BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State women’s hockey team announced the signing of Kristin Huber (Kelowna, British Columbia) and Natasha Kostenko (Fannystelle, Manitoba) to National Letters of Intent. With the signing of Huber and Kostenko the 2011-12 freshman class now grows to seven.

“We are proud and excited to add quality young players like Kristin and Natasha to join our Bemidji State Hockey family,” said head coach Steve Sertich. “We wanted to add more size and tenacity at the forward position and we think we have done that with Huber and Kostenko.”

Kristin Huber • Forward • Shoots Right • 5-11 • Kelowna, British Columbia • Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy

Playing for the Midget Female First Team for the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna, British Columbia, Huber was second on her team in scoring netting 23 goals and recording 13 assists in 29 games this past season. Represented British Columbia in the 2011 Canada Winter Games where she scored one goal in a 4-0 win over Newfoundland and Labrador and tallied one goal and an assist in a 8-2 win over Nova Scotia. In the 2009-10 season Huber helped lead the Midget Female First Team at the POE Hockey Academy to a 53-3-1 record.

“Huber is a highly skilled player who possesses a strong accurate shot and finds her target quickly with her outstanding release. She has the commitment and ability to play well in the tough areas on the ice, which allows her to compete and win battles. Huber comes from a tremendous family and has been fortunate to have played for Coach David Roy in the Pursuit of Excellence program in Kelowna, BC for the past numerous seasons.”

Personal: Kristin Nicole Huber…Born Feb. 9, 1993…Daughter of David and Jo-Lynn Huber…Also lettered in soccer and basketball in grade nine at George Elliot Secondary School…Proposed exercise science major.

Natasha Kostenko • Forward • Shoots Right • 5-11 • Fannystelle, Manitoba • Notre Dame College (Saskatchewan)

Kostenko was part of the Notre Dame College Hounds that finished in first place in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League with a 27-0-1 record. She was 20th in league scoring with 13 goals and nine assists having played in 17 games. In the 2011 Canada Winter Games, Kostenko represented her native province of Manitoba where she scored three goals and tallied six helpers. Before playing for Notre Dame College she led the Central Plains Capitals in scoring for both the 2009-10 and 2008-09 seasons with 65 points (45G, 20A) and 58 points (34G, 24A), respectively.

“Kostenko is a true power forward with the ability to score and will add valuable depth for us at the center position. Natasha is frustrating to play against as she gets after the opposing defense on the forecheck. She possesses an outstanding battle level along the boards and in front of the net. Kostenko brings with her a tremendous work ethic and the will to do whatever it takes to help her team be successful. She played her senior year in the legendary Notre Dame Hounds program and just recently helped lead her team to claim the Esso Cup, Canada’s National Female Midget Championship.”

Personal: Natasha Laura Grace Kostenko…Born Jan. 29, 1993…Daughter of Michael Kostenko and Lori Drozd…Uncle Greg Kostenko played for Ohio State University and was an eighth round draft pick by the New York Rangers in 1978…Proposed major is undecided.

Bemidji State announced the signing of five players, Kayleigh Chapman (Virden, Manitoba), Alexandria Citrowske (Burnsville, Minn.), Rachael Kelly (St. Paul, Minn.), Tegan Rose (Gibbons, Alberta) and Whitney Wivoda (Fairbanks, Alaska), during the early signing period. With the addition of Huber and Kostenko, the BSU freshman class will be seven strong for 2011-12 and includes five forwards and two defensemen.

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