2018 | Minnesota | GIRLS

Northern Lakes | Lightning | GIRLS

Chelsea is a player that welcomes any challenge. I’ve never seen her back down, or hang her head in the face of adversity – and we had more than our fair share of adversity this year. As our captain, she embodied what it means to lead by example. She lead by being an excellent example in her words, her body language, and in her actions on and off the ice. Chelsea refused to be outworked, but she also understood the importance of not being alone in her efforts; she was always the first to pick up a teammate, or to encourage the rest of the group to keep battling. It was the little, almost imperceptible, things she did that really revealed her character. For instance, she was never one of the first players to step out on to the ice for games – she always made sure to bring up the rear so that every teammate got a fist bump and a positive word on their way out; she was never below picking up pucks after practice; and she made every player, especially our eighth graders, feel included and loved. It’s hard to know if she has ever complained (seriously) about anything in her life – whatever was best for the team, Chelsea was on board. Chelsea has a palpable love for the game, the utmost respect for those involved with it, and has an incredibly kind and genuine spirit – one that knows nothing but dedication and perseverance.