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The three Dobosenski girls - senior Kristen, sophomore Jenna and eighth grader Jamie - are beginning their second year of playing together as part of the Chisago Lakes Wildcat hockey program. The daughters of Dave and Jodi Dobosenski of Chisago City are the first group of three sisters to play in the Wildcat high school hockey program at the same time.

KRISTEN

Kristen is a right wing and plays on one of the top varsity lines in a four-player rotation with Ashley Elumba, Shannon Segarra and Jessica Lorr. She's been playing hockey since sixth grade. She joined the high school hockey program in ninth grade and started to get varsity playing time as a sophomore. Her most memorable goal was the first varsity goal she scored as a sophomore.

"It was my first shift of the game," she said. "I don't even remember who it was against. I had been on the ice for awhile and was really out of breath. I got the puck at the blue line and shot it into the zone just to get a chance to get off the ice. The puck went between the two defenders and right through the goalie's five-hole."

Kristen also played tennis for the Wildcats. This past fall, the senior was one of the Wildcat team captains. "We did a lot better than last year," she said. "We didn't win any matches when I was a junior, and we won half of our matches this past season." As of now, Kristen wants to pursue a career as a physical therapist. "I want a career where I can help people hands on," she said. She has applied to several area schools - St. Thomas, St. Scholastica, the University of Minnesota and Gustavus Adolphus - and will either try out for the school's hockey team or play intramurals.

Kristen loves playing hockey with her sisters. "I like the fact that we're always there for each other. I always have someone I can go to. I can tell them how I'm feeling and they can tell me how they're feeling."

Though he's been coaching with the Wildcat girls' program for several years, Jason Mahlen is in just his second year as the Wildcat head coach. "I like Coach Mahlen," said Kristen. "He's doing things a new way and trying to change things up. He's trying to bring the team together more and create higher expectations, and I like that."

Being on the ice is a family event for the Dobosenskis. "My parents both skate all the time themselves," said Kristen. "It's a big family thing. And it works out nice that we're all on the same team so they can both make it to all of our games."

JENNA

Jenna, a left wing, started playing hockey in fifth grade and joined the high school program in eighth grade. This year, she's skating first line JV with Katie Wilkerson and Laura Munson. The three of them also dress as fourth line varsity, and Jenna looks forward to her first varsity action. Her most memorable goal was the first goal she ever scored in hockey, in fifth grade. "It was against Pine City," she said. "I don't remember much about it. I just remember I shot it and it went in and it was very exciting. I'd never scored a goal before."

Jenna also played tennis last fall, with the JV and varsity. And, even though graduation is a couple of years off, Jenna already has plans to go to college to become a nutritionist. "I want to help people'" she said.

"I love having my sisters around," Jenna continued. "We help each other out and have fun playing together. Today we were outside at home just shooting together. Our parents are at every single one of our games. Dad used to coach. He coached me in U12 for one season. He still teaches us things. And I absolutely like my coach, Mr. Mahlen. He keeps us in line. He asks us what we need to work on and gives us advice. He's always there for us, whenever we need him, even off the ice. I really like good discipline. If someone is late, he'll make that person run or whatever. He enforces rules evenly and keeps everyone in line with academics."

JAMIE

Jamie started playing hockey in second grade and has played goalie from third grade forward. Last year, she played virtually every JV game, as a seventh-grader. Jamie made it into one varsity game last year. In a game at Robbinsdale Cooper, she replaced starting goalie Erica Pitzen late in the second period with the score tied. "It was really fun and nerve-wracking," said Jamie.

Her dad, Dave, confirms that she was very nervous entering the game. But Jamie stopped all seven shots she faced and Ariel Novak scored a third period goal for a 4-3 victory. Here's what Mahlen had to say about Jamie's performance in last year's Chisago County Press account of the game: "Jamie did well for her first time in the nets in a varsity game. She was poised, calm and made the saves she needed to. It was pretty exciting for her to get her first varsity win."

Jamie will likely be the Wildcats' starting goalie next season and is "pretty excited about it." Graduation is a ways off for Jamie, but, at this point, she'd like to get into something in the natural sciences.

"I love being on the team together because my sisters are always there for me," said Jamie. "If I have questions, I can always ask them. And my parents have always come to every game. My dad coached me for three years, and it was fun having him on the ice. Mr. Mahlen is a great coach. He teaches me a lot of stuff and helps us on and off the ice."

COACH MAHLEN

We talked to coach Mahlen about having three sisters on the team at the same time. "I enjoy coaching all three of the girls," he said. "They each have different personalities, but they all show respect toward the coaches, treat their teammates well and are very nice girls. They're coachable - they listen well and have a good attitude. And, they all walk around with smiles on their faces."

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