University of Minnesota Athletics
Student-Athlete Profile; Senior Forward Stacy Troumbly
1/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Troumbly, a native of Bovey, Minn., started bleeding Maroon and Gold early. Not only did her brother, Matt, and father, David, grow up playing hockey, but her grandfather played as well. Kenneth Troumbly was a member of the Golden Gopher men's hockey team from 1948-1950. Following his playing days, he served as a coach for Minnesota's junior varsity team. Since that time her family has enjoyed watching the Gopher men's team win five national championships.
"When I was growing up, you were either a UMD fan, or a Gopher fan and I was a Gopher fan," Troumbly said. "Part of it was because of my grandpa, but also because it was instilled in me at an early age," Troumbly said.
Her love of the sport started in kindergarten and kept growing ever since. When she was five, Troumbly told her mom, Theresa, that she wanted to play hockey. Her mom's first reaction was that she couldn't play hockey, girls don't play hockey. However, to support her, they compromised. Her mother told her that she had to learn how to skate before she could play hockey. So she went to figure skating classes, but it wasn't enough to fulfill her desire.
"Even after I started figure skating, I would still go home and tell my mom that I wanted to play hockey," Troumbly said. "My mom told me that I had to weigh 55 pounds before I could play. I came home with my report card from school and it said that I weighed 55 pounds. I went screaming to her, mom!, mom! I weigh 55 pounds! So my mom caved and I started playing when I was in first grade."
After going to countless tournaments and Hibbing High School Bluejackets games, which Troumbly thanks her parents for their commitment, it was time for her to pick a college. When it came to choosing a Division I school, there was no other option. In her mind, there was only Minnesota.
"If I was going to stay in the state of Minnesota, I knew that I wanted to play for the Gophers. I looked out east, but when coach (Halldorson) called me and said they wanted me to come and play, that's all I needed to hear. You always hear the story about people wearing the `M'. As a kid growing up in the state, you dream of having that M on the jersey and I knew that was for me. I wanted to wear the `M.'"
Although Troumbly's playing time has decreased since her freshman year, she doesn't regret her decision. Troumbly has pulled on the `M' jersey for over 110 games in her career and has scored four points. One of her most memorable moments came on Feb. 1, 2004 when she scored her first career goal in front of her hometown crowd against Bemidji State in Bemidji, Minn.
Although a quiet person by nature, Troumbly speaks her mind in the lockerroom. She tries to set an example for the younger players by providing a good work ethic that is credited to her Iron Range background and her family.
Along with being a Division I athlete, Troumbly is an accomplished student as well. In her final season, Troumbly holds a grade point average of 3.375, while majoring in math. She was named to the WCHA All-Academic and Academic All-Big Ten teams her sophomore and junior seasons. Along with hockey, her class schedule of research method and statistics, geometry and cryptology and number theory is very demanding. She states that it's nice to have another IT major in the lockerroom in teammate Becky Wacker, who understands the classes and the workload that goes into it.
Troumbly states that over the past four years, she is slowly closing the door on hockey, but hasn't ruled it out just yet. If she stays in the area, she'd like to play in a Senior A league. Professionally, Troumbly doesn't know exactly what field she wants to focus on at this time. She hopes to get an internship and gain experience but has no qualms moving somewhere out of the state for a new start. It's the perfect time to try something new out of college before settling down, she says.
For now, Troumbly hopes to put on her Minnesota jersey at the end of March and finish her senior season as a two-time national champion. She remembers winning the 2004 Frozen Four last March as if it was yesterday.
"There are no words to express the feeling that I had when the clock went off, being able to be on the ice for the last shift and throwing my gloves into the air," she said. "I always imagined being on top of the pile if we won, but instead I was at the bottom. I was so excited to be in the pile and be a member of the best team in the county. It was awesome. To work so hard for so long and then to do it was just amazing."
story by Michelle Traen, assistant athletic communications director Like many women in hockey, senior forward Stacy Troumbly knew at a young age that she was going to be a hockey player. Growing up around hockey all her life, Troumbly knew she would follow in her family's footsteps and lace up the skates. Starting at a young age, there was no question to which jersey she wanted to wear: the Minnesota `M'.
Troumbly, a native of Bovey, Minn., started bleeding Maroon and Gold early. Not only did her brother, Matt, and father, David, grow up playing hockey, but her grandfather played as well. Kenneth Troumbly was a member of the Golden Gopher men's hockey team from 1948-1950. Following his playing days, he served as a coach for Minnesota's junior varsity team. Since that time her family has enjoyed watching the Gopher men's team win five national championships.
"When I was growing up, you were either a UMD fan, or a Gopher fan and I was a Gopher fan," Troumbly said. "Part of it was because of my grandpa, but also because it was instilled in me at an early age," Troumbly said.
Her love of the sport started in kindergarten and kept growing ever since. When she was five, Troumbly told her mom, Theresa, that she wanted to play hockey. Her mom's first reaction was that she couldn't play hockey, girls don't play hockey. However, to support her, they compromised. Her mother told her that she had to learn how to skate before she could play hockey. So she went to figure skating classes, but it wasn't enough to fulfill her desire.
"Even after I started figure skating, I would still go home and tell my mom that I wanted to play hockey," Troumbly said. "My mom told me that I had to weigh 55 pounds before I could play. I came home with my report card from school and it said that I weighed 55 pounds. I went screaming to her, mom!, mom! I weigh 55 pounds! So my mom caved and I started playing when I was in first grade."
After going to countless tournaments and Hibbing High School Bluejackets games, which Troumbly thanks her parents for their commitment, it was time for her to pick a college. When it came to choosing a Division I school, there was no other option. In her mind, there was only Minnesota.
"If I was going to stay in the state of Minnesota, I knew that I wanted to play for the Gophers. I looked out east, but when coach (Halldorson) called me and said they wanted me to come and play, that's all I needed to hear. You always hear the story about people wearing the `M'. As a kid growing up in the state, you dream of having that M on the jersey and I knew that was for me. I wanted to wear the `M.'"
Although Troumbly's playing time has decreased since her freshman year, she doesn't regret her decision. Troumbly has pulled on the `M' jersey for over 110 games in her career and has scored four points. One of her most memorable moments came on Feb. 1, 2004 when she scored her first career goal in front of her hometown crowd against Bemidji State in Bemidji, Minn.
Although a quiet person by nature, Troumbly speaks her mind in the lockerroom. She tries to set an example for the younger players by providing a good work ethic that is credited to her Iron Range background and her family.
Along with being a Division I athlete, Troumbly is an accomplished student as well. In her final season, Troumbly holds a grade point average of 3.375, while majoring in math. She was named to the WCHA All-Academic and Academic All-Big Ten teams her sophomore and junior seasons. Along with hockey, her class schedule of research method and statistics, geometry and cryptology and number theory is very demanding. She states that it's nice to have another IT major in the lockerroom in teammate Becky Wacker, who understands the classes and the workload that goes into it.
Troumbly states that over the past four years, she is slowly closing the door on hockey, but hasn't ruled it out just yet. If she stays in the area, she'd like to play in a Senior A league. Professionally, Troumbly doesn't know exactly what field she wants to focus on at this time. She hopes to get an internship and gain experience but has no qualms moving somewhere out of the state for a new start. It's the perfect time to try something new out of college before settling down, she says.
For now, Troumbly hopes to put on her Minnesota jersey at the end of March and finish her senior season as a two-time national champion. She remembers winning the 2004 Frozen Four last March as if it was yesterday.
"There are no words to express the feeling that I had when the clock went off, being able to be on the ice for the last shift and throwing my gloves into the air," she said. "I always imagined being on top of the pile if we won, but instead I was at the bottom. I was so excited to be in the pile and be a member of the best team in the county. It was awesome. To work so hard for so long and then to do it was just amazing."
story by Michelle Traen, assistant athletic communications director
