United Hockey player Lauren Boettcher has started her winter season at St. Paul Academy and Summit School with a kick. A junior this year, Boettcher is currently ranked in the top five in the IMAC.

“Everything about hockey is just fantastic,” Boettcher said.

With seven goals and 14 assists, Boettcher has played a part in bringing the team to a 7-0 record, with United now leading its conference.

On the ic,e Boettcher is very aggressive and uses hockey as a form of stress relief.

“Leave everything on the ice is what [the team says],” Boettcher said.

Boettcher doesn’t get nervous before games either.

“I’m usually pretty calm before games, I see hockey as a very stress-relieving sport,” she said.

Boettcher got her first pair of skates for Christmas when she was 5 years old, but didn’t enjoy hockey until she was 11.

“I’ve tried other sports, but nothing really stuck with me. I really enjoy team sports,” Boettcher said. “The feeling of being in a locker room with all of your friends is one of the greatest feelings in the world.”

Boettcher’s teammates on the United Hockey team, a co-op with Visitation, support and help her to be the best she can.

“We never push blame on each other. When we’re in the locker room and we’re down two goals going into the third period, we’re not going to yell at each other. We’re going to come together and rise above it” Boettcher said.

The team does a cheer to encourage each other to do their best. Whether they are conditioning, skating, about to start a game, or just finished one, their ultimate goal is to get to state.

“We just say RTS, which means the ‘road to state’,” Boettcher said.

Boettcher has personal goals for the season as well.

“I want to give my team everything I have, whether that’s getting a thousand assists, or blocking every shot I have, or just making sure I keep my head down and work hard when we’re conditioning,” Boettcher said. I want to make sure to give everything I have to my team.”