ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The St. Cloud women’s hockey team has been through a lot of changes and historic moments this year.
On Monday, January 31, the team held a celebration to mark 25 years of women’s hockey in the city. Originally formed as the Icebreakers, the team was a co-op for three area schools, St. Cloud Tech, Apollo and Cathedral. Last year, their name was changed to Crush.
Several Icebreaker alumni traveled to the St. Cloud Municipal Sports Complex to watch Monday’s game against the Sartell/Sauk Rapids Storm’n Sabers.
In the biggest event of the evening, the Crush paid tribute to former Icebreaker player, Cathedral alumnus and Olympian Anne Schleper. Players wore red warm-up shirts with Schleper’s name and number on the back. His number 12 was officially retired at the game, with a banner to be mounted in the rafters at the MAC at a later date. Schleper will also be inducted into the Cathedral High School Hall of Fame later this year.
The Crush would fall to the Storm’n Sabers 6-4 that night in their Town Rivalry match, but it was still a top flight match. Senior Kat Bell recorded a hat trick for the Crush which was a great moment late in the game.
We were able to get some of the highlights from the game and the night’s celebration, and also speak with seniors Cailey Davidson and Ally Breidenbach about their team and the historic moments and changes that have happened this season.
Watch the full story and take a look at our photo gallery below.
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1/27: St. Cloud players wore red warm-up jerseys to honor former player and Olympian Anne Schleper.
3/27: Several Icebreaker alumni were in attendance for Monday’s game and were honored before the puck kicked off.
4/27: Several youth teams were present at the game on Monday to cheer on the two Crosstown rivals.
5/27: Several youth teams were present at the game on Monday to cheer on the two Crosstown rivals.
6/27: St. Cloud Crush players await starting lineups.
seven/27: St. Cloud Crush players await the national anthem.
8/27: Several Riverblades youth teams were on hand to cheer on the players during Monday’s game.
9/27: St. Cloud Crush players pause for the national anthem.
ten/27: Former player, former Cathedral and Olympian Anne Schleper receives a banner to retire her number at the MAC.
11/27: The Crushes gather before the game begins.
12/27: The Crushes gather before the game begins.
13/27: Goaltender Abby Stevens.
14/27: Crush senior Peyton Mathiasen laughs along with other players on the bench.
15/27: The Sartell/Sauk Rapids bench encourages their team.
16/27: Chloe Reiter tries to beat Tatum O’Neal to the puck.
17/27: Chloe Reiter tries to beat Tatum O’Neal to the puck.
18/27: Brooke Pogatchnik patiently waits for the puck.
19/27: Smash goalie Kailee Falconer.
20/27: One of the referees stands on the ice.
21/27: Senior captain Chloe Reiter of the Storm’n Sabres.
22/27: The players rush to the bench to celebrate a goal from Anna Lundeen.
23/27: Smash goalie Kailee Falconer.
24/27: Smash goalie Kailee Falconer.
25/27: Players skate to their bench after the end of the period.
26/27: Senior Captain Chloe Reiter.
27/27: Chloe Reiter, Elizabeth Krueger, Emily VanVickle.
