By Warren Kozireski —
Haley Winn is picking right up where she left off her junior season with Clarkson University as she competes with Team USA in the Women’s World Championships being played in Utica this month.
After scoring ten goals with 29 assists over 28 games for nationally fourth ranked Clarkson, she had two goals and three assists in the first four games of the round-robin portion of the tournament.
An assist on Team USA’s fourth goal against Finland in game three was a perfect bank pass from her own zone to Kendall Coyne Schofield.
“Just a loose puck in the neutral zone and I saw Kendall coming through the zone with speed, but there was a defender so I knew I couldn’t get it to her directly, so I just made an indirect play…and great shot from her,” Winn said.
“We can always learn from the game…it was the first three goals we let up in the tournament. We’re happy with where the team’s at right now, but Monday’s game against Canada will be a true test for us.”
The 5’5” defenseman is in her second season with Team USA in this tournament having won a gold medal last year.
“I think a little more confidence (second time around); coach does a good job of instilling confidence in us especially with a lot of young players on the team. We have a great d-corps back there, so it’s fun to learn off of them.”
Winn grew up playing boy’s hockey with the Rochester Americans and Rochester Monarchs until high school when she joined the Bishop Kearney (BK) Selects from grades nine through 12 prior to Clarkson.
“I switched to the Monarchs in my grade eight year because they had a great coach in (former Rochester American) Francois Methot there and he’s still my skills coach today, so I owe a lot to him for sure.”
Winn is one of four hockey-playing siblings. Brother Ryan played for Bowdoin, Casey for Brockport and Tommy is a defenseman with Geneseo. But they collectively cited Haley as the best player in the family.
“I’m asked that question a lot. There’s only one of them still playing, so I guess I’m pretty close at least when that one retires. Hopefully, I’ll be playing the longest. I’ve definitely learned a lot from them as well.
“Two are here supporting and two the other will be here for the medal round, so super-excited for that.”
(Photo provided by USA Hockey Women’s Hockey)
