MELFORT 鈥� Minot (N.D.) State University women鈥檚 hockey goalie Lexi Beuker鈥檚 many interests keep the Melfort product juggling 鈥� literally.
At the age of 14, Beuker learned to juggle. Now the second-year university student does it before every game. Goaltending has been a passion for the daughter of Allan and Kerri Beuker since she started playing hockey at the age of 10.
鈥淚 enjoy goaltending for many reasons,鈥� Beuker said. 鈥淚 like the leadership role that comes with 小蓝视频 a goalie. Goalies are always on the ice and they see everything that is going on which they can then relay to the team between periods. I enjoy 小蓝视频 challenged each day with each different shooter and team I face. There is an individual aspect to 小蓝视频 a goaltender which I enjoy as I can control one half of the scoreboard with the help of my teammates. I enjoy 小蓝视频 able to push myself in every practice as there is always something different, I can work on each day.鈥�
This season Beuker has the opportunity to help the Beavers compete for a national championship. The team hosts the American Collegiate Hockey Association Women鈥檚 Division I National Championships April 15-20.
On a talented team, ranked third nationally in a March 9 poll, Beuker is battling for playing time in the crease. In her first start this season, the 5-foot-6 netminder shut out Dakota College at Bottineau.
鈥淟exi is a very composed goaltender with strong lateral movement,鈥� MSU head coach Ryan Miner said. 鈥淪he works at her game every day to get better and continues to take strides to prove herself.鈥�
Hockey and juggling are just two of Beuker鈥檚 many interests. During this school year, she was part of a program at MSU鈥檚 Looyenga Leadership Center that saw her complete 15 leadership workshops. Beuker said her biggest accomplishment was becoming a published author with having a poem in the Coup, Minot State鈥檚 art and literary magazine.
鈥淚 love to write and have written many poems over the course of the last three years as I express myself better in writing better than I do with my voice,鈥� she said.
In late 2020, Beuker won the People鈥檚 Choice Award and was an honourable mention in the Global Sights Photography Competition at Minot State. Her winning entry was a photo she took back home on the family farm.
鈥淚t features a double rainbow overtop of a tractor, which screams Saskatchewan,鈥� Beuker said.
Academically, the student-athlete is kept busy as she pursues an exercise science and rehabilitation major with an interest in a physical therapy career. During her time at MSU, Beuker has earned spots on the President鈥檚 List and the Vice President for Academic Affairs鈥� Honor Roll for her classroom achievement. She has been identified as a leader for the kinesiology department by faculty.
This semester Beuker is doing an internship where she works 170 hours alongside athletic trainers on campus and Dr. Beth Marschner, a physical therapist and professor. She works with graduate assistant Alison Sys 鈥� mostly with the Minot State softball team. She also works in the athletic department.
In order to juggle academics, hockey, and her many interests, Beuker said she keeps a very organized schedule.
鈥淓ach week I lay out a plan, so I know what I have to do on a daily basis which keeps me busy from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. each day,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am in an overloaded semester, meaning I have 19 credits to complete, which keeps me busy from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In the free time I have before practice, I work at my internship or work at my job with athletics. Finally, I finish off my day with practice and homework.鈥�
Whether it be hockey or academics, Beuker has the backing of her parents 鈥� who she calls her biggest supporters.
鈥淲hen I need help making a choice, they offer their opinion and trust I will make the right choice whether it's what they thought I should do or not,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he two of them have given me so many opportunities to get as far as I am with school and hockey as they want me to strive to be my best.鈥�
