Northern Star: Gracyn Schipper

Schipper returns after missing her junior season due to injury.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Northern Stars start their 2024-25 campaign, starting the year 7-4-2.

A reason for this, the Northern Stars have their senior captain back out on the ice.

Senior Forward Gracyn Schipper missed her junior year due to a broken collarbone she suffered early in the season.

“Losing Gracyn was really difficult as a coach and just as a team. I just think we all had to rally together, and we knew that as much as we missed her. She missed being out there,” said head coach Ali Randal.

Despite not being out on the ice with her teammates. That didn’t stop Schipper, as she took on a new role for her junior year.

“I definitely started to get a different view on the team not playing. Kind of a coach’s perspective and a player’s perspective,” said Gracyn Schipper.

“With Gracyn around we had a really good perspective of a player’s point of view, and she also just really helped with encouraging the team. She was able to see it from a different viewpoint than on the ice,” said Randall.

After the recovery process, Schipper is ready to be back out on the ice with her team.

“It’s been awesome, I feel like this year I came out more excited and harder than I ever have before. It’s been awesome, just playing with the team. It’s a great group this year. It’s been really fun,” said Schipper.

Now that Schipper is back on the ice, she leads the team in goals, assists, and points. Not only does Schipper lead the team in the stat column, but she’s a leader for her teammates, something she has been doing her whole hockey career.

“I coached her in youth hockey, and we would be down by ten goals in the third and she would still be rallying the troops on the bench. That pretty much sums her up, she is so positive and always willing to work hard. I have never seen her take a shift off. That has been just a joy to have on the bench,” said Randall.