Lady Icers' captain named team MVP

Don't ever challenge Ellen Zajko to a race on ice skates. Chances are, she'll win.

The Lady Icer speedster and current team captain is primed to make a run at a successful season next year, and her newfound status as team MVP should help her do just that.

Zajko, a sophomore in the College of Health and Human Development, still claims to be undecided on her major. One thing is for sure though, hockey is her primary motivation.

"Right now, I just love to play," Zajko said. "I just want to continue playing here."

"She pulls us together. If we were ever down, she always gets us going for a comeback," said Anne Leone, Zajko's left wing. "She's got some good years ahead of her."

Associate head coach Jessica Ferrer said she hopes Zajko's reputation will encourage other players to strive to play on her level. Zajko's morale and leadership have not gone unnoticed by her teammates.

"She is like a cheerleader because she keeps everyone's mind on the game," said assistant captain Susie Owens. "She really has a great attitude."

When asked if her level of play has influenced the team and her thoughts on hockey in general, Zajko said, "I always try to give 100 percent at practice. I'm always there to encourage the other girls. I try to set an example, and I try to help out in any way I can."

Zajko's fascination with hockey started about five years ago when she put on hockey skates for the first time with her brother, Michael. She practiced her skating form all summer by racing him.

"She was good," Michael said. "As far as I can remember, she was better than me when we first started out."

Actually, she had some experience in the rink before she went with her brother.

"She used to figure skate, but hated it," said her sister Sarah.

It wasn't until a girl came up to her one day and asked her to play hockey that Zajko found her calling.

"I played all the other sports, like soccer, basketball, and softball, but I quit (them) all for hockey," Zajko said.

She played organized hockey for three years with the Eastern Girls hockey team out of Pittsburgh, and is in her second year with the Lady Icers. Her future in the sport is uncertain after college.

"Hopefully, when I graduate, maybe I'll be able to play with a senior team, or a women's professional hockey league, if they have it," she said.

Zajko doesn't try to use goon tactics to intimidate her opponents on the ice. Instead, her blazing speed and graceful stickwork do the job. In five years of playing, she's accumulated a total of four penalties, including an unprecedented two in her team's game against Chatam on Jan. 31.

Of course, she watched the U.S. women's ice hockey team at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. She was elated at the success the team had. Ferrer agreed the inaugural Olympic women's ice hockey tournament was ground breaking.

"The whole team was excited. Everyone was like, 'Can we watch it again?' " Ferrer said. "(The gold medal) will do a lot for the sport."

If Ferrer's prediction is right, Zajko may get to play on a women's professional circuit in years to come.