University of Minnesota Athletics
Stecklein Begins Third Season as Captain
8/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
By Hannah Barnes, Athletic Communications Student Intern
MINNEAPOLIS -- Lee Stecklein enters her senior season as a captain for the back-to-back defending national champion University of Minnesota women's hockey team, bringing two seasons of leadership experience with her after having served in a captain role since her sophomore year. This season, Stecklein will be assisted by fellow seniors Dani Cameranesi and Kate Schipper.
Upon returning to the Gophers following the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, Stecklein was named an assistant captain of Minnesota's 2014-15 team. She was the first sophomore to wear the 'C' or the 'A' since Bobbi Ross was an assistant captain as a sophomore in 2005-06.
Stecklein attributes a lot of her leadership abilities to her time with Team USA at the 2014 Winter Olympics as the experience impacted her as both a player and a person.
"It helped me on-ice and off-ice in a lot of ways," Stecklein said. "I felt like I realized that there was a commitment I needed to have to the game, and I think that helped me be a better leader."
Since her return, Stecklein has helped the Gophers win two national championships while serving as a captain. Despite the success she has already achieved, she still hopes to continue improving her game and her leadership skills.
"I was not as good of a captain my first year as I hope to be this year. I've had a lot of time to learn, and I am still working on a lot of things," Stecklein said. "I like to try and lead by example, and hopefully people look to me."
The Roseville, Minn., native hopes to lead the Gophers to another successful year, noting that the team goals are to compete for the WCHA regular season title, the WCHA Final Face-off championship, and to find success in the NCAA playoffs.
Despite earning individual accolades and experiencing great success as a team, Stecklein remains humble, stating that none of it would be possible without her teammates.
"There are so many people who could have been captain on this team," Stecklein said. "We have a team full of leaders, and that's nice because it makes my job way easier."
Stecklein notes that she thinks the team will have another successful season, but she likes to take it day-by-day.
"We like to focus on the progress," Stecklein said. "I think we're going to have a great season."
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