University of Minnesota Athletics
Dependably Determined: Senior Forward Jenelle Philipczyk
12/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Upon seeing University of Minnesota women's hockey player Jenelle Philipczyk, the first word that comes to mind would not be intense. Her reserved demeanor and a sweet natured personality constantly radiating from her 5-foot 5-inch frame, Jenelle seems like your typical all American kind of girl. With a smile as genuine as her upbeat attitude, nobody would ever think of her as fierce when meeting her. Unless that meeting happens to be on the ice. With a scrappy, all-out playing style that earned her last year's “Team Unsung Hero” award, Jenelle continues to demonstrate day after day why she can be considered a pillar in the team's foundation.
Throughout her career at Minnesota, Jenelle has built a reputation as the most dependable player on the ice. Her consistent work ethic and blue collar effort on the ice has lead head coach Brad Frost to describe her as “a quiet reserved kid, who's an extremely intense competitor.” While Philipczyk isn't known for her offensive production, she still takes pride in her role on the team as someone who creates opportunities.
“I try to contribute to the team in anyway I can,” Philipczyk said. “If it's not coming in goals, which it hasn't as much this year, then I just try to make up for it in hard work and just trying to get the puck out of the corner.”
Her constant hustle and fierce attitude remain far from unnoticed among her teammates. Team captain and linemate Whitney Graft has been Philipczyk’s roommate since their freshman year at Minnesota. Describing Jenelle as “determined,” she knows firsthand how Jenelle approaches each game, explaining, “I think Jenelle is one of, if not the hardest worker on the ice. She's so consistent every single game because she has such an intensity and determination about her and she never quits,” said Graft.
Now in her senior season, she has maintained a persona on the ice that has led coach Frost to dub Philipczyk as one of their most consistent players on the ice every given night, explaining, “what I really like about Jenelle is that you know what you're going to get out of her every game and that's great effort, tremendous speed, does a very nice job in the defensive zone, and she'll create some scoring opportunities just by how hard she works.”
This has been indicative of Philipczyk’s line as well, with fellow gritty Gophers Graft and Brittany Francis. Despite only accounting for five goals heading into the game against North Dakota on November 24th, the line has become known as a gutsy line Minnesota can rely on in key situations.
“They are certainly one of our best defensive lines with both Whit and Jenelle on there,” Frost said. “They have some experience and can be relied upon in big situations. With the addition of Brittany, who's a little more gifted offensively, it certainly makes their line an offensive threat as well.”
On the ice, Philipczyk maintains her focused and fiery attitude, but that's about the only place she can be seen like that. When not playing hockey, she remains a typical upbeat college student, with the same interests that most would expect of someone her age. Coach Frost still hasn't figured out where the transformation really occurs within her when she steps on the ice. With such different temperaments on and off the ice, Frost continues to seek how someone so reserved day to day can be such a presence while playing.
“I just don't know. There are many people like that, who are very outgoing and bubbly and their game is not. Then there are those who are quiet, but once they step on the ice, they mean business. She's one of those people, but I don't know how to explain it. She's one of the nicest kids you'll ever come across and it's not that she doesn't play nice on the ice, but she's just such an intense competitor.”
Her quiet disposition off the ice does not reflect her leadership standing within the team, however. Philipczyk believes that her words, which may sometimes be few and far between, are that much more important when spoken, saying “I am shy and quiet but I speak up and say what's necessary and important.” Coach Frost agrees, saying, “I wouldn't say she's a vocal leader but when she does speak, people listen, which I think is a great quality. But just by her work ethic, what she's been through and her experience here at Minnesota, she's just been able to develop into a leader for us.”
Philipczyk remains determined with a different kind of goal as well. With her senior year passing by, she looks ahead to where she wants to head after her hockey days have passed. For Jenelle, this means graduate school.
“I've applied to different Physician's Assistant schools so hopefully I will get into one of those and be in school for another two years,” she said. “I've applied to about 10 schools. I had an interview with Miami and a couple other ones I am focusing on are South Dakota, Idaho, and Arizona. I've been interested (in being a Physician's Assistant) for all of college. I took a career exploration class and it popped up so I started looking into that. I've decided that I wanted to push myself to get a Master's degree instead of another B.A. But I've always been into health care.”
Jenelle feels her interest in health care comes from the joy of helping people, saying, “I love the idea of working in a hospital, helping people, and working with medicine. It seems like a problem solving career. You diagnose and treat.”
For now, Jenelle looks to focus on finishing up school and playing out her final season with Minnesota. But with all that comes with a senior year, feeling a sense of urgency and knowing that this is a final opportunity to do something big, Jenelle has just one thing on her mind: winning a national championship.
“I think we all are starting to play to our potential now, which makes me excited,” she said. “I'm hoping to win a national championship this year but that's going to take a lot of steps along the way. Hopefully that starts now and carries over to every weekend. In the end our focus is to win a national championship and I really think we can do it.”
Story written by Ben Flattum,
Athletic Communications Student Assistant
