Northern Star: Ilsa Lindaman
St. Thomas commit leads Hilltoppers in goals, points
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Marshall girls hockey team will once again be in contention for the Section 7A championship with senior Ilsa Lindaman leading the Hilltoppers onto the ice.
“Obviously as a senior captain, you have to take on a little bit of responsibility, provide for those points, and then also you have to be sure that it’s definitely a team effort because all of those girls are putting points up and they’re helping you get to reach those goals.” From her sophomore year to now, Lindaman has led the Toppers in scoring, but she’s a lot more than just a nuisance at the net.
“She just brings a lot of fight and grit to the team. She obviously is a goal scorer, which we need.” says Nina Thorson, a junior for the Hilltoppers.
“We’ve got a bunch of different skill levels on our team, but she knows that she needs to bring those girls that maybe don’t have as much skill as her along, so she’s a great leader in those aspects and she makes sure everyone is taken care of.” says Callie Hoff, who’s in her second season as Duluth Marshall’s head coach following a stellar college playing career at UW-River Falls. “(Elsa’s) very beneficial for our entire program, I think anyone who knows her knows that.”
Lindaman has committed to playing for Division I St. Thomas, and that’s lighting a fire under her teammates looking to follow a similar path. “Ilsa is definitely one of my biggest role models and inspirations.” smiled Thorson. “She really encourages young girls, especially me and the girls on the team, to try to reach that goal.”
Lindaman has a bright future ahead of her in the WHCA, but her focus remains on helping her team climb atop the competition. “I think I said it last year — and I’ve said it in the last four years — but there’s only one big goal for me, and it’s to get to state, and there’s no better time than now.”
On Thursday, Duluth Marshall will go on the road to take on Pine City Area before returning home on Saturday to host Brainerd/Little Falls.
