Proctor/Hermantown leading goal scorer Izy Fairchild chooses Bemidji State

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Hockey wasn't always on Proctor/Hermantown forward Izy Fairchild's radar when she was younger.

Growing up in Duluth, where Izy's mother ran a daycare, she started playing the sport when some of the parents of children at the daycare were looking to get more girls involved in hockey. Izy's father wasn't too excited about it at first, but her mother went out and bought gear to get Izy and her sister started.

Fairchild wasn't sure about the sport right away — she wasn't a big fan of skating — but quickly caught on and started to excel. Her father soon became one of her biggest supporters (along with her mother, of course) and her hockey career took off.

Fast forward to the present, and Fairchild is coming off a 28-goal season as a sophomore for the Proctor/Hermantown Mirage after winning a state title in 2021.

In late September, the Hermantown resident announced her commitment to play Division I hockey at Bemidji State University.

The Duluth native had one word to describe everything at BSU — the coaching staff, the rink, and the players.

"Great."

There will even be some familiarity with the Beavers when she gets to college and rejoins former Mirage teammates Ella Anick and Alyssa Watkins .

Fairchild has posted 77 points in 48 games so far in high school with two full seasons left to play. Proctor/Hermantown won the state title during Fairchild's freshman season in 2021 with a double-overtime victory against Gentry Academy and was the state runner-up in 2022, falling to Warroad in the state championship.

"It wasn't the way we wanted to end it, but other than that we had a good season," said Fairchild. The 16-year-old forward posted 42 total points this past year, and says that the team's goal is to get back to the state tournament and win another state title.

As a high-scoring forward, Izy describes herself as someone who loves to put the puck in the back of the net and also set up her teammates.

Before heading off to play Division I, Fairchild is working on getting stronger and getting ready for the physicality of the WCHA. She will likely hit the ice for Bemidji State in 2024-25.

This fall, the Mirage standout can be found playing for the Northern Elite 16U team in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League.

Fairchild is also a multi-sport athlete on the school's golf and tennis teams. When she's not competing in one of her three sports, you can find her spending time with her family and surfing on the lake at her cabin.