University of Minnesota Athletics
Her Time to Lead: Junior Captain Andrea Nichols
10/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
“Well it’s probably the biggest honor, not only because I’m a junior, but also because it is a big role,” stated Nichols. “It’s a big thing to be named a leader of a team. I’m happy and hopefully I can lead the team in any way possible.”
Some would say that Nichols has her work cut out for her. This year’s team lost a bunch of talented seniors as well as four players to the U.S. Olympic team. To fill the void, the Golden Gophers have brought in seven freshmen who must quickly get used to the collegiate level of play and the Gopher system if the team is to match the success of recent seasons. Being the captain of this squad would seem challenging to some, but not Nichols. She is convinced that this is not a rebuilding year, and that the team will continue to be a WCHA and national contender.
“I wouldn’t say that leading this team is a challenge. I think that we have pretty good leadership that extends beyond the captains, and that makes it a lot easier for us,” commented Nichols. “Also, the incoming freshmen were easy to take under our wings, and they are all anxious to follow our leadership.”
If it seems like Nichols is confident, it’s because she is. But why shouldn’t she be? Nichols’ career has been a tale of one success after another. Not only was she the first non-metro player to be named Ms. Hockey in Minnesota in 2003, but she led the entire state in scoring for three straight seasons. From there, she went on to join the Golden Gophers, who have won the NCAA title in both years she has been with the program. All in all, Nichols is not the type of player who lets a few departures shake her confidence.
“Overall, I think our team speed is up there this year. Obviously we lost a lot of talent, but we also have a group of freshmen that have come in and they are pretty talented. In combination with the returning players that we have it is a good combination,” said Nichols. “Once we get going and get a few more games under our belt I think we’ll be okay. Just like any other team, early on in the season there is plenty to work on and there is tons of room for improvement. But I think we have a pretty good group of kids here and we have a good time.”
Not only confident in her team, Nichols is confident in her own abilities as well. She has put in the extra hours in the off-season to reach the level of hockey she is at. When an athlete is not a physical specimen like Shaquille O’Neal who can be successful because of size alone, they have to work hard and have a drive to reach their goals.
“Hours and hours of hard work have gotten me to where I am. Working out in the summers when my peers are out having fun,” stated Nichols. “Also the support I’ve gotten over the years from my parents, family, and friends. That plays a big part in it as well.”
It’s safe to say that the hard work has paid off for Nichols. Last season alone, she played in all 40 games, netted 10 goals and eight assists, was named an Academic All-WCHA honoree and All-Big Ten Academic selection. She even scored one of her two game- winning goals in a thrilling victory over rival Wisconsin in a late January match. Through two seasons in which she has accumulated two NCAA championship rings, there have been many memories made for Andrea Nichols, but she isn’t satisfied. There is a lot of hockey yet to be played and hopefully more titles to be won.
The road to those titles this week goes through the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the Golden Gophers’ most heated rival, and Nichols would love to make a few more memorable moments happen in these big conference games. UMD is her favorite team to beat.
“We have such a tradition and rivalry against them. It’s always such a good match-up. Each team always plays their heart out, and it’s usually a barnburner. It’s just a fun atmosphere,” explained Nichols.
Every week this season the Golden Gophers will go into each series a step ahead of the competition. They will be prepared and ready to do battle, and will give their all to keep up alive the successful tradition that has been started. One main reason they will do this is that they are lead by a captain who is a class act, someone who has worked harder than anyone else to get where she is at. And if the Golden Gophers are ever to fall from their spot as one of the elite programs in women’s collegiate hockey, it will not be on her watch.
Written by Dominic Ladd, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant Everyone has heard the age old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” and that saying could not apply more to Golden Gopher forward Andrea Nichols. Checking in at just a hair over 5-2, the junior’s physical stature is anything but intimidating. However what she lacks in height and stature she makes up with talent, work ethic and leadership. She displays these traits so much so, that her teammates elected her captain of the 2005-06 hockey season, an honor that Nichols relishes.
“Well it’s probably the biggest honor, not only because I’m a junior, but also because it is a big role,” stated Nichols. “It’s a big thing to be named a leader of a team. I’m happy and hopefully I can lead the team in any way possible.”
Some would say that Nichols has her work cut out for her. This year’s team lost a bunch of talented seniors as well as four players to the U.S. Olympic team. To fill the void, the Golden Gophers have brought in seven freshmen who must quickly get used to the collegiate level of play and the Gopher system if the team is to match the success of recent seasons. Being the captain of this squad would seem challenging to some, but not Nichols. She is convinced that this is not a rebuilding year, and that the team will continue to be a WCHA and national contender.
“I wouldn’t say that leading this team is a challenge. I think that we have pretty good leadership that extends beyond the captains, and that makes it a lot easier for us,” commented Nichols. “Also, the incoming freshmen were easy to take under our wings, and they are all anxious to follow our leadership.”
If it seems like Nichols is confident, it’s because she is. But why shouldn’t she be? Nichols’ career has been a tale of one success after another. Not only was she the first non-metro player to be named Ms. Hockey in Minnesota in 2003, but she led the entire state in scoring for three straight seasons. From there, she went on to join the Golden Gophers, who have won the NCAA title in both years she has been with the program. All in all, Nichols is not the type of player who lets a few departures shake her confidence.
“Overall, I think our team speed is up there this year. Obviously we lost a lot of talent, but we also have a group of freshmen that have come in and they are pretty talented. In combination with the returning players that we have it is a good combination,” said Nichols. “Once we get going and get a few more games under our belt I think we’ll be okay. Just like any other team, early on in the season there is plenty to work on and there is tons of room for improvement. But I think we have a pretty good group of kids here and we have a good time.”
Not only confident in her team, Nichols is confident in her own abilities as well. She has put in the extra hours in the off-season to reach the level of hockey she is at. When an athlete is not a physical specimen like Shaquille O’Neal who can be successful because of size alone, they have to work hard and have a drive to reach their goals.
“Hours and hours of hard work have gotten me to where I am. Working out in the summers when my peers are out having fun,” stated Nichols. “Also the support I’ve gotten over the years from my parents, family, and friends. That plays a big part in it as well.”
It’s safe to say that the hard work has paid off for Nichols. Last season alone, she played in all 40 games, netted 10 goals and eight assists, was named an Academic All-WCHA honoree and All-Big Ten Academic selection. She even scored one of her two game- winning goals in a thrilling victory over rival Wisconsin in a late January match. Through two seasons in which she has accumulated two NCAA championship rings, there have been many memories made for Andrea Nichols, but she isn’t satisfied. There is a lot of hockey yet to be played and hopefully more titles to be won.
The road to those titles this week goes through the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the Golden Gophers’ most heated rival, and Nichols would love to make a few more memorable moments happen in these big conference games. UMD is her favorite team to beat.
“We have such a tradition and rivalry against them. It’s always such a good match-up. Each team always plays their heart out, and it’s usually a barnburner. It’s just a fun atmosphere,” explained Nichols.
Every week this season the Golden Gophers will go into each series a step ahead of the competition. They will be prepared and ready to do battle, and will give their all to keep up alive the successful tradition that has been started. One main reason they will do this is that they are lead by a captain who is a class act, someone who has worked harder than anyone else to get where she is at. And if the Golden Gophers are ever to fall from their spot as one of the elite programs in women’s collegiate hockey, it will not be on her watch.
Written by Dominic Ladd, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
