For the week of March 19 - 25, 2003

Vandal hockey
on the upswing

Wood River girls skate

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Recent Wood River Higfh School graduates Ashley Howe and Kipp Mills brought their hockey skills to Moscow when they enrolled at the University of Idaho last September.

They had learned to play hockey in the Sun Valley girls’ high school program.

Vandal head women’s hockey coach Gunnar Gladics of Hailey said, "They were a welcome addition to the Lady Vandals hockey program. Ashley and Kipp brought the skills and scoring ability that we lacked last year."

After struggling in their inaugural season last year, the Lady Vandals have posted a 14-3-4 record through their regular season.

The Lady Vandals closed out their regular season with a 9-1 blowout over WSU on their home ice in Moscow Feb. 28.

Howe (24 goals) and Kipp Mills (16) are the team’ leading scorers.

Kipp, a 2002 WRHS graduate, was joined on the Vandals by her sister Casey Mills, a 1997 WRHS grad.

"Even though this was Casey’s first year of organized hockey, I was really impressed with her contribution to the team," said Gladics. "She’s a naturally talented athlete."

Following their return to school from spring break, the Lady Vandals will travel to Vancouver, B.C. April 10 to take part in the 61-team Bacardi International Women’s Hockey Tournament.

"Last year we only won two games up until the tournament," Gladics said. "We plan to give the Canadians a run for their money."

Howe is a freshman with an undeclared major. Kipp Mills is also a freshman in fashion design and Casey Mills is majoring in sports science. Coach Gladics is a second-year architecture student who was a member of the Junior Suns state champion Midget teams in 1999 and 2001.

 

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