Moorhead’s Taylor Kressin Commits to Ohio State Women’s Hockey: “It’s great to see our influence on younger girls.”

KRESSIN WAS A FINALIST FOR THE JORI JONES AWARD THIS PAST SEASON, AN AWARD GIVEN TO THE TOP SENIOR GOALTENDER IN MINNESOTA HIGH SCHOOL GIRL'S HOCKEY.

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) –In high school hockey, for many athletes, the dream is continuing to play at the next level. That dream is becoming a reality for Moorhead’s Taylor Kressin.

“We won sections and I heard from Ohio State for the first time,” said Kressin. “They flew in to watch me play at State and then from there on out I just had had periodic phone calls with them. Then, finally, I got out to see Columbus and the Ohio State campus and I pretty much fell in love with it and committed the day after I got back.”

One of the best goalie’s to ever put on the Moorhead Spuds sweater is not done playing hockey.

After a remarkable high school career, Taylor Kressin announced her commitment to Ohio State last week. A program that has reached the NCAA national championship each of the last four seasons and won two of them.

“I think that was one thing that really stood out to me about Ohio State is their incredible winning culture,” said Kressin. “I think that was something that I really wanted to join and be a part of. And I think I’m just really excited to go into a program that has a great culture and great standards and will continue to be great throughout my time there.”

Getting to this point was not the a clear path for Kressin. Despite being one of the top goaltenders in the State of Hockey as a Jori Jones Award Finalist this past season, an award that goes to the top senior goaltender in Minnesota girls hockey, Kressin had to stay patient, waiting for the right opportunity for her, all while juggling a highly competitive season with her teammates that ended in a trip to the State Tournament.

“I think I kind of rode that emotional roller coaster,” said Kressin. “It really took the support system I had around me to remind me what I’ve worked for and what I’m going to continue to work for.”

A roller coaster ride that finished at the peak heading to a prestige program in Columbus.

The commitment continues a tradition within the Spuds girls hockey program. Several players from years past are currently playing Division I hockey, including fellow teammate this past season to Kressin, Anika Stromme committing to Minnesota State.

“You look at Moorhead girls hockey before kind of my era of it, there wasn’t a lot of girls who had hopes of playing at the college level,” said Kressin. “It’s great to see our influence on younger girls, being able to show younger girls, like, these are the opportunities that you can create for yourself if you work hard and you want to play hockey and continue to play after high school.”