By Jake Schroer
Crow River News Sports
The Cailyn McCauley era has officially begun for the North Wright County River Hawks.
McCauley, a 2011 Owatonna High School graduate, moved up to the area after attending Winona State where she played soccer and coached in the hockey program. McCauley currently teaches math at STMA High School and coaches in the soccer program.
The River Hawks finished 9-15-1 last season, losing seven of their final eight games down the stretch before falling in overtime to Sartell/Sauk Rapids in their lone section playoff game.
McCauley hopes to bring a spark to NWC. Among other things, she wants the team to work hard no matter what and play as hard as they can regardless of the opponent.
Captains for the River Hawks in 2016 are Paige Jensen, Alana Achterkirch and Rachel Lenz. They will be joined by other returning players Peyton Allen (defenseman), Molly Young (forward), Lexy Fuerstenburg (forward), Allie McCarthy (forward) and Amber Heiber (defenseman).
“All of those girls are coming back and they’re going to be really strong for us, and so they’re going to be able to transition us from a good core group to some of the newbies that are going to be playing with us,” McCauley said.
Among the new players this year are MacKenzie Bourgerie, Anna LaRose, Brinna Martin, Kallie Christianson, McKenna Wilson and Isabella Youngberg.
McCauley said that the River Hawks have a clean slate for the 2016-17 season.
“We’re going to battle every game like it’s our first game of the season, and we’re just going to try to win as many as we can,” she said, adding that a trip to the section final and state tournament would be great.
Delano and Buffalo recently split from their co-op, McCauley said, and the River Hawks will play both teams this season. Rogers and St. Francis figure to be tough games as well, she added.
As usual, the schedule is littered with section opponents including trips to Roseau and Brainerd/Little Falls. The River Hawks host Moorhead and St. Cloud.
McCauley said that the River Hawks will be a fun team to watch in 2016-17.
“We’ve got a good group of girls, and we’re going to have a good team, and it’s always a good thing to come out and watch some hockey,” she said.
The season begins Friday at the Albertville Ice Arena against St. Cloud.