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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Five Minutes with Grace Zumwinkle
11/21/2018 8:15:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Sophomore forward Grace Zumwinkle caught up with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Sophomore forward Grace Zumwinkle chatted with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann before the team's 4-3 overtime win over St. Cloud State last Saturday. Zumwinkle reflected on lessons from freshman year, her chemistry with her linemates, her overall hockey goals, and more.
Dan Hamann: Back with Gopher Women's Hockey, as today we are from the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Today sitting with me in the penalty box, kind of familiar spot for my guest, Grace Zumwinkle, a sophomore out of Excelsior. I kid, because actually this is one place you haven't been or spent much time with this year, so how do you play so open and hard and still be able to stay out of the penalty box?
Grace Zumwinkle: Obviously it's not one of my goals to end up in here, knock on wood, [hopefully] it doesn't happen, but I think that continuing to move your feet throughout the game. I think most people start to take penalties or get lazy when they stop moving their feet.
DH: You were a freshman pre-season rookie of the year last year, and I can't imagine what kind of pressure that would have been as a freshman. How did you handle that pressure for something you had to deal with week-in and week-out?
GZ: I think the upperclassmen really took me under their wing, as some of them are still my best friends, and they helped to show me the path, like you can't always worry about what gets said in the press or the media, positively or negatively, and I think focusing on yourself and how you can make your teammates better were the main things I focused on.
DH: As a freshman, you learn so many things about the game and yourself. What were some of the things you learned that you still had to work on to perfect your game?
GZ: I think coming to college and realizing that it is a different style of play and speed and being away from home, even though I'm really not that fair, are things that have a big impact. I think I learned that the teammate you are off the ice is even more important than the teammate you are on the ice, and being able to relate to teammates that are four years older than you and being able to deal with them every day are the biggest takeaways that I learned last year.
DH: How about the part of your game that you feel has to be improved for the future, in case you want to play for the national team or professionally? What do you need to work on?
GZ: I think being a threat at both ends of the ice, instead of just in one zone. Being a more well-rounded player will help me in the long run.
DH: Last year, you got paired up with Nicole Schammel and Taylor Wente, and that pairing continues to produce to this day; it has been a very good and productive pairing for you as well. What is it about the trio of you guys that makes it so productive?
GZ: The communication we have on and off the ice with each other is great! We all get along very well and I live with Taylor, so we have that connection as well. Communicating is our biggest thing and making sure that we are all on the same page when we step on the ice for a shift.
DH: The Four Nations Cup just got over, and Kelly Pannek was a member of that team. I'm sure as I mentioned a little bit ago, you might have some aspirations to play professionally or on a national team. You have been a part of the United States Under-18 program, so what are your aspirations to play post-graduation from the University of Minnesota?
GZ: I think the goal would be to play at the 2022 Olympics, but I like to take it a day at a time. At the end of the day, hockey should be fun and enjoyable.
DH: A week like last week, you got to take the week off. Would you have rather been up in Saskatoon playing in those tournament games?
GZ: Ideally, I would like to be playing in those games, but as a team, the off-weekend was enjoyable, and now it feels like we are more relaxed and ready to take on the second part of the season.
DH: What did you guys do during practice? It looks like there was a lot of fun and games, so what did you guys do to unwind?
GZ: We did the Jeanly Cup where we were broken up into four teams and played fun games, like finding out who had the hardest slapshot and who was the fastest skater, and then at the end of the week, we had a 3v3 tournament. It was a good way for our team to come together, have fun, and not have to worry about playing a competitor.
DH: I think it's also a good way to reset the mind and a good break to a non-stop season. What kind of things do you like to do off the ice to reset and refocus?
GZ: Growing up, I played tennis and golf. On our off days sometimes, Nicole Schammel and I play tennis. It's a nice way to get away from the ice, but still be active.
DH: I saw a video of you swinging a racket around not too long ago, you looked like you could carry it pretty well. How good were you?
GZ: I played in high school, but I was more of a doubles specialist than a singles player. My mom played in college, so ever since a young age I've had fun playing tennis.
DH: Golf is something that I see that you're not too shabby at either. What's your sport/activity of preference to do to get away from hockey for a little bit?
GZ: I don't really have a preference between golf and tennis, but my family plays, so they are a good way to get away from hockey and spend time with friends and family.
DH: How about your aspirations for this team? What goals do you have?
GZ: Well, we obviously have a goal of winning the national championship in 2019, but I think our biggest focus is the process instead of the end goal. We take it every day at a time, and we don't focus on the end product. We take it as it comes.
DH: Fun to catch up with you Grace. Good luck!
GZ: Thanks!
###
Dan Hamann: Back with Gopher Women's Hockey, as today we are from the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Today sitting with me in the penalty box, kind of familiar spot for my guest, Grace Zumwinkle, a sophomore out of Excelsior. I kid, because actually this is one place you haven't been or spent much time with this year, so how do you play so open and hard and still be able to stay out of the penalty box?
Grace Zumwinkle: Obviously it's not one of my goals to end up in here, knock on wood, [hopefully] it doesn't happen, but I think that continuing to move your feet throughout the game. I think most people start to take penalties or get lazy when they stop moving their feet.
DH: You were a freshman pre-season rookie of the year last year, and I can't imagine what kind of pressure that would have been as a freshman. How did you handle that pressure for something you had to deal with week-in and week-out?
GZ: I think the upperclassmen really took me under their wing, as some of them are still my best friends, and they helped to show me the path, like you can't always worry about what gets said in the press or the media, positively or negatively, and I think focusing on yourself and how you can make your teammates better were the main things I focused on.
DH: As a freshman, you learn so many things about the game and yourself. What were some of the things you learned that you still had to work on to perfect your game?
GZ: I think coming to college and realizing that it is a different style of play and speed and being away from home, even though I'm really not that fair, are things that have a big impact. I think I learned that the teammate you are off the ice is even more important than the teammate you are on the ice, and being able to relate to teammates that are four years older than you and being able to deal with them every day are the biggest takeaways that I learned last year.
DH: How about the part of your game that you feel has to be improved for the future, in case you want to play for the national team or professionally? What do you need to work on?
GZ: I think being a threat at both ends of the ice, instead of just in one zone. Being a more well-rounded player will help me in the long run.
DH: Last year, you got paired up with Nicole Schammel and Taylor Wente, and that pairing continues to produce to this day; it has been a very good and productive pairing for you as well. What is it about the trio of you guys that makes it so productive?
GZ: The communication we have on and off the ice with each other is great! We all get along very well and I live with Taylor, so we have that connection as well. Communicating is our biggest thing and making sure that we are all on the same page when we step on the ice for a shift.
DH: The Four Nations Cup just got over, and Kelly Pannek was a member of that team. I'm sure as I mentioned a little bit ago, you might have some aspirations to play professionally or on a national team. You have been a part of the United States Under-18 program, so what are your aspirations to play post-graduation from the University of Minnesota?
GZ: I think the goal would be to play at the 2022 Olympics, but I like to take it a day at a time. At the end of the day, hockey should be fun and enjoyable.
DH: A week like last week, you got to take the week off. Would you have rather been up in Saskatoon playing in those tournament games?
GZ: Ideally, I would like to be playing in those games, but as a team, the off-weekend was enjoyable, and now it feels like we are more relaxed and ready to take on the second part of the season.
DH: What did you guys do during practice? It looks like there was a lot of fun and games, so what did you guys do to unwind?
GZ: We did the Jeanly Cup where we were broken up into four teams and played fun games, like finding out who had the hardest slapshot and who was the fastest skater, and then at the end of the week, we had a 3v3 tournament. It was a good way for our team to come together, have fun, and not have to worry about playing a competitor.
DH: I think it's also a good way to reset the mind and a good break to a non-stop season. What kind of things do you like to do off the ice to reset and refocus?
GZ: Growing up, I played tennis and golf. On our off days sometimes, Nicole Schammel and I play tennis. It's a nice way to get away from the ice, but still be active.
DH: I saw a video of you swinging a racket around not too long ago, you looked like you could carry it pretty well. How good were you?
GZ: I played in high school, but I was more of a doubles specialist than a singles player. My mom played in college, so ever since a young age I've had fun playing tennis.
DH: Golf is something that I see that you're not too shabby at either. What's your sport/activity of preference to do to get away from hockey for a little bit?
GZ: I don't really have a preference between golf and tennis, but my family plays, so they are a good way to get away from hockey and spend time with friends and family.
DH: How about your aspirations for this team? What goals do you have?
GZ: Well, we obviously have a goal of winning the national championship in 2019, but I think our biggest focus is the process instead of the end goal. We take it every day at a time, and we don't focus on the end product. We take it as it comes.
DH: Fun to catch up with you Grace. Good luck!
GZ: Thanks!
###
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