Just one year removed from their most recent state championship, the Aberdeen Cougars girls’ hockey team will try to remain among the elite squads in the state this season.
Amy Munsterman-Wills takes over as the new coach and will try to use the same recipe for success as previous coaches Dave Sandvig and Rob Weinmeister employed.
“I wouldn’t say change a lot. I feel like Dave and Rob did a good job even just setting an overall standard of effort, attitude, too,” Munsterman-Wills said. “It’s a team sport, everybody showing up for everything, giving it their all, so that should stay the same.”
The Cougars will be led by the likes of goalie Chloe Vikander, who shutout Sioux Falls in that state title game two years ago, as well as Rachel Siefken, Addyson Keller, Kaylee Dixon, and Olivia Sandvig.
“They’re strong players and they’ll definitely have a presence this year. … We did bring up a lot of our eighth-grade girls too, so we’re kind of blending that U14 and that varsity,” Munsterman-Wills said. “So, we will have kind of a few solid lines, and those girls, it creates more opportunity for them to get out, and they’re going to get some good playing time that they wouldn’t have.”
In recent years, the Cougars have featured multiple lines that play at all-out speed for short periods of time. Munsterman-Wills said that trend will likely continue, depending on the opponent.
“It will probably just be reading game-by-game, how are we doing, what’s going on, the speed, what’s the scope going on?” she said. “But overall, I’ll probably be running a few of those lines. Hard quick shift, everybody giving full effort, the next person out.”
Munsterman-Wills has been an assistant coach for the Cougars for the past three seasons. She moved to Aberdeen from Brookings, where she played hockey for the Rangers.
She recalls those encounters with the Cougars while playing for Brookings.
“Aberdeen was always a high competitor for us,” she said. “That was always a game you had to prepare for. I remember that.”
Aberdeen would like to add to its championship banner inside the Odde Ice Center this season.
“Obviously, I think that’s everyone’s goal,” Munsterman-Wills said. “That’s what I would love to get the girls to be able to do.”
The Cougars start their season with a friendly at Jamestown, N.D., on Saturday, before hosting Oahe in a league game on Sunday.
Munsterman-Wills said the players are ready to get the season started.
“I am excited and I think the girls are excited, too,” she said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
