Kristina Larson

Name: Kristina Larson
Hometown: ANOKA, MINNESOTA!
Position: Left Wing
Winter Team: Anoka HS Varsity
TNFHL Team: OS Elite
Other Summer Team: Schwan Blues

Why I love playing in the Two Nations Female Hockey League:It’s very rough, and very physical, but also very, very fast! Playing and succeeding in this league is a serious challenge, and has definitely made me a better player!

Level of Competition: It’s VERY hard core!! You play against great players every game. Two Nations is more difficult than just about any league I’ve ever skated in….the games are 20 minute stop time periods so it is much more demanding than a HS game.

What I have Learned Playing in the League: You have to move the puck quickly and be aggressive all the time! If you let up at all or take a shift off, the other team is going to take advantage of it. You pay for mistakes in this league.

My Best New Friend from the League: I play on a new team-the OS Elite-which was formed just for this league with a lot of girls from around the Twin Cities and many High Schools, so I have a lot of new friends; it’s hard to pick out just one. I have met a lot of new players from other teams who live across Minnesota and from the Canada teams which is neat.

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Kaitlyn Rolando

Name: Kaitlyn Rolando
Hometown: Lake Elmo, MN
Position: Goaltender
Winter Team: Tartan High School
TNFHL Team: Walser Red Elite I

Why I love playing in the Two Nations Female Hockey League: I love playing in the Two Nations Female Hockey League because it was fun to travel to Winnipeg and meet new people. Playing with other people from different schools really helps me to understand the game better. It is also really fun because teams are drama free and everyone is there to have fun and work their hardest.

Level of Competition: The level of competition is really high in the Two Nations Female Hockey League. Every player on the ice is there to work their hardest and you are playing with or against some of the best players at our age level.

What I have Learned Playing in the League: I have learned that teams that work their hardest and work most like a team have the best success in this league. As a goalie, this league has made me quicker and has really taught the meaning of “rebound control.” This league also teaches players how to play at an intense level of hockey that will help during their summer and high school seasons.

My Best New Friend From the League: I don’t have just one new Best Friend from the league but I have really bonded with quite a few girls from my team. Some people that I have really bonded with and enjoy playing with is Mia Kramka, defense from Moundsview, Liz Walston, forward from St. Paul United, and Julie Friend, goalie from Minnetonka. Everyone on my Walser team is very nice and funny and it has made my Two Nations League experience unforgettable.

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Sara Ness

Name: Sara Ness
Hometown: Carver, MN
Position: Forward
Winter Team: Chaska High School
TNFHL Team: Minnesota Extreme

Why I love playing in the Two Nations Female Hockey League: A very competitive league requires players to know the game like the back of their hand. It is nothing like high school league hockey. I especially enjoy the opportunity to meet many different girls from all over Minnesota and Canada that all have a mutual love for hockey.

Level of Competition: The Two Nation Female Hockey League for the individual age groups is the highest competition league in the state. I have skated on college and other high tempo teams and the intensity of the games are a completely different game. Any simple mistake of turning over the puck has consequences in this league. The competition at this level makes you really step up to your full potential and play smart hockey.

What I have Learned Playing in the League: I have learned that holding onto the puck, stick handing until teammates are open, and passing quickly is very important. I also learned that hard, efficient passes and shots make a huge difference in a game. Finally, playing in this league really made everyone become a team player and everyone learns that you cannot win the game without passing and using your teammates or it causes many turnovers.

My Best New Friend From the League: Many wonderful girls play in this league. I have found that staying in hotels and having time between games has really given our team time to bond and have fun together. Over the years of playing hockey, I have never had such a great team of girls that not only know how to have fun and laugh but that also know when to buckle down and play the game. I do not have any new best friends but some girls that I have really connected with are Leah Jondal from Somerset, Kirstin Mayclin from Maple Grove and Kelly Fladebo from Mora, along with many other girls on our team. I believe all the girls on our team are growing close to each other and it is cool to know you have friends all over the state you can always rely on!

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Maggie Pendleton #77

Name: Maggie Pendleton #77
Hometown: Woodbury, MN
Position: Defense
Winter Team: Hill Murray School
TNFHL Team: Saint Croix Saints
Other Summer Team: Jr. WhiteCaps

Why I love playing in the Two Nations Female Hockey League: The League provides a great opportunity to see and meet not only the best US players at this level, but the top Canadians as well. Everyone playing in this league wants to succeed and play at the next level. It’s a blast being part of such an elite league and committed group.

Level of Competition: The level of competition is very high. The games are physical and everyone plays hard until the last buzzer. Although the games get intense, afterwards it’s just a group of hockey players playing and loving the game. There is an undeniable level of respect between the Canadian and US teams and the players.

What I have Learned Playing in the League: : Playing is this league; I have learned how crucial physicality and speed are in the game. If you want the puck you’ve to have make your presence be known; if you have the puck you’ve got to go like lightning to keep it…and if you plan to pass it is too late you have to know where the puck is going before you get it.

My Best New Friend From the League: I don’t know this is my second year and I have many great friends and players on many of the teams I don’t really know but really respect them… their game – I think a lot of the players hope to be playing each other or even being on teams together if we make it to the next level.

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