Jenny Potter
Olympian 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010
1
GOLD
2
SILVER
1
BRONZE
Athlete Bio#
Age
46
Hometown
Edina
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
USA HOCKEY:
- Led the team with nine points (2-7) in 2006
- Eight-time member of the U.S. Women's National Team for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship (gold-2005, 2008-09; silver-1999-01, 2004, 2007). Ranked second on the team with seven points (5-2) and was named one of Team USA's top three players in 2008. Named to the team in 2003, but the event was canceled. Played defense in 2000. Led the tournament with 12 points (5-7) en route to being named the tournament's top forward and earning a spot on the media all-star team in 1999
- Seven-time member of the U.S. Women's Select Team for the Four/Three Nations Cup (1st-1997, 2003, 2008; 2nd-1998, 2004-05, 2007). Led the tournament with four goals in 2005
- Member of the U.S. Women's National Team in 1997-98, 2001-02 (Visa Skate to Salt Lake Tour) and 2005-06 (Hilton Family Skate to 2006 Tour); and the U.S. Women's Select Team in 2008-09
- Member of the U.S. Women's Under-22 Select Team for the 1999 Under-22 Series with Canada
- Eleven-time USA Hockey Women's National Festival participant (1997-99, 2001-05, 2007-09).
COLLEGE:
- Played three years at the University of Minnesota Duluth and one year for the University of Minnesota, both of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association
- Four-time All-American (First Team-2000, 2003-04; Second Team-1999)
- Three-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award (Top Three-2003-04; Top 10-2000. As a Senior (2003-04): Finished the regular season second in the nation with 72 points (35-37)
- Ranked second nationally in points per game (2.25)
- Co-led the nation with nine game-winning goals. As a Junior (2002-03): Was the team's leading point-getter and ranked third in the nation with 88 points (31-57)
- Led the squad to regular-season and tournament titles in the WCHA, as well as the NCAA national championship
- Named WCHA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season
- Named to the All-WCHA First Team and WCHA All-Academic Team. As a Sophomore (1999-00): Led the nation with 88 points (39-49) in 30 games for Minnesota
- Led the team to the inaugural women's WCHA title and a berth in the American Women's College Hockey Alliance Division I National Championship Tournament.
OTHER:
- Named MVP of the Western Women's Hockey League in 2008-09 after tallying 36 points (16-20) in 19 games for the Minnesota Whitecaps and leading the team to the WWHL championship. Earned tournament MVP honors at the Canadian Women's Hockey Championship
- Led the Whitecaps with 34 points (8-26) in 20 games in 2007-08.
PERSONAL
Gave birth to her second child, Cullen, in January 2007 ... Graduated from Minnesota Duluth in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in business management ... Gave birth to her daughter, Madison, in January 2001 ... Won USA Hockey's Bob Johnson Award in 2000 for excellence in international competition ... Graduated from Edina (Minn.) High School in 1997 ... Played hockey and was a competitive swimmer ... Maiden name is Jenny Schmidgall ... Married Rob Potter in 2001 ... Has two older sisters, Stephanie and Amber ... Parents are Dwayne and Terri Schmidgall.
DID YOU KNOW...?
- At 19, she was the second-youngest member of the 1998 U.S. Women's National team
- Led the nation in scoring while taking UM-D to the 2000 Women's Western Collegiate Hockey Association title. Transferred to UM-Duluth from the University of Minnesota prior to the 1999-2000 season
- Before she played hockey, Potter played organized football. The physical nature of playing defensive end and running back made her want to play hockey even more
- Formerly known as Jenny Schmidgall before her marriage in July 2001. Nicknamed "Shmiggy" but now most of her U.S. teammates just call her "mom."
- Potter took the 2000-01 regular season off to give birth to her daughter, Madison, in January 2001 and then got married to Rob Potter in July 2001. Although she took time off from hockey for motherhood, she still skated into her ninth month of pregnancy and as early as six weeks after the delivery.
- Runs "Potter's Pure Hockey," a summer hockey training camp, with her husband, Rob
- Daughter, Madison, has been attending Potter's games since she was a baby
Related Links
Q&A: Jenny Potter on women's hockey and playing with the boys
Quote about continuing with hockey after giving birth and raising a baby: "There are a lot of priorities that have to be straightened out, but I've had a lot of help from my husband [Rob] ... I always pictured myself playing hockey again."
Olympic Experience
- 4-time Olympian; 4-time Olympic medalist (1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
- Olympic Games Vancouver 2010, silver (Team - Women)
- Olympic Games Turin 2006, bronze (Team - Women)
- Olympic Games Salt Lake City 2002, silver (Team - Women)
- Olympic Games Nagano 1998, gold (Team - Women)
World Championships Experience
- Most recent: 2012 – silver (Team - Women)
- Years of participation: Team - Women 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
- Medals: 10 (4 gold, 6 silver)
- Gold – 2011 (Team - Women); 2009 (Team - Women); 2008 (Team - Women); 2005 (Team - Women)
- Silver – 2012 (Team - Women); 2007 (Team - Women); 2004 (Team - Women); 2001 (Team - Women); 2000 (Team - Women); 1999 (Team - Women)