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MARCH.2016 // MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM 13 Last March, Thief River Falls captured its first-ever girls' high school state title. We caught up with Prowlers head coach Whitney Restemayer to talk a little hockey. WHY DO HOCKEY TEAMS FEEL SO MUCH LIKE FAMILY HERE? "Playing for your home- town is such a sense of pride for the community. You grow up with the culture and support that is second to none. Getting the opportunity to play with your friends is a huge part of why the hockey community is so great in Minnesota. A large portion of the time those friends become family. You grow up with multiple broth- ers, sisters and parents with your second home being the rink. The love of the game of hockey in Minnesota is incomparable to anything else." WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SKILL LEVEL IN GIRLS' HOCKEY? "Absolutely the skill level in girls' high school hockey is getting better. Girls now have the same opportunities in hockey as the boys have always had. There is no more of the 'shame' of play- ing a 'boys sport.' Girls are getting the coaching as well and having many talented members of the hockey community take pride in helping the girls' program develop. A large credit goes out to all the players—they are taking ownership of their prog- ress and have a passion for the game that has helped form it into what it is today." MAKING IT TO STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME— AND THEN WINNING IT ALL. HOW ABOUT THAT? "It was an absolutely sur- real feeling. They have worked so hard and finally accomplished what they have deserved. I was so proud to be able to be apart of it. At first every- one was so excited that we made it, but then we all asked each other 'Why not win it all?' And the work never stopped. "The girls showed what it was like to set your goals high, play as a team and with heart. It was a time of our lives we will never forget. Pretty much the whole town came to the state tournament and those that couldn't watched on TV and sent messages and phone calls. It was one of the coolest things to turn and look in the stands—the sea of blue. The support we had during the whole season from beginning to end was phenomenal and we were absolutely grateful for it. We wanted to make Thief River Falls proud." 3 QUESTIONS WITH THIEF RIVER FALLS HEAD COACH WHITNEY RESTEMAYER Sixteen Minnesotans, including Breck star Grace Zumwinkle, helped the U.S. National U-18 Team capture gold at the IIHF Women's World Championships earlier this year. ON THE PROWL