Cassi Campbell Interview

Recently I had an opportunity to sit down and speak with University of Wisconsin River Falls Women's Hockey Goaltender Cassi Campbell. Campbell who is a Senior from Anchorage Alaska, has started eleven of the Falcon's twenty five games this season. The Falcon's who finished the regular season ranked first in the nation with an undefeated record of 22-0-3, recorded a record of 9-0-1 with Campbell in the net. Campbell finished the regular season with 192 saves and stopped 92.8% of the shot's which she faced. Here is what Campbell had to say about this season and her time as a Falcon thus far.

Sportsman87: So I see that you guys are actually #1 in the country, is this actually the first time that the school has been #1?

Cassi Campbell: "This is the first time in school history that we've ever been ranked number one. This year we were ranked number two and moved up to number one so that was pretty cool."

Sportsman87: I see that you guy's are the only undefeated team left at any level of college hockey.

Cassi Campbell: "Yeah we're the first team in the West of the country to ever go undefeated in the regular season so it's a really cool accomplishment. Even if something was to happen and our season was to end in two days, no one else can say that they were the first team to go undefeated in the regular season except for us. So either way it's a pretty cool thing to say."

Sportsman87: Coming into the season did you guy's have any goals that you wanted to set out there to accomplish?

Cassi Campbell: "My Sophomore year, so in 2008 and 2009 we had a really successful year. Last year we came in with the idea that we should have another successful year and we just could not be consistent. So coming in this year we had quite a few Freshman we knew were going to push all of us. Our goal this year was to be consistent and our goal was to be mentally and physically prepared so we did more preparation this year than we have ever done. Running sprints before the season even started, and workouts and I think by the time that the coaches were on the ice we were more physically prepared than we had ever been. Our goal has been to be consistent, to have fun and then just make a statement which is pretty much what we have done so it's been really cool."

Sportsman87: Looking ahead to this weekend you are playing St. Norbert's and one interesting thing about the Women's side is that a few teams don't make the NCHA playoffs. Because there are more teams than on the Men's side, that definitely adds more depth to your conference that you have to win.

Cassi Campbell: "Especially the top eight teams, any one in those top eight teams could beat any one on any given day. For example we play St. Norbert's this weekend, St. Norbert's was the first team to blemish our record they gave us the first tie of our three ties all season. They have a very hot goaltender I actually found out maybe ten minutes ago that they're goalie has been named all conference (NCHA) and she's a Freshman so she's a very good goaltender. Any of those teams in the top eight can beat any one and it just so happens that we're going to be playing them. We are excited but definitely you can't take anyone light in our conference."

Sportsman87: I noticed that this is the first year that you played St. Norbert's, you're 1-0-1 overall against St. Norbert's.

Cassi Campbell: "Yep they are a brand new team this year and playing them earlier this year we actually played them in St. Norbert's, so that was something a little different because we had never played there. So obviously a lot of things go through your head but we're excited to play them on our ice. They have an Olympic sized sheet there at St. Norbert's so it's a little smaller rink here what we're used to. Also home ice advantage is nice, we're hoping to have a bunch of people there and be able to support us."

Sportsman87: Speaking of home ice advantage I noticed that the average amount of people who come to your games is 208, versus 174 for a game on the road for other teams. The largest crowd was 402 and that was against Gustavus Adolphus.

Cassi Campbell: "That was awesome, we worked really really hard to have a bunch of people at that game. Especially with what happened last year losing to Gustavus and therefore losing Frozen Four hosting rights, we wanted to make that game a big game. That was absolutely amazing and we were so excited. It's so much different to play when that rink get's packed and I know with Women's team's it's hard to draw a crowd, so we've been working really hard just to have people come to our games so we're hoping to draw those numbers up. If we win this weekend then we'll host the O'brien cup next weekend. If we win that then we'd play Gustavus in our ice again to then go to the Frozen Four, so we're hoping to have a lot more hockey at hunt arena before the end of the year."

Sportsman87: Is there actually a chance that you could still host the Frozen Four this year?

Cassi Campbell: "We're not sure, the NCAA how everything works seems very political in a sense. Technically if we went the whole year undefeated we'd still be the only team undefeated in the country, and you would think that would make sense. But at the same time last year the West hosted the Frozen Four with Gustavus so if something like that we're to happen and we were the only team in the Frozen Four you think that they want to pay to fly three eastern teams out West? Probably not. It would probably be less expensive and we're really not sure we've heard so many different scenarios. Our coach Joe has told us numerous times just let it ride and we'll see what happens. It would be amazing to host but at the same time not hosting brings a new aspect because you get to go travel with your team. Either way it would be an extremely exciting thing but we do have a lot of hockey left until we get to that point anyway."

Sportsman87: The Division three Men's Frozen Four is actually at Ritter Arena in the Twin Cities, so if the Women's Frozen Four was here it would really be a true Wisconsin-Minnesota Frozen Four.

Cassi Campbell: "It would be really really cool definitely, and that's one thing that's really hard too is that with the Women They wait to see who is the #1 seed and who is going to host here and who is going to host there. Unlike the Men and then I know with Division 1 they have a preset location already determined. In a sense that would be kind of cool but at the same time then this way it allows the first seed if you do end up being first, to hopefully host and you have those rights."

Sportsman87: I noticed that you are from Alaska and I would say that that is a pretty long travel from Wisconsin. I was just curious how did you decide to come to River Falls for school?

Cassi Campbell: "Actually for Women's College Hockey pretty much this is the closest I can be to home. The Midwest whether it's Wisconsin, Minnesota or North Dakota those are all Women's programs within there. For me it was either going to be this location or your out East. I had a few options I could play Division 1 and I probably wouldn't play until about my Junior year and wouldn't get any money until about my Junior year. That just wasn't what I was looking for. These are my last four years that I was going to play hockey and I didn't want to go somewhere work my butt off and then sit on the bench. I started looking at Division 3 options and I was looking at here, Stevens Point, and then a few schools out east R.I.T. being one of them (Currently #2 in the nation). I had a really hard time with that and then I came and visited Point and told Point I was 99 percent going there I had to take care of these River Falls people, came here and I absolutely fell in love with it. I fell in love with Coaches, I fell in love with the facility, the school, the town and this has been my home ever since. I absolutely love it, I never thought that going home at the end of this year would be so hard and as it get's closer and closer it's actually becoming more difficult to think that I am going to have to go home and start my life there but I do love it here and it's been a really great fit for me."

Sportsman87: Do you have a favorite moment that you can share with anyone from when you became a Falcon until right now?

Cassi Campbell: "There's a few that hit the top, 08-09 was just such an amazing year because we weren't supposed to do that well. Last year and this year we were supposed to do well so it's very exciting. It's amazing to say I am on an undefeated team but definitely in 08-09 we weren't really supposed to do that well. I think the pre-season polls had us at #2 or #3 in the conference. We won the O'brien Cup here at Hunt Arena and we beat Point 5-3. That was an absolutely amazing thing. Then we went and played Gustavus who had only lost one game all year we beat them 2-1 and we out shot them like 46 to 13. That definitely was a highlight, it was amazing going to the Frozen Four and everything but that year was just the best. We were a family, we worked together, caused the upsets and that was a pretty big highlight and lead us up to this year."

Sportsman87: Do you have a different approach when it comes to playoff hockey?

Cassi Campbell: "It's probably going to be a lot of the same approach, there is a little more pressure in the playoffs. Throughout the season you can tie a game here and there and maybe still end up first in the playoffs if you lose you're done. It's a little more pressure with the way this year has gone with the whole undefeated thing it's added a lot more pressure. Playoff hockey is a little bit different when you are at home. It doesn't seem like you have as many things that you have to worry about like outside things that could affect it, but it's just game time when it hit's the playoffs. This is the time to shine, you shouldn't be struggling at this point in the year everyone should be at the top of their game and our coach tells us that on a daily basis. It's a lot more exciting atmosphere than the regular season is."

A great thanks goes out to Cassi for taking the time to do speak with us. The #1 ranked Falcon's host St. Norbert College in the first round of the NCHA O'brien Cup playoffs this weekend. The first puck drops on Friday night at 7:00 pm and again on Saturday at 2:05 pm. Both games are at Hunt Arena in River Falls, WI.

Big Ten Football Predictions: Week 5

Northwestern (4-0) over Minnesota (1-3)

#2 Ohio State (4-0) over Illinois (2-1)

#19 Michigan (4-0) over Indiana (3-0)

#11 Wisconsin (4-0) over #24 Michigan State (4-0)

#17 Iowa (3-1) over #22 Penn State (3-1)

Last Week Record: 9/10 (.900)

Record Season To Date: 9/10 (.900)

Bye: Purdue

Top 25 College Football Picks: Week 5

*Predicted winners in bold

Top 25:

#7 Florida 4-0
#1 Alabama 4-0

#2 Ohio State 4-0
Illinois 2-1

#3 Boise State 3-0
New Mexico St. 0-3

#9 Stanford 4-0
#4 Oregon 4-0

#5 TCU 4-0
Colorado State 1-3

#21 Texas 3-1
#8 Oklahoma 4-0

LA-Monroe 1-2
#10 Auburn 4-0

#11 Wisconsin 4-0
#24 Michigan State 4-0

Tennessee 2-2
#12 LSU 4-0

#16 Miami (FL) 2-1
Clemson 2-1

#22 Penn State 3-1
#17 Iowa 3-1

Washington 1-2
#18 USC 4-0

#20 Michigan 4-0
Indiana 3-0

Virginia Tech 2-2
#23 N. Carolina State 4-0

#25 Nevada 4-0
UNLV 1-3

Picks record Last Week: 20/21 (.952)

Picks record season to date: 20/21 (.952)

Big Ten Player of the year race: week 4

These are the players which I believe are most qualified for the Big Ten player of the year award race after week 3 of the 2010 season.

1) Michigan So. QB Denard Robinson:

Rushing: 74 carries for 559 yards & 4 Touchdowns
Passing: Completed 53 of 76 passes for 671 yards 4 Touchdowns & 1 Interception

2) Wisconsin Jr. RB John Clay:

Rushing: 62 carries for 383 yards & 5 Touchdowns

3) Northwestern Sr. QB Dan Persa:

Passing: Completed 62 of 76 passes for 769 yards 6 Touchdowns & 0 Interceptions


Other players to watch for:

Ohio State Jr. QB Terrelle Pryor
Iowa Sr. QB Ricky Stanzi
Illinois Jr. RB Mikel LeShoure

Big Ten Football Predictions: Week 4

Northwestern (3-0) over Central Michigan (2-1)

#25 Michigan State (3-0) over N. Colorado (2-1)

#21 Michigan (3-0) over Bowling Green (1-2)

#11 Wisconsin (3-0) over Austin Peay (2-1)

#18 Iowa (2-1) over Ball State (1-2)

#2 Ohio State (3-0) over E. Michigan (0-3)

#23 Penn State (2-1) over Temple (3-0)

Purdue (2-1) over Toledo (2-1)

Indiana (2-0) over Akron (0-3)

Minnesota (1-2) over N. Illinois (1-2)

Bye: Illinois

Season record to date: 0-0

Top 25 College Football Picks week 4

*Predicted winners in bold

Top 25:

#19 Miami (FL) 1-1
Pittsburgh 1-1

#4 TCU 3-0
SMU 2-1

#1 Alabama 3-0
#10 Arkansas 3-0

E. Michigan 0-3
#2 Ohio State 3-0

#24 Oregon State 1-1
#3 Boise State 2-0

#5 Oregon 3-0
Arizona State 2-1

S. Dakota State 0-2
#6 Nebraska 3-0

UCLA 1-2
#7 Texas 3-0

#8 Oklahoma 3-0
Cincinnati 1-2

Kentucky 3-0
#9 Florida 3-0

Austin Peay 2-1
#11 Wisconsin 3-0

#12 South Carolina 3-0
#17 Auburn 3-0

San Jose State 1-2
#13 Utah 3-0

California 2-1
#14 Arizona 3-0

#22 West Virginia 3-0
#15 LSU 3-0

#16 Stanford 3-0
Notre Dame 1-2

Ball State 1-2
#18 Iowa 2-1

#20 USC 3-0
Washington St. 1-2

Bowling Green 1-2
#21 Michigan 3-0

Temple 3-0
#23 Penn State 2-1

N. Colorado 2-1
#25 Michigan State 3-0


Picks Record season: 0-0

Big 10 Football Predictions: Week 12

#10 Ohio State (9-2) over Michigan (5-6)

#13 Iowa (9-2) over Minnesota (6-5)

#16 Wisconsin (8-2) over Northwestern (7-4)

#14 Penn State (9-2) over Michigan State (6-5)

Purdue (4-7) over Indiana (4-7)

Bye: Illinois

Record to date: 17-6 (.739)