- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 410,556
- Reaction score
- 43
Apr. 10—KASSON — Alexa Van Straaten is a thinker.
It's evident on the ice in the way the standout defender for the state champion Dodge County girls hockey team paces herself while playing more than 35 minutes per game.
Her Hockey IQ is evident in the way she works on the penalty kill, makes quick decisions on the power play and moves the puck efficiently in all situations.
So, more than a year ago, the now-junior started doing her research on college hockey programs. She sought out teams who will need defenders from the Class of 2026 and began to craft a list.
That led Van Straaten to a side trip while she was in the Boston area during spring break last year.
"We drove through the Assumption (University) campus last year," Van Straaten said of the school in Worcester, Mass. "I really liked the campus and the surrounding area. The hockey program has only been around three or four years and they've had some high-end Minnesotans commit there.
"I saw that they'll need some 'D' so I reached out to coach (Joe) Grossman."
The interest was immediately mutual, and though Assumption's offer wasn't instantaneous, Grossman remained in constant communication with Van Straaten and Dodge County head coach Jeremy Gunderson.
That all led to Monday, when Van Straaten accepted Grossman's offer and announced her commitment to the program that plays in the Division I New England Women's Hockey Alliance.
Van Straaten was the second Dodge County player to announce her college commitment Monday, joining her defensive partner Claire Dixon, who committed to a brand new Division III program at Beloit (Wis.) College.
"It's exciting because (Assumption) is still building the program and getting better," Van Straaten said of the program that has played at the Division I level for just three seasons. "It's always fun to be a part of a team and program that is constantly improving."
Van Straaten said her parents, Mike and Meegan, were a strong support system throughout the recruiting process. Alexa made a big jump as a junior in her point production and her role on the team. She became the Wildcats' top all-around defender, ran the team's top power-play unit and was on the top penalty kill unit. She finished the season with five goals and 37 points, and was named All-State for the first time.
"I think we gave her a clean slate this year and she embraced it," Dodge County head coach Jeremy Gunderson said. "She played a little more physically, has taken on a leadership role, and she's a playmaker.
"We put an emphasis on defending first and she takes pride in playing physical defensive hockey first."
Van Straaten said she doesn't yet know what her academic major will be at Assumption, but she appreciates the number of potential internship and job opportunities in the Boston area. Her high school coach said Assumption will be a good fit, both academically and athletically.
"I think she's No. 1 in her class academically, or right up there," Gunderson said. "She will wear a 'C' for us next year (be a team captain), and she has some good leaders from this year to follow. She got a ton of votes from her teammates to be a captain, and our staff believes in her, too.
"She's just a really positive kid who other kids gravitate to."
In the age of the college athletics transfer portal, some athletes follow coaches to a different school, and follow friends or teammates to a new school.
In Claire Dixon's case, she's joining an entire program that is moving to a new school.
When the announcement was made in February that Northland College in Ashland, Wis., will close at the end of the current academic year, campus leaders at Beloit (Wis.) College had an idea: What if we add men's and women's hockey, by bringing the Northland coaches and staff to Beloit?
That caught Dixon's attention. She liked the campus at Beloit, liked the city and appreciated that it is approximately an hour from Madison and Milwaukee, and two hours from Chicago. So she connected with Beloit head coach Jake Bobrowski, who has previously been an assistant coach at Hamline University, the University of Minnesota and with the inaugural PWHL Minnesota team.
"I had quite a few schools on my list and none stood out over the others, until I met (Bobrowski)," said Dixon, who had 10 points for Dodge County this season. "With the team moving from Northland to Beloit, it's a new year and a new start. It will be good to be part of that foundation."
Gunderson said Dixon's skill set and work ethic will fit well with Bobrowski's coaching style.
"Claire is that perfect kid for a new program," Gunderson said. "She played a good senior year with us. She has a long frame, a good shot, and still has room to improve. She'll step in right away there and play.
"She's a kid who wants to be coached and wants to be pushed to get better."
Dixon, who played at Owatonna as a junior, credited her dad Troy ("he's been my biggest supporter since I was 4 years old; I wouldn't be where I am today without him," she said) and said playing for Gunderson and Dodge County's coaching staff helped her improve a good amount in a short time.
"Jeremy pushes everyone to be the best version of themselves," she said. "He's straight-forward and tells you 'this is what you need to work on if you want more (ice) time and to play in college. This is what you have to do.' And then the coaches work on those things with you in practice."
Continue reading...
It's evident on the ice in the way the standout defender for the state champion Dodge County girls hockey team paces herself while playing more than 35 minutes per game.
Her Hockey IQ is evident in the way she works on the penalty kill, makes quick decisions on the power play and moves the puck efficiently in all situations.
So, more than a year ago, the now-junior started doing her research on college hockey programs. She sought out teams who will need defenders from the Class of 2026 and began to craft a list.
That led Van Straaten to a side trip while she was in the Boston area during spring break last year.
"We drove through the Assumption (University) campus last year," Van Straaten said of the school in Worcester, Mass. "I really liked the campus and the surrounding area. The hockey program has only been around three or four years and they've had some high-end Minnesotans commit there.
"I saw that they'll need some 'D' so I reached out to coach (Joe) Grossman."
The interest was immediately mutual, and though Assumption's offer wasn't instantaneous, Grossman remained in constant communication with Van Straaten and Dodge County head coach Jeremy Gunderson.
That all led to Monday, when Van Straaten accepted Grossman's offer and announced her commitment to the program that plays in the Division I New England Women's Hockey Alliance.
Van Straaten was the second Dodge County player to announce her college commitment Monday, joining her defensive partner Claire Dixon, who committed to a brand new Division III program at Beloit (Wis.) College.
"It's exciting because (Assumption) is still building the program and getting better," Van Straaten said of the program that has played at the Division I level for just three seasons. "It's always fun to be a part of a team and program that is constantly improving."
Van Straaten said her parents, Mike and Meegan, were a strong support system throughout the recruiting process. Alexa made a big jump as a junior in her point production and her role on the team. She became the Wildcats' top all-around defender, ran the team's top power-play unit and was on the top penalty kill unit. She finished the season with five goals and 37 points, and was named All-State for the first time.
"I think we gave her a clean slate this year and she embraced it," Dodge County head coach Jeremy Gunderson said. "She played a little more physically, has taken on a leadership role, and she's a playmaker.
"We put an emphasis on defending first and she takes pride in playing physical defensive hockey first."
Van Straaten said she doesn't yet know what her academic major will be at Assumption, but she appreciates the number of potential internship and job opportunities in the Boston area. Her high school coach said Assumption will be a good fit, both academically and athletically.
"I think she's No. 1 in her class academically, or right up there," Gunderson said. "She will wear a 'C' for us next year (be a team captain), and she has some good leaders from this year to follow. She got a ton of votes from her teammates to be a captain, and our staff believes in her, too.
"She's just a really positive kid who other kids gravitate to."
In the age of the college athletics transfer portal, some athletes follow coaches to a different school, and follow friends or teammates to a new school.
In Claire Dixon's case, she's joining an entire program that is moving to a new school.
When the announcement was made in February that Northland College in Ashland, Wis., will close at the end of the current academic year, campus leaders at Beloit (Wis.) College had an idea: What if we add men's and women's hockey, by bringing the Northland coaches and staff to Beloit?
That caught Dixon's attention. She liked the campus at Beloit, liked the city and appreciated that it is approximately an hour from Madison and Milwaukee, and two hours from Chicago. So she connected with Beloit head coach Jake Bobrowski, who has previously been an assistant coach at Hamline University, the University of Minnesota and with the inaugural PWHL Minnesota team.
"I had quite a few schools on my list and none stood out over the others, until I met (Bobrowski)," said Dixon, who had 10 points for Dodge County this season. "With the team moving from Northland to Beloit, it's a new year and a new start. It will be good to be part of that foundation."
Gunderson said Dixon's skill set and work ethic will fit well with Bobrowski's coaching style.
"Claire is that perfect kid for a new program," Gunderson said. "She played a good senior year with us. She has a long frame, a good shot, and still has room to improve. She'll step in right away there and play.
"She's a kid who wants to be coached and wants to be pushed to get better."
Dixon, who played at Owatonna as a junior, credited her dad Troy ("he's been my biggest supporter since I was 4 years old; I wouldn't be where I am today without him," she said) and said playing for Gunderson and Dodge County's coaching staff helped her improve a good amount in a short time.
"Jeremy pushes everyone to be the best version of themselves," she said. "He's straight-forward and tells you 'this is what you need to work on if you want more (ice) time and to play in college. This is what you have to do.' And then the coaches work on those things with you in practice."
Continue reading...
