosby. The four of them will be honored during the Huskies' Senior Day festivities prior to their Saturday, February 3 game against Minnesota.
- THEODOSOPOULOS THRIVING: Sophomore forward Hallie Theodosopoulos has been scoring at a torrid pace in the second half. The transfer from North Dakota has six goals in eight games since the break, which is tied for the WCHA lead and is among the top-10 in the NCAA over that stretch, and has four goals in the Huskies' last five games.
- TRIUMPHANT TRIO: The forward trio of Theodosopoulos, sophomore Kayla Friesen and Kluge has been on fire in the second half. The line has combined for 10 goals and 20 points in eight games. Theodosopoulos has six goals and seven points, Kluge has two goals and seven points and Friesen has two goals and six points since break.
- FAB FROSH: Kluge paces the Huskies with 13 assists and 19 points in 24 games as a freshman and is tied for the team lead with six goals. Her points production is already tied for No. 9 in SCSU history for a rookie player and is tied for No. 7 among WCHA first year players.
- DYNAMIC DUO: In sophomore Janine Alder and Polusny, the Huskies boast arguably the best goaltending duo in the country. Polusny (.939) and Alder (.935) rank No. 2 and No. 3 in the conference and No. 4 and No. 6 in the country in save percentage, respectively. They have been especially dominant since SCSU's win over Bemidji State on November 22. Polusny leads the country with a .962 save percentage in that time and Alder is No. 4, and No. 2 in the WCHA, with a .953 mark. Polusny has also recorded three shutouts this season, which is tied for SCSU's single season record.
- ALDER THE OLYMPIAN: In a historic first for the program, Alder was named to Switzerland's women's hockey roster for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. With her selection, she became the first Olympian in the 20-year history of St. Cloud State's women's hockey program. Alder won a bronze medal with Switzerland at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
- PK PROWESS: The Huskies' penalty kill has killed 31 of its opponents last 33 power play opportunities (90.9 percent). SCSU boasts a 89.3 percent success rate this season, which ranks second in the WCHA and is No. 5 in the country.
PRESEASON NOTES:
- WCHA COACHES POLL: After securing its best back-to-back conference finishes in seven years last season, the WCHA coaches picked St. Cloud State to place sixth in the league this year. SCSU finished sixth in 2016-17 with 26 league points and a 7-18-3-2 conference record. The Huskies have equaled or bettered their preseason pegging in each of their first three seasons under head coach Eric Rud.
- TWO DECADES OF HUSKIES HOCKEY: The 2017-18 season marks the 20th in St. Cloud State women's hockey history. In that time, the Huskies have produced one NCAA Div. I All-American (Felicia Nelson, 2010), one Patty Kazmaier top-10 finalist (Felicia Nelson, 2010), 16 All-WCHA selections and 27 WCHA Scholar Athletes. SCSU has won 200 games in its history and has appeared in a pair of WCHA Final Face-Offs (2006, 2008).
- WELCOME TO SCSU: The Huskies roster includes a total of 12 new faces this season, including nine freshmen—which is tied with Bemidji State for the most in the WCHA and third nationally. SCSU is one of the youngest teams in the country, overall, with 18 freshmen and sophomores—the second-most underclassmen in the nation.
- RETURNING FIREPOWER: St. Cloud State returns 75 percent of its goals and 71 percent of its total offensive production from last season, including its top four goal-scorers and point-getters—Tylke, Friesen, Erickson and Potrykus—and six of its top eight scorers, overall. Despite all of their returning offense, the Huskies have been shutout in nine of 17 games this season.
