University of Minnesota Athletics
Senior captain Andrea Nichols
10/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
If you’ve never seen a Gopher women’s hockey game before, you may look at No. 4 Andrea Nichols as merely the smallest player on the team, standing at a generous five-foot two-inches. However, for those who are regular fans at Ridder Arena, No. 4 can symbolize many things. Coming off the bench, you may see Nichols as a little pit bull, who attacks opponents twice her size for the puck. Others may see her as a huge threat within the corners and around the net. For the members of Gopher women’s hockey team, they not only see her in the previous examples, but also as a leader. A leader who hopes she can lead this team to its sixth-straight NCAA Frozen Four.
Following the Gophers’ second national championship win in the 2004-2005 season, Nichols was named the team’s captain entering her junior season. Her task was not an easy one. After losing eight teammates, including four Olympians, from the 2005 championship season, Nichols was elected to lead a very young team. It was a challenge that she was ready to take head on. The Gophers peaked at just the right time last year, and finished in a tie for second in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and as the NCAA runner-up team. It was an accomplishment that put most critics’ questions to bed.
“Last year we were really young and coming into the season, nobody really knew what to expect. After losing key players, the returners knew that with the right combination and the right mindset, we could return to the Frozen Four. It was just a matter of putting the pieces of the puzzle together. This year, we know that we can do it without all the all-star talent. We are young again this year, but since we’ve been there before we know we can do it again.”
As a leader, Nichols has goals for herself and for the team in her final year. Nichols looks at this season, just as she had in the past. The Gophers may not have a lot of experience, but she believes that they have it in them to contend for another national championship. However, she’s quick to point out that it’s a learning process, and everyone will have to take it one day and one game at a time. Now in her second year as team captain, Nichols is more comfortable in her leadership role.
“Last year was learning a experience for me,” Nichols said. “I was trying to see how the team would react to a younger captain. Being the younger one, I didn’t want to step on the seniors’ toes, but there was a reason why people chose me as a captain. Coming into this year, I know more of what to expect and how the team may respond. I think that really helped me last year and I just need to go with my gut feeling, have fun and enjoy it.”
A big part of Nichols’ success comes from her attitude. Head coach Laura Halldorson describes her senior captain as a blue-collar player who works hard every day. Ever since Nichols has played hockey, she has had that mentality, partially due to her size. An aggressive player, Nichols isn’t intimidated by opposing players who are nearly twice her size. Because of her smaller stature, Nichols works tirelessly for everything she can get, which is shows in her number of penalties. In her first three years with the Gophers, Nichols has 53 penalties, ranking eighth in the Gopher record books.
“I’ve been called slippery before,” Nichols said. “I guess I’m slippery in and out of the corners. I think that’s my strength is around the net. I just go out there and bring the ‘give it to them’ attitude. I hope I surprise a lot of people with the punch that I have, not literally, but the energy that I bring on the ice. Over the years, I’ve learned to not be afraid of players who are a lot bigger than me. Hopefully, that will teach the freshmen that it doesn’t matter what size you are. I’m a good example of the saying; it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
Entering her senior season, Nichols has played in 114 games donning the Maroon and Gold jersey and has scored 57 points. The Mt. Iron, Minn., native isn’t flashy when it comes to her playing style, but is a go-getter who swarms the net. Instead, she resembles a clutch player. Of her 28 career goals, seven have been on the power-play while six have been gamewinners. One of Nichols’ most memorable goals came last season when she scored an overtime goal against Minnesota State on February 4, 2006. She also came through in the NCAA semifinal game by tying a career-high with two assists in the win over New Hampshire to help her team advance to the national title game.
A two-time WCHA All-Academic Team honoree, Nichols is on track to graduate within her four-year playing career. She is a sports studies major with an emphasis in youth services. Nichols isn’t quite sure what she wants to do once her college career is over, but she does know that she wants to stay active within the hockey community either as a player or a coach. With the leadership skills and tenacity that she has learned at the U, Nichols can accomplish whatever she puts her mind to.
Written by assistant athletic communications director Michelle Traen
