Photo by Hope Carlson

Mirage forward Ember Kehtel crashes the net during her team's home opener against Orono on Friday, Nov. 19. The Spartans prevailed, 6-3.

Proctor/Hermantown following up on perfection

After losing 10 seniors to graduation, Mirage look to defend their title

When senior Alyssa Watkins scored the goal to clinch the 2021 state championship in an intense, 3-2 double overtime victory over Gentry Academy, the Proctor/Hermantown Mirage had secured the program’s first girls state hockey title. And while it was a source of pride to end the year on, the win didn’t come without controversy.

The concerns were over the team's ability to win a title fairly, without the delay of the state tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Comments were that it was a fluke that we were able to get it done,” said head coach Emma Stauber. “Obviously we don’t feel like that. We knew it was a really special year, especially with that group of seniors and the balance we had throughout the team.”

After their perfect 21-0-0 season, the team lost 10 seniors, creating significant holes to fill on this year’s team. But so far, Stauber thinks the program has had no problem rebuilding the team. Along with the new talent that was brought up, leadership positions were filled by returning players.

“We lost half our roster last year and there [were] big roles to fill. We have a lot of returners that were with us last year and we think that their leadership with the younger girls is just outstanding,” Stauber said.

"We have a lot of returners that were with us last year and we think that their leadership with the younger girls is just outstanding,” - Mirage head coach Emma Stauber

The ‘21-’22 girls hockey season is in full swing and the Proctor Hermantown Mirage is ready to defend their state championship title.

“We have a ton of strength and speed and skill up front. What we did last year and are trying to do this year is spread them [other teams] out to create that depth. If you stack a line, teams are able to beat that line, but what we have been able to do is spread them out and which made our lines a lot stronger,” Stauber said. “Not a lot of teams can move the puck as well as we can and have as much speed as us. A lot of teams have trouble countering those skills during our games.”

Not only is the team bringing their strength and agility to this season, they are also bringing their determination. The Mirage has been known for their motto “Hard Work, Works” and they have applied that to each and every season.

“It goes back to what Coach [Glen] Gilderman started many years ago, and that’s hard work. It’s a hard game, but it takes so much more than just the season. These girls are working off the ice constantly and are always trying to improve themselves,” Stauber said.

Not only do the girls work off the ice during the season, but also into their summers. Stauber started a summer program focusing on speed and agility, but also forming a family. It is a great opportunity for the younger and older girls to get to know each other along with tuning up skills in the process. The program was one of the main reasons the team was able to grow and fine tune their skills and carry them into the season.

“We do have a lot of younger girls coming in and, through hockey, we learn a lot of life lessons,” said Stauber. “So being a family and teaching these girls to work together, it really goes a lot farther than the game, it's bigger than that. We want to get these girls to believe in themselves and get them to believe they can accomplish so much more if they work together. We are a family through the whole program.”

Top returning scorer Nya Sieger, a junior, is providing leadership to the defending champion's younger players.  Photo by Hope Carlson

With the start up of the season some of the returning players have already started making heads turn. Many of the returning forwards like Hannah Graves, Nya Sieger, and Izy Fairchild have provided the team with a ton of strength, speed, and skill up front. The backline has also proved to be very strong with Sophie Parendo and Ava Anick returning along with Abby Pajari in net.

The championship win, although exciting, did bring with it the target every state champ has to deal with. Every team wants to conquer the former state champs and show the improvements they have made since the previous season.

The Mirage have felt that target already. After a season-opening, 1-0 loss to perennial power Warroad, the Mirage lost their home opener to a highly-skilled Orono team, 6-3. The team got its first win of the season the next day, defeating South St. Paul 4-1.

Forward Hannah Graves had 17 goals last season for the Mirage.  Photo by Hope Carlson

“We have a target on our back and all year long that is going to have to be something we are going to mentally have to deal with. We need to be prepared for every game, but also focus on ourselves. We did that last year and we will continue to bring that same mentality through to this year. Focusing on who we are and what we want to do,” Stauber said.

They have not let down on their promise to work hard and focus on themselves. Recent pre-season weekend scrimmages proved the Mirage still has what it takes to repeat as champs. The returners along with the new girls melded together to create a seamless force to be reckoned with. Some wouldn’t have even known they have never played together with their impeccable communication on the ice and almost robotic skills.

The Mirage program has created a family around the game of hockey, providing every last player with the belief that they are able to accomplish what they need to with practice and hard work. The girls walk in the footsteps that were made before them while also stepping off the trail to do bigger and better things.

“A Mirage player is truly built around hard work,”said Stauber. “There are a lot of times that things aren’t going to come easy and hard work will get you through the situation. You might not always win, but no matter what, even if you lose, you are still learning lessons. And as long as you are giving everything you can and doing the best that you can, that's all we can ask for. It's what we take pride in; our girls' ability to work hard.”