MEET THE PLAYERS
Week 1: 10/03/2016
Ellen Emerson - #2 (C)
The captain!
Major? B.S. Computer Science, B.S. Physics
Hometown? Irvine, CA
How long have you been playing? 4 years
Why did you start playing? I was a big hockey fan for years, and just thought it would be fun to try!
Favorite NHL team? Los Angeles Kings
Favorite NHL player? Dustin Brown
Advice for new hockey players? Skate as much as you can! It makes the biggest difference, especially at the beginning.
Best moment on the team? The first game I played defense - it's so much more fun!
Favorite movie? Singin' In The Rain
An interesting fact about you? I had the opportunity to play DIII college basketball, but decided to go to USC and play hockey instead.
Week 2: 10/10/2016
Allyson Gronowitz - #68
Major? Arts Journalism
Hometown? Teaneck, New Jersey
How long have you been playing? 6 years
Why did you start playing? Undergrad at Columbia University, which has a great women's ice hockey team!
Favorite NHL team? New York Rangers!
Favorite NHL player? Petr Prucha. Guaranteed you haven't heard of him, but I have many, many stories.
Advice for new hockey players? Don't be afraid to totally embarrass yourself on the ice!! Yes, you will fall a lot, and yes, you'll feel like a baby deer. I once took a skating class with 8 year olds. It was definitely a lesson in humility.
Best moment on the team? Winning our first game last year!
Favorite movie? Miracle? Is this a trick question? Non-hockey related: Inception.
An interesting fact about you? I own a Harry Potter broomstick.
Week 3: 10/17/2016
Jackie Kim - #10
Hometown? Ilsan, South Korea
How long have you been playing? 5 years
Why did you join the team? Because school spirit gives me life and because we're the coolest (literally) team at USC!
Favorite hockey team? USC Women's Ice Hockey!
Advice for someone just learning how to play hockey? Be ready to fall on your butt a lot and laugh at yourself along with the rest of your teammates.
An interesting fact about you? I went to Yogurtland almost every day during my freshman year at USC.
Week 4: 10/24/2016
Elyse Kedzie - #17
Major? Chemical Engineering
Hometown? Alamo, California
How long have you been playing? 3 years
Why did you start playing? Because hockey is a badass sport, and I want to be badass.
Favorite NHL team? San Jose Sharks
Favorite NHL player? Marc Edouard Vlasic
Advice for new hockey players? We all started where you are, so just put in the time and you'll drastically improve. Practice is key!
Best moment on the team? During a game last season, I caught a puck in the air with my glove and dropped it at my feet. It was a pretty epic moment.
Favorite movie? The Royal Tenenbaums
An interesting fact about you? I love animals.
Week 5: 10/31/2016
Sophie Pepin - #33
Our club president!
Major? Chemical Engineering
Hometown? Denver, Colorado
How long have you been playing? 2 years
When did you start playing? In my freshman year of college!
Favorite NHL team? Colorado Avalanche
Favorite NHL player? Nathan MacKinnon
Advice for new hockey players? Don't be afraid to fall - that's what the gear is for!
Best moment on the team? In our Las Vegas tournament, when my line set up a sweet goal for a graduating senior!
Favorite movie? How to Train Your Dragon
An interesting fact about you? I was born in Ottawa, Canada - that's probably where my love of hockey comes from!
Week 6: 11/07/2016
Sarah Milkowski - #43
Major? Biomedical Engineering
Hometown? Elmhurst, Illinois
How long have you been playing? 1 year
Why did you start playing? I have always loved hockey, and a lot of my family plays it.
Favorite NHL team? Chicago Blackhawks
Favorite NHL player? Jonathan Toews
Advice for new hockey players? Don't give up - one of the best feelings is learning how to stop. So learn that first.
Best moment on the team? The first practice. I couldn't stop, and it was just like a bad movie, where everyone goes one way and I had to go all the way to the boards and then turn around.
Favorite movie? Forrest Gump
An interesting fact about you? I believe an increasing sea creature population is causing sea levels to rise.
Week 7: 02/06/2017
Kat Wilkinson - #27
Major? B.S. Global Health, M.S. Global Medicine
Hometown? Andover, Massachusetts
How long have you been playing? Since middle school.
Why did you start playing? I grew up in Massachusetts so it was pretty normal to play! I took a break from it to ski competitively in high school, but then I came to USC and wanted to play a fun game and meet some nice people.
Favorite NHL team? Boston Bruins
Favorite NHL player? Our goalie, Lila!
Advice for new hockey players? Don't be afraid to fall. It won't hurt, and it will show you where and how to improve.
Best moment on the team? Every year, we have a team dinner with our families at the end of our Vegas tournament. I love it when we're all together and having fun after a long, tough weekend.
Favorite movie? Tie between When Harry Met Sally and the Princess Bride.
An interesting fact about you? My first job was as a receptionist in a dental practice. I still know a lot about teeth!
Week 8: 02/22/2017
Jenn De La Fuente - #11
Major? Journalism (and now a journalism prof)
Hometown? Tamuning, Guam
How long have you been playing? 2 years.
Why did you start playing? I always loved watching hockey and figured I should learn to play it. Also, my husband played hockey and we thought it would be a cool thing to do together. I also like contact sports (I'm a former soccer player.)
Favorite NHL team? LA Kings
Favorite NHL player? Ron Hextall
Advice for new hockey players? Just go out and do it. Don't think about being self-conscious or be worried about being a crappy skater or not being able to handle a puck. We all start somewhere. We all look dumb at first. Let that go and just do it and have fun. And you're never too old to start!
Best moment on the team? Vegas...everything about it. I also blocked a shot in the crotch once in a game. That was cool.
Favorite movie? Jerry Maguire
An interesting fact about you? I'm also a curler (as in, the Olympic sport).
Week 9: 02/27/2017
Susan Valot - #24
Major? No major now, but I majored in specialized journalism.
Hometown? Lomita, CA
How long have you been playing? 17 years!!
Why did you start playing? I tried it at a free thing, and I thought it was fun!
Favorite NHL team? LA Kings
Favorite NHL player? Matty Norstrom (retired) - seriously has the prettiest skating ever!
Advice for new hockey players? Focus on skating first. The rest will come with time.
Best moment on the team? Playing the LA Chill because it's my other team.
Favorite movie? You've Got Mail
An interesting fact about you? I've been to 49 of the 50 states.
Photo by Mark Mauno
Week 10: 03/20/2017
Kacey Weiniger - #16
Major? Communications major, Entertainment Industry minor
Hometown? Warren, NJ
How long have you been playing? 6 years
Why did you start playing? My whole childhood, I watched my two older brothers play and I learned to love the sport. So, when I had the opportunity to play in high school, I joined the team and I've played every since!
Favorite NHL team? New Jersey Devils!!
Favorite NHL player? Patrik Elias, but also Sidney Crosby :P
Advice for new hockey players? If you fall, then that's a good thing. It means you're pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, and that's the best way to improve!
Best moment on the team? I'd say in Vegas when a group of us hung out in our rooms, played games, and talked all night.
Favorite movie? Fight Club, Good Will Hunting, and The Royal Tenenbaums
An interesting fact about you? I joined a co-ed roller skating team in elementary school and quit after one practice, but I still have the trophy!
Week 11: 04/29/2017
Lila Marshall - #30 (G, A)
Major? Biomedical Engineering major, Health Care Studies minor
Hometown? Westlake Village, CA
How long have you been playing? 3 years
Why did you start playing? After I achieved my black belt in Chun Kuk Do karate, I wanted to try something completely out of my comfort zone. When I learned that USC had a no-experience-necessary ice hockey team for women, I signed up immediately!
Favorite NHL team? LA Kings!
Favorite NHL player? Jonathan Quick, the bestest goalie there ever was...
Advice for new hockey players? Never let anyone or anything discourage you. Hockey is really hard - you have to have a lot of tenacity in this sport, on and off the ice. Don't let anyone tell you you're not good enough, and learn at your own pace! Appreciate any amount of progress, no matter how small it may seem to others. And skate as much as possible.
Best moment on the team? It's hard to pick one, but my favorite was my first shutout. No feeling like it.
Favorite movie? Little Miss Sunshine
An interesting fact about you? I play four instruments: bass, guitar, piano, oboe
Photo by D. Stopani