University of Minnesota Athletics
Featured Player: Jen Schoullis
10/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Oct. 4, 2011
From the streets and rinks of Erie, Pa., to the prestigious arenas of international hockey, Jen Schoullis has become one of the top women's hockey players in the country. The senior captain of the Gophers has had the distinction of playing for her country in elite tournaments. "It is a dream come true and an honor every time I put the U.S. jersey on," Schoullis said when asked about the excitement that representing her country provides her. "There is a crazy adrenaline rush that is unlike anything else."
A month ago, Schoullis represented the USA at the IIHF Twelve Nations Invitational in Vierumaki, Finland. The tournament was a success for both Jen individually and as a team. In the tournament, Schoullis recorded seven points, including a hat trick against Japan, and the USA finished in first place. She played alongside long-time friend and current Gopher teammate Amanda Kessel. "We have great chemistry on the ice, we thrive off each others' energy. It is unique because she is a skilled and finesse player and I am more of a grinder. We play very well together," Schoullis said. The combination of the two worked well together in Finland as Team USA finished undefeated to win the Twelve Nations Invitational, with the lone blemish on their record in Finland coming in an exhibition game against Canada where the Americans suffered a 3-2 shootout loss.
Last spring, Jen Schoullis won a gold medal with Team USA at the World Championship. "Every time I talk about it, I get chills. My eyes start to tear up a little bit, it was a tremendous honor to be there and to win a gold medal for my country." Schoullis played alongside Gopher defenseman Anne Schleper and former teammate Gigi Marvin. "It is really nice to play with people you know, you can sit down at the end of the day and relate to them," Jen said when asked about playing with familiar faces at the international level.
With all of Schoullis' success, she has one more level of play she is driving to reach. In 2014, Sochi, Russia will host the Winter Olympics and she would love to put on the Team USA sweater and take the ice on the biggest stage of women's hockey. "It's been my goal since I was six years old and my parents put me on the ice. I am taking it one day at a time and making sure that everyday I prepare for the Olympics because I know I am not going to get there unless I think that way."
As a leader for the Gophers, Jen will now turn her attention to the collegiate season. There is no doubt that playing with high-level athletes in international competition helps her gain an edge while suiting up for the University of Minnesota. "If I play in an international tournament, I need to be able to keep that same pace up when I come back to collegiate hockey." The Pennsylvania native was elected by her teammates to be a captain of the 2011-12 version of the Gophers along with Sarah Erickson.
The Gophers have a star-studded roster and when it comes to goals for the season Schoullis says the team has very high hopes. "Our ultimate goal is to win a national championship, we have been so close, but yet so far away. I think all the seniors can taste it. We know we have a great team, but we are going to take it one week at a time and strive to get better every week."
One of the reasons the former Shattuck St. Mary's standout was named captain is because of her enthusiasm for the team and her hard work ethic in the game of hockey. In her fifth year with the Minnesota program, Jen hopes she will leave a strong mark on the program. "I want to be known as the hardest worker and someone who is passionate about this team both on and off the ice. When I leave here I hope to leave a positive impact." As she enters her final season in maroon and gold, Schoullis is aiming to lead the Gophers to the top of college hockey, while working towards her personal goal of wearing the red, white, and blue at the Olympics come 2014.
Story written by Josh Brennock
