University of Minnesota Athletics
Student-Athlete Profile; Junior Krissy Wendell
11/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
As with most teams, the leaders supply the attitude taken on by the team. Although she won't take credit for it, junior co-captain Krissy Wendell has helped spread that team-first attitude through the locker room and on to the ice. For being arguably one of the best collegiate women's hockey players in history, the story is never about her, it is always about the team. It is easy for the rest of the team to buy into that concept if the top goal scorer and international and collegiate star takes no individual credit for the team's success.
Wendell has stated that, "chemistry definitely characterizes this team. The whole atmosphere in the locker room, off the ice, and on the ice, is so positive. I think it starts from the coaching staff right through to the support team. I think it's great, I'm very happy with how it's gone so far."
The chemistry that has developed starts with respect. When a team has players like Wendell who accomplish amazing individual feats, it is easy for that star to get wrapped up in their individual success and bask in that glory. For Wendell, nothing is further from the truth. Coming off a season in which she broke the record for points in a single season (78), and leading the team in power-play goals (11), short-handed goals (6) and game-winning goals (9), Wendell continually points out that the only record that matters is that the team was national champions. The selfless forward is a player who when she scores gives the credit to her teammates for setting her up the shot.
When somebody so accomplished as an athlete brings this type of demeanor to a team, and respects everyone she plays with, it is easy to understand how the respect for each other among this year's team has spread like wildfire. "There is a respect all around, whether you're scoring 50 goals a year or you're scoring 5, the respect goes both ways. I think that's just a compliment to everyone," states Wendell. This side of Wendell is what coach Laura Halldorson refers to as "an amazing maturity on and off the ice."
Wendell's maturity is also seen in her ability to handle stress, she as well as three of her teammates must leave after the Ohio State series for Lake Placid, New York to represent the United States in the Nation's Cup of women's hockey. It is stressful enough for most college athletes to keep up with school, their sport, and most importantly sleep as it is, but to take a whole week off to play international hockey mid-semester, seems unbearably stressful. Wendell seems almost unfazed by the schedule interruption and suggests that if not for the schoolwork it would be no big deal.
"The school aspect of it is stressful, it's tough to be out of school for six straight days, especially because our team has been on the road so much in the beginning of the season. The travel schedule is not so bad; school is the toughest part," comments Wendell on the mid-season trip.
If it seems that Wendell is mature past her years, well she sort of is. She says all the right things, plays the right way, is the perfect teammate, and handles everything thrown at her with the greatest of ease. This is because Wendell has been playing at the highest levels of competitive hockey for years. After high school Wendell played for two years on the U.S. national team, which makes her a 23 year-old junior.
Her age has even fostered jokes around the locker room of her being the closest to being a mom. Wendell does admit that one of her goals for after hockey is to raise a family, but points out that her playing career is nowhere near done yet.
Commenting on the aspect of having kids in the near future Wendell states, "It's more of a joke because I'm one of the older players on the team. I definitely think there is a lot of hockey left before I move on to that."
Along with age has come experience for Wendell. She has played internationally and is in her third collegiate season, which she feels adds to her individual as well as the team's success. "I bring a lot of experience, a lot of players on this team do that, and I think that is one of the keys to being a successful team, is having experienced leaders step up at different times, and being able to lead by example, not only by what you say," commented Wendell on her experience.
Coach Halldorson has called Wendell a player who "thrives under pressure," and that seems to keep getting more and more evident as the games go on. Through 71 games in her career, Wendell has scored the game-winning goal 17 times, that means that during that stretch Wendell has scored the game- winning goal in one in every four games. There are not many other players in college, let alone the world who can boast a statistic like that.
Her talent unrivaled, her demeanor unselfish, her character unparalleled, Wendell will go down as one of the greats of women's hockey, even though she claims she's, "not a great skater" and "flies by the moment." It is not in her personality to admit it, but she is a star, someone young girls will emulate on the rink and Golden Gopher fans will be sad to see go at some point. What makes her special is that her off-ice qualities are just as amazing as her on- ice talent.
One day Krissy Wendell the athlete will have to hang up her skates, while Kr issy Wendell the person never will, and either way whomever she is around will benefit, because in both regards she is a one-of-a-kind. As far as female collegiate athletes go, she is the queen of character.
Story by Women's Hockey Secondary Media Contact Dominic Ladd. Dominic accepts comments at ladd0022@umn.edu. There is an old saying that goes, "Talent can take you to the top, but only character can keep you there." As the defending national champions, the 2004-05 Golden Gophers women's hockey team has been to the top, and they plan to stay there. It is no secret that with former and future Olympians on the team, a seasoned lineup of veterans and a stellar freshman class, this year's team is extremely talented. What's surprising is that with all the talent loaded on this team and the success they have achieved, egos are non- existent and team chemistry is unbelievable.
As with most teams, the leaders supply the attitude taken on by the team. Although she won't take credit for it, junior co-captain Krissy Wendell has helped spread that team-first attitude through the locker room and on to the ice. For being arguably one of the best collegiate women's hockey players in history, the story is never about her, it is always about the team. It is easy for the rest of the team to buy into that concept if the top goal scorer and international and collegiate star takes no individual credit for the team's success.
Wendell has stated that, "chemistry definitely characterizes this team. The whole atmosphere in the locker room, off the ice, and on the ice, is so positive. I think it starts from the coaching staff right through to the support team. I think it's great, I'm very happy with how it's gone so far."
The chemistry that has developed starts with respect. When a team has players like Wendell who accomplish amazing individual feats, it is easy for that star to get wrapped up in their individual success and bask in that glory. For Wendell, nothing is further from the truth. Coming off a season in which she broke the record for points in a single season (78), and leading the team in power-play goals (11), short-handed goals (6) and game-winning goals (9), Wendell continually points out that the only record that matters is that the team was national champions. The selfless forward is a player who when she scores gives the credit to her teammates for setting her up the shot.
When somebody so accomplished as an athlete brings this type of demeanor to a team, and respects everyone she plays with, it is easy to understand how the respect for each other among this year's team has spread like wildfire. "There is a respect all around, whether you're scoring 50 goals a year or you're scoring 5, the respect goes both ways. I think that's just a compliment to everyone," states Wendell. This side of Wendell is what coach Laura Halldorson refers to as "an amazing maturity on and off the ice."
Wendell's maturity is also seen in her ability to handle stress, she as well as three of her teammates must leave after the Ohio State series for Lake Placid, New York to represent the United States in the Nation's Cup of women's hockey. It is stressful enough for most college athletes to keep up with school, their sport, and most importantly sleep as it is, but to take a whole week off to play international hockey mid-semester, seems unbearably stressful. Wendell seems almost unfazed by the schedule interruption and suggests that if not for the schoolwork it would be no big deal.
"The school aspect of it is stressful, it's tough to be out of school for six straight days, especially because our team has been on the road so much in the beginning of the season. The travel schedule is not so bad; school is the toughest part," comments Wendell on the mid-season trip.
If it seems that Wendell is mature past her years, well she sort of is. She says all the right things, plays the right way, is the perfect teammate, and handles everything thrown at her with the greatest of ease. This is because Wendell has been playing at the highest levels of competitive hockey for years. After high school Wendell played for two years on the U.S. national team, which makes her a 23 year-old junior.
Her age has even fostered jokes around the locker room of her being the closest to being a mom. Wendell does admit that one of her goals for after hockey is to raise a family, but points out that her playing career is nowhere near done yet.
Commenting on the aspect of having kids in the near future Wendell states, "It's more of a joke because I'm one of the older players on the team. I definitely think there is a lot of hockey left before I move on to that."
Along with age has come experience for Wendell. She has played internationally and is in her third collegiate season, which she feels adds to her individual as well as the team's success. "I bring a lot of experience, a lot of players on this team do that, and I think that is one of the keys to being a successful team, is having experienced leaders step up at different times, and being able to lead by example, not only by what you say," commented Wendell on her experience.
Coach Halldorson has called Wendell a player who "thrives under pressure," and that seems to keep getting more and more evident as the games go on. Through 71 games in her career, Wendell has scored the game-winning goal 17 times, that means that during that stretch Wendell has scored the game- winning goal in one in every four games. There are not many other players in college, let alone the world who can boast a statistic like that.
Her talent unrivaled, her demeanor unselfish, her character unparalleled, Wendell will go down as one of the greats of women's hockey, even though she claims she's, "not a great skater" and "flies by the moment." It is not in her personality to admit it, but she is a star, someone young girls will emulate on the rink and Golden Gopher fans will be sad to see go at some point. What makes her special is that her off-ice qualities are just as amazing as her on- ice talent.
One day Krissy Wendell the athlete will have to hang up her skates, while Kr issy Wendell the person never will, and either way whomever she is around will benefit, because in both regards she is a one-of-a-kind. As far as female collegiate athletes go, she is the queen of character.
Story by Women's Hockey Secondary Media Contact Dominic Ladd. Dominic accepts comments at ladd0022@umn.edu.
