When Hannah Brandt was born, there were some complications.
"My legs were stuck over my head," Hannah said. "The doctors didn't think I'd ever be able to walk."
A lifetime of skating and a great high school hockey career later, Hannah is no stranger to success. She was successful in proving those doctors wrong, and she has been successful in proving herself on the ice.
With 52 goals this season, the Hill-Murray senior is the leading goal scorer in the state. Before Feb. 17, she was leading with 51 goals. She went into what turned out to be her final game prepared to win and help secure a spot for her team in the state tournament. Hill-Murray, the top-ranked team in the state, lost to fourth-ranked Roseville, 3-1. That final goal was the end of an era in Hannah's life, the last goal of her high school career.
"I think I would have rather gone to the state tournament 500 times more than just being the No. 1 goal scorer in the state," Hannah said. "It doesn't always happen how you want it to. I would rather just sit on the bench and watch, just for my team to get to go (to the state tournament)."
On Feb. 20, her team got together for one final hockey practice. It was emotional for the entire team, and lasted 45 minutes longer than scheduled as some of the girls said their final goodbyes to the sport they love.
"It was pretty hard," Hannah said, "especially because the five of us seniors are all so close. For some of them it was their last time ever playing hockey, so it was pretty sad. Definitely (what I will miss most is) the girls and how close we were as a team, and all the friends we've made along the way."
For Hannah, the end of her high school career is hardly the end of her hockey playing days. She's committed to skate for the Gophers next year, and that's something she's been hoping for since she was just starting out.
"Ever since I was little," Hannah said. "Now that dream is coming true."
Getting to play for the Gophers is only one thing on Hannah's impressive list of honors. Last year, she had the opportunity to compete on the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team at the IIHF World U18 Championship in Sweden. They won the gold medal, and Hannah became a world champion. It is, in her eyes, her greatest accomplishment as a hockey player.
"The whole experience, getting to fly overseas and spending two weeks with a team and, of course, winning, that's amazing," Hannah said. "When they put that medal around your neck and you know you're a world champion, it's a pretty cool feeling."
It was an experience she won't soon forget. She said, "it's tiring, but it's cool to get to do something like that."
She scored another big accomplishment earlier this month when she was named one of the five finalists for the Ms. Hockey award.
"It was cool (hearing that I was a finalist)," Hannah said, "but it wasn't that big of a deal to me, because we were right in the midst of the playoffs and everything. It was a nice accomplishment, but I wasn't really thinking about it too much. It's not that important because I think the other four candidates easily deserve it also. If I do win it, it's a great honor, but if I don't, it's not a big deal to me."
She's easily one of the best high school hockey players in the state, but she's humble about her success. It all began more than a decade ago, when she was five years old and laced up her first pair of skates. She started young, but it wasn't because she was continuing a family legacy. Neither of her parents played hockey in high school or college. Instead, she was influenced by a childhood friend who had started playing the sport.
"I had a friend in preschool that played." Hannah said. "I guess I wanted to play because she played."
It was a good thing that she decided to play, because she's got more talent on the ice than anyone could have ever anticipated. Now that she's finished high school hockey, the next chapter in her life is to play for the Gophers. And after that, she's got another goal.
"My next dream would probably be to make an Olympic team or something," Hannah said. "That's kind of way off in the future, but it's definitely one of my goals."
