Hailey Armstrong is returning as captain of Bemidji State's women's hockey team. The roster has elevated expectations, and they'll lean on their veteran captain to lead the way.
Hailey Armstrong is one of 21 veterans returning to the Bemidji State women's hockey roster this season.
She was Bemidji State's leading goal scorer last season notching 16 goals and 22 points in 36 games. This year, she'll again captain the Beavers, taking on a role that head coach Amber Fryklund says is natural to Armstrong.
"Hailey's incredible leader, a hockey player and a person," said Fryklund. "She does such a great job of living what our expectations are and showing by example and what she does on the ice and off the ice for our team. And so her leadership is invaluable for us. We're just really, really grateful, what she brings every single day, and I know she's really, really excited about the season, and continuing to push to continue to elevate our team and where we end up in the standings, and every single weekend. She's a competitor and her leadership, just in what she does every single day is invaluable."
Armstrong, a Dawson Creek, British Columbia product is in her fourth season with Bemidji State, knows the experience up and down the Beavers' roster this season will be a significant advantage. She said Bemidji State is starting this season where they left off in April rather than forming new relationships, finding chemistry, and learning systems as they've spent the early season months in years past.
Last year was a building block, this year, it's time for the results to come.
"I think last year was a building block for us," said Armstrong. "Every year we set our expectations higher. And so I think from previous years, last year was a step, and now this year is going to be an even bigger step."
For Armstrong, she feels more confident than ever with the "C" on her jersey, and a roster of supportive teammates around her. Having been captain last year, Armstrong knows what to expect, and is grateful for the opportunity to be back in the role this season.
"I think it gives me a little more confidence, especially, already having a year under my belt, and my teammates voted me back in for this position, so I think that gives me a little bit more confidence," Armstrong said. "It just means a lot to me, obviously, being able to be a captain here, not once, but twice, and to have the group that we haveI think it's pretty special and definitely something that I'll remember forever."
Bemidji State has a lone exhibition game against St. Cloud State prior to their WCHA season opening series at home against Minnesota. They get Minnesota again the following weekend, as well as their first non-conference game against Maine. Bemidji State also has a pair of non-conference series' against Lindenwood and Boston College this year.
