No Ordinary Hockey Mom

Jenny Potter is not a typical hockey mom. Sure, she spends a lot of time at the rink with her kids, but more often than not she's the one out on the ice while 4-year-old Cullen and 10-year-old Madison watch from the bleachers.

Potter, an Edina native, is the oldest member of the U.S. women's hockey team, which conducted tryouts last month for this year's team at the National Sports Center in Blaine. As the only current team member who possesses a gold medal—the U.S. team won gold in 1998, when Potter was 19—she admits her teammates look to her for advice and leadership.

“Being the only one who has won a gold medal … there are some things that come with experience,” she said. “But I think everybody on the team has leadership potential. Everybody has something to share.”

That includes another Edina native, . Reber, just 18, is trying to make the U.S. squad for the first time this year.

Reber, whose to Minnetonka each of the last two seasons, is less worried about making the team than she is about drinking in the whole experience.

“I'm just happy to be here,” she said. “I'm one of the youngest (players) here.”

Reber got an early start in hockey as well.

“I'm from a big hockey family, so I started skating when I was 3,” she said. “I strapped on skates pretty young. I got lucky with a good hockey family.”

Reber said the National Festival experience has been great so far.

“It's an incredible experience to play with and against the women from the Olympic team, like Jenny Potter and Julie Chu,” she said.

On one Saturday night, Reber found herself on the Team Red along with both Potter, her fellow Edina native, and Chu, who played collegiately at Harvard, where Reber is headed this fall.

Having the academic chops to get into Harvard may give Reber an edge in tryouts, which involve more than on-ice performance.

“We'll be tested on the ice and off the ice, and we'll also play games and practice as well,” Reber said.

Reber and Potter each had goals in Team Red's first outing Saturday, an easy win over the U18 Team Grey.