Pioneer Press Article: Half of Irondale's dynamic duo...

[ghshockeyfan]

http://www.twincities.com/prep/ci_17060542

Half of Irondale's dynamic duo, Meghan Lorence, is still scoring goals but also teaching young players
Without her high-scoring partner, Lorence takes to mentoring young players
By Tim Leighton
tleighton@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 01/10/2011 11:38:25 PM CST


When girls hockey training camp opened this season, Irondale senior Meghan Lorence looked around at the various faces. She saw young ones and familiar ones, but not the one she missed the most.

The all-state forward and University of Minnesota recruit laughed at the notion that maybe Gina McDonald would burst through the locker room doors ready to play another season with the Knights. But McDonald was starting a new chapter of her playing career at Harvard.

One of Minnesota's most potent scoring duos the past five seasons had been split in half.

Lorence, who scored 50 goals last season, suddenly was flying solo. She wasn't sure how to cope.

"It was, and still is, strange,'' said Lorence, who combined with McDonald to score more than 500 career points. "I would even say it was scary. I miss her dearly and remember all the years that are filled with great memories. We had a special chemistry on and off the ice. With her gone, though, I've felt pressure to pick up the slack."

McDonald, a Ms. Hockey finalist last year, had 45 goals and 44 assists last season and finished her career with 235 points. Lorence, a slick-skating playmaker with touch around the goal, has 26 goals and 10 assists in leading a young Knights' squad to a 10-5-1 record. She has 334 career points.

Irondale coach Tom Rodefeld was concerned how Lorence would respond to being the team's go-to player this season. He said his fears were calmed while watching her play in the World Juniors tournament last spring in Chicago.

"Seeing how well she played against some of the best young players in the world was fantastic,'' said Rodefeld, who has led the Knights to two state tournament appearances. "She just looked so comfortable. After playing at that level and then coming back to play with the best in the neighborhood, it gave me confidence that she would come back strong for us.

"Not surprisingly, her attitude has been so healthy. She is constantly facing double- and triple-teams, but she is taking it in stride. She has been gracious with her time and in helping the younger players that emulate her so much.''

They also lean heavily on her for scoring punch.

"In a scoreless game this season, a seventh-grader came up to me and asked, 'Are you going to score anytime soon?' Lorence said with a laugh. "It's a different situation now without Gina.

It's been a challenge, but it's been an exciting time, too, to see what I can do on my own."

Part of that growth has seen her continue in her leadership role as well as becoming a mentor.

"We joke that this is Meghan's Daycare because of all the young players we have,'' said Rodefeld of his team, which includes seven seniors, five juniors, nine sophomores, 10 freshmen, an eighth-grader and two seventh-graders. "For her to be able to teach them, mentor them and still play at a high level is pretty incredible. It would be really easy for a player of Meghan's status to just check out and not care."

McDonald knows that won't happen to her childhood friend and former teammate. The two have remained in contact.

"(I've told her) some words of wisdom were to always push yourself, put team first, and always be a role model for the younger girls looking up to you,'' said McDonald, who has one assist at Harvard in 15 games.

Although Lorence and McDonald often played on different lines, a move Rodefeld said was made to give the perception the Knights had depth, they were together on the power play. In the state tournament last year, they capped their time together playing on the same line.

"It was a fun way to finish my high school career," McDonald said. "Meghan is a strong player with an incredible set of skills. She has a lot of speed and a great shot, so I think she'll be able to make a difference at the collegiate level."

Still, the duo is missed by the current Knights.

"I sure miss how many goals they scored,'' said goalie Gillian McDonald, Gina's sister. "Meghan has really taken charge this season and the girls have done a good job adjusting. It was special watching Gina and Meghan play. I felt like a spectator sometimes. I just sat back and watched them do their thing."

Pioneer Press sports intern Dallas Johnson contributed to this story.

THE MEGHAN LORENCE FILE

Age: 18

Resides: Mounds View

School: Homeschooled, but plays for district school, Irondale

Family: Parents, Dan and Jodi; siblings, Amy (24), Chad (22)

Favorite subjects: Reading and math

Grade-point average: 3.25

College choice: Minnesota

College major: Undecided

Hobbies: Games, friends and family, fastpitch softball

Legacy: "I want to be remembered as a positive influence on the rest of the team, a hard worker and someone that helped out the others in the community.''

[brookyone]

Good article.

Reading about Miss Lorence, and having seen her play...it got me to wondering, is there a 2011 Ms. Hockey thread yet?