Kelly Jensen

By Kara Walser
UWRF Sports Information

Kelly Jensen, a forward and co-captain on the women's hockey team, has prepared well for the competitive atmosphere of her third season.

Being the youngest child in her family, Jensen has had a lot of role models to look up to but not necessarily in her hockey career. Jensen has three older sisters, Michele, 29, Emily, 25 and Katie, 22, who were all in gymnastics or cheerleading. "Not one of them would ever think to play hockey," she says.

Jensen got involved in hockey through her soccer coach, who wanted to get a girls' hockey program started in her home town of Eden Prairie, Minn. "I gave it a try and fell in love with the sport right then and there," Jensen explains. "All of a sudden soccer was my second sport and hockey was my main sport."

Besides having three sisters to look up to, Jensen really admires her parents, Larry and Ann Jensen. "My mom is my best friend whom I can rely on for anything and my dad is my No. 1 fan at everything I do. He is always supporting me and giving me advice which has helped me become who I am today," she says. "I can always count on them to be at my games; my dad always standing in the offensive corner with a big smile on his face and my mom running around with her camera taking numerous pictures at each game."

Jensen was born in Kentucky and then moved to Minnesota with her family because of her dad's job. They moved to Illinois but once again back to Minnesota to settle in Eden Prairie when she was in second grade.   She believes she has such a close relationship to her parents because of the year she spent with them as a senior and the only child left at home.

"I have been playing hockey for 12 years. I love the game because each day I go to the rink I learn something new," she says. "I play right wing, and my line mates are Abby Sunderman and Cassie LeBlanc. The three of us have clicked really well this year and love to play with each other."

Coach Joe Cranston explains that Jensen is a "hard worker, plays with a tremendous amount of heart and leads by example."   Jensen is also one of the best penalty killers too, he says. "She has a great attitude and shows up every day with a smile on her face and ready to work, and those are the types of players who are fun to coach."

Jensen explains that it is a lot of fun being coached by people who show their love and passion for the game. She also shares a special relationship with her teammates and considers them more as sisters than anything else. "My best friends in River Falls are hands down my teammates," Jensen says.

In her second season with the Falcons, Jensen played in 27 games, scored 10 goals and with seven assists for 17 points. She was also named player of the week on Nov. 28. "My biggest thrill in hockey was beating South St. Paul my senior year and ending their 86 game winning streak in the state tournament," Jensen explains. "My team received the "Top High School Sport Story of the Year" award from the state of Minnesota, which was really neat."

In her free time, Jensen spends time with friends, family, and her boyfriend, who plays on the men's basketball team. She likes watching The Bachelor and American Idol and listens to country music. She also will eat anything with cheese and crab legs.

Jensen is an elementary education major with an English and coaching minor. She chose River Falls because of its short distance from her home, the great elementary education program and the hockey team. "The girls that I met on my visit were so friendly and welcoming and the coaching staff is amazing. I couldn't have picked a better fit for me," she explains.

She explains that she has always known that elementary education was the job for her. "I have just always seen myself as an elementary teacher and a coach. I feel that I was meant to do that. I have a passion for kids," she says.

Her sister, Emily, has been an inspiration to her to keep to her dreams of a teaching career. Emily is a special education teacher in Chaska, Minn. "She encourages me and pushes me to do my best because she says the outcome is so rewarding," Jensen says.

Jensen hopes to return to Eden Prairie to teach third grade and coach the women's varsity hockey team. "My parents are always encouraging me to become a coach because they know the love I have for the game and want to see me stay involved in hockey well beyond my college years."