Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1489241
13 J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 3 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M Photos / Penn State Athletics JOSIE BOTHUN is just a junior, but she's already rewritten the Penn State record books. The Wyoming native is No. 1 in wins, shutouts, goals-against average and save percentage for the Nittany Lions—and she's not done yet. "I want to shatter a couple more records, but I also want to make it to the national champi- onship game," says Bothun, a Forest Lake alum. And why not? In the 2022-23 season opener, Bothun stopped 27 shots in a 4-1 upset win against Wisconsin, NCAA champs in two of the last three seasons. MHJ // How fired up was the team after that opener against Wisconsin? Josie Bothun // I don't even know how to put it into words—it was just amazing. We know the season is definitely a process. We understand there are going to be ups and downs. However, we do have the belief that we can go all the way. MHJ // How did you fall in love with the goaltending position? Bothun // Honestly, there's probably multi- ple parts to that. I think one of them is that I couldn't pay attention when coach was draw- ing drills on the board, so I just thought I'd stand in the net. And then once I tried that, I really liked the competitiveness of it. MHJ // What aspects of your game are you working on right now? Bothun // One thing that's helped my game grow is patience. I'm an aggressive goaltender. Anybody who's ever coached me will tell you that. But I'm learning to pick and choose my spots. It's a work in progress, but that's a big thing I've been working on. "I'm an aggressive goaltender. Anybody who's ever coached me will tell you that." MHJ // Why should more kids try playing goalie? Bothun // I know parents try to deter kids from being the goalie, but I think it's a lot of fun. It's so much different from any other position on the ice. You see the ice—the whole ice—the entire time. It's cool, it's competitive. You're a huge part of the team but it's also an individual thing, and I really like that. MHJ // Any memorable high school games come to mind when you played for Forest Lake? Bothun // My senior year (with the boys' team) we played against Stillwater and tied them 1-1. I had 41 saves and it was one of the best games I think I've ever played. I also got an assist on the only goal that we scored. It was lights-out that game—so much fun. MHJ // What was it like playing at the girls' state tournament before you joined the boys' team? Bothun // It was such a cool experience and an honor to be a part of it. Just playing at the X was insane. I wish I could have gone again. MHJ // Now that you're out of state, how do you look back on your time growing up and playing in Minnesota? Bothun // I tell anyone that there's no place like Minnesota for high school hockey. It's so cool how there's a ton of different competitive programs all in one state, because in many areas, there's only maybe a couple competitive teams and it's super spread out across the country. In Minnesota you have multiple teams right down the road from each other that you can compete with, and the rivalries are next level. G POSITION: Wyoming COLLEGE: HOMETOWN: Pennsylvania State University THE BOTHUN FILE C ATC H E S : L e f t HEIGHT: 5' 6" FUN FACT: Dog's name is Tuukka, after former Bruins' goaltender Tuukka Rask YOUTH HOCKEY: Forest Lake Hockey Association