Minnesota-Duluth head coach discusses her new young star, rookie Caitlin Kraemer. Some athletes take months, or seasons to adapt to the calibre of play in the NCAA, particularly in the challenging WCHA. Caitlin Kraemer, one of the top recruits nationally this season, found her place on the University of Minnesota-Duluth's top line, and made an immediate impact to open her career. Head coach Laura Schuler called Kraemer's two goal performance last weekend, which saw her score the tying and then winning goals against the reigning national champions Ohio State an "unbelievable game." Schuler was filled with high praise for the rookie who holds Canada's U-18 points and goal records. "She was absolutely stellar, her reads are exceptional on the ice," said Schuler in a press conference. "There's things that she does that as a coach you don't teach, she just does naturally...She anticipates so well." For Minnesota-Duluth, their incoming young core of offensive players will look to build a future that once again includes regularly beating programs like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio State who in recent seasons have edged ahead of the Bulldogs. According to Schuler, having Kraemer at UMD will be a significant boost for their program. "She's an absolute stud up there, she's big, she's strong, she's powerful," Schuler siad. "She can hold someone off with an arm and stickhandle with the other and make the next play, whatever the net play is. So we are so excited to have her be a part of this community and the program at UMD and represent our university." The feeling however is mutual, as Kraemer, who spent last season with the OWHL's Waterloo Ravens is also grateful to be playing under the veteran leadership of her coach. "It makes me so happy and honnored to be in a program like this where I have a coach like Laura Schuler who will continue to push me and push the players around us and make us better each day." Minnesota-Duluth is set to play Syracuse in a two-game non-conference series this weekend.
