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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Meet the Newcomers: Savannah Norcross
9/22/2021 11:23:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Savannah Norcross joins the Gophers as a right-handed forward from Lynn, Mass., and Boston College.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Golden Gopher women's hockey team welcomes nine newcomers to the team for the 2021-22 season, including Savannah Norcross, a right-handed transfer forward from Lynn, Mass., and Boston College. Norcross explains her decision to join the Gophers, her brother's influence on her playing career, her goals after college, and more.
Gopher Sports: How did you first get into hockey?
Savannah Norcross: My mother was signing up my brother to learn to skate and I turned to my mother and said, "what about me?" My mom responded by asking the same question back to me. I persisted on asking and asking that same day until my mother wrote a check to sign me up.
GS: What's your earliest hockey memory?
SN: Meeting my best friend from back home. Her name is Abby Stafford and I just remember running around the rinks keeping each other occupied while both of our brothers were either practicing and playing!
GS: How do you think your early hockey experience shaped your growth in the sport?
SN: Playing with my brother until I was about a squirt shaped my growth and love for the sport. We are competitive with each other, especially when we were younger, and we were always goofing around too. I think having the balance of having fun and working hard at such a young age is what really allowed me to still LOVE the sport. I love hockey the same amount now as I did when I was six years old.
GS: When did you realize that playing Division I hockey was a possibility for you?
SN: In middle school, I would attend a lot of Boston University Women's hockey games. Around that time, I started believing in myself knowing one day I would play at a Division 1 college.
GS: How did you choose the University of Minnesota?
SN: Everything seemed so professional. The girls even treat the sport and the practices like they are professional athletes. I knew I wanted to come and play in the WCHA and I don't think there is a better place to be than Minnesota, the state of hockey! Ultimately, the girls and staff were super welcoming and that is all I could have asked for.
GS: What's your family like? How did they influence your playing career?
SN: I have two loving parents who have always supported me through everything. I am so grateful that I have an entire family including my extended family that has always been supportive and helpful throughout my playing career. None of this would be possible without each of them loving me and supporting me 24/7. I have an 18 year old brother, Billy, who is a senior in high school. Billy is also a very naturally gifted hockey player and the hardest working person I know. I look up to him a lot. I would describe my family as the best Italian and Irish family in the world!
GS: How would your family describe you?
SN: My family would probably describe me as authentic and relentless. I usually don't do things the "traditional" way and I never stop, whether it's in the classroom or on the ice, when things get tough or challenging. I would describe myself as a goofball at times.
GS: Did you play any other sports growing up?Â
SN: Yes, I played field hockey and softball throughout my childhood and in high school. I enjoyed every bit of it and miss playing those sports daily a lot.
GS: What do you like to do in your free time outside of hockey and school?
SN: I love to sleep, read, and shop when the time comes.
GS: Is there a hockey player you have admired or looked up?
SN: Growing up I watched Marie-Phillip Poulin play and I still do. She is the best overall hockey player I have ever seen in person. I am from Boston and would go to a lot of games at Boston University, so I looked up to a lot of those girls like Sarah Appleton, Jenelle Kohanchuk and Lauren Cherewyk. I actually have their sticks hanging above my bed at home.
GS: What are your career goals after college?
SN: Career wise, I would love to still be involved with sports. Since I study psychology, I think that I would do well traveling with a professional sports team being a sports psychologist/mental skills coach. I also have had interest in sports broadcasting as well and I have a passion for working with special education children/ adults and I love helping people so I could see myself involved with something like that.
Hockey career wise, I would love to continue playing and compete at the highest level I can reach. I aspire to go to the Olympic games. There are plenty of playing opportunities post-college, but that is something I am not worried much about at the moment. I do plan on playing and
growing the game.
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?
SN: I think as an athlete, in any sport, you have to have confidence in your game. If you don't have confidence in your game, no one will. I have friends, who are now playing professionally and have been successful, who taught me that. You have to own it without being cocky. You own it because you spend 90% of your day invested in it or thinking about it. I am confident in my ability to help my teammates reach their full potential. I love making other players look and play their best game when I am on the ice with them; that is so important to me. There are many things I need to work on, but something in particular I need to work on is not taking the easy route. For example, cutting hard to the net instead of cutting back and working the perimeter too much. I know if I want to make things happen for my teammates I have to take the hard route, but at the end of the day I know it will pay off.
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?
SN: Yes, It was very clear that the entire team including the staff are very dedicated to the program. Everyone I spoke to before deciding where to go showed me that they really tried to get 1% better everyday. I give a lot of credit to Crystalyn Hengler who I met and was one of my roommates years ago at USA Hockey Camp. I live with her now and she always makes me feel completely comfortable because she is an upbeat kid. I also credit Taylor Heise who was very open and honest about the program here. She was willing to do whatever she could to get me here and I really appreciate from the bottom of my heart how much she has contributed to my experience here so far.
Quick Facts with Savannah Norcross!
Favorite pizza topping: cheese or Margherita
Favorite season: Spring
Favorite hobby: water coloring or painting
Favorite TV show: The Office or The Simpsons
Favorite TV couple: Jim and Pam (The Office)
Favorite animal: my dog
Hockey players should always _________: keep clear tape in their bag
Favorite athlete: Sidney Crosby
Hidden talent: tap dancing
Name one food you refuse to eat: condiments
Favorite holiday: St. Patrick's Day
Dream job: sports broadcaster or sports psychologist
Night person or morning person: night
Favorite workout: bench press or yoga
Biggest fear: living without making an impact on someone's life.
Dream vacation: Lake Como, Italy
Favorite sport to watch other than hockey: baseball
Gopher Sports: How did you first get into hockey?
Savannah Norcross: My mother was signing up my brother to learn to skate and I turned to my mother and said, "what about me?" My mom responded by asking the same question back to me. I persisted on asking and asking that same day until my mother wrote a check to sign me up.
GS: What's your earliest hockey memory?
SN: Meeting my best friend from back home. Her name is Abby Stafford and I just remember running around the rinks keeping each other occupied while both of our brothers were either practicing and playing!
GS: How do you think your early hockey experience shaped your growth in the sport?
SN: Playing with my brother until I was about a squirt shaped my growth and love for the sport. We are competitive with each other, especially when we were younger, and we were always goofing around too. I think having the balance of having fun and working hard at such a young age is what really allowed me to still LOVE the sport. I love hockey the same amount now as I did when I was six years old.
GS: When did you realize that playing Division I hockey was a possibility for you?
SN: In middle school, I would attend a lot of Boston University Women's hockey games. Around that time, I started believing in myself knowing one day I would play at a Division 1 college.
GS: How did you choose the University of Minnesota?
SN: Everything seemed so professional. The girls even treat the sport and the practices like they are professional athletes. I knew I wanted to come and play in the WCHA and I don't think there is a better place to be than Minnesota, the state of hockey! Ultimately, the girls and staff were super welcoming and that is all I could have asked for.
GS: What's your family like? How did they influence your playing career?
SN: I have two loving parents who have always supported me through everything. I am so grateful that I have an entire family including my extended family that has always been supportive and helpful throughout my playing career. None of this would be possible without each of them loving me and supporting me 24/7. I have an 18 year old brother, Billy, who is a senior in high school. Billy is also a very naturally gifted hockey player and the hardest working person I know. I look up to him a lot. I would describe my family as the best Italian and Irish family in the world!
GS: How would your family describe you?
SN: My family would probably describe me as authentic and relentless. I usually don't do things the "traditional" way and I never stop, whether it's in the classroom or on the ice, when things get tough or challenging. I would describe myself as a goofball at times.
GS: Did you play any other sports growing up?Â
SN: Yes, I played field hockey and softball throughout my childhood and in high school. I enjoyed every bit of it and miss playing those sports daily a lot.
GS: What do you like to do in your free time outside of hockey and school?
SN: I love to sleep, read, and shop when the time comes.
GS: Is there a hockey player you have admired or looked up?
SN: Growing up I watched Marie-Phillip Poulin play and I still do. She is the best overall hockey player I have ever seen in person. I am from Boston and would go to a lot of games at Boston University, so I looked up to a lot of those girls like Sarah Appleton, Jenelle Kohanchuk and Lauren Cherewyk. I actually have their sticks hanging above my bed at home.
GS: What are your career goals after college?
SN: Career wise, I would love to still be involved with sports. Since I study psychology, I think that I would do well traveling with a professional sports team being a sports psychologist/mental skills coach. I also have had interest in sports broadcasting as well and I have a passion for working with special education children/ adults and I love helping people so I could see myself involved with something like that.
Hockey career wise, I would love to continue playing and compete at the highest level I can reach. I aspire to go to the Olympic games. There are plenty of playing opportunities post-college, but that is something I am not worried much about at the moment. I do plan on playing and
growing the game.
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?
SN: I think as an athlete, in any sport, you have to have confidence in your game. If you don't have confidence in your game, no one will. I have friends, who are now playing professionally and have been successful, who taught me that. You have to own it without being cocky. You own it because you spend 90% of your day invested in it or thinking about it. I am confident in my ability to help my teammates reach their full potential. I love making other players look and play their best game when I am on the ice with them; that is so important to me. There are many things I need to work on, but something in particular I need to work on is not taking the easy route. For example, cutting hard to the net instead of cutting back and working the perimeter too much. I know if I want to make things happen for my teammates I have to take the hard route, but at the end of the day I know it will pay off.
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?
SN: Yes, It was very clear that the entire team including the staff are very dedicated to the program. Everyone I spoke to before deciding where to go showed me that they really tried to get 1% better everyday. I give a lot of credit to Crystalyn Hengler who I met and was one of my roommates years ago at USA Hockey Camp. I live with her now and she always makes me feel completely comfortable because she is an upbeat kid. I also credit Taylor Heise who was very open and honest about the program here. She was willing to do whatever she could to get me here and I really appreciate from the bottom of my heart how much she has contributed to my experience here so far.
Quick Facts with Savannah Norcross!
Favorite pizza topping: cheese or Margherita
Favorite season: Spring
Favorite hobby: water coloring or painting
Favorite TV show: The Office or The Simpsons
Favorite TV couple: Jim and Pam (The Office)
Favorite animal: my dog
Hockey players should always _________: keep clear tape in their bag
Favorite athlete: Sidney Crosby
Hidden talent: tap dancing
Name one food you refuse to eat: condiments
Favorite holiday: St. Patrick's Day
Dream job: sports broadcaster or sports psychologist
Night person or morning person: night
Favorite workout: bench press or yoga
Biggest fear: living without making an impact on someone's life.
Dream vacation: Lake Como, Italy
Favorite sport to watch other than hockey: baseball
Highlights: Gophers 1, Ohio State 4
Saturday, October 18
Highlights: Gophers 5, St. Cloud State 3
Saturday, October 11
Highlights: Gophers 4, St. Cloud State 1
Friday, October 10
Highlights: Gophers 5, Boston 2
Saturday, October 04