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Photo by: Harrison Barden
Five Minutes with Grace Zumwinkle
10/23/2019 9:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Junior forward Grace Zumwinkle caught up with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Junior forward Grace Zumwinkle caught up with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann before game two of last weekend's series sweep over St. Cloud State.
Dan Hamann: Welcome back to Gopher women's hockey as we come to you today from Ridder Arena. My player guest today is junior forward Grace Zumwinkle from Excelsior, Minn. Grace had a big game yesterday to propel the team to a 3-0 win over St. Cloud State University. First of all Grace, I have to ask you about early on in the game, especially in your first shift. You put the team on your shoulders and willed the first goal in. Although you didn't get credit for it, it was your play that led to that goal.
Grace Zumwinkle: We've been focusing on having quick starts, and that was one of our main points to focus on going into the weekend.
DH: What about your teammates on your line? Alex Woken, the senior, has had an incredible year thus far. As her linemate, what have you seen from her this year?
GZ: Alex has taken her game to another level this year. The three of us complement each other really well, and we use that to our advantage. I think that will be effective moving forward.
DH: Your line certainly has the speed and the size to their advantage. Taylor Heise has had a great year, too. It's fun to see her grow in her sophomore year. What have you noticed about her from this year to last?
GZ: I think every freshman goes through a little bit of an adjustment or a transitionary period. She came back stronger this year than she did at the end of the season last year. Her decision making on the ice is on a whole different level.
DH: I know the coaching staff wanted you to be more assertive on the ice this year. Have you taken that advice to heart? It seems like you have.
GZ: It's been a bit of a transition for me as well. I feel like I am a nice person off of the ice (laughs), but being more edgy and more assertive on the ice is something I've been focusing on at the start of this season.
DH: What was the conversation with Coach Frost like when he told you to "be more mean" on the ice?
GZ: I interpreted that as playing harder and with more grit. That conversation happened at the end of last season.
DH: Is there additional pressure knowing that is what the coaching staff is expecting from you?
GZ: I don't really think about it much. I usually stick to my game plan. I like to work with my linemates and utilize my strengths to produce. I don't really think about the external pressure it comes with.
DH: When you have a game like last night, how satisfying knowing that you probably were the best player on the ice?
GZ: One of my goals for this season was coming in and being more of a well-rounded, 200 foot player, so continuing to work on that and strengthen my offensive opportunities. But with every game, myself and my line know we have to come back to the ice stronger than we were before.
DH: You have a competitive few weeks coming up with St. Cloud State today, Ohio State next weekend and Wisconsin in the near future. How do you get ready for those opponents?
GZ: The WCHA is becoming increasingly more competitive with each day, so focusing on every period as it comes and continuing to better our team will help us in the long run.
DH: Where is this team's confidence level at this moment? We are seeing great play from all four lines, and everyone is producing while they are on the ice.
GZ: I think we are off to a start that we all anticipated, especially after the National Championship game last season. Continuing to build off one another and strengthening the trust we have with each other on and off the ice is crucial to our success this season.
DH: With Wisconsin coming to Ridder in two weeks, that is seen as the game of the first half season. Is that how you're also seeing it?
GZ: I think so as well, especially after losing to them in the national championship game.
DH: You mentioned that becoming a more well-rounded player is one of your goals. How did you prepare yourself for this season? Now that you're an upperclassman, how do you take it upon yourself to stay sharp in the off-season?
GZ: This summer, I did a lot of shooting. I trained with Kelly Pannek, Dani Cameranesi, and Taylor Heise, so that was a really good experience skating with them. I think working on and trying to perfect the minor things works out in the long run.
DH: Have you gotten any feedback at the U.S. National Team level to make the squad during the next round of Olympics? I know you've had success at that level of play, is that something on your mind?
GZ: I think the biggest thing is becoming a more well-rounded offensive and defensive player. Being able to play both ends of the ice, in the offensive and defensive zones, is a big focus that I've received from them, so that's what I'm focusing on as well.
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Dan Hamann: Welcome back to Gopher women's hockey as we come to you today from Ridder Arena. My player guest today is junior forward Grace Zumwinkle from Excelsior, Minn. Grace had a big game yesterday to propel the team to a 3-0 win over St. Cloud State University. First of all Grace, I have to ask you about early on in the game, especially in your first shift. You put the team on your shoulders and willed the first goal in. Although you didn't get credit for it, it was your play that led to that goal.
Grace Zumwinkle: We've been focusing on having quick starts, and that was one of our main points to focus on going into the weekend.
DH: What about your teammates on your line? Alex Woken, the senior, has had an incredible year thus far. As her linemate, what have you seen from her this year?
GZ: Alex has taken her game to another level this year. The three of us complement each other really well, and we use that to our advantage. I think that will be effective moving forward.
DH: Your line certainly has the speed and the size to their advantage. Taylor Heise has had a great year, too. It's fun to see her grow in her sophomore year. What have you noticed about her from this year to last?
GZ: I think every freshman goes through a little bit of an adjustment or a transitionary period. She came back stronger this year than she did at the end of the season last year. Her decision making on the ice is on a whole different level.
DH: I know the coaching staff wanted you to be more assertive on the ice this year. Have you taken that advice to heart? It seems like you have.
GZ: It's been a bit of a transition for me as well. I feel like I am a nice person off of the ice (laughs), but being more edgy and more assertive on the ice is something I've been focusing on at the start of this season.
DH: What was the conversation with Coach Frost like when he told you to "be more mean" on the ice?
GZ: I interpreted that as playing harder and with more grit. That conversation happened at the end of last season.
DH: Is there additional pressure knowing that is what the coaching staff is expecting from you?
GZ: I don't really think about it much. I usually stick to my game plan. I like to work with my linemates and utilize my strengths to produce. I don't really think about the external pressure it comes with.
DH: When you have a game like last night, how satisfying knowing that you probably were the best player on the ice?
GZ: One of my goals for this season was coming in and being more of a well-rounded, 200 foot player, so continuing to work on that and strengthen my offensive opportunities. But with every game, myself and my line know we have to come back to the ice stronger than we were before.
DH: You have a competitive few weeks coming up with St. Cloud State today, Ohio State next weekend and Wisconsin in the near future. How do you get ready for those opponents?
GZ: The WCHA is becoming increasingly more competitive with each day, so focusing on every period as it comes and continuing to better our team will help us in the long run.
DH: Where is this team's confidence level at this moment? We are seeing great play from all four lines, and everyone is producing while they are on the ice.
GZ: I think we are off to a start that we all anticipated, especially after the National Championship game last season. Continuing to build off one another and strengthening the trust we have with each other on and off the ice is crucial to our success this season.
DH: With Wisconsin coming to Ridder in two weeks, that is seen as the game of the first half season. Is that how you're also seeing it?
GZ: I think so as well, especially after losing to them in the national championship game.
DH: You mentioned that becoming a more well-rounded player is one of your goals. How did you prepare yourself for this season? Now that you're an upperclassman, how do you take it upon yourself to stay sharp in the off-season?
GZ: This summer, I did a lot of shooting. I trained with Kelly Pannek, Dani Cameranesi, and Taylor Heise, so that was a really good experience skating with them. I think working on and trying to perfect the minor things works out in the long run.
DH: Have you gotten any feedback at the U.S. National Team level to make the squad during the next round of Olympics? I know you've had success at that level of play, is that something on your mind?
GZ: I think the biggest thing is becoming a more well-rounded offensive and defensive player. Being able to play both ends of the ice, in the offensive and defensive zones, is a big focus that I've received from them, so that's what I'm focusing on as well.
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