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/ Women's Hockey
Meet the Newcomers: Taylor Heise
8/1/2018 12:09:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Taylor Heise joins the Gopher women's hockey team as a freshman forward from Lake City, Minn.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Freshman Taylor Heise joins the Maroon & Gold from Lake City, Minn., and Red Wing High School. A four-time USA Today American Family Insurance All-USA honoree, Heise was named the 2018 USA Today High School Sports All-USA Girls Hockey Player of the Year and the 2018 Minnesota Ms. Hockey award recipient as a senior. As a member of U.S. Women's Under-18 Team, Heise was a three-time gold medalist at the 2018, 2017, and 2016 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championships as well.
Gopher Sports: How did you first start playing hockey?
Taylor Heise: At the age of seven -- I was in first grade I believe -- I found a note in my backpack. They put a note in everyone's backpack about the opportunity to try hockey for free. They gave us all of our gear, and I just thought since I had already tried every other sport as a kid, why not try hockey? I grew up in the small town of Lake City, Minn., which has about 4,000 people. It's pretty small. We started with an outdoor rink and a warming hut, so every time you would get cold you would go into the warming hut. It was only once a week. I started at the age of seven, whereas most people start at the age of two or three, so I started pretty late. It was a co-ed program, so I got to play with my brothers and all of my friends. That's how I started to fall in love with the game – so much so that I asked my parents how I could keep playing in the future. Then in seventh grade, I enrolled at Red Wing High School where I attended school and played hockey for them from seventh grade through twelfth grade.
GS: What is your earliest hockey memory?
TH: Definitely being out on the rink when it's around -20 degrees outside. I would always wear one of those ski masks where you can only see your eyes. I also remember playing with my two brothers – they weren't the best, I wasn't the best either – but I always had fun playing with them out on the rink. Neither of them ended up pursuing a hockey career, but they're very good basketball players so I guess you could say they were just playing hockey for me because we always wanted to play together.
GS: What other sports did you focus on throughout your athletic career?
TH: I tried playing soccer, but I eventually decided that was way too dangerous for my knees. I loved soccer though. I played all the way from age five to fourteen, but I knew it wasn't going to work out. I ran track my seventh grade year and my eleventh grade year, but in between there I really tried to focus on hockey. I also was involved in cross training, so I did other forms of exercising as well. I was always playing sports with my brothers. Both of my brothers and both of my parents played basketball, so I am kind of from a basketball family. I have fifteen cousins, and all of them play basketball, except for me. Both of my parents played basketball at UW-River Falls in college, but they both supported me no matter what I chose to play. I specifically remember one day when I asked my mom if it was okay for me to play hockey even though she and my dad played basketball. I played basketball and hockey up until seventh grade when I was forced to choose whether I wanted to stay in my hometown and play basketball or drive 30 minutes a day to school for hockey. It was a big commitment, especially for a seventh grader. I think I could have done really well in basketball; it just wasn't as fun for me. I wanted more free reign and liked being able to do whatever you want, which you can do in hockey.
GS: What was it like when you had to choose between hockey and basketball? What makes you love hockey so much?
TH: I think just because I love the sport of hockey so much, it was a pretty easy decision for me. If I would've loved basketball a little bit more the choice may have been harder. I felt like I was letting down my parents at some point, but they made sure that I knew that they would support me no matter what. We even made a pros and cons list. I realized that if you love something enough, you are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to get there. Being out there, being able to compete with my friends, and being able to do something most people can't do. You can take a ball and throw it in a basket any day of your life, but for hockey you have to learn how to skate, how to put your gear on, how to shoot, and how to do moves. That was such a challenge for me. I knew that once I started I was not going to stop training for it. I always looked forward to playing. When I was younger, I got to play on Wednesdays and Sundays. Every day of the week, I would be crossing another day off the calendar until I would get to play again. That in itself gave me the idea that I would never want to stop playing.
GS: How would you describe your high school hockey experience?
TH: My high school hockey experience was a lot different than most people. I came from a small town, and I went to a slightly bigger town to play hockey. We were not the best all the time. We had a lot of people who were more so there to have fun, and there's nothing wrong with that. That was the part of the reason why I loved it so much, because I got to push these players every day to be their best, and I knew that some days would be harder than others. Just being around my best friends that I had built connections with since I was around eight or nine years old, most of which I had met through soccer, was really special. Through high school hockey, I gained a lot of experience on how to gain mental toughness because I know that some people come from the really good teams up in the cities that I have watched before, but growing up with the mentality that I need to make sure everyone else around me is getting better at the same time as myself really helped my game.
GS: What are you most looking forward to about playing for the Gophers?
TH: Everything, really. I have always wanted to play Division I athletics although I was not sure what I wanted to play at a younger age. Once my love for hockey started to grow, I knew I wanted to play college hockey. I didn't know always know that I was going to end up being a Gopher, but once I visited I realized that the coaches are amazing and that the players have such connections with each other. The overall community of the University of Minnesota is amazing. Visiting here in the summer you can just tell that everyone loves it here. Being able to play with the best players in the country is an amazing opportunity. The coaching staff is absolutely amazing. I have had the luxury of being able to be coached by a few of them for a very long time now. I am beyond excited for the upcoming season; it's going to be a lot of fun.
GS: What was your experience like with the U.S. Under-18 team?
TH: It gave me a lot of confidence being able to go in every day and compete with the best girls in the country. There were 22 of us, three goalies and 19 players, being able to keep each other accountable and keep each other in line. Coach Johnson always says, "Check your ego at the door." Every day I got to practice, I had to remember that. You're not going to be the best player on the ice every time. In high school, most people who play Division I athletics were usually the best ones on their team. Playing with these girls kept me humble and kept me wanting and willing to improve every day. The U.S. team gave me so much insight. Being able to travel to three different places in the world that I would never have otherwise been able to visit is something that I am super thankful for.
GS: Did you have any hockey role models growing up?
TH: One player that I have looked up to has been Julie Chu. I used to watch her play in the Olympics. She is someone who wasn't necessarily on the first line, but she was the most aggressive player and possessed the best team-first attitude. She gave it everything she had on the ice. I have always looked up to Meghan Duggan and Kacey Bellamy, too, and I have been able to be a part of one of their teams and I have been able to be coached by them. They just have such a love for the game and such an understanding of what it takes to get to that level. My favorite NHL player is Jake Guentzel. I have always looked up to him as well. My goal is to meet him in the future. He has always stuck out to me in the NHL. There are some other players I like too, but he does so much on the ice while being a rookie as well. He's a great role model to look up to.
GS: If you had a day where you had no school work and you had already finished practice for the day, what would you do?
TH: At home I would hang out with my friends or family and bake. I am a big baker, and I love cooking. My friends up here always complain because I always have sweets in my room, and they can't resist. I would either bake, or I would go rollerblading. If I am on campus, I would go on a moped ride -- I love my moped. I would just try to explore, have fun, and enjoy some relaxing me-time.
GS: Do you know what you want to major in or what career you want to pursue?
TH: I am hoping to major in Kinesiology and minor in sports management. I haven't quite decided what career path I hope to pursue, but I'm interested in physical therapy or occupational therapy. As a seventh grader, I used to have to sit for about 25 minutes after school while I waited for my grandfather to come get me. He was kind of my personal chauffeur, so after he was done bussing he would pick me up from school. I would sit in the training room every day and watch the trainers help so many people, and it was just amazing. As an athlete, if I were hurt I would want the best person helping me and getting me back to where I need to be as fast as possible.
GS: What advice would you give to a young athlete?
TH: As a young athlete, you don't need to focus solely on one sport. I would say try to play multiple sports. That's hard for me to say because I dedicated the majority of my time to hockey, but most importantly just have fun. It's not all about winning and about being the best, but rather being the best player you can be and working as hard as you can to maintain that level. Make sure you're giving it everything you have, day in and day out. Try to make new friends through the sports you play, and always remember to have fun.
Faceoff with Taylor Heise
Hot coffee or cold coffee: I don't drink coffee.
Favorite band/type of music: My hometown is about an hour and a half from campus so I do a lot of driving in the summer. I like country, rap, and pop. I have three different playlists, and there are about 15 hours of songs on each one. I would say my favorite country singer would be Thomas Rhett or Zac Brown Band or Florida Georgia Line. Aside from that, I like Drake and Halsey.
If you could play another sport in college what would it be: I have always wanted to try lacrosse. I would have played if my high school team had a lacrosse team. Either lacrosse or volleyball. I played volleyball as a kid, and I have always wished I would have stuck with it.
Who is the best player you have ever played against or with: I would say either Kendall Coyne or Brianna Decker. For goalies, for sure Maddie Rooney. She is so good.
What is your favorite animal: I have always wanted a dog!
What is one word that describes you: Passionate. I try to do everything to 100%. You only get one life, so why not live it to the best it can be? If you're working hard on something, you get a sense of accomplishment.
What is your favorite Netflix series: I would say The Blacklist and Quantico are my two favorites.
What is one thing on your bucketlist: Skydiving. I saw a video of my friend skydiving, and it looked like so much fun. So either that, or to go white water rafting. Both choices are reachable at some point, so hopefully I can do them both in the future.
One food you could never live without: I am a sucker for a good burger. I am one of those people who will order a burger at Buffalo Wild Wings.
One food you refuse to eat: Tofu and sushi.
Favorite holiday: I was born on St. Patrick's Day, so I would probably have to say that but other than that, Christmas.
Biggest pet peeve: People who chew with their mouths open.
Name one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you: Probably my love for baking. Most people think of me as super intense, so baking is a little weird for that kind of personality.
###
Gopher Sports: How did you first start playing hockey?
Taylor Heise: At the age of seven -- I was in first grade I believe -- I found a note in my backpack. They put a note in everyone's backpack about the opportunity to try hockey for free. They gave us all of our gear, and I just thought since I had already tried every other sport as a kid, why not try hockey? I grew up in the small town of Lake City, Minn., which has about 4,000 people. It's pretty small. We started with an outdoor rink and a warming hut, so every time you would get cold you would go into the warming hut. It was only once a week. I started at the age of seven, whereas most people start at the age of two or three, so I started pretty late. It was a co-ed program, so I got to play with my brothers and all of my friends. That's how I started to fall in love with the game – so much so that I asked my parents how I could keep playing in the future. Then in seventh grade, I enrolled at Red Wing High School where I attended school and played hockey for them from seventh grade through twelfth grade.
GS: What is your earliest hockey memory?
TH: Definitely being out on the rink when it's around -20 degrees outside. I would always wear one of those ski masks where you can only see your eyes. I also remember playing with my two brothers – they weren't the best, I wasn't the best either – but I always had fun playing with them out on the rink. Neither of them ended up pursuing a hockey career, but they're very good basketball players so I guess you could say they were just playing hockey for me because we always wanted to play together.
GS: What other sports did you focus on throughout your athletic career?
TH: I tried playing soccer, but I eventually decided that was way too dangerous for my knees. I loved soccer though. I played all the way from age five to fourteen, but I knew it wasn't going to work out. I ran track my seventh grade year and my eleventh grade year, but in between there I really tried to focus on hockey. I also was involved in cross training, so I did other forms of exercising as well. I was always playing sports with my brothers. Both of my brothers and both of my parents played basketball, so I am kind of from a basketball family. I have fifteen cousins, and all of them play basketball, except for me. Both of my parents played basketball at UW-River Falls in college, but they both supported me no matter what I chose to play. I specifically remember one day when I asked my mom if it was okay for me to play hockey even though she and my dad played basketball. I played basketball and hockey up until seventh grade when I was forced to choose whether I wanted to stay in my hometown and play basketball or drive 30 minutes a day to school for hockey. It was a big commitment, especially for a seventh grader. I think I could have done really well in basketball; it just wasn't as fun for me. I wanted more free reign and liked being able to do whatever you want, which you can do in hockey.
GS: What was it like when you had to choose between hockey and basketball? What makes you love hockey so much?
TH: I think just because I love the sport of hockey so much, it was a pretty easy decision for me. If I would've loved basketball a little bit more the choice may have been harder. I felt like I was letting down my parents at some point, but they made sure that I knew that they would support me no matter what. We even made a pros and cons list. I realized that if you love something enough, you are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to get there. Being out there, being able to compete with my friends, and being able to do something most people can't do. You can take a ball and throw it in a basket any day of your life, but for hockey you have to learn how to skate, how to put your gear on, how to shoot, and how to do moves. That was such a challenge for me. I knew that once I started I was not going to stop training for it. I always looked forward to playing. When I was younger, I got to play on Wednesdays and Sundays. Every day of the week, I would be crossing another day off the calendar until I would get to play again. That in itself gave me the idea that I would never want to stop playing.
GS: How would you describe your high school hockey experience?
TH: My high school hockey experience was a lot different than most people. I came from a small town, and I went to a slightly bigger town to play hockey. We were not the best all the time. We had a lot of people who were more so there to have fun, and there's nothing wrong with that. That was the part of the reason why I loved it so much, because I got to push these players every day to be their best, and I knew that some days would be harder than others. Just being around my best friends that I had built connections with since I was around eight or nine years old, most of which I had met through soccer, was really special. Through high school hockey, I gained a lot of experience on how to gain mental toughness because I know that some people come from the really good teams up in the cities that I have watched before, but growing up with the mentality that I need to make sure everyone else around me is getting better at the same time as myself really helped my game.
GS: What are you most looking forward to about playing for the Gophers?
TH: Everything, really. I have always wanted to play Division I athletics although I was not sure what I wanted to play at a younger age. Once my love for hockey started to grow, I knew I wanted to play college hockey. I didn't know always know that I was going to end up being a Gopher, but once I visited I realized that the coaches are amazing and that the players have such connections with each other. The overall community of the University of Minnesota is amazing. Visiting here in the summer you can just tell that everyone loves it here. Being able to play with the best players in the country is an amazing opportunity. The coaching staff is absolutely amazing. I have had the luxury of being able to be coached by a few of them for a very long time now. I am beyond excited for the upcoming season; it's going to be a lot of fun.
GS: What was your experience like with the U.S. Under-18 team?
TH: It gave me a lot of confidence being able to go in every day and compete with the best girls in the country. There were 22 of us, three goalies and 19 players, being able to keep each other accountable and keep each other in line. Coach Johnson always says, "Check your ego at the door." Every day I got to practice, I had to remember that. You're not going to be the best player on the ice every time. In high school, most people who play Division I athletics were usually the best ones on their team. Playing with these girls kept me humble and kept me wanting and willing to improve every day. The U.S. team gave me so much insight. Being able to travel to three different places in the world that I would never have otherwise been able to visit is something that I am super thankful for.
GS: Did you have any hockey role models growing up?
TH: One player that I have looked up to has been Julie Chu. I used to watch her play in the Olympics. She is someone who wasn't necessarily on the first line, but she was the most aggressive player and possessed the best team-first attitude. She gave it everything she had on the ice. I have always looked up to Meghan Duggan and Kacey Bellamy, too, and I have been able to be a part of one of their teams and I have been able to be coached by them. They just have such a love for the game and such an understanding of what it takes to get to that level. My favorite NHL player is Jake Guentzel. I have always looked up to him as well. My goal is to meet him in the future. He has always stuck out to me in the NHL. There are some other players I like too, but he does so much on the ice while being a rookie as well. He's a great role model to look up to.
GS: If you had a day where you had no school work and you had already finished practice for the day, what would you do?
TH: At home I would hang out with my friends or family and bake. I am a big baker, and I love cooking. My friends up here always complain because I always have sweets in my room, and they can't resist. I would either bake, or I would go rollerblading. If I am on campus, I would go on a moped ride -- I love my moped. I would just try to explore, have fun, and enjoy some relaxing me-time.
GS: Do you know what you want to major in or what career you want to pursue?
TH: I am hoping to major in Kinesiology and minor in sports management. I haven't quite decided what career path I hope to pursue, but I'm interested in physical therapy or occupational therapy. As a seventh grader, I used to have to sit for about 25 minutes after school while I waited for my grandfather to come get me. He was kind of my personal chauffeur, so after he was done bussing he would pick me up from school. I would sit in the training room every day and watch the trainers help so many people, and it was just amazing. As an athlete, if I were hurt I would want the best person helping me and getting me back to where I need to be as fast as possible.
GS: What advice would you give to a young athlete?
TH: As a young athlete, you don't need to focus solely on one sport. I would say try to play multiple sports. That's hard for me to say because I dedicated the majority of my time to hockey, but most importantly just have fun. It's not all about winning and about being the best, but rather being the best player you can be and working as hard as you can to maintain that level. Make sure you're giving it everything you have, day in and day out. Try to make new friends through the sports you play, and always remember to have fun.
Faceoff with Taylor Heise
Hot coffee or cold coffee: I don't drink coffee.
Favorite band/type of music: My hometown is about an hour and a half from campus so I do a lot of driving in the summer. I like country, rap, and pop. I have three different playlists, and there are about 15 hours of songs on each one. I would say my favorite country singer would be Thomas Rhett or Zac Brown Band or Florida Georgia Line. Aside from that, I like Drake and Halsey.
If you could play another sport in college what would it be: I have always wanted to try lacrosse. I would have played if my high school team had a lacrosse team. Either lacrosse or volleyball. I played volleyball as a kid, and I have always wished I would have stuck with it.
Who is the best player you have ever played against or with: I would say either Kendall Coyne or Brianna Decker. For goalies, for sure Maddie Rooney. She is so good.
What is your favorite animal: I have always wanted a dog!
What is one word that describes you: Passionate. I try to do everything to 100%. You only get one life, so why not live it to the best it can be? If you're working hard on something, you get a sense of accomplishment.
What is your favorite Netflix series: I would say The Blacklist and Quantico are my two favorites.
What is one thing on your bucketlist: Skydiving. I saw a video of my friend skydiving, and it looked like so much fun. So either that, or to go white water rafting. Both choices are reachable at some point, so hopefully I can do them both in the future.
One food you could never live without: I am a sucker for a good burger. I am one of those people who will order a burger at Buffalo Wild Wings.
One food you refuse to eat: Tofu and sushi.
Favorite holiday: I was born on St. Patrick's Day, so I would probably have to say that but other than that, Christmas.
Biggest pet peeve: People who chew with their mouths open.
Name one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you: Probably my love for baking. Most people think of me as super intense, so baking is a little weird for that kind of personality.
###
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