Gina Dodge's near-lifelong dream came true Tuesday when the Duluth East senior committed to play Division I college hockey at Minnesota Duluth.
The 18-year-old Dodge, a first-line center for the Duluth Northern Stars high school girls hockey team who began playing the sport at age 2, will join the Bulldogs at the start of the 2009-10 season.
"It's kind of a relief for me because I was so stressed about college, I think it was getting to me when I was playing," said Dodge, who also considered Division I schools Bemidji State and Mercyhurst of Erie, Pa. "Everything's taken care of, and I'm playing a lot better."
Dodge, a six-year varsity player, leads the Northern Stars (15-3-3) in scoring this season with 16 goals and 12 assists. She has 69 goals and 61 assists in a career that includes three years with the now-defunct Denfeld-Central (two) and East (one) teams. She has spent the past three seasons with Duluth, which formed in 2006 when Central, Denfeld and East combined.
"I've pretty much dedicated my entire life to hockey," said Dodge, who credits her parents, Deen and Patty, for their years of encouragement. "It was myself and my parents pushing me."
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Dodge, the top scorer in the Northern Stars' brief history, was East's rookie of the year her freshman season in 2005-06 and a second-team all-conference selection in 2007 and 2008. She also is a member of the Greyhounds' tennis and golf teams.
