“It is a little strange though that last year at this time I was playing Ohio State to get into the Final Faceoff,” Dahlquist said.

This high performing Ohio State team hasn’t always been this way. The Ohio State University has not been to the Final Faceoff in a extremely long time and to be a part of a team that is continuing to break records is amazing.” “I was not aware that I was about to be a part of a team that has the potential to win a National Championship. “When I committed to Ohio State in the Spring of 2017 I was not aware of what I was walking into,” Dahlquist said. North Dakota representation includes Patty Kazmaier award finalist, goaltender Kristen Campbell (Wisconsin) and forward Charly Dahlquist (Ohio State). North Dakota’s talent may not be in green and white but they will be proudly representing UND in the WCHA Final Faceoff this year. Having dealt with the struggle before, it is no surprise that she was able to adapt and become an even better player to carry into her senior season. This season was definitely a struggle for me, but towards the end of the season I was moved onto a line with a couple girls, Tristen Truax and Hannah Davidson, and they made me feel like I was my sophomore self all over again.” I didn’t know what everyone expected of me or how the coaches wanted me to play. I felt like I was reliving my freshmen year, I was with all new teammates and coaches. “I was excited because I knew that I was a powerful collegiate player and I just finished an outbreak year for me personally, but when the season started it was very difficult to get in the swing of things. “After I committed to MSU I was very excited to continue playing and to be able to play in my hometown,” Kolstad said. I knew how the coaches wanted me to play and what my role was and I was able to do it successfully.” I was familiar with all my teammates and understood how they played which helped build chemistry between us. Sophomore year I finally felt confident in myself on the ice, I knew what I needed to do and I knew that I could do it.

“Freshmen year there was no doubt that I struggled with Hockey, the pace learning systems, and the expectations the coaches had of me. “Being at UND for two years was the greatest decision of my life,” Kolstad said. From the freshman struggle to her finally breaking into the player she is today, she credits much of this success to UND’s program. To add bittersweet insult to injury, Kolstad played against former teammate Charly Dahlquist, who scored in game one when Ohio State shut out the Mavericks 6-0.Īt UND, Kolstad developed into a powerhouse player who wasn’t afraid to throw around her body to get the desired result. Mankato finished their season at the bottom of the WCHA standings 5-28-1, far from the 16-16-6 record she left at North Dakota. Mankato native Rebekah Kolstad finished her season this weekend with Minnesota State Mankato falling in two games to Ohio State. Now, a program of women divided across the nation get ready for different ends to their season, some of which have already come to a close, with no comfort from the idea that they may never be in the place of success they once were. A program that was dissipated in such a poor manner that stunned the program, the fans, the community and those who dreamed of one day being on those very walls. With close observation you can see the holes in the walls where the screws that held up the framed memorabilia from the storied program.

The off-white walls of the tunnels that lead athletes through the labyrinth underneath the concourse that were once filled with honors, photos, awards and memories now only reflect the unfortunate pot lights. Today the Ralph Engelstad Arena is much quieter. The Finnish standout freshman, Emma Nuutinen, opted not to pass to her teammate and took her shot on net, that shot would send her team into the seventh consecutive WCHA Final Faceoff appearance. A year ago today, in the sparsely filled Ralph Engelstad arena, the Jumbotron game clock read 9:04 and counting.

Dakota sizer program