University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Five Minutes with Alex Woken
12/14/2018 9:45:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Junior forward Alex Woken chatted with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann last weekend.
MINNEAPOLIS --Â Junior forward Alex Woken chatted with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann last weekend before Minnesota's 5-0 game-two win over visiting Robert Morris. Woken ended the first half of the season with a two-goal series against the Colonials and discussed team chemistry, holiday traditions, and her career goals.
Â
Dan Hamann: Today with Gopher Women's Hockey, I'm joined by junior forward Alex Woken out of Fargo, North Dakota via Shattuck-St. Mary's. Alex, to this date, you have six goals on the season, including one big one last night. First Alex, let's talk about your goal last night. How did it transpire and what did you see as you were coming down the ice?
Alex Woken: Well, the D made a good play down low, and Taylor made a good play along the wall to get the puck out. Amy made a really good pass across, and I found myself in front of the net with just me and the goalie.
DH: It seems lately anyway a trend has been that you're scoring quite a bit on odd-man rushes. What have you seen on your goals?Â
AW: I think as a line, my linemates have been able to feed me the puck when we go down on a 2-on-1. I guess we've just been clicking really well.
DH: This whole team, this last month, has been just amazing, but yet it's not one person necessarily, other than perhaps Grace Zumwinkle, but it always seems to be a different player on a different night. What's it like in the locker room going in day in and day out?
AW: It's so much fun having so much depth. After the game last night, Emma was like six different players scored, that's a full team win. I think it's so much fun that each night a line as the opportunity to score. We're not just relying on one line to do all of the work offensively or defensively. I think that brings so much balance, and it's a lot of fun coming to practice each day.
DH: Did you see that balance on this team when the season started or when the freshmen first came in to camp? I'm not sure that I did. I would probably have thought that Kelly's line would be the dominant line with her coming back from the Olympics. It really hasn't been that way though, has it?
AW: Of course, coming in, you would think that we're going to rely on Kelly and her line, and of course we still do, but the freshmen just came in and they got used to play so quickly. They have gotten used to the college hockey pace. They've molded well with the team.
DH: It's been a long time since we've seen a WCHA opponent. Do you remember what it's like to play a league opponent?Â
AW: My roommates and I were talking and trying to remember the last time we even played at home. Who did we even play at home? Honestly, we didn't know, and that's how long it's been since we've played at home so it's really fun being back here.
DH: I noticed a lot of the girls wearing Christmas sweaters -- I don't know if "ugly" would be the appropriate word. Who's idea was that?
AW: It was Kelly's idea. I think she decided since it's the last game of the year, close to Christmas, so she asked everyone to wear Christmas sweaters if we have them. Just have some fun.
DH: Any fond memories of the one you're wearing right now?
AW: No, I got it in high school. For Shattuck, we had spirit weeks every year, so I wore it for that.
DH: With the holiday season not that far away, of course, I'm sure Christmas shopping is on your mind. As you look forward to the holiday break and getting to celebrate with your family and friends, what are some of your fondest traditions?
AW: My family doesn't do a whole lot. We normally get together with my dad's side of the family because they're the closest in North Dakota. I just enjoy Christmas because it's in between semesters so I actually get to go home and relax and not stress about school.
DH: What is the most relaxing thing you do while at home?
AW: I don't know. It's just nice being in my actual home since I don't get to go home as much, just having parents there and hanging out with my dogs.
DH: You played for a few years at Shattuck, so you've been living away from home at that point at time. I would imagine that family time is extremely important to you.
AW: Yeah, absolutely. I don't get to go home very much anymore, so it's a time that I go see my extended family and then my parents of course, eat up the time that they have with me. I only get 10 days at home this year because my finals are running late, but I think that will be plenty.
DH: Usually people get sick of family after a couple of days, even though you love them to death, right? Ok, so Mom and Dad are listening right now. What's one Christmas present you'd like to get this year?
AW: One item that I have asked for, even though I tell them that I don't want anything, but I would like another blanket.
DH: Practical! And useful! What's wrong with the blanket now?
AW: It's just nice to have extra blankets on my bed. It gets kind of cold in the apartments.Â
DH: Especially when you're studying for your finals. Let's talk about your major a little bit because it is interesting -- neuroscience. Your dad is a trainer at North Dakota State, so I would imagine that your interested was spurned because of your dad a little bit, is that right?
AW: Yeah, my mom and my dad. My mom is a PT as well. I knew I wanted to go into the medical field, but I didn't want to do what my parents are doing, just because I spent so much time around them. I've always been really fascinated with the brain and how it works and stuff. I thought I might as well do neuro. I actually want to go to vet school, not a normal route to go to vet school, but I thought I would major in something that I was really interested in in undergrad. You can still go to vet school with kind-of any science major.
DH: So a love of animals is primarily why you want to go there. Where did that come from?
AW: I'm an only child, and we always had two dogs when I was growing up. They were kind-of like my siblings. I grew in my love for them, and my parents love animals, too.
DH: Well, I'll be up in Fargo for a few days over the holidays, so maybe we'll run into each other. Merry Christmas, and always the best. Thank you, Alex.
AW: Thank you.Â
###
Â
| Listen to Alex Woken's interview. |
Dan Hamann: Today with Gopher Women's Hockey, I'm joined by junior forward Alex Woken out of Fargo, North Dakota via Shattuck-St. Mary's. Alex, to this date, you have six goals on the season, including one big one last night. First Alex, let's talk about your goal last night. How did it transpire and what did you see as you were coming down the ice?
Alex Woken: Well, the D made a good play down low, and Taylor made a good play along the wall to get the puck out. Amy made a really good pass across, and I found myself in front of the net with just me and the goalie.
DH: It seems lately anyway a trend has been that you're scoring quite a bit on odd-man rushes. What have you seen on your goals?Â
AW: I think as a line, my linemates have been able to feed me the puck when we go down on a 2-on-1. I guess we've just been clicking really well.
DH: This whole team, this last month, has been just amazing, but yet it's not one person necessarily, other than perhaps Grace Zumwinkle, but it always seems to be a different player on a different night. What's it like in the locker room going in day in and day out?
AW: It's so much fun having so much depth. After the game last night, Emma was like six different players scored, that's a full team win. I think it's so much fun that each night a line as the opportunity to score. We're not just relying on one line to do all of the work offensively or defensively. I think that brings so much balance, and it's a lot of fun coming to practice each day.
DH: Did you see that balance on this team when the season started or when the freshmen first came in to camp? I'm not sure that I did. I would probably have thought that Kelly's line would be the dominant line with her coming back from the Olympics. It really hasn't been that way though, has it?
AW: Of course, coming in, you would think that we're going to rely on Kelly and her line, and of course we still do, but the freshmen just came in and they got used to play so quickly. They have gotten used to the college hockey pace. They've molded well with the team.
DH: It's been a long time since we've seen a WCHA opponent. Do you remember what it's like to play a league opponent?Â
AW: My roommates and I were talking and trying to remember the last time we even played at home. Who did we even play at home? Honestly, we didn't know, and that's how long it's been since we've played at home so it's really fun being back here.
DH: I noticed a lot of the girls wearing Christmas sweaters -- I don't know if "ugly" would be the appropriate word. Who's idea was that?
AW: It was Kelly's idea. I think she decided since it's the last game of the year, close to Christmas, so she asked everyone to wear Christmas sweaters if we have them. Just have some fun.
DH: Any fond memories of the one you're wearing right now?
AW: No, I got it in high school. For Shattuck, we had spirit weeks every year, so I wore it for that.
DH: With the holiday season not that far away, of course, I'm sure Christmas shopping is on your mind. As you look forward to the holiday break and getting to celebrate with your family and friends, what are some of your fondest traditions?
AW: My family doesn't do a whole lot. We normally get together with my dad's side of the family because they're the closest in North Dakota. I just enjoy Christmas because it's in between semesters so I actually get to go home and relax and not stress about school.
DH: What is the most relaxing thing you do while at home?
AW: I don't know. It's just nice being in my actual home since I don't get to go home as much, just having parents there and hanging out with my dogs.
DH: You played for a few years at Shattuck, so you've been living away from home at that point at time. I would imagine that family time is extremely important to you.
AW: Yeah, absolutely. I don't get to go home very much anymore, so it's a time that I go see my extended family and then my parents of course, eat up the time that they have with me. I only get 10 days at home this year because my finals are running late, but I think that will be plenty.
DH: Usually people get sick of family after a couple of days, even though you love them to death, right? Ok, so Mom and Dad are listening right now. What's one Christmas present you'd like to get this year?
AW: One item that I have asked for, even though I tell them that I don't want anything, but I would like another blanket.
DH: Practical! And useful! What's wrong with the blanket now?
AW: It's just nice to have extra blankets on my bed. It gets kind of cold in the apartments.Â
DH: Especially when you're studying for your finals. Let's talk about your major a little bit because it is interesting -- neuroscience. Your dad is a trainer at North Dakota State, so I would imagine that your interested was spurned because of your dad a little bit, is that right?
AW: Yeah, my mom and my dad. My mom is a PT as well. I knew I wanted to go into the medical field, but I didn't want to do what my parents are doing, just because I spent so much time around them. I've always been really fascinated with the brain and how it works and stuff. I thought I might as well do neuro. I actually want to go to vet school, not a normal route to go to vet school, but I thought I would major in something that I was really interested in in undergrad. You can still go to vet school with kind-of any science major.
DH: So a love of animals is primarily why you want to go there. Where did that come from?
AW: I'm an only child, and we always had two dogs when I was growing up. They were kind-of like my siblings. I grew in my love for them, and my parents love animals, too.
DH: Well, I'll be up in Fargo for a few days over the holidays, so maybe we'll run into each other. Merry Christmas, and always the best. Thank you, Alex.
AW: Thank you.Â
###
Best of Abbey Murphy
Thursday, April 02
Press Conference: Greg May Introduction
Monday, March 23
Greg "Boom" May Named Head Coach
Sunday, March 22
NCAA Hockey Hype
Friday, March 13