West York's Kim Holbert selected as only female CPIHL all-star
In her quiet, unassuming way West York senior Kim Holbert is pleased to be chosen to play in one of two CPIHL all-star games that are taking place Wednesday, Jan. 29 at Twin Ponds in Harrisburg.
Holbert was selected to play on the MWG Transport White team. It was the second time in as many years she has been nominated by her coaches to be an all-star, but the first time she was selected to participate.
"This is the second time being nominated, but I didn’t make the draft (in 2013)," she said. "So that I made the draft this year was kind of surprise. It’s exciting."
Holbert plays both offense and defense for West York, said she isn't sure what position she will play during the game.
"I started the beginning of the season on offense," she said. "Normally I play offense, but am a defensive-minded offensive person. Towards the middle of season the coaches switched me to all D because we needed more defensive play. I like playing both the same, but with boys I would prefer to play offense. When I play defense in girls its completely different."
Holbert, who plays both high school with the boys and for an all-girls club team. She is not sure where she acquires more skills, recognizing the differences in the game.
"It’s hard to distinguish from what skills I got from high school hockey to what I got from club. I feel like I have improved a lot throughout the years," she said. "There are skills I got from boys hockey I would’ve have gotten. Play with your head up more and look around. In girls you don’t have chance to get hit. It’s also a quicker game that helps with speed. I learned a lot from just watching them and the way they handled things."
Other local CPIHL all-stars include Susquehannock goalie Alex Preggo, who joins Holbert on the MGW White squad. Central York's Stuart Perry is on the MWG Red team. Dallastown's Grant Duvall, Ben Kelkis and Nicholas Werner join Central York's Collin Potter, Dylan Zavetsky and Nicholas Tranchitella on the Shenk Red team, along with Adam Ciccotello from Kennard-Dale and West York's Dillon Tanner.
Four area kids will be on the Shenk White team, including Central's Adam Linker, Evan Maher of Spring Grove, with Nic Preggo and Rick Mann from Susquehannock.