Hockey demands players to be team-oriented but this season two players stepped into the spotlight. Junior Mika Cichosz, defense, and Freshman Morgan Goskeson, right wing, scored 100 career points in an 11-0 victory over Austin on January 19 at home. Both of the players mentioned the good atmosphere of that game and their teammates.
“Mika got the 100 career points first and everybody was just cheering super loud,” Goskeson said about the event itself. “Everyone was on their feet, it was really exciting.”
Cichosz agreed, “It was very exciting, just grateful for everyone around me… the younger girls all had signs. It made me feel very grateful for my community.”
Activities Director Dave Langerud agrees and believes the community reciprocates the feeling. “The community eagerly anticipates another thrilling display of teamwork, leadership, and competitive spirit from our talented athletes,” said Langerud.
According to Coach Mike Carlson, scoring those career points is hard. “You only play 25 games a year and it’s hard to get a point a game. Now individually, Mika is a defenseman so they generally get assists but they don’t score a lot of goals, she still does score goals. So for defensemen it’s hard. Morgan’s a freshman, and so she’s been playing since her 7th grade years. This is only her third year and to get 100 points, for both of them, is very commendable.”
Cichosz’s love of hockey began when she was three and was influenced by family.
“Watching my older brothers [Campbell and Burke] influenced me to play and just growing up around that,” Cichosz said. “My favorite part is just playing with amazing girls and making new friends and getting a second family.”
Goskeson had a similar childhood experience.
“My parents put me in hockey at a really young age, and I just always have loved it. I just kept playing,” Goskeson said. “First time I was on skates it was like I was probably a year and a half.”
Coach Carlson is clearly proud of the team and their achievements both on and off the ice. He explains that the team works as one unit and they give back to their community. The team has hosted fundraisers including a clothing drive for children in foster care and a personal care drive for the high school’s Care Closet. It’s important to Carlson that the athletes are students first. “Our median grade point average that we sent for the state academic awards was 3.957,” said Carlson. “That’s unbelievable!”
This entire season for the Hockey Girls’ has been filled with memorable and unbelievable moments, such as the 100 career goals being scored to the support that the teammates had for each other.
“There’s some days where you don’t feel as confident and some days where you just want to quit,” said Goskeson. “But you know, at the end of the day, I love hockey, and it’s my favorite thing to do.”