Apple Valley senior forward Erica Power has a knack for putting the puck in the net. She even has exceeded her expectations in recent weeks.
Power recorded back-to-back five-goal games for the Eagles' girls' hockey team. She scored 14 goals over a five-game stretch.
"Erica is the type of player every coach wants — a game-changer," Apple Valley coach Don Erdall said. "While she garners attention as a scoring threat, what most don't realize unless they've played or coached against her, is she is one of the — if not the best — two-way forwards in the state."
Power scored all five of the Eagles' goals in a 5-1 triumph over Eagan last Thursday. On Jan. 11, Power had five goals and an assist in an 11-4 victory over Rosemount.
Power has 23 goals on the season, moving into the top 25 girls' goal scorers in the state.
"She's led our team in scoring and plus/minus for four consecutive seasons," Erdall said. "The most admirable trait about Erica is that she's never satisfied. She competes every time she gets on the ice."
Apple Valley enters the final two weeks of the regular season with an overall record of 6-14-1. It only won two of its first 15 games.
"Her overall career has been very memorable, and she will certainly go down as one of the best ever to wear the brown and gold," Erdall said. "She earned a spot on the top line for us as a 14-year-old freshman and has not relinquished that role. As a team, there has been a big turnaround in the record and playoff success due in large part to Erica Power."
