Let’s Play Hockey announced the 10 semifinalists for the Senior Goalie of the Year Award Saturday, Feb. 11.

The Senior Goalie of the Year Award is presented to the top senior girls’ high school hockey goaltender in the state, based on the following criteria: academics, community/extra-curricular activities, citizenship, coachability and, of course, on-ice performance.

The candidates are identified based on nominations by their coaches. The selection of the top 10 candidates, then the five finalists, and ultimately the winner, is based on consultations with a panel of Division I and III college women’s coaches from the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as a panel of high school coaches.

The semifinalists are:

Sedona Blair - Holy Family

Uma Corniea - Edina

Celia Dahl - Orono

Hailey Hansen - Blaine 

Lauren Larson - Rogers

Delaney Norman - South St. Paul

Sarah Peterson - Breck

Courtney Stagman - Andover

Annaliese Rader - Mankato East

Jadyn Weiser - North Wright County

The five finalists will be named Feb. 18 with the winner announced Feb. 26 at the annual Ms. Hockey Banquet. 

For ticket information on the banquet, contact Bryan Zollman at 320-333-3279 or bryan@letsplayhockey.com.

A closer look at the 2023 Semifinalists:

Sedona Blair - Holy Family 

W-L-T/Goals Against/Save Percentage/Shutouts

14-6-1/1.27/.949/6

The list of accomplishments are long for Blair, who is a two-time all-state recipient, 4-time all-conference player, and member of the 2022 U18 Team USA squad. She has won 65 games in her career with 26 career shutouts. 

She will continue her career at the University of New Hampshire.

“Sedona is the kid you want in the nets for you game in and game out,” said Holy Family Head coach Randy Koeppl. “She is one of the most competitive kids that we have had at Holy Family and that I have ever coached. She's turned herself into a great leader and pushes her teammates to be better while keeping the locker room loose. She has been a constant for us that has led to all of our success since we started the program and has put this program on her back that last four years. She will be missed on and off the ice. There is no one more deserving for this award.”

Uma Corniea – Edina 

17-4-2/0.90/.958/9

Corniea is arguably the most decorated goalie in girls state high school history, breaking the career record for wins and shutouts this season. She eclipsed the 100-win mark last week and also has 43 career shutouts.

Corniea is a three-time state champions (Edina 2021 and Breck 2018, 2019). She is also a three-time all-state recipient and has been named all-conference three times as well. This season she has faced 501 shots and made 480 saves. Corniea will be attending Princeton University.

“It seems like Uma has been on a varsity hockey team forever, but I truly wish that we had another four years with her,” said Edina Head Coach Sami Cowger. “Uma is one of our captains this year and that in and of itself is an incredible accomplishment, but to be a goalie captain says a lot. Uma is the best goalie to ever come through our program and in my opinion, she has been the best goalie in the state for the last four  years. She has been the backbone of our team since day one and continues to put us in positions of winning big games. She has made a name for herself based on her talent, skill, and records, but she is so much more than just that. Uma is a kid that always has a smile on her face no matter what. It's contagious and every time I see her, it automatically puts a smile on my face too. Even in the middle of a massive game, you will always find Uma with a smile on her face.”

Celia Dahl - Orono

16-3-4/1.32/.927/9

Dahl has been the backstop for Orono for the past three seasons, leading then to a top-5 ranking for much of the past two seasons. She was an all-state selection in 2022 after posting a 1.68 goals against average and .917 save percentage. This year she has improved on those numbers.

Dahl will play both hockey and lacrosse at Endicott College in Massachusetts. 

“Celia is a fierce competitor, a dedicated teammate, and has a relentless work ethic,” said Orono head Coach Larry Olimb. “She keeps our teams level of competition high on a daily basis as she strives to keep the team engaged mentally and emotionally. She relies on her strong technical foundation in her position to consistently make hard saves look harmless while also having the ability to make game-changing saves. She is a student of the game and is constantly communicating with her teammates on the ice. While she is ultra-competitive on the ice, Celia is first and foremost an outstanding teammate, who brings others up with her encouragement and relaxed style. All of these attributes are what make her a good contender for goalie of the year.”

Hailey Hansen – Blaine

13-12-1/1.89/.934/7

Blaine’s 6-overtime game against Anoka made headlines due to Gretchen Paaverud’s 89 saves on 91 shots, setting a high school record. The other goalie in that game was Hansen who faced 50 shots, stopping 49 of them to give a team a chance to win, which they did 2-1.

That has been the story for Hansen during her tenure as the Bengals goalie. A three-year team captain, she has been the backbone of her team, keeping them in games on a consistent basis. Despite her small frame (5’3”), her athleticism and competitive nature stands out to make her one of the top 10 goalies in the state. She is a 3-time all-state selection and  5-time all-conference selection and has made more than 3,000 saves in her career.

She will continue her hockey career at Minnesota State-Mankato.

“There is not a goalie around that can match everything she brings to the table her skill, athleticism, desire, talent, quality of kid, leader, and any other intangible you can think of are unmatched,” said Blaine Head Coach Steve Guider. “There may be a candidate that may be better in a couple of categories, but none match the whole package. I know that because I have coached the best female goaltenders in the world and this kid as the whole package is as good as it gets. Hailey wins games for us by making saves that I don't think any other goalie in the state could make. No goaltender matches her athleticism. There is not a goaltender in the nation that I would trade her for.”

Lauren Larson – Rogers

6-6-0/1.89/.936/1

Larson has split time this season and has put up impressive numbers for Rogers, facing 373 shots and making 349 saves. 

Her .936 save percentage ranks up there with the best in the state. She will continue her hockey career at Sacred Heart University.

“Lauren is one of the most consistently hard working and humble players you will ever meet,” said head coach Emily Achterkirch. “Her presence in the net is unmatched, her head is always in the game and her skill in stopping the puck is so fun to watch. Not only, does she compete every day in practices and games, she is a leader in the classroom with very impressive grades. She will never be the loudest in the room, but when she does speak up, what she has to say is very impactful. Lauren is a great leader by example that many players on our team look up to.”

Delaney Norman - South St. Paul

15-5-1/1.38/.934/6

Norman earned Metro East conference Goalie of the Year last season and is off to another great start this season with a 15-5-1 record and a1.38 goals against average on top of an impressive .934 save percentage.

She currently owns four South St. Paul goalie records: wins, games played, shutouts and minutes played. She is second in save percentage. She has won 74 games and has posted 27 shutouts in her career. 

She is currently uncommitted.

"All coaches know the value of having a great goalie on their team and Delaney has been outstanding during her 5-year career at South St. Paul as our varsity goaltender,” said head coach Dave Palmquist. “Watching Delaney play over the past years she is all about the most important word for a goaltender (consistency). During her career she has put her team in a position to be in every game. Delaney has stepped up to be a team captain her senior year. It has truly been a pleasure to watch Delaney grow and excel over her career.”

Sarah Peterson – Breck

5-13-1/2.35/.938/3

Breck, a perennial power in Class A hockey with three state titles in the past five years, are going through a small rebuilding process with a young squad. While Peterson’s record doesn’t stand out, her ability between the pipes does. She has faced 770 shots this season and made 742 saves for a .938 save percentage. 

She is also the career saves leader in the storied Breck program. She will continue her hockey career at Bowdoin College in Maine.

“Sarah is once again the backbone of a very young and inexperienced team,” said head coach Tricia Luoma. “She is a leader in the locker room, on the ice and in the classroom. Sarah maintains a 4.0 GPA while playing two varsity sports. Sarah is poised and calm in the net. She is so positionally sound that she makes most saves look easy. She prepares and executes like any top goalie. Sarah is an amazing young woman. Numerous coaches and referees have made a point of letting us know just how great Sarah is.....even in the quick interactions she has with others. She will have a great college career and we wish her all the best!”

Courtney Stagman – Andover

23-3-0/1.12/.934/11

All Courtney Stagman does is win. The senior netminder has a 68-4 record between the pipes, including a 27-0 run last year when Andover took home the Class AA state title with an undefeated season.

This year Stagman is 23-3-0 with a .934 save percentage, facing 442 shots and allowing just 29 goals. She is a two-time state champion for the Huskies, who will be looking to compete for No. 3 in a couple weeks. She will continue her hockey career at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire. 

“Courtney has been an instrumental part of our success these last four years in which she has won two state championships her freshman and junior seasons,” said head coach Melissa Volk. “She has played big for us in big games and is relied upon to play almost every minute since her sophomore season. She is well rounded in every aspect of life. I am proud of her work ethic that has contributed so much to our high school program in addition to our youth hockey program that she spends so much time with. All the little girls love her due to her dedication to our program!”

Annaliese Rader

Mankato East

19-6-0/1.25/.944/9

Despite only being the starting goalie for two seasons, Rader is expected to hold most goalie records at Mankato East. She has faced 553 shots and only let by 31 goals on her way to an impressive .944 save percentage. An all-conference pick in 2022 she will continue her hockey career at the University of River Falls.

“Anna sets the tone for hard work on our team,” said Mankato East Head coach Amber Prange. “She can fill the role of silent leader and a vocal leader, and knows when it's the best time for each one. She was voted an assistant captain as a junior and captain as a senior and she continues to live up to the expectations of her teammates. Anna is inclusive and sees the value in each of the members of our programs. Anna is coachable and sets goals for herself that keep her in the process, trusting that the results will follow. Without the hard work of Anna, our team would not have had the success it has the last two years, and prior.”

Jadyn Weiser – North Wright County

12-11-2/2.33/.918/5

Weiser’s ability in the net is evidenced by her impressive 39-save effort where North Wright County tied the No. 5 Edina Hornets recently. 

Weiser has faced 718 shots this season while logging more than 1,200 minutes. She has started 51 games for the River Hawks over the past two seasons. She will continue her playing career at Assumption College.

“Jadyn Weiser has been the backbone of our team for the last couple of years,” said head coach Cailyn Oleson. “We are in a very tough lake conference and section. Jadyn has kept us in games that we could be blown out by. When you have a goalie like Jadyn in net your team can play with a sense of confidence that otherwise would not be there. Jadyn has the perfect attitude for a goalie, she doesn't let anything phase her and keeps her head in the game all the time. Not only is Jadyn successful on the ice, but also in the classroom. Every program dreams to have a goalie in the net like we do. Jadyn's spot is going to be one hard feat to fill, but we know she is going to do great things at Assumption next year.”