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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Five Minutes with Olivia King
1/8/2020 3:18:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Freshman goaltender Olivia King chatted with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Freshman goaltender Olivia King chatted with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann last weekend during the Gophers' first series of 2020. Listen as King reflects on her journey to the University of Minnesota, the first half of the season, and more.
Dan Hamann: Welcome back to Gopher Women's Hockey and our first game of the 2020 calendar year. I'm joined by freshman goaltender Olivia King from Garrison, Minnesota, who played her high school hockey at Brainerd High School. First of all, Olivia, your travel to get to this point here at the University of Minnesota was a little bit different than a lot of people, so I think we'll talk about that in a little bit. Right now, you're still waiting for your first game time, has there been talk about you putting on the redshirt this year or are you still hoping to get some game action?
Olivia King: I think we will probably keep my redshirt this year. That's what we talked about at the beginning of the season and all throughout. I don't really see that changing, but we'll see.
DH: You never know since there are injuries or things that can pop up. For a few games there, you were the back-up. Deep down, were you hoping you could get into a game?
OK: Oh, I don't know. Scobee is on fire, so it's pretty cool to be around her and practice with her.
DH: What has this time allowed you to do with school or maybe doing some finer detail work on your game in particular?
OK: It's been really nice to focus on school and really settle into that, along with meeting the girls and just having time to spend with them. I've focused on being a good teammate first.
DH: As I said, your trip to get here was a little bit different. True or false, you were pretty much resigned to maybe going the Division III route and playing at that level, is that right?
OK: Yeah, that's right, and you know, I wasn't even really planning on playing hockey, especially after the state tournament. I thought it was over and I was retired, so it was pretty crazy to get this opportunity. To grow up in such a small town with girls that are just like your family, I was so worried I would never find that again. When I visited here, I knew this was the place for me.
DH: So, Minnesota calls. What was your initial reaction?
OK: I honestly had no idea. I had been told to stay by the phone, but I didn't know who was calling. I was a little bit nervous. I didn't know what that meant. I got this call from Coach Johnson, and I just thought it was a prank call. It was crazy. I couldn't have imagined it. I'm just so happy to be here.
DH: I think what got your noticed in particular was your performance in the state tournament last year. You led your team to the championship game and then made over 50 saves in a double-overtime loss in the championship game. What was going through your mind during that three-day run of yours?
OK: It was just the last three days I had to spend with my high school. team. It was really just leaving it all out there for them and for our program and our town. Everyone was there because it's such a small town. I'm so lucky to have had that experience. It was all for them.
DH: Did you know or have a feeling that this was going to happen or was it not until you got into the game that you felt this?
OK: I honestly had no idea. I was so surprised. Everything that came from that - I'm just so grateful.
DH: What are some of your fondest memories from that time, other than it being the last time with your high school teammates. What was one or two things that you really took from that experience?
OK: I would definitely say that getting to be around my coaches and spending that extra time with them that I wouldn't have had if we wouldn't have made it to playoffs. It's always nice to be on top and get to the championship game and do all those things, but the things I'm most grateful for are the people and the memories we made. That's what I'll always remember.
DH: Then in the championship game, what was going through your mind in that second overtime every time the puck was coming toward the net, and then ultimately when they scored the game-winner?
OK: I was just angry. I didn't cry until later. I was very upset because obviously that's the biggest stage you can be on in high school hockey. We were hoping for that win, and I know everybody else on my team was. I was upset, but hopefully they get back there this year.
DH: So, you think your career is done and then the University of Minnesota calls. You can't turn down an opportunity like that, but at the same time, you have to understand how much work it's going to take to play at this level. Have you been surprised about the work load here?
OK: Right away, it was a little bit of a shock. The tempo in practice was just so different. You kind of get into it and come every day ready to do your thing. It's been getting easier to understand, but it's definitely a battle every day.
DH: You were here in the summer, too. That had to help a little bit?
OK: It definitely did, especially to meet the girls and get ahead with that. That was nice.
DH: It's been nice to get to know you. You have a fantastic story, so I hope one day you get to tell your kids or your grandkids about it. It's great that you're here, and we're happy to have you.
OK: Thank you.
###
Dan Hamann: Welcome back to Gopher Women's Hockey and our first game of the 2020 calendar year. I'm joined by freshman goaltender Olivia King from Garrison, Minnesota, who played her high school hockey at Brainerd High School. First of all, Olivia, your travel to get to this point here at the University of Minnesota was a little bit different than a lot of people, so I think we'll talk about that in a little bit. Right now, you're still waiting for your first game time, has there been talk about you putting on the redshirt this year or are you still hoping to get some game action?
Olivia King: I think we will probably keep my redshirt this year. That's what we talked about at the beginning of the season and all throughout. I don't really see that changing, but we'll see.
DH: You never know since there are injuries or things that can pop up. For a few games there, you were the back-up. Deep down, were you hoping you could get into a game?
OK: Oh, I don't know. Scobee is on fire, so it's pretty cool to be around her and practice with her.
DH: What has this time allowed you to do with school or maybe doing some finer detail work on your game in particular?
OK: It's been really nice to focus on school and really settle into that, along with meeting the girls and just having time to spend with them. I've focused on being a good teammate first.
DH: As I said, your trip to get here was a little bit different. True or false, you were pretty much resigned to maybe going the Division III route and playing at that level, is that right?
OK: Yeah, that's right, and you know, I wasn't even really planning on playing hockey, especially after the state tournament. I thought it was over and I was retired, so it was pretty crazy to get this opportunity. To grow up in such a small town with girls that are just like your family, I was so worried I would never find that again. When I visited here, I knew this was the place for me.
DH: So, Minnesota calls. What was your initial reaction?
OK: I honestly had no idea. I had been told to stay by the phone, but I didn't know who was calling. I was a little bit nervous. I didn't know what that meant. I got this call from Coach Johnson, and I just thought it was a prank call. It was crazy. I couldn't have imagined it. I'm just so happy to be here.
DH: I think what got your noticed in particular was your performance in the state tournament last year. You led your team to the championship game and then made over 50 saves in a double-overtime loss in the championship game. What was going through your mind during that three-day run of yours?
OK: It was just the last three days I had to spend with my high school. team. It was really just leaving it all out there for them and for our program and our town. Everyone was there because it's such a small town. I'm so lucky to have had that experience. It was all for them.
DH: Did you know or have a feeling that this was going to happen or was it not until you got into the game that you felt this?
OK: I honestly had no idea. I was so surprised. Everything that came from that - I'm just so grateful.
DH: What are some of your fondest memories from that time, other than it being the last time with your high school teammates. What was one or two things that you really took from that experience?
OK: I would definitely say that getting to be around my coaches and spending that extra time with them that I wouldn't have had if we wouldn't have made it to playoffs. It's always nice to be on top and get to the championship game and do all those things, but the things I'm most grateful for are the people and the memories we made. That's what I'll always remember.
DH: Then in the championship game, what was going through your mind in that second overtime every time the puck was coming toward the net, and then ultimately when they scored the game-winner?
OK: I was just angry. I didn't cry until later. I was very upset because obviously that's the biggest stage you can be on in high school hockey. We were hoping for that win, and I know everybody else on my team was. I was upset, but hopefully they get back there this year.
DH: So, you think your career is done and then the University of Minnesota calls. You can't turn down an opportunity like that, but at the same time, you have to understand how much work it's going to take to play at this level. Have you been surprised about the work load here?
OK: Right away, it was a little bit of a shock. The tempo in practice was just so different. You kind of get into it and come every day ready to do your thing. It's been getting easier to understand, but it's definitely a battle every day.
DH: You were here in the summer, too. That had to help a little bit?
OK: It definitely did, especially to meet the girls and get ahead with that. That was nice.
DH: It's been nice to get to know you. You have a fantastic story, so I hope one day you get to tell your kids or your grandkids about it. It's great that you're here, and we're happy to have you.
OK: Thank you.
###
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