Kelly Pannek: BSM alum, current US women’s hockey athlete, Olympic athlete, alumni and captain of the Gophers women’s hockey team, and last but not least co-head coach of the Red Knights. Pannek brings experience and an impressive resume to the Red Knights coming back for her 4th year with the team.
Pannek being a professional athlete has to find time to coach the Red Knights, but coaching was something she couldn’t pass up. “It’s hard. I definitely miss a lot. I haven’t been to a section game yet, at the end of the day I still need to prioritize my playing career but it is tough to miss those big games,” Pannek said.
After a short stint with her teammate at Bloomington Jefferson, Pannek wants to get the Red Knights out of a little rut not being to a state tournament since 2014. “It’s hard to get there and harder to win that game. I had 4 shots at it and only got one. It goes back to the preparation leading up to the season once you get to the season it is all about staying the course if you look too far ahead you’re going to lose sight of who you really are,” Pannek said.
Senior Captain Sienna Duffy is really appreciative of what Pannek brings to the table. “Something I appreciate about Kelly is how much she does for our team even though she can’t always be there with us because of her own hockey. When she is there, she gives us all of her time and attention,” Duffy said.
Something I appreciate about Kelly is how much she does for our team even though she can’t always be there with us because of her own hockey. When she is there, she gives us all of her time and attention.”
— Sienna Duffy
Despite her absence, Duffy really feels like Pannek is always there for her and will always help. “Kelly herself has a lot of credibility when it comes to hockey and is a very competitive and successful woman. She pushes me to do my best. Even if she is away for her own hockey she will still send me messages or give me a call if I send her some film and ask what I need to do better,” Duffy said.
As a co-head coach, Pannek came back to BSM girls hockey with one goal. “We talk about this a lot when we are done with seniors we want them to be proud to represent the program and they want to come back and be connected with the team, we want to help them develop into young women it is much less about the hockey and more about developing them as young women,” Pannek said.