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J A N / F E B 2 0 2 3 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M 21 Jake Guentzel's Olympic journey began outside. The 2017 Stanley Cup champ and former Woodbury youth player honed his craft out at Colby Lake Park. "My parents dropped me off in the morning, they'd come bring me lunch in the afternoon, and then come back to pick up at night," Guentzel recalled. "That's what we did pretty much every day, all day. We were always out at the rinks, me and my two older brothers. Those outdoor memories are what I remember the most about growing up. Those are the best times." Guentzel's brothers, six and eight years his senior, did their due diligence and played keep- away from baby brother more often than not– until the youngest Guentzel got crafty and speedy enough to work his way in. "I'd get so frustrated that I eventually understood I had to find a way," he said with a laugh. "But in general, just being out there I had so much more freedom to try new things. The game nowadays, there is so much structure, that whenever you can just go out and play and free your brain, it helps in the structure of the game more. "Plus, you gotta have fun. That's where it's fun, is outside." ODR TO OLYMPIC ICE AS A KID ON THE POND, THE OLYMPICS IS WHAT YOU DREAM ABOUT." – Jake Guentzel, Woodbury "It's hard to put into words what that was like with all the best players playing for their country," Guentzel said of 4 Nations. "And then to have all these superstars together on the ice, it's just unbelievable. And it's only going to get better through the years with the Olympics and other international competitions. It's great for fans to watch." The rise of USA Hockey has also been great to watch. Not only have numbers con- tinued to grow at the grassroots level, USA Hockey is turning out unprecedented talent like never before—with Minnesota leading the way. Players like Guentzel, Brock Faber (Maple Grove), and Jake Oettinger (Lakeville) are just a few of the faces gunning for the U.S.'s first gold medal in 46 years. "We were one shot away at the 4 Nations (from winning) with some of the best countries in the world," Guentzel said. "And there's a lot more coming, too. USA Hockey is on the rise, and they're going to be on top for a very long time." MN's Veterans Ready to Lead Women's Team While the men have always had NHL aspirations, the highest achievement for females was the Olympics. The emergence of the Professional Women's Hockey League has provided more exposure and opportunities for young girls to dream. A growing player pool and fan base has fueled even more Olympic excitement and interest as Opening Ceremonies draws near. "Our sport has always gained great momentum during the Olympic years. But now fans have a reference point so they can keep up with their favorite players before and after the Olympics," said Armstrong youth hockey product Kelly Pannek, who is prepared to play in her third Olympics. "It gives some context to it all too. Fans who watch the women's college game and then come to the PWHL J A N / F E B 2 0 2 6 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M 21 Grace Zumwinkle Minnetonka Brock Nelson Warroad Jake Guentzel credits the outdoor ice preparing and developing his hockey career