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/ Women's Hockey
Meet the Newcomers: Catie Skaja
8/22/2018 2:18:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Rookie Catie Skaja joins the Gophers as a right-handed forward from New Prague, Minn.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Freshman Catie Skaja joins the Maroon & Gold from New Prague, Minn. A six-time all-conference and four-time all-state honoree, Skaja was a three-sport athlete for the Trojans at New Prague High School, earning six letters in hockey and four letters in track & field along with playing soccer for three years. As a senior, she recorded 61 points (36g-25a) in 24 games to lead the Wright County Conference in points and assists. Skaja was named to the all-tournament team at 2016 Minnesota State Class A Championship after leading New Prague to the consolation title. A 2018 Minnesota Ms. Hockey semifinalist, Skaja won two gold medals with the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team at the 2017 and 2016 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championships.
Gopher Sports: GopherSports.com: How did you first start playing hockey?
Catie Skaja: I watched my brothers play growing up when they were little. There was a day where they didn't want to play hockey anymore, so my grandma made a comment, saying, "Catie's going to go out and play for you," and I thought maybe I should. My dad played hockey, too.
GS: What is your earliest hockey memory?
CS: I think it was 10U; we won this tournament and I was holding up the trophy, and then the whole top of it fell off and fell on my head. I already had my helmet off, and it left a huge lump.
GS: Did you ever play on teams with your brothers?
CS: No, because they are three years older than I am.
GS: Did you play any other sports growing up?
CS: I did gymnastics, volleyball, soccer, track & field, and tennis.
GS: You were involved in both soccer and track & field in high school along with playing hockey. What was it about hockey that made it be the one you wanted to pursue at a higher level?
CS: I liked that it was the most aggressive and physical. In soccer, I would always get penalties because I would always run people over.
GS: How would you describe your high school hockey experience?
CS: It was good. It was different, I had to be one of the leaders. I was an assistant captain in eighth or ninth grade, so I had to lead from a young age, which was hard because the older girls didn't always listen. But it was fun.
GS: How did you find yourself in that leadership role when you were so young?
CS: To be honest, some of the older girls I actually connected with more than the people my age, they kind of brought me up to them, so that helped.
GS: What are you most looking forward to about playing for the Gophers?
CS: Just having it being so close to home and having my family support us all the time.
GS: Where you a Gopher fan growing up?
CS: Yes, since I was little.
GS: Who is a hockey player that you looked up to when you were little?
CS: Probably Zach Parise, I always watched him and I just love how he plays. He is kind of the same player I am because we both play physical and I just love watching him play.
GS: If you had a free day without homework, class, or practice, what would you do?
CS: Clean my house and tan.
GS: Do you have any other hobbies besides hockey that you like to do in your free time?
CS: I like to run for fun and hang out with my family. I love to shop and clean, too. I have a cleaning thing.
GS: When did you know that playing Division I hockey was a realistic possibility for you?
CS: There was this girl who was a senior when I was in seventh grade, and she wanted to go to Gustavus so the coach came to watch. He pulled me aside and he said, "We would love to have you, but there's no way. You're going to go DI, no problem." Before that, I wanted to play Division I, but I hadn't received any letters from colleges or anything. After he said that, I figured I just had to be patient.
GS: How did you pick the University of Minnesota?
CS: I've wanted to go here since I was around eight years old. I came here when I was eight to watch one of the games, and I saw all the Olympians on the wall so it's just kind of been my goal.
GS: Do you know what you want to study?
CS: I was going to do Kinesiology, but now I'm thinking maybe sports psychology because I like that kind of stuff.
GS: What was your experience like with the U.S. Under-18 Team? How did it help you grow as a player?
CS: It was super fun. I did all these high performance camps; my first year, it was a long process but then I started making the higher-up camps. It was super fast-paced, which was a huge switch from things in New Prague. The older girls helped a lot. They were good role models with their confidence and attitudes.
Faceoff with Catie Skaja
Hot coffee or iced coffee: Neither. I hate coffee.
Favorite movie: Forever Strong. It's a rugby movie.
Favorite type of music: I like hip hop, pop, whatever is on the radio, and then country.
If you could play another sport in college, what would it be: Volleyball.
Favorite animal: Dog.
Who's the best hockey player you've ever played against? We played against the Olympians at a camp. It was honestly probably Amanda Kessel, she scrimmaged with us one time.
Favorite Netflix series: I like the Fosters or Grey's Anatomy.
Name one word that describes you: Honest.
Biggest pet peeve: When things are not clean.
Name one thing on your bucket list: To go to Bora Bora. I've always wanted to go there.
Name one food that you could never live without: Watermelon.
Name one food you absolutely refuse to eat: Guacamole. I hate it. I tried to eat to eat it one time, and I literally threw it up. Never again.
What advice would you give to a young athlete? Stay on your path, even when you are doubting yourself, stay true to yourself. Watch older people, and take their advice.
Favorite holiday: Christmas.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you: Honestly, it's probably the cleaning thing.
###
Gopher Sports: GopherSports.com: How did you first start playing hockey?
Catie Skaja: I watched my brothers play growing up when they were little. There was a day where they didn't want to play hockey anymore, so my grandma made a comment, saying, "Catie's going to go out and play for you," and I thought maybe I should. My dad played hockey, too.
GS: What is your earliest hockey memory?
CS: I think it was 10U; we won this tournament and I was holding up the trophy, and then the whole top of it fell off and fell on my head. I already had my helmet off, and it left a huge lump.
GS: Did you ever play on teams with your brothers?
CS: No, because they are three years older than I am.
GS: Did you play any other sports growing up?
CS: I did gymnastics, volleyball, soccer, track & field, and tennis.
GS: You were involved in both soccer and track & field in high school along with playing hockey. What was it about hockey that made it be the one you wanted to pursue at a higher level?
CS: I liked that it was the most aggressive and physical. In soccer, I would always get penalties because I would always run people over.
GS: How would you describe your high school hockey experience?
CS: It was good. It was different, I had to be one of the leaders. I was an assistant captain in eighth or ninth grade, so I had to lead from a young age, which was hard because the older girls didn't always listen. But it was fun.
GS: How did you find yourself in that leadership role when you were so young?
CS: To be honest, some of the older girls I actually connected with more than the people my age, they kind of brought me up to them, so that helped.
GS: What are you most looking forward to about playing for the Gophers?
CS: Just having it being so close to home and having my family support us all the time.
GS: Where you a Gopher fan growing up?
CS: Yes, since I was little.
GS: Who is a hockey player that you looked up to when you were little?
CS: Probably Zach Parise, I always watched him and I just love how he plays. He is kind of the same player I am because we both play physical and I just love watching him play.
GS: If you had a free day without homework, class, or practice, what would you do?
CS: Clean my house and tan.
GS: Do you have any other hobbies besides hockey that you like to do in your free time?
CS: I like to run for fun and hang out with my family. I love to shop and clean, too. I have a cleaning thing.
GS: When did you know that playing Division I hockey was a realistic possibility for you?
CS: There was this girl who was a senior when I was in seventh grade, and she wanted to go to Gustavus so the coach came to watch. He pulled me aside and he said, "We would love to have you, but there's no way. You're going to go DI, no problem." Before that, I wanted to play Division I, but I hadn't received any letters from colleges or anything. After he said that, I figured I just had to be patient.
GS: How did you pick the University of Minnesota?
CS: I've wanted to go here since I was around eight years old. I came here when I was eight to watch one of the games, and I saw all the Olympians on the wall so it's just kind of been my goal.
GS: Do you know what you want to study?
CS: I was going to do Kinesiology, but now I'm thinking maybe sports psychology because I like that kind of stuff.
GS: What was your experience like with the U.S. Under-18 Team? How did it help you grow as a player?
CS: It was super fun. I did all these high performance camps; my first year, it was a long process but then I started making the higher-up camps. It was super fast-paced, which was a huge switch from things in New Prague. The older girls helped a lot. They were good role models with their confidence and attitudes.
Faceoff with Catie Skaja
Hot coffee or iced coffee: Neither. I hate coffee.
Favorite movie: Forever Strong. It's a rugby movie.
Favorite type of music: I like hip hop, pop, whatever is on the radio, and then country.
If you could play another sport in college, what would it be: Volleyball.
Favorite animal: Dog.
Who's the best hockey player you've ever played against? We played against the Olympians at a camp. It was honestly probably Amanda Kessel, she scrimmaged with us one time.
Favorite Netflix series: I like the Fosters or Grey's Anatomy.
Name one word that describes you: Honest.
Biggest pet peeve: When things are not clean.
Name one thing on your bucket list: To go to Bora Bora. I've always wanted to go there.
Name one food that you could never live without: Watermelon.
Name one food you absolutely refuse to eat: Guacamole. I hate it. I tried to eat to eat it one time, and I literally threw it up. Never again.
What advice would you give to a young athlete? Stay on your path, even when you are doubting yourself, stay true to yourself. Watch older people, and take their advice.
Favorite holiday: Christmas.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you: Honestly, it's probably the cleaning thing.
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