USA Women's Hockey

Zoe Hickel isn’t quite sure what role she’ll be playing for Team USA, but it doesn’t matter.

When she gets off the plane in Sweden this week to play in the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship, she’ll be ready for anything.

“Who knows where they’ll use me but I’ll do my best,” said Hickel, a 5-foot-6 forward who just completed her senior season at the University of Minnesota Duluth. “Wherever they put me I hope to make the most out of it and contribute to the team.”

Hickel is thrilled to have been selected for the team that will try to defend its gold medal from the last World Championships in 2013. This year’s tournament will begin March 28, with the U.S. taking on Canada in a rematch of last year’s Olympic gold-medal game.

This is Hickel’s first time with the national team. Previously she played for the U.S. in the Under-18 Women’s World Championship in 2010 and was in the USA Hockey program in the U14s.

She earned the invitation after a good career at UMD and a strong performance in the national team’s winter camp in late December.

“Zoe’s an extremely hard worker and has a knack for finding the back of the net,” said Matt Kelly, head scout for the national team. “She came into winter camp and I think she led winter camp in goals. She was doing the same thing in college as well. She was putting the puck in the back of the net for Duluth.”

Hickel, a team captain, led the Bulldogs this season with 19 goals and 32 points. She tied for 15th in the nation in goals. Three of those goals were game-winners for a team that went 20-12-5.

It had been awhile since Hickel had been with the national program, so she relished the invitation to winter camp. After three years in the tough Westen Collegiate Hockey Association, she felt ready.

“The WCHA and playing for UMD has been a great place to develop, and I definitely commend my teammates and coaches for helping me improve and get here,” she said. “Once I actually got my chance at camp with some of those players, I felt I fit right in and was able to contribute right away. It was exciting and it was fun because I haven’t been able to play with some of those girls in a while.”

She says it brought out the best in her to play with the best players.

“That next level, you can play with freedom and your instincts start to kick in a little bit more,” she said. “There’s players that are just … when you’re at the right places at the right time, the puck’s on your stick and then it’s in the back of the net. It’s that next development. It’s so much fun to play, and I’m so excited to play at worlds. It’s going to be an amazing experience.”

Hickel, who grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, actually was on skis before she was on skates. Ski racing was her No. 1 sport, but then she picked up hockey. When she had to choose between the two at about age 12, she decided to go with hockey.

She’s developed into a solid power forward with good offensive skills. She prides herself on her “hockey sense and awareness” and knowing to be in the right place at the right time.

“I hope to be able to provide some offensive opportunities for the team and also be someone who’s consistent on defense and able to be a trusted player on both ends of the ice,” she said of her expectations in Sweden. “I just want to come in and compete and make plays.”

Hickel’s numbers improved every season at Minnesota Duluth. She had 12 points as a freshman in 2011-12, then had 22, 27 and then 32 her final season.

She says it’s bittersweet that her college experience is coming to an end, but she’s eager to keep improving as a hockey player.

“I just feel like it’s such a process,” she said. “So much of this is a process, and that’s kind of my mantra: process over outcome. Keep worrying about what I can do now and wherever they need me, I’ll try to do the best I can there. It’s all about winning a gold medal for the team, so whatever I can contribute, I will. But if I can learn and improve and gain something out of this experience, I think there’s no doubt I will, no matter what.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.