Edina's Dahl Still Standing Tall in Net

There’s a reason Edina girls hockey senior Maddie Dahl became a goaltender. She enjoys the spotlight—and the pressure—that comes with standing in the crease.

"I like helping the team out," Dahl said. "I like to know I’m their last line of defense, and they’re going to help me out as much as they can and I’m going to help them out as much as I can."

That combination has worked wonders for the Hornets. Edina rode Dahl to a —a playoff run that included four shutouts and a 0.67 goals-against average in six postseason games.

But it doesn’t come without hard work, something the senior netminder puts into her game each day at practice with a rigorous routine.

“She warms up for practice more than any kid I’ve ever seen,” Edina coach Laura Slominski said. “She’s just really dedicated to being the best goalie she can be, and she’s just technically sound out there.”

Her work ethic has been key in her final year with Edina. Dahl admits the pressure she enjoys in net has began to stack up as she tries to replicate the magical run through the playoffs last year.

The key, she says, is to separate the past from the present.

“I’ve had a lot of rocky starts,” she said. “But I have to remember it’s not the same year. Things change, and you’ve got to go with it.”

Still, the team is winning. Edina is 15-3-6 so far this season, currently ranked atop a competitive Lake Conference. The Hornets close out their regular season against the Minnetonka Skippers at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Pagel Activity Center.

Seasons may change, but Dahl’s work ethic has stayed persistent.

Her routine during practices hardly waivers, making her a dependable asset to the Hornets program both on off days and game days.

Senior defenseman Megan Armstrong said Dahl’s determination is one of her best qualities on the ice.

“As a defense, we try to communicate with Maddie and let her make the first save, and then we’ll cover up for the rebound,” Armstrong said. “We trust Maddie in net and we never doubt her back there.”

The Hornets are coming off two straight Class AA state runner-up finishes, and this year’s expectations are to once again have a shot to play for a state title.

One thing Edina isn’t worried about is being out-played in net. Come playoff time, the Hornets have confidence in their goalie.

“I would take her any day over any other goalie,” Slominski said. “Obviously on the ice is the biggest piece, but she’s just a really great leader for us, a great kid and a lot of fun to have around. I tell people all the time if I can pick a goalie in the state, she would definitely be my first pick.”