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Photo by: Jim Rosvold/University of Minnesota
Five Minutes with Crystalyn Hengler
2/11/2020 8:15:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Sophomore defense Crystalyn Hengler caught up with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann last weekend.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Sophomore defense Crystalyn Hengler caught up with the Voice of Gopher Women's Hockey Dan Hamann last weekend. Hengler reflects on the season so far and looks back on some of her early hockey memories.
Dan Hamann: Welcome back to Gopher Women's Hockey, as we come to you today from the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn. My special guest today is sophomore defender Crystalyn Hengler from Eden Prarie, Minnesota. Let's talk about the elephant in the room -- losing four out of the last six games. What's been the team's mentality after hitting this rough patch?
Crystalyn Hengler: I think going through that is tough, but it's really shown the adversity that our team is going through and how we can become better and closer through this little heartbreak. We've been really positive after these past couple weekends. We've been saying we have a certain amount of games left that are guaranteed, and we need to focus on those. Hopefully, everything will go right in the playoffs.
DH: The last three weekends have been tough match-ups against top-10 opponents within the league. Not easy to do. You've made some good showings, like in Wisconsin, coming back from down by three but falling a little bit short. Was that loss heartbreaking or did it show you that when you're down you can still do it?
CH: I think our team and our coaches took it as a positive. The second loss against Wisconsin was more tough on us. The first game showed that we can come back against the number one team and score four goals in one period. It showed us that we can still be successful.
DH: Now that we're shorter up front, does that put any additional pressure on you six back at the blue line? Talk about the continuity among you six back there and how you prepare.
CH: I don't think so. Coming from last year and only getting one new player, I think that helps. We're a veteran squad back there. I also played with Gracie Ostertag most of the season last year, so that's also helped. Emily Brown and Olivia Knowles were also partners for the majority of the season, so really just Patti Marshall and Madeline Wethington had to click. They've known each other and played with each other for a long time with USA. It's great to bond with all five of these girls.
DH: Let's go back to your start in hockey. What got you interested in this game, and what are your first memories of actually playing the game?
CH: I was in the living room of our house watching an NHL game, and I told my mom that I wanted to be a goalie. My mom didn't think that would last long. The goalie part didn't last long, but I obviously stuck with hockey. My first memory of hockey was getting really particular with my gear. My grandma sometimes would bring me to hockey and she'd have to do my neck guard for me, and I just remember I cried one time because she put it too tight and I was just fussing about it and wouldn't let it go.
DH: You, like many players, started playing with the boys. What was it like playing on a boy's team?
CH: It was awesome. I was fortunate. The group of guys that I had growing up were awesome to me; they never made fun of me or excluded me out of anything. They were awesome -- same with the parents, they all welcomed my mom into the group, so I appreciated that.
DH: You like the rough and tumble sports. You also played football in your youth?
CH: I did! From grade three to six, I played football, and then I noticed that the guys were getting more manly, so I started backing out. But, it was fun.
DH: There's an independent women's football league in the United States. Have you ever thought about participating?
CH: I haven't even thought about it. Maybe when hockey is done, and I still need something to exercise.
DH: I also noticed that you're not a coffee drinker like many of your teammates are. Why not?
CH: I have been starting to like coffee more, but at Starbucks, there are just so many drinks I can get that are not coffee. I do have coffee, but I have to add a little bit of cream in to enjoy it.
DH: When you're away from the ice, you like to binge on Netflix like many people. Are you still a Walking Dead fan?
CH: I don't know what got my interest. I'm not usually a big apocalypse fan. I started watching it again over break, but since school has started, I've been too busy to keep up with it.
DH: Looking back, not just at your college career but your high school career, what is the number one biggest accomplishment of your career to this point?
CH: Playing Division I hockey for the Gophers is a huge accomplishment. I'd also say winning gold with the USA U-18 team was a great accomplishment as well. They're both up there for me.
DH: We're coming up on the end of another season here, this series and then in two weekends, the last home series. Reflect on the season here, the ups and downs. What memories stand out for you this year?
CH: It's been a really fun one, just like last year. I've gotten more comfortable with girls and the coaching staff, so that's been awesome. Like we mentioned earlier, with the adversity we've faced this year, it has brought us closer on and off the ice, which is awesome to see. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season being fun and hopefully going in our favor.
###
Dan Hamann: Welcome back to Gopher Women's Hockey, as we come to you today from the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn. My special guest today is sophomore defender Crystalyn Hengler from Eden Prarie, Minnesota. Let's talk about the elephant in the room -- losing four out of the last six games. What's been the team's mentality after hitting this rough patch?
Crystalyn Hengler: I think going through that is tough, but it's really shown the adversity that our team is going through and how we can become better and closer through this little heartbreak. We've been really positive after these past couple weekends. We've been saying we have a certain amount of games left that are guaranteed, and we need to focus on those. Hopefully, everything will go right in the playoffs.
DH: The last three weekends have been tough match-ups against top-10 opponents within the league. Not easy to do. You've made some good showings, like in Wisconsin, coming back from down by three but falling a little bit short. Was that loss heartbreaking or did it show you that when you're down you can still do it?
CH: I think our team and our coaches took it as a positive. The second loss against Wisconsin was more tough on us. The first game showed that we can come back against the number one team and score four goals in one period. It showed us that we can still be successful.
DH: Now that we're shorter up front, does that put any additional pressure on you six back at the blue line? Talk about the continuity among you six back there and how you prepare.
CH: I don't think so. Coming from last year and only getting one new player, I think that helps. We're a veteran squad back there. I also played with Gracie Ostertag most of the season last year, so that's also helped. Emily Brown and Olivia Knowles were also partners for the majority of the season, so really just Patti Marshall and Madeline Wethington had to click. They've known each other and played with each other for a long time with USA. It's great to bond with all five of these girls.
DH: Let's go back to your start in hockey. What got you interested in this game, and what are your first memories of actually playing the game?
CH: I was in the living room of our house watching an NHL game, and I told my mom that I wanted to be a goalie. My mom didn't think that would last long. The goalie part didn't last long, but I obviously stuck with hockey. My first memory of hockey was getting really particular with my gear. My grandma sometimes would bring me to hockey and she'd have to do my neck guard for me, and I just remember I cried one time because she put it too tight and I was just fussing about it and wouldn't let it go.
DH: You, like many players, started playing with the boys. What was it like playing on a boy's team?
CH: It was awesome. I was fortunate. The group of guys that I had growing up were awesome to me; they never made fun of me or excluded me out of anything. They were awesome -- same with the parents, they all welcomed my mom into the group, so I appreciated that.
DH: You like the rough and tumble sports. You also played football in your youth?
CH: I did! From grade three to six, I played football, and then I noticed that the guys were getting more manly, so I started backing out. But, it was fun.
DH: There's an independent women's football league in the United States. Have you ever thought about participating?
CH: I haven't even thought about it. Maybe when hockey is done, and I still need something to exercise.
DH: I also noticed that you're not a coffee drinker like many of your teammates are. Why not?
CH: I have been starting to like coffee more, but at Starbucks, there are just so many drinks I can get that are not coffee. I do have coffee, but I have to add a little bit of cream in to enjoy it.
DH: When you're away from the ice, you like to binge on Netflix like many people. Are you still a Walking Dead fan?
CH: I don't know what got my interest. I'm not usually a big apocalypse fan. I started watching it again over break, but since school has started, I've been too busy to keep up with it.
DH: Looking back, not just at your college career but your high school career, what is the number one biggest accomplishment of your career to this point?
CH: Playing Division I hockey for the Gophers is a huge accomplishment. I'd also say winning gold with the USA U-18 team was a great accomplishment as well. They're both up there for me.
DH: We're coming up on the end of another season here, this series and then in two weekends, the last home series. Reflect on the season here, the ups and downs. What memories stand out for you this year?
CH: It's been a really fun one, just like last year. I've gotten more comfortable with girls and the coaching staff, so that's been awesome. Like we mentioned earlier, with the adversity we've faced this year, it has brought us closer on and off the ice, which is awesome to see. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season being fun and hopefully going in our favor.
###
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