News

By Peter Knutson
Let’s Play Hockey

“I suffer from migraine headaches daily. My journey to recovery was incredibly long and the injury still affects me to this day!”

Those are the words of the 2001 Ms. Hockey winner Renee Curtin whose illustrious hockey career ended after high school due to a severe hit from behind she suffered during her junior year in high school.

Curtin is the current record holder for most points scored in Minnesota girls’ high school hockey at 544 points. She made the Roseville varsity team as a seventh grader and continued on through her senior year. She dominated during her time playing for the Raiders as did her older sister Ronda, who won the Ms. Hockey award in 1999 and continued on to play for the University of Minnesota. Renee Curtin was on track to follow her sister to the U, until she suffered a broken neck her junior year in a game against Stillwater.

“I was being shadowed the entire game,” Curtin said. “I could hear the Stillwater coach saying, ‘Stay on her. Hit her. ’ I was along the boards trying to get a puck when I was cross-checked from behind. I immediately fell to the ground and the girls around me fell on top of me. I suffered a severe head injury and broke my neck.”

Curtin was rushed to the hospital, ending her junior year season a few games short and possibly her career. She was diagnosed with a cracked vertebrae and a severe concussion. She has suffered from memory loss of most of the events that happened in her life before the hit, constant headaches and neck pain. After months and months of occupational, speech and physical therapy, Curtin was cleared to play hockey again just weeks before the beginning of her senior hockey season.

“That was a very tough time,” Curtin said. “There were days where I just wanted to give up because it felt like I wasn’t getting any better. I could never have made it through that time if it weren’t for my friends and family. They offered so much support and kept me positive.”

After being out of the game for so long, many wondered if Curtin could play at the level she was at before her injury. Her response to this criticism; 65 goals, 22 assists, a No. 1 ranked team and a 23-2-1 overall record. She even recorded a six-goal, seven point game against Apple Valley en route to their championship win at the Kaposia Classic Christmas tournament.

“Her ability to stickhandle, that is her best asset. But she was also a phenomenal skater, both forward and backwards. She has a good long stride once she gets going, it’s tough to catch her,” Roseville head coach Owen Zeumer said in the March 1, 2001 edition of Let’s Play Hockey.

Although the Raiders ended up losing in sections, Curtin’s individual season was one to remember. She was named all-state for the fifth time, team MVP for the second year in a row, AP Player of the Year and Ms. Hockey, just to name a few. Not only was she a tremendous player on the ice, but also a great leader and role model off the ice.

“Renee had almost an icon status with the young kids,” Zeumer said. “The young ones on our team looked up to her, they had heard all about her as they were growing up. They learned how to handle the limelight watching Renee. She is a very humble person. First impression for a lot of people is that Renee is a shy person, very unassuming.

“I feel fortunate to have inherited a player of her caliber. I learned as much from her as she learned from me the last two years. She attended practice ready to work and play hard every day. I’d kid with her that we’d have to drag her off the ice so she wouldn’t get hit by the Zamboni.”

It seemed that the injury suffered only a year before had no effect on her and that she would be able to continue on and play for the Gophers with her sister. Then came the headaches.

“I was medically disqualified by the Gophers because my headaches kept getting worse,” Curtin said. “The doctors declared it too hazardous to my health to continue playing given the worsening of my current condition. They also told me the headaches might continue on for the rest of my life.”

While her dreams of playing in college may have been crushed, her passion for the game has not. Today she still skates with high school teammates Winny and Chelsea Brodt whenever she can. Renee enjoys spending time with her husband and son and has recently gone back to school to get a degree in physical therapy. She hopes to help those who have been injured as she was.

“For those that are going through tough injuries today, stay strong,” Curtin said. “Surround yourself with good friends who will support you through everything. Your family will always be there for you and they are your biggest supporters. There will be times when you feel like giving up when you aren’t showing any progress and things just aren’t going your way. This is when you have to be the strongest and really push yourself. You can do it!”

When asked about the game today, Renee had these words to say, “There is no getting around the fact that hockey is a contact sport and even though there’s no checking in girls’ hockey, there’s always going to be body contact! In my opinion, what needs to change is the referees making more calls. While the game has become faster and more competitive, players still need to be aware of what’s going on out on the ice. If you see someone with their back turned on the boards, don’t hit them from behind!”

Even though her career may have ended over a decade ago, Renee Curtin’s accomplishments to the State of Hockey will never be forgotten. Her actions on and off will continue to serve as inspiration for young athletes for many years to come.