With the recent success of many of our Club Sports alumni and with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, we found it important to highlight the story of Women's Hockey and two important alumni members, Khloe Yunker and Kendall Linnenkugel. 

First, we have Khloe Yunker, who is currently the In-Arena Host and Rinkside Reporter for the Utah Grizzlies, a professional Ice Hockey team in the ECHL.

Having played Women's Hockey at BGSU, Khloe shared some input on important questions about being a Hockey Alumni from BGSU in her career and how her path at BGSU as a Club Sport Student Athlete. 

Q: How does being a Women's Hockey Alumni impact how you wanted to pursue a career in hockey?

    "Playing for the women's hockey team really opened up a new door of opportunity for me. I knew I wanted to work in sports but I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do; until one day I was asked by Falcon Hockey to become a rinkside reporter for their broadcast with CCHA TV and Flow Hockey. They wanted someone who knew hockey and I was so honored they asked me. This made me love the idea of broadcasting and hosting. Now i'm currently a host for the Utah Grizzlies hockey team and also got to host for USA hockey and work with the NHL Utah Hockey team. Hockey is just such an addicting sport to be around, even when you're done playing collegiate or professional, you'll always see hockey players still finding a way to be involved in the sport still. It's also so special to be here in Utah where hockey is becoming so absolutely huge and I get to help teach the sport to a new group of fans!"

Q: How was studying and playing Club Hockey at BGSU beneficial to you as a person?

"I learned a lot from my time at BGSU and playing women's hockey. I'd say the biggest impact it had on me though is that you don't need to please everyone, and being yourself is more than enough. Never lose yourself in what you're doing, yes you should work hard but never forget you're a person as well. There will always be people who support all you do so do not drown in all the negativity. Whether it's a person or a bad grade, don't let it consume you. You keep going and growing. BGSU and women's hockey really is a huge foundation of who I am today."

Next, we include Kendall Linnenkugel, who is currently the TV and radio color analyst for the Toledo Walleye, a local professional Ice Hockey team in the ECHL.

Kendall shared some special insight to the same questions posed to Khloe, providing an idea of how Hockey shaped not just her career as a student, but as a professional in sports commentary. 

 Q: How does being a Women's Hockey Alumni impact how you wanted to pursue a career in hockey?

"It helped me a lot! It gave me experience of playing at a higher level, which then gave me a lot of credibility for my broadcasts. Seeing how the rules and the speed of the game differ from each level of play was definitely beneficial to have under my belt." 

Q: How was studying and playing Club Hockey at BGSU beneficial to you as a person?

"Studying and playing hockey helped me learn how to keep myself well-rounded as a college athlete. Time management was important. Also, having to stay in close contact with my professors regarding my attendance and assignments because of games helped build communication skills. Which, being a journalism major, was extremely important." 

Both very successful in their field, being given an opportunity is not always available. Most have to fight for their opportunity and succeed above all others to even be given a chance. The Women's Hockey team also was able to include their thoughts, as well as a recap on a recent event they were able to participate in for girls and women in sports, connecting with their local community. 

"When women step onto the ice, they don't just compete—they inspire, empower, and redefine what's possible for every athlete who follows.", says Morgan Schick, Senior Forward for BGSU Women's Hockey, when asked on the importance of women and girls in sports. 

Junior Defender Emmalynn Wanyek also shares, "I find women in sports to be vital for society. When a little girl sees women in these positions whether it's as an athlete or just working in sports, it inspires them. They get to see that they too can be involved in sports and make a difference. " 

The importance of girls and women in sports cannot be understated, with the help of an article posted on unwomen.org, titled "Facts and figures: Women in sport", stating "Eighty per cent of female Fortune 500 CEO's played sports in their formative years, emphasizing the profound impact of early exposure to sports on women's development and ability to reach their full potential." (UNWomen, 2024). 

Another statistic shares, "Women athletes wield significantly more influence compared to other types of influencers. Eighty-eight per cent regard pro women athletes as impactful role models for young women." (UNWomen, 2024). The importance can not only be shown on the field of play, wherever it be, but within the community and in the eyes of girls and women in sports every day. 

Just this past Sunday, Women's Hockey participated in the "Hockey Her Day" that the Toledo Walleye hosted. "We ran learn to play programming for local youth girls on behalf of the Toledo Walleye. We reached roughly 100 girls advertising: A.) BGSU women's hockey, and B.) girls have a place in hockey just as much as the guys." states Emmalynn Wanyek. 

With the avenues that girls and women in sports are creating, being able to highlight them is a major piece of the puzzle. 

Thank you to Khloe Yunker and Kendall Linnenkugel for sharing their stories, as well as the Women's Hockey team for their input on the importance on girls and women in sports on National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Our family at Club Sports hopes to share constant and interesting news to all of our followers, giving our alumni and active members hoping to learn about the importance and mission of BGSU Club Sports the opportunity to grow with a wealth of knowledge. If it were not for members like these, BGSU Club Sports would not be where it is today. 

If you want to know more about BGSU Club Sports and follow along with our content, check out our full website at bgsuclubsports.com, and follow us on social media @BGSUClubSports !!