University of Minnesota Athletics
Student-Athlete Profile; Senior Noelle Sutton
11/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
"Honestly, I'm not the fastest, I have to use other things like seeing the ice and making smart plays," Sutton said.
Honesty is not something Sutton lacks. As she talks about her team and the role she has on it, it's crystal clear Sutton's honesty with herself has been the key to her success as a hockey player.
In high school, Sutton was a goal-scoring machine. After playing pee-wee and youth hockey, Sutton's skills had improved vastly. It was time for Sutton to be honest with herself again. Should she stay at the youth level and dominate, or play against better competition? Sutton decided to take a plunge into the waters of the Osseo girls varsity hockey team, as an eighth grader.
She wasn't there to keep the bench warm either. As an eighth-grader, Sutton netted 17 goals dished 11 assists for the Osseo varsity.
"It helped me develop and play at a higher level and push myself," Sutton said. Sutton's family moved to Maple Grove before her freshman year of high school, but the move had little affect on her success. By the end of her five-year career with the Osseo/Maple Grove varsity teams, Sutton tallied 108 goals and 98 assists. She was a five-time all-conference and All-Metro choice and garnered All-State honorable mention honors as a senior. Her most proud achievement in high school didn't have to do with scoring or All-Conference selections, it was being voted MVP by her Maple Grove teammates four consecutive years.
"It was an honor to know my teammates thought that highly of me, but in high school all I really wanted to do was win a state tournament," Sutton said.
Sutton recalls how disappointed she was when her Maple Grove team failed to win a state championship, little did she know of the championship she would win as a collegiate. "I wanted to play at the U of M ever since I started playing hockey," Sutton admits. "I visited a couple of other schools, but the "U" was where I wanted to be and everything has fallen into place."
Certainly, like a 5,000 piece puzzle, it takes more than things simply "falling" into place to reach a goal. When Sutton arrived on the U of M campus, not only did she have to adjust to the improved competition, she also had to begin to understand her role on this team was different than in high school. Again, Sutton had to be honest with herself.
Sutton soon realized that she wasn't going to be the big goal-scorer she was in high school. That isn't a knock on her ability to fire one to the back of the net, but on a team ranked amongst the nations best, where the entire first line is comprised of potential Olympians, something is going to have to change a bit.
For some athletes that realization would be a major problem. But Sutton's humility and love of the game kept her competing, pushing herself and teammates.
"I realize this is something not everyone gets a chance to do," Sutton said. "Not everyone gets to play Division I hockey, win a national championship or meet the President. My brothers and sisters yell at me when I complain about having to get up early to lift or practice, they remind me it's a privilege to be able to get up everyday and play hockey."
A privilege, yes. But easy? Absolutely not.
Besides year long practices and workout programs, Sutton also has do deal with performing academically.
"It is hard, I've been very stressed this week," Sutton said during the semester's eighth week, traditionally filled with midterm exams and papers.
"Basically that's my life. I play hockey and I go do schoolwork. Being a competitive person and kind of a perfectionist, if I do poorly on test I'm going to be upset with myself. Especially if it's because I just didn't put in the work," Sutton said. Apparently Sutton doesn't spend much time being bummed, she has been voted to both the WCHA and Big-Ten All-Academic teams. Sutton, a kinesiology major, expects to graduate either this summer or next fall. Afterwards, she sees herself teaching or perhaps coaching.
As Sutton's four years of eligibility will be up at the end of this year, she takes a moment to reflect on her most memorable Golden Gopher experience. Waiting for an answer, I hoped for originality's sake, she wouldn't say winning a national championship.
Visiting the White House and shaking hands with the President? That's once in a lifetime material. Rifling home the game-winner against Ohio State in last year's WCHA Final Five semifinal game? The stakes don't get any higher. Playing at her state school where her family can readily see her play? It's every Minnesota hockey player's dream. "Um, obviously winning the national championship is my most memorable moment," Sutton replied.
Well, at least she's honest.
Written by Kevin Morales, athletic communications student assistant
As practice winds down for the Golden Gopher Women's Hockey Team, it's time for team endurance drills. First, the team sprints from one end of the ice to the other, then there are long strides, then they do "figure eights" up and down the ice. While all this takes place, there is No. 9, senior Forward Noelle Sutton, in the thick of things. She's not the quickest on the ice, nor is she the slowest, but that is irrelevant. Sutton is an irreplaceable commodity for the 2004-05 women's hockey team, not because of her blazing speed or dazzling puck-handling ability, but because of her experience, drive and knowledge of the game.
"Honestly, I'm not the fastest, I have to use other things like seeing the ice and making smart plays," Sutton said.
Honesty is not something Sutton lacks. As she talks about her team and the role she has on it, it's crystal clear Sutton's honesty with herself has been the key to her success as a hockey player.
In high school, Sutton was a goal-scoring machine. After playing pee-wee and youth hockey, Sutton's skills had improved vastly. It was time for Sutton to be honest with herself again. Should she stay at the youth level and dominate, or play against better competition? Sutton decided to take a plunge into the waters of the Osseo girls varsity hockey team, as an eighth grader.
She wasn't there to keep the bench warm either. As an eighth-grader, Sutton netted 17 goals dished 11 assists for the Osseo varsity.
"It helped me develop and play at a higher level and push myself," Sutton said. Sutton's family moved to Maple Grove before her freshman year of high school, but the move had little affect on her success. By the end of her five-year career with the Osseo/Maple Grove varsity teams, Sutton tallied 108 goals and 98 assists. She was a five-time all-conference and All-Metro choice and garnered All-State honorable mention honors as a senior. Her most proud achievement in high school didn't have to do with scoring or All-Conference selections, it was being voted MVP by her Maple Grove teammates four consecutive years.
"It was an honor to know my teammates thought that highly of me, but in high school all I really wanted to do was win a state tournament," Sutton said.
Sutton recalls how disappointed she was when her Maple Grove team failed to win a state championship, little did she know of the championship she would win as a collegiate. "I wanted to play at the U of M ever since I started playing hockey," Sutton admits. "I visited a couple of other schools, but the "U" was where I wanted to be and everything has fallen into place."
Certainly, like a 5,000 piece puzzle, it takes more than things simply "falling" into place to reach a goal. When Sutton arrived on the U of M campus, not only did she have to adjust to the improved competition, she also had to begin to understand her role on this team was different than in high school. Again, Sutton had to be honest with herself.
Sutton soon realized that she wasn't going to be the big goal-scorer she was in high school. That isn't a knock on her ability to fire one to the back of the net, but on a team ranked amongst the nations best, where the entire first line is comprised of potential Olympians, something is going to have to change a bit.
For some athletes that realization would be a major problem. But Sutton's humility and love of the game kept her competing, pushing herself and teammates.
"I realize this is something not everyone gets a chance to do," Sutton said. "Not everyone gets to play Division I hockey, win a national championship or meet the President. My brothers and sisters yell at me when I complain about having to get up early to lift or practice, they remind me it's a privilege to be able to get up everyday and play hockey."
A privilege, yes. But easy? Absolutely not.
Besides year long practices and workout programs, Sutton also has do deal with performing academically.
"It is hard, I've been very stressed this week," Sutton said during the semester's eighth week, traditionally filled with midterm exams and papers.
"Basically that's my life. I play hockey and I go do schoolwork. Being a competitive person and kind of a perfectionist, if I do poorly on test I'm going to be upset with myself. Especially if it's because I just didn't put in the work," Sutton said. Apparently Sutton doesn't spend much time being bummed, she has been voted to both the WCHA and Big-Ten All-Academic teams. Sutton, a kinesiology major, expects to graduate either this summer or next fall. Afterwards, she sees herself teaching or perhaps coaching.
As Sutton's four years of eligibility will be up at the end of this year, she takes a moment to reflect on her most memorable Golden Gopher experience. Waiting for an answer, I hoped for originality's sake, she wouldn't say winning a national championship.
Visiting the White House and shaking hands with the President? That's once in a lifetime material. Rifling home the game-winner against Ohio State in last year's WCHA Final Five semifinal game? The stakes don't get any higher. Playing at her state school where her family can readily see her play? It's every Minnesota hockey player's dream. "Um, obviously winning the national championship is my most memorable moment," Sutton replied.
Well, at least she's honest.
Written by Kevin Morales, athletic communications student assistant
