University of Minnesota Athletics
Student-Athlete Profile: Junior Defense Ashley Albrecht
1/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
In her third year as a Golden Gopher, Albrecht has become a stalwart for the defending national champions, and has become a defender the opposition must take notice of on a team already stacked with talent. The modest defender claims that her success is only a product of her surroundings, and that it is easy to play her role with the talent around her. "It's nice having such a great offense, and we also have a great goaltender too, so as a defender it makes our job that much easier," Albrecht stated.
Whether her play is a product of her environment or not, Albrecht has become a major contributor on this year's team in their quest for to repeat as NCAA champions. In a season to remember, Albrecht stepped in to her own last year and people took notice, including coach Laura Halldorson. "Ashley was someone who really stepped up nicely late in the season, especially after we lost a couple of key players at the blue line. Her contribution increased tremendously from her freshman to sophomore seasons," commented her coach, as Albrecht's contribution has continued in to the 2004-05 season. Albrecht has seen herself improving over the last couple years as well, but attributes this yet again to her supporting staff, which she claims have made her the player she is. "Every day you are getting better. Every day you are working with the some of the best players in women's hockey, so obviously you are going to get better," Albrecht commented on her progress.
Part of the reason Albrecht has found a niche in the Golden Gopher's top lines is that she is not quite your typical defender either. Her strong skating, passing, and puck handling provide a contrast to the aggressive "in your face" style that teammate Lyndsay Wall brings. Albrecht plays a "smart" defense, demonstrating an uncanny ability to know where everyone is on the ice, as demonstrated by a spectacular game-winning assist to senior Kelly Stephens in an overtime victory over Dartmouth earlier this season, the number two- ranked team in the country at the time.
Another glaring difference that sticks out about Albrecht is her lack of penalty minutes. While more aggressive defenders find themselves in the box for two to four minutes a game, Albrecht has only seen the penalty box 13 times for 26 minutes over her entire career. It's not that she is sneaky and gets away with penalties either. When asked about her ability to avoid the penalty box Albrecht said, "I tend not to get penalties. I'm not that kind of a player, and never really have been."
Albrecht's finesse approach to defense has been a positive piece of the puzzle for the 2004-05 Golden Gophers, as they are off to a spectacular start. Many, including Albrecht, believe that this year's team has more potential than last year's national championship team because of the unique chemistry, which has surfaced this season. For a team to have great chemistry it all starts with great leadership, but Albrecht thinks that this year's freshman class has just as much to do with it.
"Ever since these freshmen came in here, everything has just clicked. We all get along on and off the ice, even with a group of different personalities. Not to take anything away from last year's team, but the freshmen this year have helped out our team so much. I think that's a key thing for us," Albrecht stated on the team's chemistry change. On-ice and off-ice personalities can be deceiving. Albrecht who plays with a self- described "smooth" style of play can be seen off the ice with fellow defender Chelsey Brodt who tears across the ice with a fiery attitude which has landed her in the penalty box almost three times as much as Albrecht. As different as their styles of play are, the two are very similar away from hockey.
"We have very, very similar personalities. We just get along so well, and we understand each other," Albrecht said. If judged solely on their style of play, one would never guess they could be so similar, but typical friendships usually combine people who are different in some way.
As Albrecht's career has started to pick up steam, the South St. Paul native has stayed grounded, but as the WCHA and NCAA playoffs near her contributions will be needed more and more. Her experience this season and in the past is preparing her for her senior season, in which major holes will need to be filled due to the 2006 Olympics and graduation. With a new goalie, a large group of underclassmen and the typical goal scorers gone, who better to lead the Golden Gophers than the person who has found success playing defense in her own no-nonsense, no penalty, smooth-skating way?
Albrecht's time to lead will come, but for now she's content being that typical college- aged woman. Oh, wait, that typical college-aged woman who is also a great hockey player.
story by D. Austin Ladd, Athletics Communications Graduate Assistant In many ways Ashley Albrecht could be deemed your typical college-aged woman. She's a bright, young, effeminate girl working diligently to earn her business marketing and education degree, while taking the necessary time away to shop and hang out with her friends. Sounds typical, right? Well there's an exception. Unlike 99.9 percent of women Albrecht's age, Ashley is also a great hockey player.
In her third year as a Golden Gopher, Albrecht has become a stalwart for the defending national champions, and has become a defender the opposition must take notice of on a team already stacked with talent. The modest defender claims that her success is only a product of her surroundings, and that it is easy to play her role with the talent around her. "It's nice having such a great offense, and we also have a great goaltender too, so as a defender it makes our job that much easier," Albrecht stated.
Whether her play is a product of her environment or not, Albrecht has become a major contributor on this year's team in their quest for to repeat as NCAA champions. In a season to remember, Albrecht stepped in to her own last year and people took notice, including coach Laura Halldorson. "Ashley was someone who really stepped up nicely late in the season, especially after we lost a couple of key players at the blue line. Her contribution increased tremendously from her freshman to sophomore seasons," commented her coach, as Albrecht's contribution has continued in to the 2004-05 season. Albrecht has seen herself improving over the last couple years as well, but attributes this yet again to her supporting staff, which she claims have made her the player she is. "Every day you are getting better. Every day you are working with the some of the best players in women's hockey, so obviously you are going to get better," Albrecht commented on her progress.
Part of the reason Albrecht has found a niche in the Golden Gopher's top lines is that she is not quite your typical defender either. Her strong skating, passing, and puck handling provide a contrast to the aggressive "in your face" style that teammate Lyndsay Wall brings. Albrecht plays a "smart" defense, demonstrating an uncanny ability to know where everyone is on the ice, as demonstrated by a spectacular game-winning assist to senior Kelly Stephens in an overtime victory over Dartmouth earlier this season, the number two- ranked team in the country at the time.
Another glaring difference that sticks out about Albrecht is her lack of penalty minutes. While more aggressive defenders find themselves in the box for two to four minutes a game, Albrecht has only seen the penalty box 13 times for 26 minutes over her entire career. It's not that she is sneaky and gets away with penalties either. When asked about her ability to avoid the penalty box Albrecht said, "I tend not to get penalties. I'm not that kind of a player, and never really have been."
Albrecht's finesse approach to defense has been a positive piece of the puzzle for the 2004-05 Golden Gophers, as they are off to a spectacular start. Many, including Albrecht, believe that this year's team has more potential than last year's national championship team because of the unique chemistry, which has surfaced this season. For a team to have great chemistry it all starts with great leadership, but Albrecht thinks that this year's freshman class has just as much to do with it.
"Ever since these freshmen came in here, everything has just clicked. We all get along on and off the ice, even with a group of different personalities. Not to take anything away from last year's team, but the freshmen this year have helped out our team so much. I think that's a key thing for us," Albrecht stated on the team's chemistry change. On-ice and off-ice personalities can be deceiving. Albrecht who plays with a self- described "smooth" style of play can be seen off the ice with fellow defender Chelsey Brodt who tears across the ice with a fiery attitude which has landed her in the penalty box almost three times as much as Albrecht. As different as their styles of play are, the two are very similar away from hockey.
"We have very, very similar personalities. We just get along so well, and we understand each other," Albrecht said. If judged solely on their style of play, one would never guess they could be so similar, but typical friendships usually combine people who are different in some way.
As Albrecht's career has started to pick up steam, the South St. Paul native has stayed grounded, but as the WCHA and NCAA playoffs near her contributions will be needed more and more. Her experience this season and in the past is preparing her for her senior season, in which major holes will need to be filled due to the 2006 Olympics and graduation. With a new goalie, a large group of underclassmen and the typical goal scorers gone, who better to lead the Golden Gophers than the person who has found success playing defense in her own no-nonsense, no penalty, smooth-skating way?
Albrecht's time to lead will come, but for now she's content being that typical college- aged woman. Oh, wait, that typical college-aged woman who is also a great hockey player.
story by D. Austin Ladd, Athletics Communications Graduate Assistant
