ALEXANDRIA — Two former Alexandria Cardinals, Jordan O'Kane and Makenna Ole, are national champions.
The pair, who compete on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls women's ice hockey team, helped the Falcons defeat Elmira 4-1 (23-8-1) on Sunday in the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey National Championship. , March 17, River Falls, Wisconsin.
“After I scored the fourth goal, I started crying,” Ole said. “At that time, I was on the bench looking at the seniors and thinking, 'Wow, this is happening, we're going to be national champions.'
“I just started going around hugging everyone on the bench,” O'Kane said. “When the buzzer went off, we went crazy. It was unreal.”
Even more surprising was the season in which the team worked together to reach the national championship game, finishing an undefeated season with a record of 31-0.
“It takes great chemistry. [to have an undefeated, title-winning team]”I think everyone wants that,” Ole said. You have to play as a team and be unselfish. Our coaches always say there should be no distractions on the ice, but we also have fun. Don't take yourself too seriously and just play around. ”
O'Kane said, “My coach is also telling me to take it one game at a time.'' “We also probably spent more time conditioning than any other team, which gave us an advantage.”
“I didn't like all that conditioning, but it was worth it,” Ole laughed.
Both players are in their second year with the Falcons and talked about how their teammates have become like a second family to them. There's nothing special about growing, competing, and winning with a new family.
Ole had a sensational few seasons in River Falls. She has been named an All-American by the National Hockey Coaches Association in consecutive seasons and is one of the highest scoring defensive players in the nation. This season, she had 13 goals and 22 assists (35 points) and scored the first goal in the championship game.
“We were in the sweet spot on the power play,” Ole said. “My roommate, Madison Lavergne, told me before the game that I was going to score. She was never wrong, but I wasn't sure. I screamed when the shot went in. I scored the first goal. “I was ready to get to know the team. We always say it's enough to get the first one and then we'll start moving, and that's what we did. ”
Carly Lynch / UW-RF
“When we scouted Makenna out of high school, we didn't expect her to get so good so quickly,” UW-RF head coach Joe Cranston said. “She's improved in everything. You can't just show up as a freshman and be this good. Her contributions at this point are unbelievable. She's an unbelievable hockey player. She pushes herself very hard and is humble. She continues to push herself. She went to the rink every day with a smile on her face.”
“My time here has deepened my love for hockey. My hockey IQ has improved and people tell me I'm faster,” Ole said. “It also made me more outgoing and outgoing.”
Ole's fellow Cardinal O'Kane has appeared in goal for the Falcons six times this year. She posted two shutouts, 61 saves and allowed just five goals.
This season, she ranked behind senior Jordan O'Connor on the depth chart. O'Connor herself waited three years to qualify for her starting sport, ending her career as an All-American who led her team to an undefeated season and a national championship.
“Being here has given me more confidence in myself,” O’Kane said. “I knew going into my freshman and sophomore years that I wasn't going to get as much playing time on the ice as I did in high school, which was hard for me to understand at first. But I have a great support system here, and it's “I'm not rooting for my teammates, I'm rooting for Jordan O'Connor, who has had a great year, and I'm rooting for him in practice to help the team prepare.”
“In my 25 years of coaching here, we've only had two goaltenders come to the game and play from the beginning,” Cranston said. “It just takes time to get used to the position. O'Kane has had to take a back seat in recent years, but that hasn't stopped her from pushing herself to get better. She works very hard and challenges all of our shooters in practice.'' I'm confident she will continue to improve and get more time on the ice; right. ”
Both athletes also humbly reflected on the impact their success has had on Alexandria's young skaters.
“I have a younger sister named Morgan, and she tells me how proud she is,” Ole said. “But I don't think we fully realize the impact we have…the little girls who come to watch us play, how much they look up to us when they're banging on the glass.” “I'm rooting for you. I hope our success shows the Alec girls that we can get this far. Sounds a bit corny. Maybe, but keep fighting for your dreams, you can do it.”
“The thought that some of the girls back home might be watching our games gives me motivation to keep going,” O'Kane added. “I think our success shows that we can be just as competitive and have fun at the D-III level. We still put in a lot of time and effort to compete. .We hope our success will help other girls.'' Our area is getting attention from scouts and coaches. ”
Ole and O'Kane both graduated from Alexandria in the spring of 2022.
UW-RF head coach Joe Cranston is certainly glad he turned his attention to North's girls.
“O'Kane and Ole are both really great kids and we're very lucky to have them on the team,” he said.
