It All Started Here: Krissy Wendell

Her name appears an astonishing 15 times in the NFHS National High School Sports Record Book. The two years of dominance she had in girls ice hockey was so stunningly powerful that the span of time is named after her. Simply put, the Krissy Wendell Era is one that likely will not be duplicated.

Wendell put together two magical seasons, compiling a national- scoring record of 314 points. As a junior, she scored a national- record 109 goals. One season later, she topped that with 110 goals in powering Park Center High School in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota to a state championship. Her flair for creative playmaking and weaving scoring drives left opponents wide-eyed, yet appreciative, for they knew they were watching something special. Opposing goalies had no answer for her prolific arsenal of offensive weapons.

Wendell played boys hockey all through her youth and into her first two high school seasons. Early in her sophomore year, her thumb was severed by a skate and surgery was required to re-attach it. While recovering, she had time to watch the girls hockey scene. It was an exciting one, and she contemplated her future in that arena. Following a talk with her parents, she realized she wanted to play high school girls hockey, too. In a sport budding with future superstars, Wendell zoomed to a legendary, iconic level.

During her high school girls hockey career, Park Center lost just once.

“That was the first game I saw her play, and they lose,” said Hill-Murray (Maplewood, Minnesota) Activities Director John Pohl, her husband. He was a high school standout as well before moving on to a stellar career at the University of Minnesota and then the National Hockey League. Pohl serves as Hill-Murray’s girls hockey coach and Krissy is his assistant. They have three daughters who play the sport.

Krissy, one of just five girls to play in the Little League World Series, helped power the University of Minnesota Women’s Hockey Team to national championships and then international fame with the U.S. Women’s National Team.

“I’ll be surprised if you see another player as dominant as Krissy, especially at the high school level,” said Natalie Darwitz, her friend, teammate and another international hockey legend. “Her being on the ice blew the coverage of girls hockey off the map and got other little girls involved.”

Both Wendell and Darwitz were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 late last year in Toronto.

“For me, it wasn’t necessarily about wins, losses, awards or accolades,” Wendell said. “It was all about fun, down at the rink, in the backyard, always having a smile on my face.”

Wendell currently serves as a scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.