Lee Stecklein

Quick Facts

• Position: Defender 
• Daughter of Robb and Linda Stecklein
• Mother played soccer for the University of Wisconsin from 1981-84
• Has two siblings, Jill and Ross
• Brother played hockey at St. John's University
• Played hockey at the University of Minnesota, a three-time NCAA Champion and part of the only team that had the first and only perfect season in NCAA women's history

Biographical Information 

Lee Stecklein started playing hockey at age 6 while growing up in Roseville, Minnesota. Stecklein quickly found championship success as her teams won state titles at the U14 level, high school level, and then as a freshman at the University of Minnesota, she was part of the Golden Gophers team that had the first and only perfect season in NCAA women’s hockey history in winning the NCAA title.  She would finish her college career as a three-time NCAA champion.

Stecklein made her IIHF World Championship debut for the U.S. women’s hockey team at the 2013 IIHF Women’s World Championships, where they won gold. She has been part of nine IIHF World Championship teams and four Olympic teams, including her selection for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. She has won eight gold medals as a part of the U.S. women’s hockey team at the IIHF World Championships or Olympic Winter Games, along with four silver medals. 

Professionally, Stecklein plays in the PWHL for the Minnesota Frost, where she has been a part of teams that won back-to-back Walter Cups.  Stecklein was one of the first three players signed by Minnesota alongside Team USA teammates Kendall Coyne Schofield and Kelly Pannek.

Stecklein reflecting on her hockey career said she didn’t expect to be a multi-time champion when her parents signed her up for hockey as a child: “You just kept going and you make good friends, It (hockey) has taken me to so many amazing places and life around the world … that’s something I didn’t necessarily think of, even in high school.”

Olympic Experience

• 3-time Olympian; 3-time Olympic medalist (1 gold, 2 silver)
  • Olympic Games Beijing 2022, silver (Team - Women)
  • Olympic Games Pyeongchang 2018, gold (Team - Women)
  • Olympic Games Sochi 2014, silver (Team - Women)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2025 – gold (Team - Women)
• Years of participation: Team - Women 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
• Medals: 9 (7 gold, 2 silver)
  • Gold – 2025 (Team - Women); 2023 (Team - Women); 2019 (Team - Women); 2017 (Team - Women); 2016 (Team - Women); 2015 (Team - Women); 2013 (Team - Women)
  • Silver – 2022 (Team - Women); 2021 (Team - Women)