Gophers women's hockey player Sydney Baldwin has anchored Minnesota's defense this season and was named WCHA defensive player of the month in October. In advance of the No. 6-ranked Gophers' trip this weekend to face Lindenwood (Mo.), Baldwin chatted with the Star Tribune's Michael Rand:
Q: This program won NCAA championships your freshman and sophomore years. How does a program that has had such a high level of success operate year-to-year?
A: We have our core values of what we follow off and on the ice. But every year has a different identity and different challenges. We've had different challenges this year than in years past, but the staples stay the same: hard work and intensity. … You sign up for it, and to get to a Division I level at any school you have to have a lot of those staples. There are days when it gets hard to maintain that high level. But the good days always outweigh the bad ones. And it's fun coming to the rink every day and playing with your best friends.
Q: One of your best friends, Kelly Pannek, took this year off to train with the U.S. national team in preparation for the Olympics. Has that been hard for you?
A: It's been bittersweet because I'm so proud and happy for Kelly. It's an incredible opportunity. But a little bit selfishly, I wish she was here. She's one of my best friends, and I've lived with her for four years.
Q: With a great program like the Gophers have, players leaving for the Olympics can pose a challenge every four years. How has that impacted this year's team?
A: It's a testament to how good our coaches are at developing next-level players that we kind of expect we could lose a couple players to the Olympics. It's hard and we personally wish they were here, but they are going to be successful at that next level and we support them fully.
Q: The Gophers are having a good season so far, but what needs to happen in order for this team to be where it wants to be at the end of the year?
A: We always talk about the process and getting better every day. I'm sure you hear that quite a lot from other teams, too. But you have to buy into it. We had some struggles early on and some growing pains, but we keep getting better every day. We're developing into the kind of team that can be successful at the end of the year.
Q: This is kind of a young defensive group aside from you this season. Have you taken on even more of a leadership role this year, not just being a senior but having so many young people around you?
A: When I was an underclassman, there were great leaders throughout the team. Some senior members of the defensive group kind of took me under their wing and developed me as a player — I remember Rachel Ramsey and Lee Stecklein doing that. I hope to take some of the things that they taught me and implement them.
Q: What's the personality of this team?
A: We're really meshing well together off the ice. We don't necessarily have a first, second and third line. Everyone is producing and playing a lot of minutes. There's a really fun and light energy, but we're super-competitive.
