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/ Women's Hockey
Meet the Newcomers: Emma Conner
8/27/2021 2:00:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Emma Conner joins the Gophers as a left-handed forward from Edina, Minn., and Edina High School.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Golden Gopher women's hockey team welcomes seven freshmen to the team for the 2021-22 season, including Emma Conner, a left-handed freshman forward from Edina, Minn., and Edina High School. Conner shares her experience playing hockey in the southwest, her life away from the rink, why she chose the University of Minnesota, and more.
Gopher Sports: How did you first get into hockey?
Emma Conner: I first got into hockey once I saw my order brother playing. He is four years older than me, and I always followed him in everything he did when I was younger, including hockey. It ended up just sticking and I have loved the game ever since I can remember.
GS: What's your earliest hockey memory?
EC: My earliest hockey memory is playing cross ice hockey around four or five years old for the Buffalo Bisons hockey association up in Buffalo, MN, where I first lived. I don't remember much of the experience just because it was at such a young age but I do know that it was where I always wanted to be.
GS: How do you think your early hockey experience shaped your growth in the sport?
EC: I think it shaped my growth in the sport because being at the rink and playing in those cross ice games was all I wanted to do. I realized how much I enjoyed playing hockey and it just kept growing and growing every time I showed up to the rink after that first hockey memory.
GS: When did you realize that playing Division I hockey was a possibility for you?
EC: I think I realized this when I moved from Arizona to California at the age of 12 to live with a billet family. My family had moved out to Arizona from Minnesota for job purposes when I was around five years old and it was difficult to find hockey in Arizona, especially for a girl. So, once I realized it was time to move on from boys hockey in Arizona to play girls, the best opportunity for me was to go to California and play for the Lady Ducks. My parents and brother had to stay in Arizona, and I was lucky enough to find a family that helped me live out there and pursue hockey to another level. I saw girls out there who were playing college hockey, and just being out of my own home at such a young age to pursue something I wanted so bad and something I knew I would work hard for made me realize that D1 hockey really was a possibility.
GS: How did you choose the University of Minnesota?
EC: I knew ever since I was young. Growing up and beginning hockey in Minnesota, I knew playing at the U would be a dream. As I grew up watching and cheering for the Gophers, I saw all the amazing players and success of the program. On top of that, the campus, facilities, and academics just pulled me in even more, and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else in these years to come!
GS: What's your family like? How did they influence your playing career?
EC: I cannot even put into words how grateful I am for my family. They have supported me through so much and I wouldn't be where I am without them. Leaving home at such a young age just shows how much they support me. They wanted me to reach the goals I had set for myself so badly that they gave up some years of my childhood with them to let me do that.
GS: How would your family describe you?
EC: My family would describe me as a very loyal, supportive, and outgoing person. My family has a tight bond and we all know how important each other are in each of our lives.
GS: Did you play any other sports growing up?
EC: Throughout my whole time in high school, I focused much of my time on hockey so I didn't really play any other sports seriously. Although, when I was younger I was in swimming, gymnastics, dance, soccer, and basketball.
GS: What was your USA Hockey experience like?
EC: The experiences I have had with USA Hockey have been great! I was selected to the girls U15 and U16 camp for my first two years of being eligible and then made it to the U18 select camp in my last year. I didn't go any farther than those, but the experiences I had were incredible!
GS: What do you like to do in your free time outside of hockey and school?
EC: I really enjoy hanging with my friends and family, going on the lake, going shopping, watching Netflix, golfing, and napping.
GS: Is there a hockey player you have admired or looked up to?
EC: I would say the hockey player I looked up most to was Auston Matthews. I think this was just because he came out of Arizona during the time I played there and it showed that hockey talent can come out of there.
GS: How was your high school hockey experience and winning a state title?
EC: My high school experience was unforgettable. I only went to Edina for my junior and senior year of high school, so I was only able to play two years, but I wouldn't ask for any other experience. I was lucky enough to play alongside extremely talented players and amazing people that I went to two state title games with. The first one didn't go our way, but my last year we were able to come out on top with the title. It is definitely the best hockey experience I have had so far. The players and coaches I had with me for my high school career were amazing and I wouldn't be here today without them and those experiences.
GS: Do you know what you want to major in and what career field you're interested in?
EC: I am still unsure of what I want to major in or the career field I want to go into. I am hoping once I get into classes starting this fall, it will help me figure that out!
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?
EC: One thing in my game that I am confident in is my goal scoring ability and a part of my game I want to work on more is just my speed. I feel like I am able to set myself up in positions on the ice that allow for me to get the best opportunities to put the puck in the back of the net. Speed is something I feel like I can never stop working on and is something I feel like steps up to a whole new level in college.
GS: Is there anything in particular that stood out to you about the team or the coaches on your visit that solidified your decision to come to the University of Minnesota?
EC: I just noticed how welcoming everyone was. Each and every one just made me feel like I belonged and that's exactly a place I want to be.
Quick Facts with Emma Conner!
Favorite pizza topping: pepperoni
Favorite season: Summer
Favorite hobby: shopping
Favorite TV show: The Vampire Diaries
Favorite TV couple: Damon and Elena (The Vampire Diaries)
Favorite animal: dog
Describe yourself in one word: friendly
Hockey players should always _________: tuck their tongues into their skates
Favorite athlete: Tom Brady
Hidden talent: buying clothes that I don't have room for
Name one food you refuse to eat: bananas
Favorite holiday: 4th of July
Dream job: fashion designer
Night person or morning person: night person
Favorite workout: cardio
Biggest fear: snakes
Dream vacation: Amalfi Coast (Italy)
Favorite sport to watch other than hockey: football
Gopher Sports: How did you first get into hockey?
Emma Conner: I first got into hockey once I saw my order brother playing. He is four years older than me, and I always followed him in everything he did when I was younger, including hockey. It ended up just sticking and I have loved the game ever since I can remember.
GS: What's your earliest hockey memory?
EC: My earliest hockey memory is playing cross ice hockey around four or five years old for the Buffalo Bisons hockey association up in Buffalo, MN, where I first lived. I don't remember much of the experience just because it was at such a young age but I do know that it was where I always wanted to be.
GS: How do you think your early hockey experience shaped your growth in the sport?
EC: I think it shaped my growth in the sport because being at the rink and playing in those cross ice games was all I wanted to do. I realized how much I enjoyed playing hockey and it just kept growing and growing every time I showed up to the rink after that first hockey memory.
GS: When did you realize that playing Division I hockey was a possibility for you?
EC: I think I realized this when I moved from Arizona to California at the age of 12 to live with a billet family. My family had moved out to Arizona from Minnesota for job purposes when I was around five years old and it was difficult to find hockey in Arizona, especially for a girl. So, once I realized it was time to move on from boys hockey in Arizona to play girls, the best opportunity for me was to go to California and play for the Lady Ducks. My parents and brother had to stay in Arizona, and I was lucky enough to find a family that helped me live out there and pursue hockey to another level. I saw girls out there who were playing college hockey, and just being out of my own home at such a young age to pursue something I wanted so bad and something I knew I would work hard for made me realize that D1 hockey really was a possibility.
GS: How did you choose the University of Minnesota?
EC: I knew ever since I was young. Growing up and beginning hockey in Minnesota, I knew playing at the U would be a dream. As I grew up watching and cheering for the Gophers, I saw all the amazing players and success of the program. On top of that, the campus, facilities, and academics just pulled me in even more, and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else in these years to come!
GS: What's your family like? How did they influence your playing career?
EC: I cannot even put into words how grateful I am for my family. They have supported me through so much and I wouldn't be where I am without them. Leaving home at such a young age just shows how much they support me. They wanted me to reach the goals I had set for myself so badly that they gave up some years of my childhood with them to let me do that.
GS: How would your family describe you?
EC: My family would describe me as a very loyal, supportive, and outgoing person. My family has a tight bond and we all know how important each other are in each of our lives.
GS: Did you play any other sports growing up?
EC: Throughout my whole time in high school, I focused much of my time on hockey so I didn't really play any other sports seriously. Although, when I was younger I was in swimming, gymnastics, dance, soccer, and basketball.
GS: What was your USA Hockey experience like?
EC: The experiences I have had with USA Hockey have been great! I was selected to the girls U15 and U16 camp for my first two years of being eligible and then made it to the U18 select camp in my last year. I didn't go any farther than those, but the experiences I had were incredible!
GS: What do you like to do in your free time outside of hockey and school?
EC: I really enjoy hanging with my friends and family, going on the lake, going shopping, watching Netflix, golfing, and napping.
GS: Is there a hockey player you have admired or looked up to?
EC: I would say the hockey player I looked up most to was Auston Matthews. I think this was just because he came out of Arizona during the time I played there and it showed that hockey talent can come out of there.
GS: How was your high school hockey experience and winning a state title?
EC: My high school experience was unforgettable. I only went to Edina for my junior and senior year of high school, so I was only able to play two years, but I wouldn't ask for any other experience. I was lucky enough to play alongside extremely talented players and amazing people that I went to two state title games with. The first one didn't go our way, but my last year we were able to come out on top with the title. It is definitely the best hockey experience I have had so far. The players and coaches I had with me for my high school career were amazing and I wouldn't be here today without them and those experiences.
GS: Do you know what you want to major in and what career field you're interested in?
EC: I am still unsure of what I want to major in or the career field I want to go into. I am hoping once I get into classes starting this fall, it will help me figure that out!
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?
EC: One thing in my game that I am confident in is my goal scoring ability and a part of my game I want to work on more is just my speed. I feel like I am able to set myself up in positions on the ice that allow for me to get the best opportunities to put the puck in the back of the net. Speed is something I feel like I can never stop working on and is something I feel like steps up to a whole new level in college.
GS: Is there anything in particular that stood out to you about the team or the coaches on your visit that solidified your decision to come to the University of Minnesota?
EC: I just noticed how welcoming everyone was. Each and every one just made me feel like I belonged and that's exactly a place I want to be.
Quick Facts with Emma Conner!
Favorite pizza topping: pepperoni
Favorite season: Summer
Favorite hobby: shopping
Favorite TV show: The Vampire Diaries
Favorite TV couple: Damon and Elena (The Vampire Diaries)
Favorite animal: dog
Describe yourself in one word: friendly
Hockey players should always _________: tuck their tongues into their skates
Favorite athlete: Tom Brady
Hidden talent: buying clothes that I don't have room for
Name one food you refuse to eat: bananas
Favorite holiday: 4th of July
Dream job: fashion designer
Night person or morning person: night person
Favorite workout: cardio
Biggest fear: snakes
Dream vacation: Amalfi Coast (Italy)
Favorite sport to watch other than hockey: football
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