After college athletics came to a grinding halt just days after the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey final game in mid-March, the Bulldogs weren't alone in wondering what impact Covid-19 would have on the 2020-21 season. As it turns out, the impact is still ongoing.
As UMD heads into the final weeks of October, the Bulldogs have still not gotten to play a game. While the Western Collegiate Hockey Association attempts to forge a path forward, UMD, like almost every other college hockey program, is in talks to begin outside competition. New normals, like weekly testing, have emerged, as well as distance learning, among other changes to student athletes schedules.
All things that could be very rattling and unsettling for UMD without a key element -- leadership. Lucky for the Bulldogs, they appear to have plenty of it.
"They say that character is revealed during challenging times, and I believe the same can be said for leadership," said sixth year UMD head coach Maura Crowell. "My coaching staff outlined a plan for team and individual player meetings as well as frequent captains meetings since everyone left campus in March. Even though we were spread all over the world, our players remained connected through Zoom meetings, workout challenges, and other captain-led activities like a book club. Creativity and outside the box thinking during these unprecedented times allowed our team to become even more close knit than ever."
That leadership comes in the form of seniors Ashton Bell, Anna Klein and McKenzie Revering. The trio, who were named captains in May, have had to do figurative heavy lifting in ways that none of their predecessors would have imagined because of the current pandemic.
"Our captain group, led by Ashton Bell, Anna Klein, and McKenzie Revering, has been very impressive in the way they take initiative and make things happen," said Crowell. "For example, they decided that our team was going to use the extra time away to read You Win In The Locker Room First, by Jon Gordon. They ran the whole process, from choosing the book to creating Zoom meetings with their teammates. The coaches were not a part of it and I think that shows great maturity and commitment on the part of our leaders and players as a whole."
Crowell also noted that the captains were in charge of an extended captains practice season (meaning no coaches on the ice) this fall which was fun for the players, but challenging for captains. Bell, Klein and Revering had to create the drills, draw them on the board, explain them to the team, run the drills, and then jump in and do the drills with their teammates.
"They are the coaches and captains at the same time, said Crowell. "It's really a great exercise in learning the importance of preparation, multitasking, and leading."
It helps that Bell, along with her assistant captains Klein and Revering, are all clearly on the same page. All three players put their names on just one quote for this story -- one that they came up with and felt represented all of them -- instead of tying it to just one of the captains. A remarkable sign of unity for the three that perhaps shows even more insight into how closely the three have aligned for the good of the team.
'It's been really nice to have the opportunity to still be able to practice together and prepare for the season," said Bell, Klein and Revering. "We are thankful and appreciative to come to the rink everyday. We are taking it each day at a time and making each day count. Getting the chance to focus on specific skills, allowing us to add more tools to our toolbox, will help us develop as players. Having a fun and competitive environment has kept us motivated throughout this uncertain time. Through social distancing and following guidelines we hope to get the season we are preparing for while keeping everyone safe."
Overall, Crowell is pleased that her team has managed all the uncertainty that has taken place since March.
"I've been extremely impressed with our group from the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S.," said Crowell. "Our players have remained committed to their training throughout the spring, summer, and now fall, and have been in constant communication with each other and with our staff. From focusing more on individual development with at-home workouts in the spring to returning to campus and working together on team training, our group has stuck together through the ups and downs of the extended off season."
As November approaches, UMD will soon find out the direction of their season and exactly what it will look like. One thing remains certain among all the uncertainty -- the Bulldogs, thanks to its unrelenting leadership, will be ready.
