University of Minnesota Athletics
Student-Athlete Profile: Senior Goalie Brenda Reinen
2/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Playing the role of goalie on any team can be difficult with the pressure of having repeatedly block shots, but Reinen is not phased. "I don't feel pressure at all," she said. "Sometimes it comes down to a breakaway and you're the only one out there, but once you're with five other people they have pressure to stop it, it's a team sport."
Teamwork is very important in hockey and a bond between teammates is necessary. Watching the Gophers on the ice, you can tell that there is definitely a bond, and the Gophers are close off the ice as well. Reinen currently lives with two teammates and says that the whole team hangs out constantly despite the fact that they are always together anyway, at the rink and traveling. "It's our family," Reinen said.
No matter how well the season goes, what's important to Reinen is how they play in the postseason. With their confident attitude and record thus far, the Gophers figure to be a favorite in postseason tournaments this March.
Reinen enjoys her team's No. 1 spot in the nation and isn't worried about other teams trying to play catch up with the Gophers. She is happy with the current level of play. "We just have to keep playing well," Reinen said. "Against Wisconsin (two weeks ago) our whole team stepped up and played well. We just have to keep building off of that and get better every game and peak at the right time."
With the Gophers accomplishing so much last season, it could be difficult to pick just one highlight. Reinen knew hers without hesitation, "The championship last year for sure," she said. Although she could have picked her freshman year when received more playing time and set several personal-bests, such as 42 saves in one night, Reinen emphasizes the importance of hockey and that it's a team sport. "When it comes down to it, hockey is a team sport and we had the (national championship) ring on our finger last year," Reinen stated.
Growing up, Reinen always loved playing hockey. She began at the very young age of four. In high school, she became the first girl to play on the Sun Prairie (Wisconsin) High School boys' varsity hockey team. Though she played on a boys team for four years before joining the Gophers, Reinen made it a smooth transition. "I played with guys my whole life but when I was 15, I started playing with the Wisconsin Challengers Youth Hockey League (women's hockey) every other weekend," she said. "I started the transition so that when I started college, it wasn't quite as big of a deal."
Reinen's history with the number one jersey began early on as well "I've had it since I was seven years old," she said. "My brother had the number in high school, and since he was four years older than me, he got it warmed up until I got there." Reinen considers it a lucky number, and wearing the jersey wearing No. 1 is just one of many superstitions. When deciding on where to play collegiate hockey, Reinen was torn between playing for Wisconsin or Minnesota. Though Wisconsin would have been an easier drive for her parents, Craig and Janet, Reinen is very happy with her decision. She has been able to play more and is a member of the top-ranked team in the nation.
Despite the drive, Reinen's parents have made it to all of her home games at Minnesota. "They've been up here, to Duluth, and St. Cloud," Reinen stated. "They've made it to as many games as they could, including the national tournament the past three years." Her parents' support has helped a lot throughout her career.
As for the future, Reinen is still a little unclear, but hopes that no matter what, her future revolves around hockey. She hopes to officiate like she did in high school, or coach a youth hockey girls team. As for playing hockey, she is contemplating joining a senior hockey league, while she attempts to find a job back in Madison. But she admits, it will be tough to take off the Gopher jersey when her senior season ends. "I've been playing hockey for 17 years and and my career is winding down now," she said. "It's hard for me to think about it since hockey is all I have known since I've been four years old."
Playing hockey since she was first able to put on skates, it seems as though it would simply be routine to keep going. However, in the back of her mind, she remembers a time when she considered giving up on hockey. "There was one year when I was struggling and I didn't want to keep playing," she said. "One of my youth coaches helped me realize how much hockey meant to me by showing his passion for the game to me. I'm glad he did because it brought me here."
Since Reinen started her Golden Gopher career, she has been a part of three Frozen Four teams, two WCHA conference championships and won the highest honor a college athlete can get, winning a national championship. She looks forward to adding more titles to her career list as she completes her senior season.
story by Raya Jewell, athletic communications student assistant Reflecting the number one status of her team on the back of her jersey, senior goalie Brenda Reinen has had a great run as a Golden Gopher. Reinen has an important role as a goalie, but feels that teamwork is most essential to their success.
Playing the role of goalie on any team can be difficult with the pressure of having repeatedly block shots, but Reinen is not phased. "I don't feel pressure at all," she said. "Sometimes it comes down to a breakaway and you're the only one out there, but once you're with five other people they have pressure to stop it, it's a team sport."
Teamwork is very important in hockey and a bond between teammates is necessary. Watching the Gophers on the ice, you can tell that there is definitely a bond, and the Gophers are close off the ice as well. Reinen currently lives with two teammates and says that the whole team hangs out constantly despite the fact that they are always together anyway, at the rink and traveling. "It's our family," Reinen said.
No matter how well the season goes, what's important to Reinen is how they play in the postseason. With their confident attitude and record thus far, the Gophers figure to be a favorite in postseason tournaments this March.
Reinen enjoys her team's No. 1 spot in the nation and isn't worried about other teams trying to play catch up with the Gophers. She is happy with the current level of play. "We just have to keep playing well," Reinen said. "Against Wisconsin (two weeks ago) our whole team stepped up and played well. We just have to keep building off of that and get better every game and peak at the right time."
With the Gophers accomplishing so much last season, it could be difficult to pick just one highlight. Reinen knew hers without hesitation, "The championship last year for sure," she said. Although she could have picked her freshman year when received more playing time and set several personal-bests, such as 42 saves in one night, Reinen emphasizes the importance of hockey and that it's a team sport. "When it comes down to it, hockey is a team sport and we had the (national championship) ring on our finger last year," Reinen stated.
Growing up, Reinen always loved playing hockey. She began at the very young age of four. In high school, she became the first girl to play on the Sun Prairie (Wisconsin) High School boys' varsity hockey team. Though she played on a boys team for four years before joining the Gophers, Reinen made it a smooth transition. "I played with guys my whole life but when I was 15, I started playing with the Wisconsin Challengers Youth Hockey League (women's hockey) every other weekend," she said. "I started the transition so that when I started college, it wasn't quite as big of a deal."
Reinen's history with the number one jersey began early on as well "I've had it since I was seven years old," she said. "My brother had the number in high school, and since he was four years older than me, he got it warmed up until I got there." Reinen considers it a lucky number, and wearing the jersey wearing No. 1 is just one of many superstitions. When deciding on where to play collegiate hockey, Reinen was torn between playing for Wisconsin or Minnesota. Though Wisconsin would have been an easier drive for her parents, Craig and Janet, Reinen is very happy with her decision. She has been able to play more and is a member of the top-ranked team in the nation.
Despite the drive, Reinen's parents have made it to all of her home games at Minnesota. "They've been up here, to Duluth, and St. Cloud," Reinen stated. "They've made it to as many games as they could, including the national tournament the past three years." Her parents' support has helped a lot throughout her career.
As for the future, Reinen is still a little unclear, but hopes that no matter what, her future revolves around hockey. She hopes to officiate like she did in high school, or coach a youth hockey girls team. As for playing hockey, she is contemplating joining a senior hockey league, while she attempts to find a job back in Madison. But she admits, it will be tough to take off the Gopher jersey when her senior season ends. "I've been playing hockey for 17 years and and my career is winding down now," she said. "It's hard for me to think about it since hockey is all I have known since I've been four years old."
Playing hockey since she was first able to put on skates, it seems as though it would simply be routine to keep going. However, in the back of her mind, she remembers a time when she considered giving up on hockey. "There was one year when I was struggling and I didn't want to keep playing," she said. "One of my youth coaches helped me realize how much hockey meant to me by showing his passion for the game to me. I'm glad he did because it brought me here."
Since Reinen started her Golden Gopher career, she has been a part of three Frozen Four teams, two WCHA conference championships and won the highest honor a college athlete can get, winning a national championship. She looks forward to adding more titles to her career list as she completes her senior season.
story by Raya Jewell, athletic communications student assistant
