Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/118563
Page 8A • Freeman Brookfield & Elm Grove SPORTS APRIL 2013 Glacier forms a quick bond Brookfield girls hockey co-op becomes a state power in a short time BROOKFIELD – Jenna Bales has a lot of friends on the ice. When the Brookfield Central High School junior gets on the hockey rink, she's playing alongside girls from 10 different schools – and the group has become a cohesive unit. Bales believes that coming from all over the area has helped the Brookfield Glacier. "If we went to the same school, we would probably hate each other," Bales said. "Seeing as we're at different places and together (at The Ponds) all the time, it brings us together more than if we had classes together." The team formed a tight bond, even though there are players from Central, Brookfield East, Waukesha West, Kettle Moraine, Mukwonago, Waukesha North, Menomonee Falls, Catholic Memorial, Slinger and Milwaukee King. "We're a really close team, and we're with each other every day," Central senior Morgan Hollowell said. "We know each other really well. I've played with some of the girls for four years. We're good friends, which really helps on the ice. "We really work well together." The Glacier advanced to the WIAA state tournament last season, losing a four-overtime game in the semifinal round. The team lost to University School of Milwaukee in a sectional final. The Glacier won the Eastern Shores South Division this season, not losing a game in divisional play. The team finished 20-2-2 overall. "It's amazing where we've come from," Menomonee Falls senior Jamie Ertl said. "It's taken a lot of hard work. The last two summers, we've worked in June off the ice and doing weight training, which we didn't do the first two seasons. It's made a huge difference." "We had a good nucleus of girls, and we've had some good freshmen coming in," Glacier coach Brian Smith said. "These girls saw something good with high school hockey instead of AAA hockey, and they decided to play for a school. "It's taken a lot of maturity, and the girls have really grasped our system." Hollowell, an all-state selection this season, remembers the Glacier's inaugural season, when she was a freshman on the team that won just two games. She's played a lot of hockey, but the Glacier's turnaround has been astounding to her. "It's crazy," Hollowell said. "I've never been on a team that's turned around this quick. It was a rough first year, but we were working hard. "Nothing really clicked that first year." But everything has clicked the last two seasons. "Jenna has been huge for us," Smith said of Bales, who received honorable mention all- Robert F. Borkowski/Special to The Freeman Robert F. Borkowski/Special to The Freeman Brookfield Glacier junior Trinity Robinson maneuvers down the ice with the puck in a game against the University School of Milwaukee. Brookfield Glacier captain Jamie Ertl helped the team to a sectional final a year after the Glacier advanced to the state tournament. state honors. "This hockey team is built from the goal out, from the goalie to the defense to the offense. It's been that way from Day 1, and Jenna's filled some big shoes in net for us." A good portion of last season's state-qualifying team was on this season's squad. The only glaring difference between last season's team and this year's squad is that it is now the Brookfield Glacier instead of the Kettle Moraine Glacier. "The athletic director at Kettle Moraine, Mike Fink, thought it was more appropriate (to be named Brookfield) since we were so heavy on Brookfield kids," Smith At a glance The Brookfield Glacier is a co-op girls hockey team that includes players from 10 schools, eight of which are from Waukesha County: Brookfield Central Brookfield East Waukesha West Kettle Moraine Mukwonago Waukesha North Menomonee Falls Catholic Memorial Slinger Milwaukee King Robert F. Borkowski/Special to The Freeman said of the team's eight players from either Brookfield Central or Brookfield East. "Both athletic departments have been great, so it's been seamless for us." Brookfield Glacier sophomore Kelli Sorge skates up ice during an Eastern Shores Conference game. Arianna Smith led the Glacier with 59 points (28 goals, 31 assists) this season, and Hollowell had 56 (32, 24). Ertl had 18 goals for the Glacier. Bales posted a save percentage of .921 this season, playing every minute in all but one game. 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