Five former Huskies win Isobel Cup in Minnesota Whitecaps first season in NWHL
3/18/2019 12:46:00 PM | Women's Hockey
ST. PAUL, MINN. – In Sunday's NWHL championship game, The Minnesota Whitecaps made history by winning the league trophy, the Isobel Cup, in their first NWHL season. The Whitecap's Lee Stecklein scored 49 seconds into overtime to give them a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Beauts in an absolute thriller of an Isobel Cup Final.
The Whitecaps roster features a few familiar names to St. Cloud State. Five former Huskies continue their playing careers with the Minnesota team; goaltender Julie Friend (2011-15), defenseman Lisa Martinson (2009-13), forward Meaghan Pezon (2006-10), forward Kalli Funk (2012-15), and forward Haylea Schmid (2009-13).
Friend and Funk each served as an SCSU assistant captain their senior seasons of 2014-15. Funk posted seven points in her career. Friend was named team MVP her sophomore and junior seasons; she posted a 19-65-7 record at SCSU and is third in career saves for the Huskies with 2877 in her four years. Friend was named to the WCHA All-Rookie team in 2012.
Pezon left her mark at St. Cloud State as one of the Huskies all-time leading scorers, ranking sixth in the top 100, Pezon had 95 points for SCSU. She was also named USCHO's Player of the Week twice.
Martinson posted 16 points in her four years at SCSU, and Schmid had 33 point for the Huskies (13g, 20a). Martinson holds her own interesting statistic with the team as the individual most penalty minutes in a single game, 17 minutes Feb. 23, 2013 vs. Minnesota.
In addition to the five Huskies turned Whitecaps, the NWHL's Metropolitan Riveters has two former Huskies on its roster in defender Lexi Slattery and goaltender Katie Fitzgerald.
Of note, The Cup Final was the tenth consecutive sellout at TRIA Rink for the Whitecaps in their first NWHL season. "For all the expectations we had for the NWHL in the State of Hockey, they were surpassed by the teams, fans and community," said NWHL Founder and Commissioner Dani Rylan.
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GUESS WHAT MINNESOTA WE WON@LeeSteck2 pic.twitter.com/nV2kESeUS5
— Minnesota Whitecaps (@WhitecapsHockey) March 17, 2019
The Whitecaps roster features a few familiar names to St. Cloud State. Five former Huskies continue their playing careers with the Minnesota team; goaltender Julie Friend (2011-15), defenseman Lisa Martinson (2009-13), forward Meaghan Pezon (2006-10), forward Kalli Funk (2012-15), and forward Haylea Schmid (2009-13).
Friend and Funk each served as an SCSU assistant captain their senior seasons of 2014-15. Funk posted seven points in her career. Friend was named team MVP her sophomore and junior seasons; she posted a 19-65-7 record at SCSU and is third in career saves for the Huskies with 2877 in her four years. Friend was named to the WCHA All-Rookie team in 2012.
Pezon left her mark at St. Cloud State as one of the Huskies all-time leading scorers, ranking sixth in the top 100, Pezon had 95 points for SCSU. She was also named USCHO's Player of the Week twice.
Martinson posted 16 points in her four years at SCSU, and Schmid had 33 point for the Huskies (13g, 20a). Martinson holds her own interesting statistic with the team as the individual most penalty minutes in a single game, 17 minutes Feb. 23, 2013 vs. Minnesota.
In addition to the five Huskies turned Whitecaps, the NWHL's Metropolitan Riveters has two former Huskies on its roster in defender Lexi Slattery and goaltender Katie Fitzgerald.
YOUR 2019 ISOBEL CUP CHAMPION MINNESOTA WHITECAPS!!
— Minnesota Whitecaps (@WhitecapsHockey) March 17, 2019
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR FANS FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS SUPPORT THIS SEASON pic.twitter.com/302s6h6dGy
Of note, The Cup Final was the tenth consecutive sellout at TRIA Rink for the Whitecaps in their first NWHL season. "For all the expectations we had for the NWHL in the State of Hockey, they were surpassed by the teams, fans and community," said NWHL Founder and Commissioner Dani Rylan.
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Players Mentioned
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