Hailing from the small town of Orangeville, Illinois, Tessa Janecke's road to the United States Women's National Team was anything but ordinary.
Janecke credits her parents for putting her in the sport at a young age. They needed something to keep her busy as she and her two brothers were loaded with energy. First, Janecke's older brother, Cade, laced up his skates, and it wasn't long after that she would follow in his footsteps. She grew up playing youth hockey alongside her older brother until he was in high school.
"I always wanted to compete with my brother and be on his team," Janecke said.
Photo Credit: Tessa Janecke
During her 8th grade year, Janecke started looking into programs where she could develop her game for high school. The only problem: hockey was not her only passion. Janecke was one of the state's top softball players too, and she struggled giving it up. She wanted the best of both worlds, so she ultimately decided to attend the North American Hockey Academy (NAHA). NAHA offered a unique opportunity that she couldn't deny.
"It felt really homey," Janecke said. "I could do my home schooling there for the hockey season and then come back and still play softball for my high school."
Moving away from home at the age of 14 might seem daunting to most, but not to Janecke. She looked at the move east as an opportunity to grow both as a hockey player and a person.
"It was the best decision I could have made. Not just for hockey, but I got to experience things that kids in high school normally don't get to," Janecke said. "It helped me mature and changed my perspective on a lot of things."
She captained the Winter Hawks and tallied up 46 goals and 76 assists in 78 games during her senior season. Undoubtedly a standout player on the ice, she also fostered a great deal of lifelong relationships off of it. She continues to build upon two special ones in particular during her freshman year at Penn State.
Sophomore defender Karley Garcia played with Janecke for three years at NAHA. Like her friend, Garcia, who grew up in California, moved away from home at a young age to pursue her hockey dreams. While transitioning into college, Janecke was grateful for Garcia's friendship and guidance, not only in the weight room or on the ice, but in her day-to-day life as a new college student.
"It made the transition easier, especially in the summer. I could go over there, stay overnight if I needed to, and talk or just hangout," Janecke said. "I didn't realize at the time how much having her helped with the transition."
Photo Credit top photo: Stacy Meter, bottom photo: Bridget Sheehan
Penn State assistant coach Makenna Newkirk, also spent some time with Janecke at NAHA, where she was coaching the future star. Janecke and Newkirk quickly built a bond, seeing the potential in each other early on.
"I could tell right away she was going to be a good coach," Janecke said. "She was always bringing us all over, telling us what we could do and how we could be creative the next time around."
But when she committed to Penn State, Janecke did not yet know that Newkirk would be joining her as a Nittany Lion. Penn State's support through the recruiting process is what Janecke said really sold her on bringing her talents to Hockey Valley.
Head coach Jeff Kampersal "showed appreciation for me, checking in on how I was doing or how a weekend with my team went," Janecke said. "Along with all the resources you get like Pegula [Ice Arena] and the Morgan Academic Center, I knew I would be really supported here."
Unsurprisingly, Janecke's collegiate career is off to a hot start. The freshman has recorded 34 points (17G, 17A) so far in 30 games. She also leads the CHA in faceoff wins, all while racking up multiple weekly and monthly rookie awards from the league. Her 9 points (3G, 6A) in four games during the month of December, paired with 57 faceoff wins in the circle, earned her national recognition as December's HCA National Rookie of the Month.
Credit: Bridget Sheehan
There was one more reason December was quite a month for Janecke. The 18-year-old received a call up to the big leagues – the United State's Women's National Team. She couldn't believe it… No, she really couldn't.
"I went to coach [Kampersal] and was like, 'Is this the real national team?' That was really cool. I didn't believe it," Janecke said.
Although she was in awe of being named to the senior national team, Janecke is no stranger to the organization. She has been participating in U.S. Hockey development camps and festivals since 2015.
Janecke led her team to a silver medal at the 2022 U18 Women's World Championships, where the IIHF named her one of Team USA's three best players of the tournament. Most recently, she was selected for the 2022 Collegiate Select Team roster, where she scored three goals during the three game tournament alongside teammate Kiara Zanon and Penn State associate head coach Allison Coomey.
"I thought I competed well that week," Janecke said. "I was trying to keep my head down and keep doing what I could."
Photo Credit: USA Hockey
She did just that. She competed well – well enough to be the youngest player to make the roster for the United States Women's National Team December Rivalry Series. Janecke packed up for winter break and headed to Las Vegas to make her National Team debut.
"This was always the goal," Janecke said. "I used to watch the Olympics growing up, and I looked up to players like Meghan Duggan, Brianna Decker and Hilary Knight… I always said, 'I want to do that.'"
On December 19th, Janecke stepped on the ice with the best players in the world in an atmosphere that was unmatched: the U.S. against Canada. A rivalry like none other, it was an almost indescribable moment for Janecke as her dreams had now become reality.
"All the girls are so nice and everyone made it a point to reach out," Janecke said. "It made me more comfortable… My biggest takeaway was just be yourself and play hockey because you know how to do it, and that's why you're there."
Janecke then explained how she felt when she saw that unforgettable sign up in the stands that read, "I dream of being like you one day." At first, she didn't think the sign was for her. She sometimes still feels like that little kid watching from the stands.
"That's what I thought – 'I want to be them one day –' so you never know what that kid has or whether they are going to do it or not, but giving them that belief in themselves," Janecke said. "Skating by and smiling, or you just tap the boards. You're letting them know you see them."
Photo Credit: USA Hockey
"It's just as special for us seeing them and how much love they have for you, just to see you," she said. "You get that same feeling from them that they might get from you, like, 'This person supports me,' and there's thousands of others that are on your side."
Once she was one of those kids, looking up to her heroes. Now she's a decorated hockey player that so many look up to for more than just her ability to score goals – though there is certainly that.