UMD Freshman One to Watch

Howie Hanson – Contributor

Howies Blog

Shannon Miller admits she wasn’t a bit surprised when prized freshman forward Michelle Lowenhielm began her Bulldogs career with a workmanlike, three-point effort in a tie and victory at Connecticut last weekend.

“Michelle plays with intensity, skills and size, and she’s really, really good,” the veteran UMD women’s coach told a batch of local online, print and television sports media hounds who corralled her to ask mostly softball, pre-Wisconsin series questions outside her plush office digs at Amsoil Arena earlier this week.

Miller’s grade for the 5-foot-8 power-forward Lowenhielm last weekend?

“Michelle’s a stud,” said Miller.

Lowenhielm and the 10th-ranked Bulldogs (1-0-1) will play host to No. 2 Wisconsin (2-0-0) in Western Collegiate Hockey Association games at 6:07 p.m. today and Saturday at Amsoil. UMD was 0-3-1 against the Badgers a year ago.

“I get the rivalry thing, but I won’t understand it fully until I have that experience. It sounds like great fun,” Lowenhielm said of facing the mighty Badgers.

Meantime, Lowenhielm says she’s adjusting remarkably well to college life in the United States.

“I’ve been to the United States before, but this is my first time living here so there’s a lot of new stuff to adjust to, like your food and school, where everyone only speaks English,” said Lowenhielm, who was born and raised in Sollentuna, Sweden and played for Team Sweden in the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games.

“In Sweden, we take English courses throughout all our years in school, so we mostly understand the language and can speak it along with our native language. We also watch English-speaking American television shows. The people here are really, really friendly. Everyone is willing to help you out, and you can simply go up to someone and begin a conversation. Everyone continues to be so welcoming.”

Interestingly, Lowenhielm says the high quality of play and depth of talent in college hockey has surprised her.

“To what I’m accustomed to in Sweden, the college game is faster, the rinks are smaller and the players are very talented,” she said. “The coaches are strong teachers. And, we’re more together as a team, like family.”

Lowenhielm played in two World Championships for Sweden, including in 2013 and 2012, and led Sweden’s U-18 World Championship squad to three bronze medals in four years (2013, 2012, 2010) and a fifth-place finish in 2011.

She said representing Sweden in the Olympics was “a dream come true.”

“Everything was spectacular, unique, and you’re around all the best athletes in the world,” she said. “The stories everyone told ….”

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