College

One of the top power play units in Division I women’s hockey has Northern Minnesota feel

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Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31

By Shawn Smith
Bemidji State University Athletic Media Relations

If the casual women’s hockey fan was to look at the rankings for the best power play units this season, nestled among the powerhouses of University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin, you will quickly notice a team that might look out of place – Bemidji State University.

For the last six years, Virginia, Minn., native Steve Sertich has prided himself on building a program of hard workers who shared his mentality of tough hockey growing up on the Iron Range in Northern Minnesota. No group exemplifies this style more than BSU’s top power play unit, a collection of girls from throughout Northern Minnesota who have led the way for the Beavers this season.

BSU’s top power play line is made up of Sadie Lundquist of Cloquet, Emily Erickson of Coleraine, Erika and Marlee Wheelhouse of Crookston, and Montana Vichorek of Moose Lake. Currently ranked fifth among NCAA Division I teams, the Beavers have tallied 30 power play goals so far despite admittedly not being great puck handlers or the best of scorers.

When asked about what made the top power play unit so successful at Bemidji State University this season junior forward Sadie Lundquist said in a joking tone, “Me.” The rest of the top power play unit looked on and broke out in laughter as Lundquist quickly admitted the opposite to be true. As anyone around Beaver hockey knows, it has always been about hard work, working together and scrapping for goals or the “Beaver way” as members of the team put it.

“Obviously we don’t have the fanciest plays but we dig around the net, we get pucks through and we work hard for each other out there,” Marlee Wheelhouse said. “That is just how Beaver hockey is played.”

The five BSU teammates have grown accustomed to each player’s unique style of play, not only during their time as Beavers but while they were each growing up in Northern Minnesota playing together and against each other. Lundquist and Vichorek have been teammates for almost nine years, and then you have sisters Erika and Marlee Wheelhouse, along with Erickson who grew up not too far from the rest of the group.

“Everyone on the unit is hard working and has that Northern Minnesota hockey mentality.” Erickson said. “It is kind of fun because we all grew up playing together or playing against each other. We are just used to how each other play.”

“We all complement each other well out there and get done what needs to be done,” Erika Wheelhouse said.

Each member of the unit has found success this season on the man advantage. Lundquist leads the way with seven goals on the power play, already a school record at Bemidji State despite still having several games left to play this season.

“A lot of my goals come from rebounds and kind of ugly stuff in the slot,” Lundquist said. “The other players do a lot of the work. Montana’s always shooting the puck. Erickson’s typically screening. Marlee’s always digging at the sides and Erika’s making sure the puck stays in the zone. It’s a good group of a girls that work together and we get things done.”

The group of Northern Minnesota girls has been largely responsible for the success of the Beavers this season as they are the top five scorers on the team currently and have led BSU to its best season in program history. Included in already historic season are wins over top 10 teams University of Minnesota, University of North Dakota, University of Minnesota Duluth and Providence College. The Beavers achieved their first ranking after defeating the Golden Gophers Oct. 29, and stayed in the polls for the next four weeks.

BSU has a lot of the season left to play but one thing is for sure, they will do it with hard work, toughness, grit or “the Beaver way.”