Meet Cassie Krenz!

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Cassandra Krenz (Cassie). I am 43, almost 44, years old. I was born and raised in North Dakota, moved to Iowa for veterinary school, practiced there for another six years after graduation and currently live in Pueblo, Colorado where I own a small animal veterinary practice.

I have been a hockey fan for 30 some years. I was a cheerleader for the high school hockey team in my hometown and cheered for a U20 minor team at the same time. I’m a huge fan of the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux (Judge me if you want, but I don’t think I will ever accept the new mascot).

I started my own hockey career at the age of 32 when I moved to Colorado. My older sister talked me into joining her women’s team and I have been playing ever since. Although I started out on a women’s only team, I really enjoy playing on the co-ed teams in both Pueblo and Colorado Springs. The gentlemen that I play with are very supportive of me playing with them.  I am also the mother of a youth (U12 B) goalie and defensive hockey player. We spend a lot of time at different ice rinks around the state.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE A WHL BRAND AMBASSADOR?

When Colorado Women’s Ice Hockey posted that WHL was looking for ambassadors, it just felt like a thing to be a part of. I love to encourage youth young ladies to play. I try to show them that they can do this their whole lives and it’s not just for boys and men. Hockey is a fast, technical sport and can be very satisfying as an exercise, but also from the emotional support that you get from your teammates. And in the aspect of women’s teams you can gain sisters—family can be more than blood.

I would really like to see more women (adult) feel like they can play this sport and that you don’t have to have been brought up on hockey skates to participate. Hopefully seeing an older player who started later in life will give someone the bravery to come out and try. Hockey is for all ages and all genders.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO AS A #WHLAMBASSADOR?

I am most looking forward to meeting other female hockey players, hearing their stories and sharing the life that is hockey: games at midnight, being so sore because you just played back to back games but winning or losing as a sisterhood.

IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN AND HAVE DINNER WITH ONE FEMALE HOCKEY PLAYER, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

This was probably the hardest for me to answer. I am not and have never really been a “fan girl” type. Even if you ask me about the professional and college teams I have a hard time picking out an individual player. I am more of a team type supporter, so I thought about who might be interesting to talk to… the first professional player, a gold medalist.

What I found and who I think would be really interesting to talk to is the woman who started the NWHL, Dani Rylan. To take a chance and start a league for professional female hockey players and to find out how she found the locations, coaches, funding… all of it is mind boggling and she took the chance to give women more in the sport, more chances to continue what they love, more spots than what the national teams can offer, more exposure to a sport while not as brutal as the men’s game, still fast and physical.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN IN HOCKEY OR IN LIFE?

It sounds corny but the proverb, “If you can dream it you can do it.” Of course that means you have to be willing to accept failure and continue to try.

WHAT’S YOUR DREAM FOR WOMEN’S HOCKEY?

My dream for women’s hockey is that more girls start participating, that there’s more acceptance that hockey is a sport for all, and I dream for more opportunities for older generations of women to learn to play… I guess I want a lot.

Want to join our #WHLAmbassador team?

Get more details and apply here!