University of Minnesota Athletics
HALLDORSON ADDS SIX TO NATIONAL CHAMPION HOCKEY TEAM
4/6/2000 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Three forwards and three defense make up the group of six players signing during the spring period. The forwards are La Toya Clarke, Kelsey Bills and Tracy Palinsky. The defense includes Cecilia Retelle, Melissa Coulombe and Stefanie Snow.
"There's talent but also character in this group," Halldorson said. "I think they are some very special individuals who will add to the team in a variety of ways. With all of the different strengths and the diversity of talent that these players bring, we will be deeper.
"Hopefully, by adding a strong class of players, we'll be in good shape to contend for another national title. With the wealth of talent we have returning, plus this group of recruits, we'll have our most talented team ever."
This year's group of seven players is the Gophers' largest recruiting class since the team's inaugural season. Minnesota loses just one player from this year's national championship squad, senior co-captain Shannon Kennedy.
Kelsey Bills, 5-3, Forward, Carstairs, Alberta (Hugh Sutherland High School)
Member of the Carstairs Bruins midget AA boys team ... Two-time member of Team Alberta women's midget squad at the Canada Winter Games, earning a bronze medal in 1999 ... Earned team MVP honors for the Olds midget A girls team in 1997 ... Also competes in softball for the Calgary Avalanche.
La Toya Clarke, 5-3, Forward, Pickering, Ontario (Dunbarton Secondary)
Scored 28 goals and 45 points in 17 games for Dunbarton this season ... Toronto Star academic all-star team member ... Had 21 goals and 33 points for the Leaside Wildcats intermediate AA team last season ... Also plays golf at Dunbarton.
Melissa Coulombe, 5-4, Defense, St. Pierre-Jolys, Manitoba (St. Pierre Collegiate)
Won three provincial championships with the St. Adolphe Hawks midget AA girls team ... Team captain and league all-star the past two seasons ... Assistant captain for Team Manitoba at the 1999 Canada Winter Games ... Also plays volleyball and softball ... Led volleyball team to provincial title in 1999, earning all-star honors at the championships, and runner-up spot in 1998 ... Softball team won league and regional titles in 1998 when she was named MVP at the provincial championships.
Tracy Palinsky, 5-5, Forward, Port Elgin, Ontario (Notre Dame Secondary)
Spent 1999-2000 season with the Mississauga Chiefs in the National Women's Hockey League, Canada's top women's league ... Helped team to a third-place finish at the provincial championships ... Registered nine goals and 23 points in 38 games ... Second-leading scorer for Team Ontario at 1999 Canada Winter Games.
Cecilia Retelle, 5-9, Defense, Madison, Wis. (Culver Academy)
Captained Culver this season, leading the team to a 30- 4-6 record after a 16-16-5 mark in 1998-99 ... Spent two seasons at Kimball Union Academy before transferring to Culver ... Member of Culver's crew team last year and also played soccer and softball at KUA ... Played on KUA's New England championship team as a frosh with current Gopher Nadine Muzerall ... Participated in USA Hockey junior national camp in 1997 and 1998.
Stefanie Snow, 5-4, Defense, Bedford, N.H. (Cushing Academy)
Played three seasons at Cushing, earning the team award for best defensive player this season ... All-scholastic Hockey Night in Boston selection ... Attended USA Hockey junior national camp in 1999 ... Also plays for the Assabet Valley midge A girls team ... Helped lead Assabet to the national semifinals in 1999 and the team is in the national championships again this year.
