University of Minnesota Athletics
IIHF Women's Worlds Recap with Pannek
4/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - Kelly Pannek made her debut at the IIHF Women's World Championship and won gold with the U.S. Women's National Team last week. GopherSports.com caught up with the junior to reflect on her experience.
Gopher Sports: How did you find out you made the U.S. world championship team?
Kelly Pannek: I got a call from the head coach and director of women's hockey, and they basically just said, "You made the team." It was probably a month before, I think. I was pretty surprised and obviously pretty excited. There were a lot of different emotions running through my mind. It was crazy. I'll probably always remember that experience because it was the first time I made a team. The first time I got that call. It was pretty cool.
GS: What was the week like from your perspective?
KP: It was really cool. The first half few days that we were there and the first few games, you adjust and get used to the schedule and what we were doing on a daily basis. I had to see how I fit with the team, figure out the people I was playing with, and how I was going to play with them -- trying to quickly get used to this new environment, this new situation and experience. The last week or so, it was a lot of just trying to enjoy it and make the most of it. [I took] the confidence I had gained from the prior experience and ran with it. It was really cool throughout the whole week to see how our team and these players are so focused on every single game. That's what I thought was really cool at that kind of a tournament. Every preparation, every mentality for every game was always the same. I think that helped us as we progressed in the tournament.
GS: What was your biggest takeaway from the tournament?
KP: I think confidence is huge, and knowing I can play at that level. It's something that I want to keep doing and now knowing I can play at that level, just how cool it is. I've played at the U-18 level and at USA camps, but there is nothing like playing in a world championship in front of your home fans. Seeing all the hard work it takes to get there, and not just from one person, not just myself, but the 23 players on the roster, plus all the staff, plus all our family members, that moment after [the championship game] to look up in the stands and see our families was really cool.
GS: What was going through your mind when you nearly scored that overtime goal in the gold-medal game against Canada?
KP: I was kind-of mad and felt like I should've scored that. I felt like I had chances earlier in the game too, and thought I probably could have scored. Every overtime, if you can score, you want to. Not just me, our whole team. Every time there's a chance, everyone gets really excited. You're anxious for it to go in. I thought we really controlled overtime. So, even though I didn't score, I knew someone else was going to. I think it was right before our next shift that Hilary Knight scored. Right when she shot it, I knew it was going in. It was pretty fun.
GS: What is the biggest difference between collegiate and international play?
KP: I think it is just the tempo. Not necessarily our opponents, but how I played. I felt like I was playing faster. I was skating faster, moving faster. I was playing with people who play at such a high level consistently. Like I said before too, the mentality going into games. The college season is so long that it's natural to have ups-and-downs in terms of focus. In this experience, it was a five-game tournament for us. Staying focused for five games is a lot easier than staying focused for forty games. I think that was a big thing. The speed of play is huge, and the intensity around all of it. At times, it was more than I expected, and at times it was less. It was also very fun, too. It was the whole, 'Work hard, be intense, but have fun.' If you're having fun, all these things are easier. You play better, play more confidently. It was a really supportive group, too. That was helpful for me being new on the team, just feeling more comfortable.
GS: What was it like winning gold with the U.S.?
KP: It was cool. That was the first one I ever won. I remember watching the video after we scored. I didn't realize how loud it was in the arena before we even had scored. Right when we scored, it was just so loud. It erupted. I think what was really cool is that we were at home. My family got to come out on the ice, and I got to hang out with them after. There were so many family members there, it was so exciting. Any time you can throw your gloves and sticks in the air is so fun. Being able to do it at home in front of a sold-out crowd, it was just a cool experience. It was something, if I have the opportunity to do again, it's something that will stick with me.
GS: What was the highlight of the tournament for you, other than the gold medal?
KP: I think that first game against Canada was a huge highlight. When we got to Michigan, it was a really quick turn-around to play that first game. I just remember how supportive my teammates were, teammates that I had only met briefly or didn't know as well were really supportive of me, just so confident in what I was doing. As a new player playing at this level for the first time, I didn't feel like there was any doubt in what I brought to the table. I think after that first game, we won, which was really great, just having some of those older players say, 'You played great,' and, 'Welcome to the team,' was really cool. That helped me for the rest of the tournament.
GS: What's next for you with USA Hockey?
KP: We have another camp coming up, so that's a big one. We will see how that goes. I feel more invested after this experience. I was talking to Hannah Brandt, and we were saying how you're always working for something, whether or not you know you're invited to the next camp or the next tournament. After you're a part of it once, it adds that extra motivation and extra investment into it. That's what I will walk away with and carry forward.
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