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Senior Goalie of the Year Finalists named

02/19/2023, 6:45pm CST
By Let's Play Hockey

The five finalists for the Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year Award have been announced.

They include Sedona Blair (Holy Family), Uma Corniea (Edina), Hailey Hansen (Blaine), Sarah Peterson (Breck) and Courtney Stagman (Andover). 

The winner will be announced Sunday, Feb. 26 at the annual Ms. Hockey Banquet, presented by Let’s Play Hockey, the Minnesota Wild and the Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association. 

For ticket information to the banquet, contact Bryan Zollman at bryan@letsplayhockey.com.

Sedona Blair - Holy Family 

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

15-7-1/1.34/.947/6

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 66 games in her career with 26 career shutouts. She made 532 saves this season while logging 1,144 minutes. 

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 

18-4-2/0.91/.958/9

Corniea is 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 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 525 shots and made 503 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.”

Hailey Hansen – Blaine

13-13-1/1.90/.935/7

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, including 778 this season.

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.”

Sarah Peterson – Breck

5-14-1/2.42/.935/3

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 806 shots this season and made 754 saves for a .935 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

25-3-0/1.11/.934/11

All Courtney Stagman does is win. The senior netminder has a 70-4 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 25-3-0 with a .934 save percentage, facing 473 shots and allowing just 31 goals. She is a two-time state champion for the Huskies, who will be looking to compete for No. 3 this week. 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!”

 

 

Tag(s): State Of Hockey