The last time Fairmont and Austin met in girls hockey, one girl from each team was ejected from the game – a regularity in boys hockey, but a rarity in girls hockey.

Thursday, November 18, 1999

The last time Fairmont and Austin met in girls hockey, one girl from each team was ejected from the game – a regularity in boys hockey, but a rarity in girls hockey.

"That’s the way the games go between the two teams," Austin coach Denny Bray said. "Fairmont is always aggressive. Each time we meet them it’s a dog fight."

That aggressiveness is something Bray – in his third year as the Austin head coach – is trying to instill in his hockey team.

Austin is coming off back-to-back eight-win seasons (8-16 last season, 8-15 in 1997-98). Each of those seasons has been marked by excessively high shots-on-goal totals against the Packers.

In an effort to cut down the opponents’ scoring opportunities, Bray has installed a new defense this season. The defense – which Bray called a four-man D – utilizes the wings in helping to clear the puck from the defensive zone.

"In the past we’ve kept the wings up," Bray said.

The defensive switch should take pressure off Austin’s sensational senior goaltender, Katie Fedoryk, a four-year starter.

Gone should be games like last season’s game against Chaska, when Fedoryk made 62 saves.

"We don’t want to have to rely on her to always keep us close," said Bray, who has a talented young core to work with this season.

On offense, junior Rhianna Jacobs is coming off a 26-goal, 15-assist season. She’ll be teamed with sophomore Melissa Dickhut and eighth grader Courtney Hughes on the first line.

Second line stalwarts include eighth grade wing Jessica Petersen and her sister, junior center Kellie Petersen. At times, they’ll be joined on the line by a third sister, seventh grader Tracy Petersen.

Bray likes the overall team speed, which should be able to spark the more aggressive play he is looking for.

"I think we’ve got more speed this year," Bray said. "We’ve got some younger girls that are catching on quickly."

Experienced junior Bobee Jo Lang anchors the defensive unit. More than that, Lang is the team’s captain and emotional leader who is setting the tone for the club’s new direction.

"She’s our leader," Bray said. "She’s a great captain. She’s looking more aggressive this season and that’s very important."

B-e A-g-g-r-e-s-s-i-v-e: That’s what it’s all about for this season’s Packers.

"It’s very important in hockey to beat the opponent to the puck," Bray said. "We’ve got to start getting there first."

By playing their season opener in Fairmont tonight, the Austin girls should find out right away just how aggressive they’ve become.