University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Women's Hockey
Photo by: USA Hockey
Meet the Newcomers: Madeline Wethington
7/23/2019 12:43:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Madeline Wethington joins the Gophers as a defense from the Blake School.
MINNEAPOLIS – Freshman Madeline Wethington joins the Gophers as a left-handed defense from the Blake School. She grew up in a family of hockey players and coaches, so the sport has been a part of her life longer than she can remember. Wethington is fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing hockey for the Maroon & Gold as she begins her Gopher career this season.
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Gopher Sports: How did you first get into hockey?
Madeline Wethington: That's a tricky question because I don't remember the first time I was on skates because I was so young. I started skating when I was 18 months old. I grew up in a really big hockey family; both of my aunts played here and my mom coached Division I hockey. My grandpa coached the Whitecaps, and my uncle played for St. Cloud State – a long line of people helped me get into hockey. Definitely my mom, my aunts, and my grandma were big proponents for me to start hockey.
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GS: What's your earliest hockey memory?
MW: I remember going to Roseville Ice Arena when I was really young, starting with open skate and then moving up the ranks. I definitely was nurtured into hockey. It's a part of my family's culture. I have so many memories, whether it's going to my aunts' hockey games when they played for the Gophers, being on the bench with my mom, being on the bench with my grandpa during their WHAM hockey league, or running the clock during games as a little kid at Augsburg Arena. There are so many little moments etched in my brain.
GS: How do you think your early hockey experience shaped your growth in the sport?
MW: Being exposed to college hockey and high level women's hockey at a very young age, with my aunt play on the national team, was a really great blessing in my life and allowed me an opportunity to dream and strive to reach that level. I know everyone says growing up as a hockey player that you want to play for the Gophers, but for me, that was really significant in my life because I knew the coaches and my aunts were playing.
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What's so great is that I have younger sisters, so I think about them and how their hockey experience is the same or different than mine because they didn't have the experience of watching their aunts play for the Gophers, but I think it's so cool that they have the opportunity to watch the NWHL and see high-level hockey. It was really inspiring for me, last year as a senior in high school, to know that in four or five years, I may have that opportunity to continue playing in whatever form if I choose to. That's really unique. People say that now with the NWHL you can still continue to play hockey even if you aren't on the national team, but I was exposed to WHAM league at an early age. It wasn't a professional league, but you could still play hockey with your best friends every weekend. I thought that was really cool. I was exposed to that at an early age even though there wasn't an NWHL team then. You could still play and have a lot of fun. Because of that, for me, hockey really is for everyone. You can still play no matter your age. My grandma and grandpa still play, and they're in their 70s. Age doesn't matter; gender doesn't matter. It's all about how much you want to put into it and how hard you want to work in order to have success. I'm really fortunate to have grown up in that sort of environment.
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GS: When did you realize that playing Division I hockey was a possibility for you?
MW: I definitely aspired to play college hockey all throughout my life, definitely for Minnesota. When I made varsity in seventh grade, it was kind of a shifting point for me realizing that I could have the opportunity if I desired. That was a pivotal moment for me.
Â
GS: How did you choose the University of Minnesota?
MW: When I was going through the college search process, I tried to keep all of my options open because there are a lot of great programs throughout Division I. I wanted a great balance of academics and athletics. As I went through the process, there were a lot of schools that fit that, but I felt that the University of Minnesota met it above and beyond. I committed the day after I visited. As soon as I was offered the opportunity to come here, that was it. I don't think there was one specific moment, but I think all along I kind-of knew that I would come here if I was given the opportunity. It's just the best of both worlds. To be able to play in front of my family meant a lot to me, too. I'm the oldest, so being close to my younger sisters is really special.
Â
GS: What's your family like?
MW: I'm the oldest. I have three sisters. I have a sister who is going to be a senior, Audrey. My second youngest sister Jacqueline will be in ninth grade, and then Adeline is the youngest. She will be in fifth grade. I grew up playing on teams with Audrey. I try to be a good role model, not only to my sisters, but in general. I think it's important for girls especially as they go through hockey to have other females in their lives to look up to. I was really fortunate to have that, so I want other players to have that. I think it made me a better player and a better person.
Â
GS: Did you play any other sports growing up?
MW: Yes, I grew up playing a lot of different sports, and I think that's super important for development. Not only does it make you a well-rounded individual, but it makes you a well-rounded teammate. I think that's really important to translate to hockey because it's such a team sport. I grew up playing soccer and golf, especially, but I also played lacrosse and flag football. I played a little bit of tennis, but nothing in comparison to the others. I really believe it's important to play multiple sports, not only for injury prevention, but for development as a person and an athlete.
Â
GS: Is there a hockey player you have admired or looked up?
MW: I would have to say Lee Stecklein, not only because she's a fantastic player – she's a very decorated player – but because she's a great person. She's very classy and respectable. She treats everyone, no matter who they are, as an equal. You don't find that very often with people of that high caliber. I've always looked up to her. She played on my cousin's Roseville High School hockey team, so I went to all of her high school games. Bethany Brausen was on the team, too. I looked up to those two, and my cousin, when they were playing high school hockey.
Â
GS: What was your high school hockey experience like?
MW: I loved it. I loved high school hockey. I definitely was part of some really talented teams and I have been fortunate to have some really amazing teammates who have gone on to do great things in college hockey. Being a part of a program where everyone wants to do their very best, not only in hockey but in all aspects, was a great for me and my development. Even though it was hard losing this year and last year in the section final, it was a good learning experience, especially having been on the other side of it the four years. It definitely makes me hungrier and makes me want to get better, keep developing, and be on the other side of it again – at the next level in this case.
Â
GS: What has your experience with USA Hockey been like?
MW: Anytime you get the opportunity to wear the USA crest is one that I don't take for granted. I feel really blessed that I've had the opportunity to represent this amazing country not only for myself but I think it's important to realize the bigger picture. So many girls would love to be in that position, to play for my city, to play for my school, to play for my state, and then eventually to play for my country, is something that's been really impactful for me. I think USA Hockey has really helped develop and hone my skills, especially defensively with the opportunity to work with Coach Johnson at the age of 15 and throughout the years. I've learned a lot, not only as a player but as a person. USA Hockey has done a great job of instilling really important values in me. You're a part of something bigger than yourself.
Â
GS: Do you know what you want to major in and what career field you're interested in?
MW: I'm going to the College of Biological Sciences, so something in Biology obviously. They don't offer pre-med here, but I want to become a doctor, specifically a surgeon, but we'll see.
Â
GS: What is it about medicine or science that interested you in the field?
MW: On my dad's side, the Wethingtons, my grandpa was a physician, along with two of my cousins. One is in medical school, and one is in residency. My dad is in the medical device industry, so he interacts with doctors every day. I've kind-of grown up in a family of doctors. I've always been interested in medicine and how the body works. As an athlete, it's really cool because you're able to understand how your body functions and how to treat it right. I was able to shadow an orthopedic surgeon and a vascular surgeon for two weeks this year, and I loved it. It was a great experience.
Â
GS: What's one part of your game that you're confident in and one part of your game you want to work on more?
MW: For me, I would say what I rely on most is not really anything talent-wise, it's more my hockey IQ. I think I've been exposed to a lot hockey, so it's taught me a lot about how to deal with situations and how to react. I rely a lot on my instincts, working hard, and doing the little things to get better. You can work on those things, but instincts are harder to learn. As I transition to college hockey, I definitely want to figure out how to balance being an offensive-defenseman in the college setting. I've always identified myself as an offensive-defenseman, but understanding my role is something I have been working on. I can always get better at it, whether it is defensive zone play or walking the blue line and getting shots through.
Â
Faceoff with Madeline Wethington
Favorite pizza topping: Pineapple
Favorite season: Summer
Favorite hobby: Playing golf or listening to music
Favorite TV show: The Bachelor/Bachelorette
Favorite TV couple: Any of the winners of the Bachelor/Bachelorette
Favorite animal: Dogs, to be specific, golden retrievers
Describe yourself in one word: Composed
Hockey players should always _________: Wear their hair in a pony tail
Favorite athlete: Serena Williams or Tom Brady
Hidden talent: I can juggle five balls.
Name one food you refuse to eat: Plain tomatoes Â
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Dream job: Surgeon and Olympian
Night person or morning person: Night person
Favorite workout: Cycling, yoga, or barre
Biggest fear: Being late
Dream vacation: Backpacking in Europe
Favorite sport to watch other than hockey: Football
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Gopher Sports: How did you first get into hockey?
Madeline Wethington: That's a tricky question because I don't remember the first time I was on skates because I was so young. I started skating when I was 18 months old. I grew up in a really big hockey family; both of my aunts played here and my mom coached Division I hockey. My grandpa coached the Whitecaps, and my uncle played for St. Cloud State – a long line of people helped me get into hockey. Definitely my mom, my aunts, and my grandma were big proponents for me to start hockey.
Â
GS: What's your earliest hockey memory?
MW: I remember going to Roseville Ice Arena when I was really young, starting with open skate and then moving up the ranks. I definitely was nurtured into hockey. It's a part of my family's culture. I have so many memories, whether it's going to my aunts' hockey games when they played for the Gophers, being on the bench with my mom, being on the bench with my grandpa during their WHAM hockey league, or running the clock during games as a little kid at Augsburg Arena. There are so many little moments etched in my brain.
GS: How do you think your early hockey experience shaped your growth in the sport?
MW: Being exposed to college hockey and high level women's hockey at a very young age, with my aunt play on the national team, was a really great blessing in my life and allowed me an opportunity to dream and strive to reach that level. I know everyone says growing up as a hockey player that you want to play for the Gophers, but for me, that was really significant in my life because I knew the coaches and my aunts were playing.
Â
What's so great is that I have younger sisters, so I think about them and how their hockey experience is the same or different than mine because they didn't have the experience of watching their aunts play for the Gophers, but I think it's so cool that they have the opportunity to watch the NWHL and see high-level hockey. It was really inspiring for me, last year as a senior in high school, to know that in four or five years, I may have that opportunity to continue playing in whatever form if I choose to. That's really unique. People say that now with the NWHL you can still continue to play hockey even if you aren't on the national team, but I was exposed to WHAM league at an early age. It wasn't a professional league, but you could still play hockey with your best friends every weekend. I thought that was really cool. I was exposed to that at an early age even though there wasn't an NWHL team then. You could still play and have a lot of fun. Because of that, for me, hockey really is for everyone. You can still play no matter your age. My grandma and grandpa still play, and they're in their 70s. Age doesn't matter; gender doesn't matter. It's all about how much you want to put into it and how hard you want to work in order to have success. I'm really fortunate to have grown up in that sort of environment.
Â
GS: When did you realize that playing Division I hockey was a possibility for you?
MW: I definitely aspired to play college hockey all throughout my life, definitely for Minnesota. When I made varsity in seventh grade, it was kind of a shifting point for me realizing that I could have the opportunity if I desired. That was a pivotal moment for me.
Â
GS: How did you choose the University of Minnesota?
MW: When I was going through the college search process, I tried to keep all of my options open because there are a lot of great programs throughout Division I. I wanted a great balance of academics and athletics. As I went through the process, there were a lot of schools that fit that, but I felt that the University of Minnesota met it above and beyond. I committed the day after I visited. As soon as I was offered the opportunity to come here, that was it. I don't think there was one specific moment, but I think all along I kind-of knew that I would come here if I was given the opportunity. It's just the best of both worlds. To be able to play in front of my family meant a lot to me, too. I'm the oldest, so being close to my younger sisters is really special.
Â
GS: What's your family like?
MW: I'm the oldest. I have three sisters. I have a sister who is going to be a senior, Audrey. My second youngest sister Jacqueline will be in ninth grade, and then Adeline is the youngest. She will be in fifth grade. I grew up playing on teams with Audrey. I try to be a good role model, not only to my sisters, but in general. I think it's important for girls especially as they go through hockey to have other females in their lives to look up to. I was really fortunate to have that, so I want other players to have that. I think it made me a better player and a better person.
Â
GS: Did you play any other sports growing up?
MW: Yes, I grew up playing a lot of different sports, and I think that's super important for development. Not only does it make you a well-rounded individual, but it makes you a well-rounded teammate. I think that's really important to translate to hockey because it's such a team sport. I grew up playing soccer and golf, especially, but I also played lacrosse and flag football. I played a little bit of tennis, but nothing in comparison to the others. I really believe it's important to play multiple sports, not only for injury prevention, but for development as a person and an athlete.
Â
GS: Is there a hockey player you have admired or looked up?
MW: I would have to say Lee Stecklein, not only because she's a fantastic player – she's a very decorated player – but because she's a great person. She's very classy and respectable. She treats everyone, no matter who they are, as an equal. You don't find that very often with people of that high caliber. I've always looked up to her. She played on my cousin's Roseville High School hockey team, so I went to all of her high school games. Bethany Brausen was on the team, too. I looked up to those two, and my cousin, when they were playing high school hockey.
Â
GS: What was your high school hockey experience like?
MW: I loved it. I loved high school hockey. I definitely was part of some really talented teams and I have been fortunate to have some really amazing teammates who have gone on to do great things in college hockey. Being a part of a program where everyone wants to do their very best, not only in hockey but in all aspects, was a great for me and my development. Even though it was hard losing this year and last year in the section final, it was a good learning experience, especially having been on the other side of it the four years. It definitely makes me hungrier and makes me want to get better, keep developing, and be on the other side of it again – at the next level in this case.
Â
GS: What has your experience with USA Hockey been like?
MW: Anytime you get the opportunity to wear the USA crest is one that I don't take for granted. I feel really blessed that I've had the opportunity to represent this amazing country not only for myself but I think it's important to realize the bigger picture. So many girls would love to be in that position, to play for my city, to play for my school, to play for my state, and then eventually to play for my country, is something that's been really impactful for me. I think USA Hockey has really helped develop and hone my skills, especially defensively with the opportunity to work with Coach Johnson at the age of 15 and throughout the years. I've learned a lot, not only as a player but as a person. USA Hockey has done a great job of instilling really important values in me. You're a part of something bigger than yourself.
Â
GS: Do you know what you want to major in and what career field you're interested in?
MW: I'm going to the College of Biological Sciences, so something in Biology obviously. They don't offer pre-med here, but I want to become a doctor, specifically a surgeon, but we'll see.
Â
GS: What is it about medicine or science that interested you in the field?
MW: On my dad's side, the Wethingtons, my grandpa was a physician, along with two of my cousins. One is in medical school, and one is in residency. My dad is in the medical device industry, so he interacts with doctors every day. I've kind-of grown up in a family of doctors. I've always been interested in medicine and how the body works. As an athlete, it's really cool because you're able to understand how your body functions and how to treat it right. I was able to shadow an orthopedic surgeon and a vascular surgeon for two weeks this year, and I loved it. It was a great experience.
Â
GS: What's one part of your game that you're confident in and one part of your game you want to work on more?
MW: For me, I would say what I rely on most is not really anything talent-wise, it's more my hockey IQ. I think I've been exposed to a lot hockey, so it's taught me a lot about how to deal with situations and how to react. I rely a lot on my instincts, working hard, and doing the little things to get better. You can work on those things, but instincts are harder to learn. As I transition to college hockey, I definitely want to figure out how to balance being an offensive-defenseman in the college setting. I've always identified myself as an offensive-defenseman, but understanding my role is something I have been working on. I can always get better at it, whether it is defensive zone play or walking the blue line and getting shots through.
Â
Faceoff with Madeline Wethington
Favorite pizza topping: Pineapple
Favorite season: Summer
Favorite hobby: Playing golf or listening to music
Favorite TV show: The Bachelor/Bachelorette
Favorite TV couple: Any of the winners of the Bachelor/Bachelorette
Favorite animal: Dogs, to be specific, golden retrievers
Describe yourself in one word: Composed
Hockey players should always _________: Wear their hair in a pony tail
Favorite athlete: Serena Williams or Tom Brady
Hidden talent: I can juggle five balls.
Name one food you refuse to eat: Plain tomatoes Â
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Dream job: Surgeon and Olympian
Night person or morning person: Night person
Favorite workout: Cycling, yoga, or barre
Biggest fear: Being late
Dream vacation: Backpacking in Europe
Favorite sport to watch other than hockey: Football
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