Samantha Brennan has played her whole hockey career in Colorado, skating for the Littleton Hawks, Colorado 14ers, and Cherry Creek Lady Bruins.

Next season, the Aurora native will start her college hockey years after recently committing to NCAA Division III Marian University, a school located in Fond du Lac, Wis.

“I was looking around for schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin with the hopes of finding a school where I could continue my hockey career,” Brennan said. “I found Marian, and it seemed like a decent fit, so I put it towards the top of my list. My family and I took a week in October to go visit the schools on the top of my list and I felt like Marian was a good fit for me. While we were visiting campus, we met with head coach (Julian) Giantonio and got to talking with him. He said that he thought I would be a great addition to the team, and we’ve been in touch ever since.

Brennan explained how Marian is the right combination of hockey and academics she was looking for.

“I think the main thing for hockey was when we met with Coach, he was brand-new to the organization,” Brennan said. “He had just come in four weeks earlier, but I could tell that he was truly excited to be there. He was overjoyed to be at this school and he seemed like he had a mission and a vision to elevate the program to the next level. He also watched some of my video and said he would love to work with me and is excited about the opportunity to make me a better hockey player.

“As far as academics go, they have the two main things I am interested in and they have a great record of getting kids into the field with great jobs and opportunities almost immediately after graduation. Academics have always been important to me. Even though there have been times I have not fully enjoyed them, I have always given my best effort to keep grades up and push myself to the next level.
For my major, I am bouncing back and forth between exercise science and sports science or forensic science.”

Going back to her earlier years, Brennan said the joy of playing hockey was instilled in her at a young age.

“My older brother and cousin started playing hockey when they were young, and I remember being at the rink for their practices and games and wishing I was out there with them,” said Brennan. “So I eventually convinced my parents to sign me up, and the rest is history.

“I think my biggest coaching influence has come from CSU’s former women’s hockey head coach, Troy Watts.”

Looking ahead, Brennan wants to keep hockey part of her life, both on and off the ice.

“My biggest goal for hockey is to become the best version of myself for my teammates, my coaches, and me, to continue my hockey career and become a better player each and every day,” Brennan said. “My biggest goal for life is to find something I am passionate about and make a career out of it.”

Photo/Kahlo Becerra

— Matt Mackinder

(February 14, 2024)