Badgering: Kristen Campbell
October 03, 2018 | Women's Hockey, Varsity Magazine
Junior goaltender shares this season’s helmet art, Canadian stereotypes and more …
MADISON, Wis. — Hockey goalies seem to have rubber legs. How do you work on your flexibility?
"I do a lot of yoga. I like classes that work on flexibility and strength. I find that hot yoga is helpful because it gets the muscles relaxed. I like to add that into my routine weekly. And then lots of stretching and foam rolling."
What's painted on your helmet for 2018-19?
"One side of the mask has a silhouette of LaBahn Arena. I wanted to add that on there because our rink is so much fun to play in and even on the road I wanted to be able to look at it and remember what it feels like to be there. On the other side is a Badger and a W. Then the back plate is usually more personal, so I added a little message from my first-ever hockey coach who always taught me to be the frog. So on the back, there is a frog being eaten in the mouth of a pelican, but he's strangling the bird. So the message is to be the frog and never give up. It's a nice reminder every time I put my mask on."
What is the experience like to play at LaBahn?
"It's incredible. I will literally smile every game before the starting lineups because I know the fans are 100 percent behind us and it's so much fun to play there. The energy is incredible and you want to enjoy every game, because not many people get to play in front of this many great fans."
Being from Brandon, Manitoba, what's one Canadian stereotype that annoys you?
"Probably the biggest one I've heard is people asking if we live in igloos. I don't get how people could think that."
What's one Canadian stereotype that is at least somewhat accurate?
"When people will say things about hockey. I like those. Sometimes the border guards will make a joke like, 'you guys are born with skates on.' I like all the hockey stereotypes, but the others are kind of ridiculous."
Feels good to have @BadgerWHockey back on the ice. The first weekend of play is in the books. 🏒🥅 #SlowMoMonday
— Wisconsin on BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) October 1, 2018
You're big into cooking and baking, right? How did you get into that?
"It happened during college. Working with the dietitian while at North Dakota, I got really interested in nutrition. I always cooked for my roommates and I find it relaxing."
So if you were going to have three of your teammates over for dinner, what would you prepare?
"I would say my specialty is a sweet potato chicken curry with spaghetti squash. Last year a few of my teammates gave it an A+, so I'll take it."
As a team, do you openly talk about goals for this season?
"Everyone knows where we want to be at the end of the season. But right now, since it's the start of the season, it's important that we take it one weekend at a time. I know last year as it got closer to the end of the season we really made sure that everyone was clear cut on our goals and I think that will be important again moving forward. But for now, the focus is sticking to the process."
