University of Minnesota Athletics
Alumni Corner: Forward Nadine Muzerall
8/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
During the summer months, gophersports.com connects with some of the Gopher alums. This week, gophersports.com caught up with Gopher great Nadine Muzerall. During her Gopher career from 1997-2001, Muzerall racked up 235 career points with 139 goals and 96 assists. Still ranking third all-time in Gopher history, Muzerall still holds the school record for career goals scored. She was a two-time Patty Kazmaier finalist in 1998 and 2001, as well as earning All-America honors in 1998. An intragrel part of the 2000 AWCHA Championship team, Muzerall, erased a two-goal deficit and helped the Gophers to a national semifinal win over Minnesota Duluth en route to a championship win over Brown. For her efforts she was named to the AWCHA All-Tournament Team. Along with Erica Killewald, Muzerall was the first Gopher women's hockey player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in September of 2007, just six years after the completion of her college career. Here's a question and answer session with one of the all-time fan favorites, Nadine Muzerall.
Gophersports.com: You were one of the true pioneers in Gopher women’s hockey coming in at the start of the program. What was it like to be on the first team and what have you thought of the evolution of the program?
Nadine Muzerall: At the time we never thought of ourselves as pioneers or that we were starting such a successful program. To look back on it now and see what we created, along with Coach Halldorson, is quite an accomplishment. The respect we received from the University's Athletic Department and the fans throughout the state was incredible. I remember playing in an almost sold out crowd in Mariucci for our game opener. It was INSANE!!! Fireworks. Strobe Lights in a pitch dark arena. Screaming fans. I felt more like a rock star than an athlete. No women's college team has ever been more appreciated and honored.
I am very pleased that the level and success after more than a 'decade of excellence' is still strong. There is so much pride in me when I can say I played hockey at one of if not the best hockey program in the nation.
GS: You were one of the first Canadians for a very long time on the GWH roster. Was it hard to adapt coming to a team that was primarily from this state?
NM: I was the first and only Canadian on the team for three years. It wasn't hard to adapt at all. I was playing in Minnesota not Texas. Minnesotans are very similar to Canadians anyway- Crazy about hockey, extremely nice and welcoming, go out of there way for you and talk funny. It felt just like home.
GS: Your final season was in 2000-01. When did you graduate and what was the first step after finishing out your college career?
NM: I was part of the ol' five year program so I graduated college in the spring of 2002. After graduation I moved out to the east coast to be a P.E. teacher and the head varsity hockey coach at a prep private boarding school in western, Mass. (Northfield Mount Hermon School). I was thankful that I was still able to be involved in hockey, even if I wasn't playing. But that got old quickly. I missed playing. A LOT!!! I think living in the middle of nowhere in my early 20's was starting to take its toll on me. It only took me seven years to do something about it. However, I am grateful that I was able to coach some great kids. I learned a lot being behind the bench rather than on it. I have a lot more respect for Coach Halldo now!! What a bloody handful I must have been!!!!
GS: How are you still involved in the sport?
NM: Currently I play professional in Lugano, Switzerland. After taking a looooong eight years off I got back into heavy duty hockey training and moved to Europe last September to play professional. WOOOOWEEEEEEEEE it was not pretty the first couple months. My hands and feet wouldn't do what my brain wanted it to. Not only was I physically not up to speed but I just lost my dad two days before I was suppose to fly out. It was a challenge to say the least. I struggled a lot the first few months mentally and physically. My mum and brother came to Switzerland for Christmas and it helped me more than I knew at the time. After spending some quality time with them and doing some serious soul searching I realized that my dad would not want me dragging my tail between my legs. He would want me to get up and fight. So after the Christmas break I ended up getting 23 points in 6 games and scoring something like 12 of the 17 goals in the playoffs (with a torn muscle in my lower back and a broken big toe-same one Karyn Bye broke my junior year in college when we played the United States National Team with her wicked slap shot). Still have a hard time bending it. Anyway, we ended up winning the Swiss National Championship and will now play for the European Cup in December against teams such as Russia, Prague, Sweden.....
GS: You and Erica Killewald were inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame. What was it like to become a member of the hall of fame and for women’s hockey to be recognized in it in just 10 years?
NM: To be the first woman, along with Killer, and one of the youngest ever to be inducted in such a respected and successful program as Minnesota was an amazing honor. And to share the moment with my dad, mum, Uncle Brian and close friends that I made as a Gopher was even more rewarding. I was being inducted with Chris Volez. She was the reason hockey started at Minnesota. I couldn't believe it!! I can remember the time she brought me in her office to set me straight and help me to better organize my life with athletics and academics. She bought me a planner!! HAHA. Look at me now!! I think she would be proud.
I think being inducted into the Hall of Fame with so many other greats is so unbelievable. I don't know how else to express the honor I feel.
GS:: What has been your biggest accomplishment (either personally or professionally) since you left the U of M?
NM: I think continuing to play hockey after taking eight years off. Even though it had been awhile and I was going to play at a very competitive level I wanted to do it. I missed it. I regreted stopping when I did. I wasn't going to miss out on my chance to continue my dream to play again. I worked my butt off and started seeing results and now I am living in Europe playing professionally and experiencing some amazing cultures through my travels in Europe.
GS: What do you miss most about being a member of the Gopher women’s hockey team?
NM: The locker room and the girls!!! Those 20 young women became family to me. There were so many stories and secrets told in that locker that I will remember forever. If only those walls could talk.........
GS: What were some things you don’t miss about college life or being a hockey player?
NM: Besides the weather in Minnesota and the late night cramming to finish a paper or study the night before a big test there isn't one thing that I really don't miss. As for hockey, absolutely nothing!!! I couldn't have had a better experience with another college.
Go Gophers!!!
