UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- When Lindsay Reihl originally came to Penn State University she was looking forward to playing club hockey. That all changed when she was given the opportunity to play at the Division I level for the upcoming and newly forrmed Penn State women's hockey team.
Through her career as a student-athlete for the Penn State women's hockey team, Reihl made her mark in the Blue and White, including being assigned the assistant captain role during her time on the ice. She played a vital role in shaping the team's morals through her leadership position. Reihl worked hard on and off the ice to establish the strong culture the team displays today. Penn State Athletics had the chance to catch up with Reihl and reflect on her experience as a player and where her life has taken her.
GoPSUsports.com: Why did you choose to continue your hockey career at Penn State University?
Lindsay Reihl: At the time that I chose Penn State, I thought I would be getting to play four solid years of ACHA club hockey at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion. That all changed my junior year after I learned of Pegula's donation to the Penn State program. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to play Division I hockey competitively while earning my undergraduate degree.
GoPSUsports.com: What is one of your most memorable moments from being on the Penn State's women's hockey team?
LR: My favorite memory as a player was we won our first game as a Division I team against the University of Vermont. I will never forget that day; it was absolutely one of the most amazing feelings of my life.
GoPSUsports.com: Where has your life taken you since graduating from Penn State University?
LR: I stayed at Penn State upon graduating to earn my Master's in Education, and I then moved up to the Boston area. I spent a few years there working as a counselor at a boarding school outside of the city before landing my dream job back in my home state of Connecticut. I'm now a school counselor at New Canaan High School.
GoPSUsports.com: What personal or professional accomplishment(s) are you most proud of since you graduated?
LR: I graduated from my master's program with a 4.0. I also moved back to Connecticut which was one of my goals. I still play on the ice regularly. My women's hockey team made it to nationals a couple of years ago, where I was able to reunite with some of my old teammates.
GoPSUsports.com: How did your college hockey career shape you into the person you are today?
LR: Playing college hockey absolutely shaped me into the strong person I am today – physically and mentally. There were days in my fifth year when I would work the late shift at Jimmy Johns, get home at 3:30 in the morning, and be up at 4:45 am for the first-morning lift. I would say my work ethic, ability to run on little to no sleep, and quads, are all attributable to my college hockey career.
GoPSUsports.com: How did the leadership of the program shape the team culture?
LR: It was interesting being a brand-new program, creating a team culture was completely up to us. We were a very young team of 17 freshmen. I remember the terms "trailblazers", "laying the groundwork", and "foundational years" being tossed around constantly. We worked hard to build a notable program and instill our own values all while having fun. Being an assistant captain for a program in its first years certainly had its challenges, but was such an honor. I'm thankful for Taylor Gross and Jenna Welch, incredible teammates with whom I shared the leadership.
GoPSUsports.com: Who at Penn State University made the greatest impact on you as a player and in your personal life?
LR: Mo Stroemel made the greatest impact on my life. He was the club coach who recruited me to Penn State University back when I was a senior in high school. He was also my head coach for Team USA when we traveled to Turkey for the World University Games back in 2011 and stuck with the program when we transitioned to D1. He was one of my constant supporters, always knew what I was capable of, always pushed me to do better. He cared so genuinely about all of his players not only as athletes but as people. I am so grateful for everything I learned from Mo.
GoPSUsports.com: How have you stayed in contact with the program and your old teammates over the years?
LR: I'm still in contact with a lot of my old teammates. Social media makes it so much easier to stay connected to everyone and the team. Alumni Taylor Gross, Jenna Welch, Nicole Paniccia, and I are all still in touch and hope to plan a reunion in the future. I was also in my old defense partner Lydia Scott's wedding last fall.
GoPSUsports.com: Do you have any advice for the current Penn State women's hockey players?
LR: I follow all the awesome things you the team is doing through social media. My advice is that college goes by so quickly and to enjoy every second on and off the ice.
