Johanna Ellison's final high school game wasn't a fitting sendoff for what some consider Minnesota's best-ever girls hockey goalie.

South St. Paul scored five goals on the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton senior -- three of them coming in the final five minutes. The 5-1 loss in the Class AA championship game Feb. 19 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis marked only the second time this season Ellison had given up more than three goals in a game.

"I would have never imagined scoring five on Johanna Ellison," South St. Paul coach Dave Palmquist said after the game.

Ellison faced a state tournament-record 45 shots in her final game and set a record with 105 saves in CEC's three games in the state tournament.

"We've got to have our goalie stand on her head against these good teams," CEC coach Dick Bartholdi said after the game. "She does it almost every time."

Thirteen of the 15 shots Ellison faced in the third period came from the Packers' top line of Maggie Fischer, Ashley Young and Felicia Nelson, who combined to score two of the team's final three goals. Each of the three scored more than 90 points for the season and were Ms. Hockey finalists.

"That was more than anyone could ask for," Ellison said of facing the Packers' high-scoring trio. "It was really exciting. I always enjoy a challenge. They gave it to me every single time."

A competitive spirit and statistics that make her dominance plainly obvious make Ellison the News Tribune's Player of the Year for 2004-05.

The five goals allowed in her final game don't diminish what Ellison accomplished this season. At times it seemed she was single-handedly carrying the Lumberjacks (20-7-3) to the state championship game. She finished the season with a 1.28 goals-against average, a .953 save percentage and 11 shutouts.

Nor do the five goals diminish what she accomplished in her six years as the Lumberjacks' starting goalie.

Palmquist says Ellison, who will attend Boston College next season, is the only goalie he knew his teams would have trouble scoring against.

"By far, she's the best goaltender I've seen in my 11 years," he said.

The Lumberjacks and Packers have quite a history.

• Both of the Lumberjacks' appearances in the state championship game have resulted in losses to South St. Paul.

• In a 2002-03 regular season game, CEC led 2-0 after two periods, poised to end the Packers' 45-game winning streak.

"There's no way we are scoring three goals on Ellison in one period," Palmquist told his coaches between periods.

The Packers didn't score three in one period but did score two in the third and one in overtime to maintain their streak. Ellison finished with 50 saves.

• The Packers' win streak had reached 63 the following season when it was stopped with a 1-1 tie with CEC. Ellison had 45 saves in that game.

"She really is the 'Wall of Cloquet' " Palmquist said.

Mental toughness, concentration and ability to elevate her level of play are Ellison's strengths, Palmquist said. She's not only a tough competitor, but a good example of humility.

"Without any doubt," Palmquist said, "she's the best (girls) goaltender Minnesota has seen."

Brad Marshall, coach at North St. Paul the past seven years, agrees.

The Polars played the Lumberjacks twice this season, winning both games. Ellison let in six goals in the second meeting.

"That was maybe a fluke," Marshall said. "Getting three goals on her is nearly impossible."

Marshall watched Ellison several times and found no weaknesses. He calls her the most technically sound goalie he's seen.

"She's the best goalie I've seen without a doubt," Marshall said. "She's the best goalie in the state by far."

Like Palmquist, Marshall is also impressed with Ellison's competitiveness.

"She carried the team on her shoulders and didn't mind it," Marshall said.

Pat Rendel, now coaching Grand Rapids-Greenway, compared Ellison's value to the Lumberjacks to Natalie Lamme's value to his Hibbing teams of the late-1990s. Lamme was the best girls goalie from the Northland until Ellison came around, Rendel said.

"She's clearly been the premier goalie up here for three or four years," Rendel said.

Rendel said it's clear Ellison has grown up a goalie. Many goalies in the early years of girls hockey were good athletes placed in the net. But Ellison was meticulous about being a goalie and it shows in her solid technique.

"She decided a long time ago she was going to be a great goalie," Rendel said. "And she's sure put her time in."