Mar. 1, 2009
Duluth News Tribune

Bellamy named high school girls goalie of the year
By Jon Nowacki

Duluth Northern Stars senior goalie Laura Bellamy waited patiently at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet in St. Paul on Sunday as various all-state teams were announced.

It was worth the wait as Bellamy’s name finally was called as the recipient of the Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year award. Bellamy joins Cloquet-Esko-Carlton’s Johanna Ellison (2005), now at Minnesota Duluth, as the only goalies from Northeastern Minnesota to win the award.

“Just to be mentioned in the same sentence with Johanna and some of the top goalies who have come out of the Metro over the years is an honor,” Bellamy said.

Bellamy is a six-year starter who went 13-3 this year with a 1.38 goals-against average and .922 save percentage.

Duluth coach Amber Fryklund had Bellamy as a player the past three years and faced her as opponent before that, when Fryklund was coaching Duluth East and Bellamy was starting for Denfeld-Central. Then the teams combined.

“Laura helped everyone on our team come together, as players and people,” Fryklund said. “If she sets her mind to it at the next level, the sky is the limit for her.”

Bellamy, who has a 4.0 grade-point average, will play college hockey at Harvard next season. About the only thing that eluded her during her high school career was a trip to the state tournament.

“I’d definitely give all the awards back for a trip to the state tournament,” Bellamy said. “So in that sense this award is a little bittersweet, but it’s still a great way to end my high school career.”