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MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM // FEBRUARY.2017 20 "At first it was really intimidating because you're playing with these national girls and girls who have played in the Olympics," Alleva said of the roster that features Olympic team members Kendall Coyne and Monique and Jocelyne Lamoureux. "But now it's just fun." Allie Thunstrom, also a member of the U.S. National Team, was looking for an opportu- nity to continue to play and train. "When you grow up being competitive and being an athlete, it kind of sticks with you," said Thunstrom, the 2006 Minnesota Ms. Hockey award winner and former Boston College for- ward. "With the Whitecaps you get to get back in that competition mode. And you get to play the game you love for a little bit longer." A UNIQUE SITUATION Alleva is in grad school at the University of Minnesota where she is working toward earn- ing her master's in biological science. Thunstrom works full-time as an associate product specialist in the Twin Cities. There are a handful of moms, and players ages range from 23 to 38. "It's a really unique situation," Halldorson said of the way the Whitecaps create the ros- ter. "We have players from different locations, different stages of life, different jobs, school and responsibilities. But because it's flexible, it works. "I really like it because it keeps things in per- spective. Yes, you love hockey and we're gonna try to put a lot into that, but at the same time, we understand you have kids or a have a job or have school. We get that." The Whitecaps keep a deep roster. This sea- son there are 35 players who have contributed enough to be considered a part of the team. Practices vary and aren't every day like in high school or college. Emails are sent out each week leading up to weekend games to see who is available. Most games are local, but some require travel to places like Syracuse, N.Y., and Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. The schedule is comprised of mostly college oppo- nents who are looking to fill their schedule with exhibition and non-conference contests. This season's Whitecaps schedule boasts 15 games from October through February. And while the flexibility can make it appear that the team operates in a non-serious man- ner, the opposite is actually true. "We try our best where we're not sacrific- ing our day-to-day lives that are providing for us, but at the same time we all have the same goal," explained Thunstrom. "We love the game enough to make the sacrifices we need to get to practices or to games to make it work." But as with any hockey team, fun is always included to an extent. For Alleva, the Whitecaps are exactly the outlet she needs. "It's really nice because it's my part of the day to get away from life and everything," Alleva said of practices and games. "We take it seri- ously but it's still a lot of fun." FUTURE DREAMS There's no question that girls' hockey will continue to grow. It's a part of the Whitecaps' mission. With the Canadian Women's Hockey League and the National Women's Hockey League (based out East), it's apparent that there is room in the market for women's hock- ey to be raised to the next level, too. "I would love to see the two pro leagues come together and be able to expand to our market and the Midwest and have that be here," said Thunstrom. "It'd be awesome to have a real- live professional team. All the younger girls in Minnesota Hockey can come and watch us and dream just as big as we did and say, 'I want to be on the Whitecaps someday.' "If we can get into a solid league and have something that those kids can look toward…I think that would just be really awesome to have that connection between our youth and where we are now. The game keeps growing." Alleva agrees. "Just being able to play on the team now is amazing, knowing that you're providing and keeping the tradition alive for the younger girls," she said. "It's nice to see that Minnesota Hockey is the place to be for hockey." Boys and girls. "ALL THE YOUNGER GIRLS IN MINNESOTA HOCKEY CAN COME AND WATCH US AND DREAM JUST AS BIG AS WE DID AND SAY, 'I WANT TO BE ON THE WHITECAPS SOMEDAY.' " – ALLIE THUNSTROM