Five Minutes with Kelly Pannek

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kelly Pannek returns to the Gophers for her senior season after helping Team USA win gold at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. The Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann caught up with Pannek to learn about her Olympic year, the transition back to college hockey, what this year's team is like, and more.

Listen to Kelly Pannek's complete interview.

Dan Hamann: Today I am joined her by senior captain, Kelly Pannek, as she makes her triumphant return from her year off with the US National Team and an Olympic gold medal. Not around her neck right now but, it's got to get to the point here eventually, Kelly, that just about everybody in the state of Minnesota has touched that medal.

Kelly Pannek: Yeah, that's kind of our hope though. Angela Ruggiero was the one that told our team that you don't want you medal to look the same way as when you got it. You want to share it with people, it's what makes it special. So, we've all been taking that to heart and it makes it really fun to share with a lot a people but I'm ready to put it away for a little bit as well and get back to work.

DH: When you were named to the national women's hockey team, what was going through your mind? It's been a long time, I know, since that announcement, but I think you got to look back at all the hard work and what you had to do to get there.

KP: Just a lot of disbelief, it's something that so many people dream of, and to have that dream realized is pretty crazy. Again, you make a team, but then you're also trying to be on that team and make that team successful. So, it's a few moments of disbelief and then also, getting back to being confident and getting back to work again and going towards your team's goal.

DH: How was training there? Was it anything you've ever gone through before? Was the training that much more intense than it is, maybe perhaps, training to get ready for another year at the U?

KP: Yeah, I think the biggest thing I learned was the consistency day in and day out. To compete, to be ready to compete, prepare yourself every single day. The way that the people who are on the national team have prepared every day for the past ten years being on that team, is amazing and it's incredible. And it's something that I hope to bring back to this team as well, a reminder of consistent effort and energy and a determination to follow towards the path that you're on, keep on that journey, and know that in the end it will produce results.

DH: In the gold medal game, and throughout the Olympics too, you were fortunate enough to play with a couple of former Gophers too. The Lamoureux sisters, Jocelyn and Monique. And what was it like being paired up on the line with those two for a lot of the Olympics?

KP: Yeah, it was really fun. We got put together in late January, so we really weren't together that long but kind of the moment we got put together on a line it just worked, it clicked. They kind of liked to joke that now that there's no North Dakota program, they're back to being Gophers. I said that's not quite how it works, but it was super fun to kind of join their sisterhood, in a real sense. Just to read off them and learn from them, they've obviously been doing this for a very long time and have had great success.

DH: Going back to that gold medal game, the United States trailed by a goal, and I think you were on the ice for that game-tying one and I think maybe set it up too, didn't you?

KP: I can't remember who on the other team came down, shot it, blocker side, Maddie got her stick on it and it just wrung around. I was actually going to change, I was just finishing my shift, and the puck, it went to the red line, they tried to dump it back in, and it went to my stick. I saw Monique just kind of floating on the far side of the blue line, there was one defender standing in the way between us. And, somehow it went across half the ice, to her, and she was all alone. There are very few people you would select over her, if any, in that moment to put a goal in.

DH: Did it make it much easier for you knowing that you had six total Gophers, five former teammates, I guess you never got a chance to play with Gigi but I mean, you knew a lot of the faces, you knew a lot of the names there. How much easier for you did that make getting to the centralized team?

KP: For sure. It's one knowing them, but also them knowing you. Just knowing that I had people that I've played with for a few years and that I know very, very well. Knowing that they have my back, knowing how I work, I know how they work, there's just an added sense of comfort in an otherwise uncomfortable environment. And I say uncomfortable, but it's supposed to be that way, it's supposed to challenge you and make you grow, and that's what it does. But, it's also great having that solid support system that you have and knowing those players ahead of time.

DH: Now back at the U, back to the grind here. Has it been a little bit of an adjustment to get back into the academia?

KP: A little bit. But I'm really excited about going back to my first classes. I'm not in many, so that's a good adjustment but, no it's been really fun. I think it's weird not being at school, knowing you still have school left. I'm excited to graduate this year.

DH: Do you have plans in the future to continue training for the national team or any plans to play professionally in the CWHL or the NWHL?

KP: Yeah, that's something that I think I'm totally figuring out as we go. At this point, I'm leaning more towards yes to keep going for it and keep playing. People always say, why be in a rush to get to a desk job? But also, I still love it and I think as long as you love it and are passionate about it and are healthy and you have the ability, so why not? That's kind of where I'm at. But, a lot can change in a year as well, so, I say that now but who knows what happens.

DH: Finally, I want to ask you a bit about this year's Gopher team. A lot of fresh new faces here. It's almost completely turned over since you gotten back. There are eight newcomers this year. A lot of new faces, but a lot of talent and a lot of potential. Where do you see this team going as you are about to step on the ice here for the first game of the regular season?

KP: I think on this team, especially, there's so much energy. And that's the great thing about having so many players -- there are so many personalities, it seems to be gelling well so far, which is exciting. A lot of excitement and energy, I think those fresh faces bring a lot to our team. New perspective, that wide-eyed [approach] is refreshing for everyone. I think every position has a lot of depth, which is great, it's just how we use that depth to push us forward instead of maybe pull us apart. I think we're set up in a good way to push us forward in a good way.

DH: We could go on for quite some time, Kelly. But, thanks for your time and best of luck and we certainly look forward to seeing you put that jersey on again.

KP: Thank you, Dan.

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Kelly Pannek