University of Minnesota Athletics
Student-Athlete Profile; Senior Goaltender Jody Horak
10/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
"She leads by the way she plays on the ice," head coach Laura Halldorson said. "She's steady, confident, and when she makes big saves it gives our whole team a boost."
"I come to practice with a smile on my face and ready to work hard," Horak said.
Considering the senior goaltender helped lead her team to a NCAA National Championship, WCHA Final Five Championship and WCHA Regular Season Championship last year alone, the younger players better take notice.
It will be difficult for the 2004-2005 women's hockey team to improve off of the spectacular season they enjoyed a year ago, but with Horak in net anything is possible. A Blaine, Minn., native, Horak attributes last season's success to good leadership and everyone working toward the same goal. As is the case with most defending champions, a championship season is a tough to repeat. "It will be difficult because the team will have to work that much harder with a target on our backs," Horak said.
It will be just as difficult for Horak, who participated in the USA Hockey Festival for the second straight year, to improve on the sensational numbers that she posted last season. Her numbers reflect how her play has improved each season, and her 2003-2004 campaign was the best yet.
"I don't believe that there is a better college goalie that I've seen that I would trade her for," volunteer goalie coach Jeff Moen said. "Her fundamentals are so strong; she is as consistent as she can be."
In 28 games, Horak posted a 22-4-2 record and ranked third in the WCHA with a 1.63 goals against average. Despite those stellar numbers, Horak definitely believes there is room for improvement.
"I want to bring my game to a new level," she said. "I want it to be my best year yet." Not only does Horak expect her play to be better this season, she has also set a very high goal for herself. Even though she is already considered one of the best goaltenders in the country, one of her goals for her senior season is to be named an All-American. Her dream could become a reality as she was named to the All-U.S. College Hockey Online Preseason First Team along with teammates Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell.
"I expect her to continue to build and get better," Moen said. "From our first practice the year, she looks as sharp as she was from the Dartmouth and Harvard games last year."
Despite Horak's success in the tournament and championship games, the regular season was extremely grueling and a bit of a struggle. As solid as Horak was between the pipes, the mental aspect of her game, which she admits is her largest weakness, hit a snag toward the end of the season.
"There were times where I was just mentally drained," she said. Even though her heart and body was into each and every game, her mind would wander and over-analyze. In order to get all facets of her game together before the postseason, Horak, a sociology major, sought guidance from a sport psychologist.
"It really helped in not letting things bother me - like goals going by me," she said. The February 28 and 29 series against Minnesota-Duluth proved to be a turning point as she picked up her game just in time for the WCHA Final Five and NCAA Frozen Four.
"You could just see her game go to another level," Moen said. Even though this is Horak's final season of stopping pucks in a maroon and gold sweater, there is definitely more hockey left in her. In fact, as soon as her college eligibility is over, the preparation for earning a spot as a goalie for the red, white and blue in 2006 begins. Although the future is a little uncertain, Horak plans to continue playing hockey somewhere in Canada to gear up for making the Olympic team. Playing in the Olympics has been a dream for Horak ever since she was a little kid, and along with teammates Darwitz, Wendell and Lyndsay Wall, she has an excellent chance in making the team. "She's been building momentum and gaining some credibility and interest from USA Hockey," coach Halldorson said.
However, making the Olympic team is a long-term goal. Repeating as NCAA National Champions is first and foremost. It all starts with hard work and determination. Both are qualities that Horak possesses, even though she would never tell you as much. You only need to look at who is the first on the ice and the last one to leave.
Written by Athletic Communications student writer Shannon Edholm. It's not very likely that you will hear senior goaltender Jody Horak leading the pep talk before a game or strategizing the plan of attack during intermissions. She will not be pulling younger players on the team to the side to tell them what to do on the ice or how to handle themselves off it. Instead, Horak lets her actions speak louder than her words.
"She leads by the way she plays on the ice," head coach Laura Halldorson said. "She's steady, confident, and when she makes big saves it gives our whole team a boost."
"I come to practice with a smile on my face and ready to work hard," Horak said.
Considering the senior goaltender helped lead her team to a NCAA National Championship, WCHA Final Five Championship and WCHA Regular Season Championship last year alone, the younger players better take notice.
It will be difficult for the 2004-2005 women's hockey team to improve off of the spectacular season they enjoyed a year ago, but with Horak in net anything is possible. A Blaine, Minn., native, Horak attributes last season's success to good leadership and everyone working toward the same goal. As is the case with most defending champions, a championship season is a tough to repeat. "It will be difficult because the team will have to work that much harder with a target on our backs," Horak said.
It will be just as difficult for Horak, who participated in the USA Hockey Festival for the second straight year, to improve on the sensational numbers that she posted last season. Her numbers reflect how her play has improved each season, and her 2003-2004 campaign was the best yet.
"I don't believe that there is a better college goalie that I've seen that I would trade her for," volunteer goalie coach Jeff Moen said. "Her fundamentals are so strong; she is as consistent as she can be."
In 28 games, Horak posted a 22-4-2 record and ranked third in the WCHA with a 1.63 goals against average. Despite those stellar numbers, Horak definitely believes there is room for improvement.
"I want to bring my game to a new level," she said. "I want it to be my best year yet." Not only does Horak expect her play to be better this season, she has also set a very high goal for herself. Even though she is already considered one of the best goaltenders in the country, one of her goals for her senior season is to be named an All-American. Her dream could become a reality as she was named to the All-U.S. College Hockey Online Preseason First Team along with teammates Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell.
"I expect her to continue to build and get better," Moen said. "From our first practice the year, she looks as sharp as she was from the Dartmouth and Harvard games last year."
Despite Horak's success in the tournament and championship games, the regular season was extremely grueling and a bit of a struggle. As solid as Horak was between the pipes, the mental aspect of her game, which she admits is her largest weakness, hit a snag toward the end of the season.
"There were times where I was just mentally drained," she said. Even though her heart and body was into each and every game, her mind would wander and over-analyze. In order to get all facets of her game together before the postseason, Horak, a sociology major, sought guidance from a sport psychologist.
"It really helped in not letting things bother me - like goals going by me," she said. The February 28 and 29 series against Minnesota-Duluth proved to be a turning point as she picked up her game just in time for the WCHA Final Five and NCAA Frozen Four.
"You could just see her game go to another level," Moen said. Even though this is Horak's final season of stopping pucks in a maroon and gold sweater, there is definitely more hockey left in her. In fact, as soon as her college eligibility is over, the preparation for earning a spot as a goalie for the red, white and blue in 2006 begins. Although the future is a little uncertain, Horak plans to continue playing hockey somewhere in Canada to gear up for making the Olympic team. Playing in the Olympics has been a dream for Horak ever since she was a little kid, and along with teammates Darwitz, Wendell and Lyndsay Wall, she has an excellent chance in making the team. "She's been building momentum and gaining some credibility and interest from USA Hockey," coach Halldorson said.
However, making the Olympic team is a long-term goal. Repeating as NCAA National Champions is first and foremost. It all starts with hard work and determination. Both are qualities that Horak possesses, even though she would never tell you as much. You only need to look at who is the first on the ice and the last one to leave.
Written by Athletic Communications student writer Shannon Edholm.
