University of Minnesota Athletics
Hockey Profile: Kellen Briggs
11/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Goaltender Kellen Briggs is entering into his senior year as an assistant captain, the first goalie to be named one by the team since Brad Shelstad in 1973. The honor is well deserved as Briggs is a consistent player and has been a starting goalie since his freshman year. Last year he was named to the WCHA All-Academic Team and was on the Dodge Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team. A strong player on the ice and in the classroom, Briggs has the respect of his teammates and from coaches. One of three seniors this year, Briggs looks to lead the younger players and win a national championship. The following are questions to get to know the man behind the mask.
Q: Why did you choose to focus on hockey over any other sport?
When I was younger, my cousins played and got my older brother and me into it, so we just started with skating lessons at the rink. I think it was convenient for my parents to have us both doing the same sport.
Q: Why did you choose to be a goalie?
I wasn’t a goalie until I was older. I liked the position because it was different aspect of the game, and all the gear was really cool, especially the helmet.
Q: You own the third-most goaltending victories in Gopher history. Do you see yourself ever being number one?
If it happens it happens. I know about the records, but for this year the main goal is to win a national title. That would be way better than setting any record because you achieve it with a group of guys and nobody can take that away from you.
Q: Do you have any personal goals for yourself this season?
I want to play as many games as I can and consistently as I can. Mostly I just want to help the team out whenever I am on the ice.
Q: How does that make you feel that you were selected to be an assistant captain by the team?
I am very honored. There is a lot of tradition here at the University and I accept the role. This team is full of good leaders and even though they may not have the letter on their jersey they know when to step up.
Q: A goalie usually never leaves the net, how are you going to fulfill the Captain role on the ice?
I will probably not leave the net unless I have to. I don’t expect Mike Vannelli and Alex Goligoski to be in the penalty box at the same time. I see my captain role being more in the lockerroom and off the ice.
Q: The team is very young, how are you leading them?
I just try to tell them my experiences and lead by example. They can look to see how the older guys and I handle different situations and feed off of that knowledge.
Q: You have been teammates with Mike Vannelli for quite awhile, even playing on the Sioux Falls USHL team together before the Gophers. This is most likely your last season together, are you going to miss playing with him?
Mike is a good teammate and a good guy. It is fun to hang out with him on and off the ice. When you join a team people come and go and you can’t really help it, I will miss everyone I had the chance to play with. I am sure we will still keep in touch after this season, but (laughing) I don’t think we will cry over it.
Q: You are a marketing and business major, how do you plan to apply that degree?
Well, first I hope to play hockey as long as I can, but after hockey I hope to run my own business. I like the marketing aspect of business. I admire what Robb Stauber, Gopher All-American and Hobey Baker Award recipient. He now runs the Goal Crease, and I could see myself opening a business like that.
Q: Being from Colorado Springs, the hometown of Colorado College, are you excited to play them this weekend?
In the past, I knew more guys on the team, so it was more exciting then. Now I just look at it like any other weekend. We are opening the WCHA and we need to do well. Once that puck drops, all that personal stuff is gone; it is not the focus of the weekend.
Q: You are the only non-Minnesotan on the team this year; do you ever get hassled about that fact?
There is some friendly teasing. The biggest thing I have on them is that the Broncos are better than the Vikings in football, but they have me beat in baseball with the Twins. Little things like that you can joke about, but these guys are too busy with their high school rivalries to bother hassling me about being from out of state.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a Minnesota Golden Gopher?
The tradition. When you look around Mariucci and see all the banners hanging and to know you helped to put a few there is a great feeling. It means a lot to be apart of the tradition and leave your mark on Gopher history.
Q: What is your favorite hockey fan cheer?
I like the one where our fans harass the other goalie. I find it funny because I get the same treatment at other rinks. I think it is interesting to see what the other schools say.
Q: How do you block out the fans of other teams when you are in the net?
I don’t really block it out. It is just there, it is not occupying my mind too much. It is almost entertaining because the fans think they are getting to you, but they are not.
Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
I sleep a lot. I am not one of those guys that is bouncing off the walls or playing video games. I really like to relax and when we are on the road I like to hang out in my room and watch TV.
Q : How have you grown as a person, player and as a leader throughout your career?
I have grown as a person by just going to school and having different classes. It has really shown me what I want to do with my life. Everyone leaves college a different person because of the experiences you go through. As a player, I am more consistent than I was when I came in; I am faster and stronger as well. Minnesota has done a great job of helping every player they bring in get better. I think that everyone on the team grows as a leader. When you come in as a freshman, you don’t know what is really going on and as you go through the seasons you learn what you may have done wrong and you try to teach the younger players.
interview by Katie Fornasiere, athletic communications student assistant
