Sophie's Squad All Celly Team Announced

Edina, MN - Sophie’s Squad All Celly League team was announced after The Celly Cup was captured by Ace Hardware for the second season in a row from Braemar Arena Thursday night as they topped TRIA 3-1.  Players on the first and second team are listed by position and in alphabetical order.  Members of Sophie's Squad including PWHL player Gabbie Hughes, who was awarded the 2023 Hockey Humanitarian Award for her work with Sophie's Squad since its first days.  Terry Hughes and Matt Lee, both of Sophie's squad, were also on hand to present Sophie's Squad sweatshirts to the players that were named to the team.  Click here to learn more about Sophie's Squad. 

First Team Forwards

Ella Boerger (Ace Hardware) - The University of St. Thomas product was among the top point producers last year and was again this year.  She produced 5g-10a-15pts this year.  Boerger continued to produce in the playoffs where she had 3 goals and 1 assist including the game winning goal in the Celly Cup final.  Boerger has a goal scoring touch coupled with a high hockey IQ and a compete level that comes out every night she plays. 

Peyton Hemp (Lake Cowgirl) - The University of Minnesota Golden Gopher will be a senior this upcoming season and she produced at her usual level in The Celly League.  Hemp combined for 6g-5a-11pts in the regular season and playoffs.  Her five point night (3g-2a-5pts) in the REMAX Advantage Plus game marked the highlight of her summer season.  Her compete level was high and she made others around her better each night with a game that did not shy away from or lose one-on-one battles. Hemp is a leader and her love of the game is evident in the motor she brings every night. 

Taylor Otremba (Ace Hardware) - One of two Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks on the first team, Otremba’s presence is especially felt through transition and into the offensive zone.  She was problematic for teams defensively as she read the situations well and had good angles on the forecheck, forcing turnovers, and creating scoring chances.  Her 5g-7a-12 points in the regular season were among the league leaders and Otremba was the type of player who caught the viewers attention at the rink every night as she skated with purpose and something seemed to happen positively for her team when she was on the ice.  

First Team Defense 

Josie Hemp (Lake Cowgirl) - Hemp’s confidence grew throughout the season and the player that had a 40 point senior season in high school resembled that and more in The Celly League.  Her 8 assists featured 3 multi-point games.  Defending well, Hemp was able to transition offensively on the puck and move it efficiently in pushing the game forward for the team. She was an option at the blue line and did not have her shots blocked and got pucks through to the net leading to goals and scoring chances.  Hemp will be heading to the University of Vermont in a couple of weeks where she transferred from the University of Minnesota after a redshirt season. 

Kianna Roeske (Ace Hardware) - A two-year veteran of The Celly League, Roeske is a leader on the ice and plays the game with confidence.  She edges well and can escape trouble efficiently that allows for the play to get up ice and force opposing teams into tough defensive situations.  Roeske posted 1g-7a-8pts on the season with two assists coming in the key semi-final win over REMAX Advantage plus.  The Minnesota State Mankato Maverick will look to carry her success and leadership this past season into her junior year.  

First Team Goalie

Sedona Blair (Lake Cowgirl) - Locking down games in goal was the key for the Lake Cowgirl workhorse goaltender.  With partner Grace Zahn working much of the Celly League season with her National Team, Blair took the reins of the squad and was key to their surge through the standings.  She posted the first shutout in Celly League History.  Her regular season .924 save percentage led the league as did her stingy 2.20 goal against average.  Blair owned the crease area and was tough to beat low and scrambles were held to a minimum as most shots were one and done for the University of New Hampshire goaltender. 

Second Team Forwards 

Jada Habish (Lake Cowgirl) Habish finished when needed and scored 6 goals on the season to rank second in the regular season behind teammate Katelyn Roberts (PSU).  The UConn Huskie combined for 10 points (6g-4a-10pts) in the regular and postseason.  Her consistency helped land her the spot on the second team as she had points in six of eight games played with three of them multi-point efforts.  Puck support was a key to her game; she would not give up on a play after the puck was moved and became an option to score, which she did often.  

Stella Retrum (TRIA) Penn State’s fireplug forward was tough to handle through zone entry throughout the season and was a threat to score or set up her teammates.  She had 3g-5a-8pts on the season and like Habish was consistent, showing up on the scoresheet every night.  Retrum had a point in 7 of 8 games this year. She had two big goals against Lake Cowgirl in the semi-final to help her team to the Celly Cup Final. 

Nina Steigauf (Lake Cowgirl) If you did not know Steigauf’s name while watching one of the games online at MNHockey.Tv, you certainly did by the end of the season as play-by-play man Matt Harrington called her name often. She had 6g-6a-12pts with points in all but one game.  Steigauf had two 3 point games and is a rounded player who finds teammates and finishes. The Quinnipiac forward had a high compete level to match her hockey IQ and finishing capabilities. 

Second Team Defense 

Maddy Clough (Lake Cowgirl) is a quality leader who is entering her senior season at the University of St. Thomas.  She had 2g-5a-7pts in the Celly, highlighted by a pair of two point games.  A steady defender, Clough also manages the puck well and makes smart decisions in all three zones. Clough’s experience on the backend allowed for her team’s talented forwards to trust here and their breakouts and transitions were in sync when Clough was on the ice. 

Maggie Nicholson (Ace Hardware) The University of Minnesota senior was shut down in the Celly League and it is hard to find a time she was beat off a battle and controlled players off the rush. Her calming control was a reliable source for her team to be in control when she was on the ice. Nicholson was efficient in denying a team off the rush and then getting the puck up ice quickly while following it up. She had 2g-4a-6pts combined in the regular and postseason.  Her polished game was on full display at Braemar Arena.  

Second Team Goalie
Kaitlin Groess (TRIA) This young goaltender has a swag and confidence about her game that Bemidji State has to be pleased with.  The incoming goaltender was a finalist for the Jori Jones Goaltender of the year.  She was unfazed by the step up in play and posted a 2.67gaa and .915 save percentage in the regular season and an even better 2.01 and .919 in the playoffs.  Her performance in the title game stood on its own as she was key to giving TRIA a shot to win the Celly Cup.  Groess is calculated but athletic, a perfect blend for a modern goaltender.