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Photo by: Kristin Ostrowski
Five Minutes with Makayla Pahl
12/11/2019 12:45:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Freshman goaltender Makayla Pahl chatted with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann last weekend.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Freshman goaltender Makayla Pahl chatted with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann last weekend. Pahl reflected on her transition to college hockey, her hobbies and intended major, her experience with the U.S. Under-18 Team, and more.
Dan Hamann: My player guest today is freshman goaltender Makayla Pahl from Rochester, Minnesota, who played her high school hockey at Rochester Mayo High School. First of all, Makayla, welcome to Minnesota. I know you've been here for a while, but first-time interview. How have you acclimated to your new settings at the University of Minnesota and how have you been getting along with your new teammates?
Makayla Pahl: Thank you. It's definitely been really different from high school coming to college. In high school, I never really had the competition, but now I have to compete all of the time with Scobee and Olivia. It's been really fun. I love everyone on the team. It's like one big family. It's been really exciting, and I can't wait for the next three years.
DH: You only played one year of girls' hockey at Rochester Mayo but played quite a few years with the boys. Why was it that you ended up playing with the boys' team?
MP: When I first started hockey, I played about four years of girls hockey. Then I felt that if I wanted to pursue my dreams of playing Division I college hockey, I would have to take a step up and that was going to play boys' hockey. I played guys' hockey for five years, ending my junior year at Mayo. Then I switched over to girls' hockey for my senior year.
DH: How did the boys accept you as a teammate?
MP: At first, with youth hockey, it was pretty smooth. I got along with the guys really well. My junior year, it was a little bit harder, definitely a bit of adversity but something I learned from. I grew from it.
DH: What was the adversity like?
MP: It was the attitude that girls shouldn't be playing guys' high school hockey when there's girls' hockey for a reason.
DH: You only have to point to Maddie Rooney to dispel the myth that girls can't play boys' high school hockey. She played only her senior year but played very well at Andover.
MP: That's true. I think with today's society, it's a big thing with men's and women's hockey where women don't get treated equally. It's definitely something that we all need to work on, and hopefully it gets better in the future.
DH: But, you worked hard, and all that hard work paid off with a trip to Russia with the U.S. Under-18 Team. What was the most memorable part about that experience?
MP: It was so fun. It was my first time traveling outside of the country. I think the most memorable part was probably winning the gold medal. The team was super fun, and getting to experience something that a lot of girls don't get to experience was a really amazing and unreal feeling.
DH: Coming to the University of Minnesota and starting your career here, what was that adjustment like, not only on the ice but also getting acclimated to the college scene and your coursework? I see you intend to major in Kinesiology?
MP: I'm actually changing my major and I want to major in Sport Management because it's such a broad topic, so I can go anywhere. At first, I wouldn't say difficult but it was different just because it's my first time away from my family. Your family makes you who you are, so being away from them, I kind of lost myself for a little bit. I definitely recuperated and got to where I am now. In school, I've honestly been doing better here [than in high school] - my grades are better. It's definitely an experience that I'll never forget. It's just an amazing journey so far.
DH: It seems like your support system at home is pretty strong. What was it like for you growing up?
MP: I have my mom and dad and a little brother. Like everyone says, the older child always gets it tougher, and that's how it was, but honestly I'm grateful for it because I wouldn't be the person I am today. My mom and dad really did a good job preparing me for life.
DH: You list fishing and photography as two of your hobbies. What kind of fishing do you prefer?
MP: Honestly, I took a class my senior year, sports bio, where we went out fishing. We did fly fishing, ice fishing, and all that. Honestly, I like ice fishing the best. It's crazy because you just have to sit out there in the cold and wait for something. I like catching crappies just because they're the easiest to catch.
###
Dan Hamann: My player guest today is freshman goaltender Makayla Pahl from Rochester, Minnesota, who played her high school hockey at Rochester Mayo High School. First of all, Makayla, welcome to Minnesota. I know you've been here for a while, but first-time interview. How have you acclimated to your new settings at the University of Minnesota and how have you been getting along with your new teammates?
Makayla Pahl: Thank you. It's definitely been really different from high school coming to college. In high school, I never really had the competition, but now I have to compete all of the time with Scobee and Olivia. It's been really fun. I love everyone on the team. It's like one big family. It's been really exciting, and I can't wait for the next three years.
DH: You only played one year of girls' hockey at Rochester Mayo but played quite a few years with the boys. Why was it that you ended up playing with the boys' team?
MP: When I first started hockey, I played about four years of girls hockey. Then I felt that if I wanted to pursue my dreams of playing Division I college hockey, I would have to take a step up and that was going to play boys' hockey. I played guys' hockey for five years, ending my junior year at Mayo. Then I switched over to girls' hockey for my senior year.
DH: How did the boys accept you as a teammate?
MP: At first, with youth hockey, it was pretty smooth. I got along with the guys really well. My junior year, it was a little bit harder, definitely a bit of adversity but something I learned from. I grew from it.
DH: What was the adversity like?
MP: It was the attitude that girls shouldn't be playing guys' high school hockey when there's girls' hockey for a reason.
DH: You only have to point to Maddie Rooney to dispel the myth that girls can't play boys' high school hockey. She played only her senior year but played very well at Andover.
MP: That's true. I think with today's society, it's a big thing with men's and women's hockey where women don't get treated equally. It's definitely something that we all need to work on, and hopefully it gets better in the future.
DH: But, you worked hard, and all that hard work paid off with a trip to Russia with the U.S. Under-18 Team. What was the most memorable part about that experience?
MP: It was so fun. It was my first time traveling outside of the country. I think the most memorable part was probably winning the gold medal. The team was super fun, and getting to experience something that a lot of girls don't get to experience was a really amazing and unreal feeling.
DH: Coming to the University of Minnesota and starting your career here, what was that adjustment like, not only on the ice but also getting acclimated to the college scene and your coursework? I see you intend to major in Kinesiology?
MP: I'm actually changing my major and I want to major in Sport Management because it's such a broad topic, so I can go anywhere. At first, I wouldn't say difficult but it was different just because it's my first time away from my family. Your family makes you who you are, so being away from them, I kind of lost myself for a little bit. I definitely recuperated and got to where I am now. In school, I've honestly been doing better here [than in high school] - my grades are better. It's definitely an experience that I'll never forget. It's just an amazing journey so far.
DH: It seems like your support system at home is pretty strong. What was it like for you growing up?
MP: I have my mom and dad and a little brother. Like everyone says, the older child always gets it tougher, and that's how it was, but honestly I'm grateful for it because I wouldn't be the person I am today. My mom and dad really did a good job preparing me for life.
DH: You list fishing and photography as two of your hobbies. What kind of fishing do you prefer?
MP: Honestly, I took a class my senior year, sports bio, where we went out fishing. We did fly fishing, ice fishing, and all that. Honestly, I like ice fishing the best. It's crazy because you just have to sit out there in the cold and wait for something. I like catching crappies just because they're the easiest to catch.
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