She moved over 3,000 miles away from her home in Ancohorage, Alaska to play hockey for the University of Minnesota Duluth. As a freshman last season, Zoe Hickel was a role player, a hard working kid that skated in the shadows of Audrey Cournoyer, Haley Irwin and even the brilliant rookie season of classmate Jenna McParland. Her game-winning and series-clinching assist last Feb 25 against Ohio State in the WCHA Playoffs was arguably the most overall attention the winger received in 36 games as a Bulldog.
Jump ahead to December 2012, and just 17 games into her sophomore season, Hickel has already surpssed her freshman offensive output of 13 points (8g, 5a). In fact, Hickel has almost doubled her scoring output this season with a team-high eight goals, and her current stand of 13 points is a Bulldog-best. Suddenly Hickel is in the spotlight -- from earning WCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors with two game-winners against Bemidji State, to extending a career-long scoring streak to seven games strong. With five goals and four assists over that seven-skate span, Hickel had quietly managed to string-out the longest scoring streak by a UMD player since Irwin compiled a 12-game point streak between Feb. 18, 2010-October 30, 2011, all the while helping the Bulldogs go 4-2-1 over that time (including a jaw-dropping overtime loss to ranked North Dakota just two weekends ago).
Hickel's cover has now been blown, however, and as UMD steps outside of WCHA play for its final series of 2012, seventh-ranked Boston University will certainly be aware of both the Alaskan's numbers with the puck and the one on her back. How did the constantly smiling Hickel become one of the current standard bearers for the Bulldogs? With determination and diligence and allowing herself the permission to succeed.
“Last year I wanted to contribute to the team by working hard and supporting the program and systems, and working hard on the ice is important to me,” said Hickel earlier in the week. “I probably lacked some confidence with driving the play, instead taking a more defensive and supporting role. This year, I have given myself permission to lead more and understand I am counted on to produce, and I like that role because it's familiar to me. I still love creating a nice play, but at the college level, I see that I must get to the net more and use my speed and shooting strengths to contribute to our overall team success. I feel comfortable playing with anyone and just try to make whatever line coach puts me with stronger and effective. I want the coaches to know they can always count on me to give 110%.”
Part of Hickel's motivation stems from her great respect for UMD's coaching staff, and it was head coach Shannon Miller who first captured Hickel's attention as an eighth grader.
“UMD was my first college visit in 8th grade when I was here for a national tournament and I loved head coach Shannon Miller from the start,” said Hickel. “She was the standard I compared all my other college visits to. Though there are many awesome coaches out there, I knew that above all else, I wanted to be coached by Coach Miller. Her knowledge and passion for the game is second-to-none, and I always remember what she said at the that first visit; “Zoe, you are a cool kid and I hope you will skate for me someday.”
“Zoe is a great athlete because she is fit, strong, has good size, a good attitude and work ethic,” said Miller. “These qualities transfer onto the ice and make her a power forward for us. Zoe attacks the net with speed, driving the opponents' defensemen back deep in their zone and the goalie deep in her net. She can create offensively and is a strong defensive force as well. As a sophomore, she has made big strides since last year and has become a player that the we are counting on.”
And count on her they do. Five years later, that former eighth-grader is more than just one of the offensive heartbeats for UMD this season -- she has emerged as one of its leaders.
“As a freshman, I understood that I had a lot to learn and proceeded to take it all in,” recalls Hickel. “Jessica Wong was and continues to be a wonderful inspiration to me. Her quiet leadership and work ethic motivated us. Senior goalie Jenny Harss and Hailey Irwin never let the sun set on anything less than 100% effort. As a sophomore, I still have much to learn, but I am more confident in my role as an example and leader for the freshman and my other teammates. I would like to think that I hold them to task with my example while encouraging them to further develop their individual mental and physical strengths that will help our team.”
Hickel credits her family -- even more specifically her mom -- as the influence that held her accountable when she was younger. A mulit-sport athlete growing up, Hickel excelled at alpine skiing and perhaps could have skied at the Division I level as both her parents had. But Hickel made the decision at age 13 to commit full-time to hockey, instead relying on lessons that her days of racing down hills taught her. She also grabbed life lessons from the first caribou she shot as a 12-year old, a bit of a revelation of how hard it really can be to simply put meat on a table.
“Ski racing taught me how to depend on and drive myself, to take care of small details in addition to the importance of physical conditioning,” reflected Hickel. “When I was nine, I entered my first of 10 mountain marathon's, a race up and down a 3,022 vertical foot mountain. An event like that takes you to a place where you learn pain won't kill you and you learn to embrace the reward that comes from that kind of torture. At 12 years old, I shot my first Caribou and learned that we must appreciate more the work it takes to put a meal on the table. Crawling through the Tundra all day, skinning and hauling meat is not an easy thing at that age.”
While the lessons Hickel was learning from physical activity were priceless, it was her mom who taught her the importance of balance in her life.
“My mom is probably my strongest influence and support,” said Hickel. “She was my first coach and continues to be a great motivator and backstop for feedback. She taught us that hockey can be a great place, but life is about the lessons. I grew up ski racing, mountain running and helping out with various groups, giving back, coaching and working with others. Sports have taught me that giving is getting and I am thankful for a mom that focused on that first. She always said “focus on the process and the outcome will take care of itself” and I have found this is true in hockey and in life.”
“Hickel has certainly led a rich life so far, and it is easy to see why the sophomore has blossomed in a bigger role with the Bulldogs. That expanded role appears to be just one of the many things Hickel has been training to step into all of her life. A silver medalist with Team USA's U-18 Team in 2010 at the World Championships, Hickel's impressive hockey resume has been a direct result of the USA Hockey program. But it is Hickel's passion to play at UMD that flames her dreams of the future with the Bulldogs.
“By taking care of my conditioning and attention to detail on and off the ice, I hope to support this team and have a strong spring leading into playoffs,” said Hickel. “We have the talent, but injuries and distractions have taken us off task. With our outstanding coaching staff and talent pool, we can accomplish anything. It would be my dream this year to advance to playoffs and make a real run at a championship. I love this team, the Bulldog traditions, the leadership and the camaraderie of the girls. I know these will be lifelong friendships for me. The unique make-up of UMD with many athletes from various countries has brought many new traditions to my life and I treasure these quirks and varied personalities that blend us as one.”
If it sounds like Hickel speaks of UMD as her home, well, it's because she views it as such. Her love for the UMD program is clearly evident, and her love for Duluth overall is just as strong.
“I am so happy here,” said Hickel. “From the moment I jumped in my truck to drive 3,300 miles here from Anchorage, I have loved Duluth. It is a lot like Alaska with outdoor people and open space. I love living in my little Duluth house with the girls and could easily live here in the future.”
All words that must make Bulldog fans everywhere burst with pride for their newly-minted offensive force. Perhaps Hickel has always been as happy and positive as she is right now, and all the new attention on her is just changing the way UMD fans view her light. After all, when its time has come, it is almost impossible to miss a star.
Shine on Zoe Hickel.
