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By Sarah Brand
SCSU Athletic Media Relations
Sunday will be an emotional day for senior goaltender Sondra Diaz-Arntzen and her teammates, as she will suit up for her final home game at the National Hockey Center. Diaz-Arntzen is one of two players remaining from the inaugural year of the hockey program in 1998-99.
One of the factors that drew Diaz-Arntzen to SCSU was their strong club hockey team and word that the school would soon be starting a Division-I women’s hockey program. Her sophomore year, 1998-99, Diaz-Arntzen started every game for the Huskies, led her team to an 8-12-2 record, stopped a plethora of shots (588) and was named team MVP.
“She was by far our best player on the team,” said head coach Kerry Brodt-Wethington.
Diaz-Arntzen was enthusiastic when suiting up for the first-ever game. “It was a feeling of accomplishment making it to the Division-I level and a sense of pride knowing that I was part of the beginning of this program.”
One game in particular that she remembers her first year was against Mankato when she stopped 64 of the 68 shots on goal.
Last year as a junior, Diaz-Arntzen saw fewer minutes at the net, but continued to be a critical factor in the teams success. After first-year Laura Gieselman suffered a concussion last season, Diaz-Arntzen was in the net against some tough Division-I schools, namely New Hampshire and Providence.
“She’s faced a lot of shots in her time here,” said Wethington, “especially against Minnesota.”
Just take a look in the record book and you’ll see her name plastered all over the goaltender records. For instance, she’s faced the most shots in a period (30), in overtime (11), best goals-against average (3.69) and most shut-outs in a season (2).
Diaz-Arntzen has yet to play in a game this season, but she offers a lot of knowledge and experience in teaching the younger players.
“Overall, she’s the building block to this team. Sondra knew going into this year she wouldn’t be playing much, but she helps out a lot with our goalies,” said Wethington.
Looking back on the years, Diaz-Arntzen says her favorite memory is the friends she’s made and the good times that they have had on and off the ice.
Sunday will come and go, but Diaz-Arntzen will always be remembered in the history of the women’s hockey program at St. Cloud State University. Sondra, thanks for the memories!
The Sondra Diaz-Arntzen File:
Number: 35
Year: Senior
Height: 5-3
Position: Goaltender
Hometown: Waukesha, Wisconsin
High School: West H.S.
Major: Physical Education
Catches: Left
Year GP MIN GAA W-L-T Sho GA SV SV%
1999-00 9 481:19 4.74 4-3-0 2 83 845 .911
1998-99 22 1171:06 3.69 8-12-2 1 72 588 .891
-GO HUSKIES-!!
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