University of Minnesota Athletics
Meet the Newcomers: Alex Woken
7/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
By Hannah Barnes, Athletic Communications Student Intern
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Golden Gophers welcome six newcomers to the 2016-17 women's hockey team, including Alex Woken. The right-handed forward out of Fargo, N.D., helped her high school team, the Shattuck-St. Mary's Sabres, clinch a national championship after finishing as a runner-up the previous two seasons.
Woken completed her senior season with 65 points (33g-32a) in 54 games. She ended her career with 188 points (103g-85a) in 164 games. During her time with the Sabres, Woken was named a Second Team All-American by USA Today for her stellar performance.
Aside from high school hockey, Woken has suited up for Team USA on multiple occasions. She won back-to-back gold medals with Team USA at the 2015 and 2016 U-18 World Championships. Woken also has attended multiple camps and was named an assistant captain for the 2015 three-game series against Canada.
Woken joins Serena D'Angelo, Kippin Keller, Patti Marshall, Katie Robinson, and Lindsay Agnew to make up next season's incoming class. Stay tuned as GopherSports.com introduces each of the new Gophers, beginning with Agnew.
Gopher Sports: How did you start playing hockey?
Alex Woken: I was watching hockey on TV, and I told my parents, "I want to play that." Neither of my parents had ever played before, so they told me I had to take skating lessons first. I took skating lessons for a year when I was four, and they let me start playing when I was five.
GS: What other sports did you play growing up?
AW: I'm really into golf. Growing up I played sports like baseball, track & field, and gymnastics. Mainly golf, though, I played it through high school.
GS: What made you choose the University of Minnesota?
AW: There are great academics here. With the coaching staff and the team, I thought I'd fit in well here personally. It's always been a dream of mine to come to the University of Minnesota, play hockey here, and take classes that will help me for my future.
GS: Do you have a major in mind?
AW: Right now, I am majoring in neuroscience with hopes of going to medical school or veterinary school.
GS: Other than hockey, what do you like to do in your free time?
AW: I like to hang out with family and friends. I have two dogs, so that's fun. I like to golf a lot and go to the lake.
GS: What are you most looking forward to about playing for the Gophers?
AW: Honestly, being able to practice and play with such great players is exciting. Knowing that you will get better every time you step onto the ice is so much fun.
GS: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?
AW: Not really, but I get dressed the same way every game. I try to do the same warm-up and general stuff, but nothing superstitious.
GS: Who was your hockey role model growing up?
AW: Probably Monique and Jocelyne Lamoureux. They're both from North Dakota and they both went to Shattuck-St. Mary's. Just seeing them progress through the hockey world and seeing how well they're doing now is pretty cool.
GS: What is your favorite part about playing hockey?
AW: I love competition in practice and going against people. Whether you win or lose, it's fun.
GS: How does it feel to be joining your high school teammate Patti Marshall at the University of Minnesota?
AW: We are roommates now in the summer. We've known each other since we were about 10 years old, so we are best friends. It is super exciting, and it's nice because we have someone to go through college with. It is such a new experience, so it is pretty comforting. I am excited to be on a team with her for another four years.
GS: What was it like winning a national championship at Shattuck-St. Mary's?
AW: It was amazing and such a great experience. To be able to win my senior year with girls I had been playing with for three years, I couldn't have asked for anything better.
GS: How did it feel to win the gold medal at the world championships?
AW: It was such a great experience. It is such a great honor to represent Team USA. It always is. To go there and win a world championship this year was amazing. The fact that it was back-to-back was unimaginable and was a dream come true.
Meet the Newcomers Series:
Meet Lindsay Agnew
Meet Kippin Keller
Meet Patti Marshall
Meet Katie Robinson
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