Five Minutes with Alex Woken

MINNEAPOLIS -- Catch up on senior forward Alex Woken's chat with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann from last weekend.

Dan Hamann: Today my player guest is senior forward Alex Woken, out of Fargo, North Dakota. Alex, two weekends ago you earned three goals and three assists against Minnesota State, so let's start there. They call those 'career-weekends.' How did you view it?

Alex Woken: Our line made of Grace Zumwinkle, Taylor Heise, and I just worked really well together, and I think we are starting to mesh a lot more. It's been great playing with them, and they're obviously great players, so when you're playing with amazing players, it makes it a lot easier to play the game.

DH: Those two have well-known offensive talents, and yours is not as well known, but you've put the puck in the net this season. We've also seen a lot of the puck going off the post; do you think you've been duped in that regard?

AW: No, I just have to focus on finding the net instead of the post more often (laughs).

DH: You had two in the first series and last season, it just seemed like the puck was magnetized to the post for some reason. When things are going well, mentally what's going through your mind?

AW: It's a lot of fun. It makes it fun coming to the rink knowing that things are clicking on the ice. Everyone loves it when things are going their way. I think we need to continue working together as a line and honing our chemistry, because we didn't play together last year. We keep building off each other as each week goes by.

DH: Does it put your mind at ease knowing you've already scored your first goal of the season? Does it build confidence?

AW: It builds confidence for sure, especially knowing that I hit the back of the net instead of the post. I wouldn't say that I look at my performance based on the number of goals I score. While it's great I've been able to put a couple into the back of the net, I'm more focused on doing whatever the team needs me to do.

DH: We had a game today where the staff had to hypothetically pick three forwards and two defense to play all sixty minutes, and almost everyone picked you. Why do you think that is?

AW: I guess I like to work out and put in the extra work. I'm a gritty type of player. That's probably where they got that answer I'd say.

DH: I think that's why your line is as successful as it is: Grace get the goals, Taylor gets some too, but you're the gritty one. Is that a title that you savor?

AW: Yeah, definitely. I try to embrace that and go into the dirty areas of the rink and outwork the person battling me in the corner of the rink. That's where I center my game around, knowing my strengths. I will do anything to win a battle in the corner.

DH: As a senior, I'm sure there are a lot of people looking up to you to provide that leadership on and off the ice. Have you ever thought about what kind of leader you are or would like to be?

AW: I think I'm a lead-by-example leader. I'm generally pretty quiet, but I think my actions speak for what I would want to say, if I'm not saying it. Putting in the hard work on the ice, in the weight room, in the classroom is important to me. I have a determined mentality, so I hope that people can see that and look up to that.

DH: That hard work had to be put to the test during the catastrophic knee injury you suffered freshman year that caused you to sit out for most of the season. During those times, what was it like to come back?

AW: When I tore my ACL, I was devastated. My parents are athletic trainers and physical therapists, so I knew how severe of an injury that was, so my parents reminded me I needed to put in the work to come back. I knew I needed to do all of the therapy and rehab to be close or at the same level I was at before. It was really tough, but now, I'm so glad I went through that. It brought out a different side of me, because I had never experienced anything like that before, and now has brought me to a different level of play. I'm almost three years after my surgery, and I feel so much stronger coming into my senior year than I ever have before. I don't think I would be where I am now without tearing my ACL, so as crazy as it sounds, I'm thankful for it.

DH: It's fantastic to see you have have success, and let's hope it continues this weekend. Thanks as always, Alex.

AW: Thanks Dan.

###

Follow Women's Hockey

Don't miss any of the action from the ice. Stay connected to Gopher Women's Hockey!

Women's Hockey Tickets

Experience the excitement and tradition connecting generations of Gopher fans! Create memories for a lifetime with your friends and family while you root for your Golden Gophers. Get Tickets

Support Women's Hockey

Support the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey program. Your support helps our student-athletes succeed athletically, academically, and socially. It takes just seconds to make a monthly or one-time donation. Thank you for your support! Give Now

Upcoming Events

Players Mentioned

Taylor Heise

Alex Woken

Grace Zumwinkle