Growing up in a family of basketball players, Taylor Heise nevertheless felt drawn to hockey from an early age. “I was given a flyer in 1st grade about trying hockey for free with the Minnesota Wild. I gave it to my parents and told them it was something I wanted to do. They kinda laughed.”
Her first foray into the sport quickly grew into a passion as her natural talent emerged. By 7th grade she had joined the varsity team at Red Wing High School, 30 minutes from her hometown of Lake City, Minnesota. She was named USA Today’s national Player of the Year, as well as Minnesota’s Miss Hockey, her senior year of high school in 2018.
Heise says she was immediately drawn to the School of Kinesiology, having been interested in a career as a physical therapist or athletic trainer for years. She graduated with a BS degree in Kinesiology in May 2022 and plans to continue her education with a Sport Management MEd, while playing her COVID year for the Gophers, next fall. She ultimately hopes to continue to play in the USA hockey circuit or play professionally. For now, she’s keeping her options open.
When it came time to choose a college, Heise’s decision was guided, in part, by advice from her mom. “My mom put into my mind that I should choose a school I would be happy with, even if I were injured. The University of Minnesota has a wonderful hockey program and it’s also a great school. I met the team, the coaches, and watched how they play—I’ve never regretted my decision a day in my life.”
“The more options you have, the more ways your life can go. I’m a firm believer that God puts you in the places you need to be in the places in the right times, with the right people – you want more options than one than just one.”
In March, Heise was named the 2022 Patty Kazmaier Award winner. The award is named in honor of the late Kazmaier, a hockey great and All-Ivy League defenseman at Princeton University in the 1980s, Kazmaier passed away in 1990, at only 28 years old. Heise is one of just three Gophers to win the prestigious award, which recognizes the best women’s hockey player in the U.S.
“I give a lot of props to my teammates, coaches, advisor, and classmates, for helping me succeed both athletically and academically,” she says.
“Trying something new is scary,” says Heise of her hockey journey. “It’s well worth it into the future, and if you put your time and energy into it, it’s one of the most rewarding things ever.”
Editor’s note: Congratulations, Taylor! We’re excited to see what the future holds for you
