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A star makes an impact
 Media Credit: Matt Kaster/contributing photographer SCSU sophomore defender Kobi Kawamoto takes a breather after a two-on-two drill Wednesday in the National Hockey Center.
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Sophomore defender Kobi Kawamoto originally planned to attend the University of Minnesota; however, they failed to seal the deal and lost one of the best defenders of the blue line in the WCHA to SCSU.
After taking a year off between high school and college, Kawamoto landed at SCSU and became an immediate hit. But to add some salt to the Gophers wounds, she scored her first collegiate assist and her first collegiate goal the following night in her first series against them.
Kawamoto, who grew up in Surrey, British Columbia, gives most of the credit for her success in hockey to her parents, Len and Sherri. She started skating when she was three and followed her brother’s (Jeff) path through the hockey ranks. Since girls’ hockey hadn’t taken off yet, she played with the boys until she turned 16 and, then joined up with the women.
“My dad played juniors when he was younger,” Kawamoto said. “He really wanted my brother and I to work on our skills a lot. He would make us shoot pucks in the back yard and would push us.”
From there the accolades grow. Kawamoto played in multiple national tournaments and was selected to play on the inaugural under-22 National team in Canada. She was highly recruited by the Gophers and prepared for the move to Minnesota after she graduated.
“I was in contact with coach (U of M head coach Laura Halldorson) for probably a year and a half and I was a late registration,” Kawamoto said. “So after I finally cleared through the clearinghouse (and) tried to register in the summer, she said it was too late. I couldn’t get into the classes I wanted to and I kind of got screwed. I was left wondering what I was going to do, so I took the year off.”
During that year off, Kawamoto coached hockey and taught power skating. She also realized that she wanted to be a teacher and her friend, sophomore defender Leanne Perrin, told her about SCSU. Kawamoto jumped on board and the match has been great.
“I am happy that I came here and happy to be at a medium sized school instead of the U of M,” Kawamoto said. “I like it here. The people and the fans are just absolutely incredible and everyone has just been great to us here.”
Last season, she made an immediate impression by scoring 17 goals and assisting on 22 more while also making the WCHA All-Star team and receiving second team All-WCHA honors. This season is no different. Kawamoto has scored three goals and eight assists so far this season while being second on the team in shots on net with 96.
“She is one of the players who are really fun to watch and you really notice her on the ice with her speed and strength,” said head coach Kerry Brodt-Wethington. “She is probably one of the fastest players in the league from red line to red line. She plays with a lot of intensity and plays the whole 60 minutes. She is an impact player for us. I hope she gets the opportunity to represent her country one of these days.”
Her natural skating ability and quickness put her among the best in Division I hockey. At the same time, her blistering shots remind fans of her favorite NHL player, Boston Bruins great Bobby Orr.
“When I was younger, Bobby Orr was incredible and my dad wanted me to pattern my style of play after him,” Kawamoto said. “He figured that was more exciting than just being a defensive defender.”
Once her hockey career winds down, Husky fans will probably find Kawamoto in a classroom, teaching secondary students in addition to coaching hockey. In the end, Huskies fans can thank the Gophers for losing this very talented defender who will be skating circles around the opposition and guarding the blue line for the Huskies for two seasons.
Matt Petermann can be reached at: [email protected]
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