Clifton Park’s Akstull stars for St. Lawrence

SCHENECTADY (Jan. 9) — Tara Akstull’s dream was to play for the U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team.

Little did she imagine that when she was on the ice with the Olympians she would be wearing an opponents’ uniform. And that she would end up scoring against the team. And finally she would be named her team’s most outstanding player.

Clifton Park's Tara Akstull, captain of the St. Lawrence women's hockey team, was recently named most outstanding player in a game against the U.S. Olympic team.

Clifton Park's Tara Akstull, captain of the St. Lawrence women's hockey team, was recently named most outstanding player in a game against the U.S. Olympic team. (Photo by Tara Freeman/St. Lawrence University)

But that’s what happened on Jan. 3, when Akstull played for the ECAC All-Stars as part of the U.S. team’s tuneup tour for the Vancouver Olympics. The ECAC lost 8-2, but Akstull shined — scoring her team’s first goal in the game at Quinnipiac’s TD Bank Sports Center.

“It was great to be able to play against them and try to keep up with them,” said Akstull, a Shenendehowa High graduate. “To play against them and do well … to score against the future Olympic team.”

It was another high point in a senior season that has seen her become captain of her St. Lawrence team.

“She has been a great asset to St. Lawrence these past 4 years,” coach Chris Wells said after his team defeated Union 3-1. Akstull assisted on the game-winning goal. “She exemplifies what St. Lawrence is all about.”

Not counting the game against the Olympic team, Akstull has 3 goals and 6 assists in 21 games so far this season. In her 3 previous seasons, she had 34 goals and 54 assists. Before college, she starred on the Troy Albany Ice Cats — scoring 53 goals and adding 29 assists in 44 games for the 2006 state champions. She also attended USA Hockey national development camps from 2002-06.

After graduation, she isn’t sure what she’ll do. There are women’s professional leagues in Canada and Europe, and grad school is a possibility. Or she might try to find a job as a math teacher, which is her career goal.

Even if she decides not to pursue professional hockey, “I’ll always play for fun,” she said.

But first, there’s the goal of getting an ECAC championship for the Saints. Injuries hurt the team early in the season, but the Saints are now 6-3-2 in the league.

“I’ll definitely miss this team,” she said. “You develop so many friendships when you play for a team like this.”

For more information:

  • Share/Bookmark