Hoard hired as Mandan girls hockey coach
Former Minot High School girls hockey assistant coach Stephanie Hoard was hired Monday as the next girls hockey coach for Mandan High School. Hoard will be replacing Matt Strinden, who recently resigned after serving as the Braves head coach the past two years.
Hoard had been an assistant coach with the Majettes over the past two seasons. She played Division I hockey at Bemidji State University, and also served as a volunteer coach for the Thief River Falls (Minn.) High School hockey team and the North Dakota State University club hockey team.
Hoard holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Masters of Science in Leadership in Physical Education and Sport from NDSU. She is employed with the Wing School District as a physical education teacher.
“We’re very happy to have Stephanie (Hoard) as our head girls hockey coach,” Mandan Activities Director Mark Wiest said in a press release. “Stephanie gained valuable experience as the assistant coach at Minot High School the past two years. Coach Hoard has a strong passion, excitement and knowledge of the game. She is also committed in developing the complete student-athlete. Coach Hoard is also very familiar with the West Region girls hockey programs. We’re confident Steph will continue to build on the success previous coach Matt Strinden achieved and will take the program to the next level.”
The Braves had a 7-17-1 overall record last season and made the state tournament as the No. 8-seeded team. However, they will graduate both of their top scorers from last season: Hannah Peterson (eight goals, eight assists) and Taley Davis (eight goals, three assists).
The Majettes went 31-20 and made two state tournament appearances in the two seasons Hoard assisted head coach Weylin Wahlstrom in Minot.
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