Published - Friday, August 05, 2005

Paulson receiving Division 1 interest; Hanson makes Team Wisconsin

By CRAIG OTTO/Staff writer

When Ashley Paulson was completing her junior season with the Onalaska High School girls hockey team in March 2004, she said her dream college destination was the University of Wisconsin. After a year of attending and playing hockey at the Culver Academy in north central Indiana, the dream of NCAA Division 1 hockey still remains a reality, though the list of schools has changed. Paulson, who was also a soccer standout at Onalaska, led Culver in goals (23), assists (26), points (49) and plus-minus ratio (+43) last season. That standout individual season helped Culver to a 25-11-5 mark.
It also is getting Paulson national Division 1 collegiate interest. Among the schools that have shown interest in the forward are Boston College, Northeastern and the University of Minnesota.
Paulson will attend Culver for one more year in 2005-06 and then proceed to college. Playing college hockey somewhere seems to be nothing but a formality, as the program has sent its 27 graduates since 2000 to collegiate programs.
"I'm happy I made the decision to go to Culver," Paulson said. "The education and competition are really good. I got a lot of ice time last year and I can go play hockey or work out whenever I want."
When Paulson was preparing for her final game as a Hilltopper, she said playing college hockey would requiring increasing her strength. It's done that and then some.
"I've gotten stronger, but I've also gotten faster," Paulson said. "My level of play is getting up to where I want it to be at."
Paulson , who earned a B average at Onalaska, said the academic demands at Culver are also higher than they were at OHS. She says it has also forced to become better with time-management.
"The academics are a lot faster," Paulson said. "You have to stay on top of it or it grinds you up. But we also have a lot of regimented study time. and we have good teachers. It's a nice environment to be in."
Paulson isn't the only girls player from Onalaska who will be stepping outside of the bounds of high school hockey next year in hopes of improving her skills. Nicki Hanson, who will be a junior at OHS this fall and who was a first-team all-state selection last winter, will play for Team Wisconsin before and after this winter's season.

Hanson earned a spot on Team Wisconsin at one of two tryouts for the team in Schofield in June. The team plays before and after the high school season, with games played primarily in September, October, March and April.
"I'm excited to get the opportunity," Hanson said. "I've been in some developmental camps, but this is the first time I've made a select team."
Hanson would have to try out again for the team if she wanted to play before and after her senior season in 2006-07. Hanson made the team as a forward, where she played most of last season after playing mainly as a defenseman as a freshman at OHS.
"Before last year I thought I'd have to play on defense if I wanted to play at the next level," Hanson said. "But I've gotten used to playing forward now and I like it a little better. I think I've got more of the mindset of an offensive player."
Hanson's goals in hockey include attending and playing the game at some level in college. Hanson, who is consistently a member of academic all-conference teams, says she'll still play soccer in her final two years, but will shift more of her focus to hockey.
"I want to go to school and play hockey, but at this point it would be whoever would take me," Hanson said. "I want to go for the academics and focus on that. It would be a great bonus if I can find a school I like where I can play hockey, too."
Paulson is the daughter of Rick and Denise Paulson of Onalaska. Hanson is the daughter of Tim and Pam Hanson of Onalaska.