When I was 15, I was cut first round at High Performance Minnesota tryouts. High Performance is the tryout program that eventually selects the best players in the country to play on the USA U18 National Team. When there is no NHL to look forward too as a woman, I strived to play college hockey and represent the United States of America at the national level. This cut was devastating, it ended many of my friends’ hockey careers, but it only pushed me to improve. Every practice and every game I played was my fullest effort to out work every player in Minnesota. After two years of this dedication to improving, I had transformed myself into one of the top prospects and players in Minnesota. I could compete with the best, and in 2016 I was invited
