University of Minnesota Athletics
Stecklein Embraces Leadership Role
1/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Jan. 7, 2016
By Hannah Barnes, Athletic Communications Student Intern
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota junior defenseman Lee Stecklein has already earned many career accolades, including winning a silver medal with the U.S. Olympic team at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
After returning home from Sochi, Russia, and winning the 2015 NCAA national championship during her sophomore season, Stecklein was named co-captain alongside Hannah Brandt for her junior season with the Golden Gophers.
The Roseville, Minn., native is in her second season as a captain for the Gophers. A year ago, Stecklein was the first sophomore to serve as an assistant captain since the 2005-06 season. This season, she once again leads the Gophers with maturity and composure on the ice.
Stecklein enjoys sharing the co-captain role with Brandt as it allows the duo to split the responsibilities, which she thinks benefits the team as a whole.
"Hannah and I work well together because we split a lot of the responsibility," Stecklein said. "There are times where I think she does a good job of talking to the girls and getting them pumped up, so I like to let her do that. But, whatever she needs of me, I am more than happy to contribute."
When asked about the role she takes as a captain, Stecklein noted that not only does she have to be a leader off the ice, but has to find a way to be a leader on the ice, as well.
"I think a lot of it comes before the game and just making sure they're preparing the best way they know how," Stecklein said. "I do my best to prepare myself before the game just so that I'm being the solid presence on the ice that we need."
Despite her large role on the ice, Stecklein stated that the team has a lot of depth, and she believes the Gophers have the tools needed to win each game.
"It's really nice that you can throw really any of us out there together and we play well with each other," Stecklein said.
Stecklein has won a national championship in each season that she has suited up for the Gophers, and she hopes to lead the team to the same end result this year, as well.
"Our team goals are always to win the WCHA regular season title, the WCHA Final Faceoff tournament, and the Frozen Four," Stecklein said.
"We're better than we were at the beginning of the year, but not as good as we will be at the end hopefully. We just have to keep making those improvements each day."
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