Growing up in Aldergrove, British Columbia, Amy and Sarah Potomak watched Daniel and Henrik Sedin light up the lamp for the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. Now, the Potomak sisters are making an impact as siblings themselves for Minnesota.
This season, head coach Brad Frost formed the “Pots and Pan” line, which comprises of Amy Potomak on right wing, Sarah Potomak at left wing and Minnesota captain Kelly Pannek at center.
Pannek said her responsibility as the center is to anchor the line both physically and mentally.
“That’s something all three of us can do at different times,” Pannek said. “At any point, it can be either one of us [and] not just me.”
In four games, the “Pots and Pan” line has scored 10 points — Pannek has four and the sisters have three points each. Pannek has scored two goals, while each Potomak has scored once.
Frost said all three players compliment each other with their different skill sets.
“They’re so skilled that sometimes its just a matter of using that skill to their advantage and simplifying the game,” Frost said. “They’ve got the skill and the ability to do so. That will come [eventually].”
The “Pots and Pan” line started in Friday’s game against Minnesota-Duluth, but the line of Nicole Schammel, Taylor Wente and Grace Zumwinkle supplanted it on Saturday.
Schammel, Wente and Zumwinkle was the top line for Minnesota last season. The trio combined for 95 points and accounted for almost half of Minnesota’s cumulative point total last season.
Amy Potomak said there’s little competition between the two lines.
“Whenever the puck goes in the net, everyone’s excited,” she said. “We always root for each other. We go hard against each other in practice to make each other better. We’re all happy for each other.”
In her collegiate debut on Sept. 28, Amy Potomak scored her first goal in Minnesota’s 4-2 victory over Mercyhurst. Pannek scored in the third period. The next day, Sarah Potomak scored her first goal of the season in the Gopher’s 5-0 victory over Mercyhurst. During the Mercyhurst series, the line combined for eight points.
Sarah Potomak said playing with her sister is the fulfillment of a childhood wish.
“It’s something we’ve always dreamed of being able to do together,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for us. We both committed to the same school to be together. [Being] on the same line too is special.”
Minnesota’s players have recorded 42 points this season. The “Pots and Pan” line is responsible for nearly one quarter of those points.
Amy Potomak said it’s been a fun experience to play with her sister and a Winter Olympian in Pannek.
“Both are talented and skilled players,” she said. “Both are helpful on the bench. They’ve showed me what to do and what not to do. They’ve made me a better hockey player.”
