University of Minnesota Athletics
Changing Roles: Senior Forward Chelsey Jones
12/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Walk into a practice session at Ridder Arena and you’ll quickly learn why Gophers senior forward Chelsey Jones has become one of Minnesota’s top point producers this season. Every day, the Lake Elmo, Minn. native forces herself to put 800 shots on net each week – no matter how long it takes. Her dedication to Minnesota is unquestionable and her two-year track record with the team proves it.
“I’m just really determined to succeed and not just as an individual but as a team,” Jones said. “If it means sitting out, being on the fourth line or doing something I don’t want to do, I’ll still do it because I want to succeed as a team.”
A highly recruited forward coming out of high school, the Stillwater native initially committed to Northeastern, where she led the Huskies in scoring her freshman season and finished second on the team as a sophomore. But as much as she enjoyed playing hockey at Northeastern, Jones wanted something more from both hockey and college. So the 2006 Minnesota Ms. Hockey finalist chose transfer back home to Minnesota.
Because Jones was transferring into a different conference, she was able to play immediately for the Gophers albeit it in a different role than she had at Northeastern. Jones had been a focal point of the Huskies offense but was asked to take on a less prolific role with at Minnesota – setting up the likes of former Gophers standout Gigi Marvin with scoring chances. Despite the role change, Jones flourished as a set-up player. In 38 games, she tallied eight assists on top of two goals as Minnesota earned a birth in the Frozen Four.
“I didn’t expect anything as an individual, I came in expecting to win as a team,” Jones said. “I knew my role and sometimes when you are playing with high-profile players like that you have to adjust your game, but we all gelled and it worked out very well.”
As Jones’ senior season approached, the Minnesota offense became the team’s biggest question mark. The Gophers had lost their top-three scorers and nearly 50 percent of their goal production from the previous season with no clear answer as to who would make up for it. “Being someone who has been able to produce in the past, I knew that I could step into that role if that was what was needed of me,” Jones said.
So far, Jones has strived in her recycled role. She eclipsed her goal scoring numbers as a junior in Minnesota’s opening series against Syracuse. Jones tallied three goals and an assist in the sweep including the game-winning goal on Oct. 2. – the highlight of a weekend that would earn her Western Collegiate Hockey Association Offensive Player of the Week honors.
“For her to get off to a great start like she did and eclipse her goal total from last year in a matter of a weekend was something that I think really enabled her and our team to play well and play hard,” Gophers coach Brad Frost said.
Jones added a two-goal performance over St. Cloud State on Oct. 24 and has already surpassed her point totals from last year with 12 points (seven goals, five assists).Of her seven goals, two have been power-play goals, one short-handed goal and one game-winner. She closed the first half with a goal and a power-play assist against North Dakota in December.
“She’s a big, strong player with a tremendous shot and a very high battle level,” Minnesota head coach Brad Frost said. “Last year, I think she showed all those things at times, but she didn’t show them consistently. This year with the opportunity she’s been given to be on one of our top lines and play in a multitude of situations, I’ve just really seen the confidence in her continue to grow. She’s playing at a very high level for us right now.”
Jones was quick to point out that all of the Gophers are competing at a high level while Minnesota finished the first half with a 15-3-2 start and currently lead the WCHA with an 11-2-1 conference record.
“You’re only as good as your last player,” Jones said. “I feel that our last player is as good as any other player on any team we go up against.”
Written by Athletic Communications Student Assistant Brian Deutsch
