QU Women's Ice Hockey Announces Class of 2021
8/4/2017 9:03:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
HAMDEN, Connecticut - Quinnipiac women's ice hockey head coach Cassandra Turner has announced the Bobcats' class of 2021 to debut for the 2017-18 season. The Bobcats welcome Laura Lundblad (Ada, Michigan), Grace Markey (West Bloomfield, Michigan), Brooke Bronsteel (Mississauga, Ontario), Taylor House (Joliet, Illinois), Renee Saltness (Rochester, Minnesota), Olivia Konigson (Stillwater, Minnesota), Anna Kilponen (Orivesi, Finland) and Allison Small (Nestleton, Ontario).
"Our program continues to achieve consistent success driven by a culture of pride and culture of collaboration. We believe we attract student-athletes that want to be a part of a unique environment that promotes an unrivaled balance of athletic, academic, and social development," Turner said. "This diverse group of leaders and competitors represents years of staff collaboration and hard work to identify individuals who truly embody the values of Quinnipiac Hockey. We are excited to welcome them into our program and confident they will positively impact our winning culture in our annual quest to compete for championships."
The five Americans, two Canadians and one Finn join a Bobcats roster that returns 16 skaters from a 21-win in 2016-17. The incoming class will also be joining one of the most successful programs in the country, as Quinnipiac is one of only three programs, including Wisconsin and Minnesota, that have won at least 19 or more games every year in the past eight seasons in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey.
Laura Lundblad
Hometown: Ada, Michigan
Position: Forward
Intended Major: Undecided
Previous Team: Lawrence Academy / East Coast Wizards U19
Interesting Fact: Laura was selected to participate in the 2016 Girls U18 Select USA Hockey Camp (Top 66).
Team/Individual Awards:
Cassandra Turner on Laura Lundblad:
"Confident, composed and ready to make plays, Laura's comfort with the puck creates opportunities for herself and her teammates. She sees things others don't and makes the smart play. Looking at her individual and team success over the past few years, we're excited to add her drive, character and athleticism to our winning program."
Grace Markey
Hometown: West Bloomfield, Michigan
Position: Forward
Intended Major: Pre-Med
Previous Team: Little Caesar's U19
Interesting Fact: An accomplished sprinter, Grace is a record-holder at her high school for the 4 x 200 meter relay team.
Team/Individual Awards:
Cassandra Turner on Grace Markey:
"Through her attention to detail, hard work and ability to make plays around the net, Grace has excelled at every level she's played. She's a great skater with an accurate shot who will push those around her to raise their level of play."
Allison Small
Hometown: Nestleton, Ontario
Position: Goaltender
Intended Major: Business
Previous Team: Durham West Jr. Lightning
Interesting Fact: Led all goalies in PWHL (Ontario) with a 96.5% Save Percentage during the 2016-17 Regular Season.
Team/Individual Awards:
Cassandra Turner on Allison Small:
"A tall, mobile goaltender, Allison fits well into our outstanding QU goaltending tradition as a driven athlete who loves to compete and hates to get scored on. Last season, she put together one of the most successful seasons in junior hockey, finishing among the PWHL's top three in wins (16) and goals-against-average (1.02), while leading all goalies with a 96.5% save percentage."
Brooke Bonsteel
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Position: Forward
Intended Major: Accounting
Previous Team: Mississauga Jr. Chiefs
Interesting Fact: A great student, Brooke will become the second Bobcat (Meghan Turner '17) to enroll in Quinnipiac's highly-selective, highly-regarded accelerated 3 1 MBA program.
Team/Individual Awards:
Cassandra Turner on Brooke Bonsteel:
"Last season Brooke played an important leadership role as assistant captain on a top team in the PWHL, the Mississauga Jr. Chiefs. She joins a long list of Chiefs alums who have made tremendous impacts on this program. She has extensive experience on the boys' side where she developed an extremely-high hockey IQ, valued two-way hockey and enhanced her leadership skills. At 5'10", she has the size, heavy shot and demonstrated success at all levels to make a difference on our team."
Taylor House
Hometown: Joliet, Illinois
Position: Forward
Intended Major: Health Science
Previous Team: Chicago Fury U19
Interesting Fact: Taylor has been selected for every year for USA Hockey Development Camp, including participation in the 2015 Girls U18 Select USA Hockey Camp (Top 66).
Team/Individual Awards:
Cassandra Turner on Taylor House:
"A big, strong power forward, Taylor loves the game. She plays with enthusiasm and pushes outside her comfort zone in pursuit of personal development. While she already plays Quinnipiac Hockey in that she pressures the puck, wins battles and competes in all three zones, she also possesses a unique creativity and touch around the net we are excited to see grow at the next level."
Anna Kilponen
Hometown: Orivesi, Finland
Position: Defenseman
Intended Major: Psychology
Previous Team: University of North Dakota / Finland Sr. National Team
Interesting Fact: Having already competed in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Anna will be the 2nd Olympic athlete in Quinnipiac University history. Erica Uden Johansson '15 of Sweden was the first.
Team/Individual Awards:
Cassandra Turner on Anna Kilponen:
"Despite the disappointing end of the North Dakota women's hockey program and the negative impact on all of women's hockey, we are excited to be able to have an opportunity to work with Anna and help her reach her lofty athletic and academic goals. Her maturity, international and collegiate experience and approach to the game will provide an immediate impact to our program. We're confident this is a great fit and our shared values will lead to many rewarding, exciting moments ahead."
Olivia Konigson
Hometown: Stillwater, Minnesota
Position: Defenseman
Intended Major: Health Sciences- Undeclared
Previous Team: Stillwater High School
Interesting Fact: An outstanding two-sport athlete, Liv was also named 2017 Pioneer Press East Metro Lacrosse Player of the Year.
Team/Individual Awards:
Cassandra Turner on Olivia Konigson:
"Liv possesses the size, mental approach and skill set we value in defensemen. Defensively, she skates well, anticipates plays and relies on great stick positioning and awareness to control opponents. Offensively, she plays with her head up, gets pucks to the net and transitions well."
Renee Saltness
Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota
Position: Forward
Intended Major: Occupational Therapy
Previous Team: Rochester John Marshall/ Lourdes
Interesting Fact: With 45 goals and 70 points, Renee finished the 16-17 season with the second-most points in Minnesota High School hockey.
Team/Individual Awards:
Cassandra Turner on Renee Saltness:
"Over the past two seasons, Renee has established herself as one of the top scorers in Minnesota High School Hockey. She works hard, consistently pressures the puck and finds ways to get to the right area. Her ability to be coached, her highest personal standards and expectations, as well as her approach to continually develop will drive her success in the college game."
"Our program continues to achieve consistent success driven by a culture of pride and culture of collaboration. We believe we attract student-athletes that want to be a part of a unique environment that promotes an unrivaled balance of athletic, academic, and social development," Turner said. "This diverse group of leaders and competitors represents years of staff collaboration and hard work to identify individuals who truly embody the values of Quinnipiac Hockey. We are excited to welcome them into our program and confident they will positively impact our winning culture in our annual quest to compete for championships."
The five Americans, two Canadians and one Finn join a Bobcats roster that returns 16 skaters from a 21-win in 2016-17. The incoming class will also be joining one of the most successful programs in the country, as Quinnipiac is one of only three programs, including Wisconsin and Minnesota, that have won at least 19 or more games every year in the past eight seasons in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey.
Laura Lundblad
Hometown: Ada, Michigan
Position: Forward
Intended Major: Undecided
Previous Team: Lawrence Academy / East Coast Wizards U19
Interesting Fact: Laura was selected to participate in the 2016 Girls U18 Select USA Hockey Camp (Top 66).
Team/Individual Awards:
- Most Valuable Player- 2015-16 / 2016-17
- ISL All League- 2015-16 / 2016-17
- New England All Star Honorable Mention 2016-17
Cassandra Turner on Laura Lundblad:
"Confident, composed and ready to make plays, Laura's comfort with the puck creates opportunities for herself and her teammates. She sees things others don't and makes the smart play. Looking at her individual and team success over the past few years, we're excited to add her drive, character and athleticism to our winning program."
Grace Markey
Hometown: West Bloomfield, Michigan
Position: Forward
Intended Major: Pre-Med
Previous Team: Little Caesar's U19
Interesting Fact: An accomplished sprinter, Grace is a record-holder at her high school for the 4 x 200 meter relay team.
Team/Individual Awards:
- Scored 49 goals and recorded 47 assists in her senior season.
- One-time State Champion with the boys team (Novi Ice Cats)
- Three-time State Champions (One with Honeybaked, two with Little Caesars)
Cassandra Turner on Grace Markey:
"Through her attention to detail, hard work and ability to make plays around the net, Grace has excelled at every level she's played. She's a great skater with an accurate shot who will push those around her to raise their level of play."
Allison Small
Hometown: Nestleton, Ontario
Position: Goaltender
Intended Major: Business
Previous Team: Durham West Jr. Lightning
Interesting Fact: Led all goalies in PWHL (Ontario) with a 96.5% Save Percentage during the 2016-17 Regular Season.
Team/Individual Awards:
- Senior Female Athlete of the Year 2016 at Clarington Central Secondary School
- Hockey Canada U18 invite 2015
- Team Ontario U18 invite 2015
- Tied for second place in the PWHL regular season
Cassandra Turner on Allison Small:
"A tall, mobile goaltender, Allison fits well into our outstanding QU goaltending tradition as a driven athlete who loves to compete and hates to get scored on. Last season, she put together one of the most successful seasons in junior hockey, finishing among the PWHL's top three in wins (16) and goals-against-average (1.02), while leading all goalies with a 96.5% save percentage."
Brooke Bonsteel
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Position: Forward
Intended Major: Accounting
Previous Team: Mississauga Jr. Chiefs
Interesting Fact: A great student, Brooke will become the second Bobcat (Meghan Turner '17) to enroll in Quinnipiac's highly-selective, highly-regarded accelerated 3 1 MBA program.
Team/Individual Awards:
- Stoney Creek University Showcase Bronze Medalist
- PWHL Final Four Silver Medalist
- OWHA Provincial Bronze Medalist
- Union Fallfest Gold Medalist
- 2 Nations College Prep Series (Toronto) Gold Medalist
Cassandra Turner on Brooke Bonsteel:
"Last season Brooke played an important leadership role as assistant captain on a top team in the PWHL, the Mississauga Jr. Chiefs. She joins a long list of Chiefs alums who have made tremendous impacts on this program. She has extensive experience on the boys' side where she developed an extremely-high hockey IQ, valued two-way hockey and enhanced her leadership skills. At 5'10", she has the size, heavy shot and demonstrated success at all levels to make a difference on our team."
Taylor House
Hometown: Joliet, Illinois
Position: Forward
Intended Major: Health Science
Previous Team: Chicago Fury U19
Interesting Fact: Taylor has been selected for every year for USA Hockey Development Camp, including participation in the 2015 Girls U18 Select USA Hockey Camp (Top 66).
Team/Individual Awards:
- 48 goals during 2016-17 season
- USA Hockey Player Development Camp participant from 2012 through 2014
- U18 Select 66 Camp in 2015
- 2nd Place in State in 2013
- Two-time Can/Am Tournament Champions
- T1EHL League Champions in 2014
Cassandra Turner on Taylor House:
"A big, strong power forward, Taylor loves the game. She plays with enthusiasm and pushes outside her comfort zone in pursuit of personal development. While she already plays Quinnipiac Hockey in that she pressures the puck, wins battles and competes in all three zones, she also possesses a unique creativity and touch around the net we are excited to see grow at the next level."
Anna Kilponen
Hometown: Orivesi, Finland
Position: Defenseman
Intended Major: Psychology
Previous Team: University of North Dakota / Finland Sr. National Team
Interesting Fact: Having already competed in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Anna will be the 2nd Olympic athlete in Quinnipiac University history. Erica Uden Johansson '15 of Sweden was the first.
Team/Individual Awards:
- Three-time U18 Women's World Championship
- Four-time Women's World Championship
- Participated in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games with Team Finland
- All-WCHA Rookie Team
Cassandra Turner on Anna Kilponen:
"Despite the disappointing end of the North Dakota women's hockey program and the negative impact on all of women's hockey, we are excited to be able to have an opportunity to work with Anna and help her reach her lofty athletic and academic goals. Her maturity, international and collegiate experience and approach to the game will provide an immediate impact to our program. We're confident this is a great fit and our shared values will lead to many rewarding, exciting moments ahead."
Olivia Konigson
Hometown: Stillwater, Minnesota
Position: Defenseman
Intended Major: Health Sciences- Undeclared
Previous Team: Stillwater High School
Interesting Fact: An outstanding two-sport athlete, Liv was also named 2017 Pioneer Press East Metro Lacrosse Player of the Year.
Team/Individual Awards:
- 2016-17 Team Most Valuable Player
- All-Conference Honoree
- USA Hockey Select 15 Camp Participant
- USA Hockey U18 National Camp Participant
- Minnesota Fall Elite League Participant
Cassandra Turner on Olivia Konigson:
"Liv possesses the size, mental approach and skill set we value in defensemen. Defensively, she skates well, anticipates plays and relies on great stick positioning and awareness to control opponents. Offensively, she plays with her head up, gets pucks to the net and transitions well."
Renee Saltness
Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota
Position: Forward
Intended Major: Occupational Therapy
Previous Team: Rochester John Marshall/ Lourdes
Interesting Fact: With 45 goals and 70 points, Renee finished the 16-17 season with the second-most points in Minnesota High School hockey.
Team/Individual Awards:
- 2016-17 Team MVP
- 2014-15 Team MVP
- 2014-15 Outstanding Effort Award
- Minnesota Elite League Participant
Cassandra Turner on Renee Saltness:
"Over the past two seasons, Renee has established herself as one of the top scorers in Minnesota High School Hockey. She works hard, consistently pressures the puck and finds ways to get to the right area. Her ability to be coached, her highest personal standards and expectations, as well as her approach to continually develop will drive her success in the college game."
Players Mentioned
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