Written by Megan Melone
Photography by McKendree Athletics and Kiley Hasenfratz
Kiley Hasenfratz is a senior exercise science major from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Kiley is a forward on the McKendree women’s hockey team. I interviewed Kiley to find out more about her time at McKendree:
What is your major?
HASENFRATZ: I’m an exercise science major. I got really interested in the body one year, after getting hurt a bunch while playing hockey. So, I initially taught myself how to take care of myself after a game and recover properly, and that just made me really interested in the body, and I thought like you know what? This would be a really good profession to take over and help other people when they can’t.
Why did you decide to study abroad?
HASENFRATZ: Initially my biggest goal was I wanted to play hockey not in Canada. I wanted to leave home and explore the world. My senior year was the COVID year and there weren’t a lot of options. When McKendree’s head coach Derek (Pallardy) reached out, I thought maybe this is it, this is my opportunity to leave and go somewhere new. It was especially hard for me to get recruited because I couldn’t play hockey or do anything my COVID year. So, I took the chance and decided I am gonna go to St. Louis. I’m gonna go to Lebanon and play hockey.
Do you like the U.S.?
HASENFRATZ: I love it. I plan on staying here. I’m positive I am going to take another year here so I can take some more scientific classes, and overall my goal is to go to Sweden after or go to Lindenwood and finish out my P.T. (Physical Therapy) degree.
What’s in Sweden?
HASENFRATZ: Pro-hockey. I know a couple people who went over there after they finished college. The Sweden program there will pay you to play, and all of your housing is paid for. You can do school over there and they pay for it as well. The new league, the P.W.H.L. (Professional Women’s Hockey League), a girl was drafted from the Sweden team to go play for the Toronto team. I thought, if she can do it then I guess I can do it too.
Why McKendree?
HASENFRATZ: The smaller class size was the biggest reason. I went to a school before high school that had a lot smaller class sizes, so it was a lot easier for me to maintain information and ask the teacher a question. Our coach, when he was telling me why he recruited me, made me feel like I was important. The coach is amazing, and if he is going to be this way, then I want to play for McKendree. When I got down here, oh I was crying every day because it was so hard being away from home. But the school is so small you get to know everyone fast, like I think I had friends within the first two weeks, and I’ve known those people for the last few years. It made it feel like a home away from home.
Tell me about hockey.
HASENFRATZ: Freshman year was a blur. It was slow due to COVID and I was still getting used to everything. Sophomore and junior year really picked up, but this year I have noticed so much improvement with my teammates and how much each and every one of us have grown within our academics and athletics. My coach yesterday just got his 100th career win.
What are your future plans?
HASENFRATZ: My future plan for right now is to stay in St. Louis and work, hopefully. Then come back for another year and finish up my B.A. and head to Lindenwood. That’s my set goal for right now. I want to stay in St.Louis and hopefully work for the Cardinals or the Blues and work as a physical therapist. That’s one of the biggest goals I have for the future.
Do you have any advice for future or current students?
HASENFRATZ: It’s like the typical one where it’s enjoying your time because it will fly by. Enjoy your time, go out and do fun things. Things like money will come back but memories don’t, so go to a basketball game or bowling or go out with your teammates because those four years will be gone before you know it.
