How Molly Jordan's Path to the University of Minnesota Was Always About Chasing the Biggest Challenge
The Berlin, Connecticut native has never been content with the easy road, and it has shaped her into one of the most compelling young defenders in college hockey.
Molly Jordan’s introduction to hockey came by way of an outdoor rink, and her enjoyment of it was cemented by quality time with family.
You see, it was at an early age, maybe two or three years old, as Molly recalls, when her father would build a rink in the backyard of her home in Berlin, Connecticut, and she would watch her brother glide across the ice. Molly would stand at the back door, pressed up against the glass, wanting so badly to get out and enjoy it with him, despite not knowing how to skate.
Molly would go on to learn how to skate, play lacrosse, field hockey, and golf, and she was glad she did. “I think being able to kind of play those other sports, you start to build yourself as more of an all-around athlete versus just a hockey player,” she said. “I think it was super important for my development, and I think it definitely helped me.” The friendships that came with having three teams’ worth of teammates didn’t hurt either.
My full conversation with University of Minnesota defender Molly Jordan is available now on YouTube.
By the time she was making her way through her youth career with the Connecticut Polar Bears and the Bishop Kearney Selects, Molly’s skillset and passion for the game were undeniable. She also looks back on that time with nothing but appreciation and thanks for the many coaches who helped her along the way. “My youth career, I look back, and I just get the biggest smile on my face because of all the people that kind of helped me along the way,” she said. “I obviously still look back and give all thanks to them for kind of getting me to where I am now.”
The international stage came calling early for Molly, a reflection of the hard work and dedication she had for the craft she loved so much. She represented the United States twice at the IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, first in 2022, where she earned a silver medal, and again the following year, earning bronze in 2023. It was also in that tournament where she served as an alternate captain and was named to the All-Star team. Not done there, she would also suit up for the U-18 Series against Canada and, most recently, participated in the 2025 Collegiate Series.
Next, it was time to make the jump from junior to collegiate level hockey, first with Boston College. Following two seasons with that program, Molly made another important decision, one based on her commitment to not taking the easy route and to continue challenging herself. And that’s exactly what she did when she went off to the University of Minnesota.
Her new head coach, Brad Frost, described her as “a very skilled defender with great vision and feet,” and the program has delivered exactly what she was looking for as she continues to pursue her hockey dreams. “Every day you show up to the rink, you want to give your best just to make those around you better, and it’s truly special being a part of a team that I can see competing for national championships for a really long time,” she said. “It’s Minnesota. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Beyond the rink, Molly makes it a priority to stay active in her community and has been spending time with Children’s Minnesota. “It’s something that I really wanted to do,” she said. “It’s my first time in the Midwest, and I wanted to put myself out there and give back to a community that has already given me so much.” She also makes it a priority to return to Connecticut to coach and inspire the next generation, paying forward the kind of support that has followed her throughout her career.
When Molly first peered through the glass as a young girl and watched her brother skate laps on the backyard rink her father built, she may not have realized exactly what was being set in motion. But, as she says, “the path along the way is sometimes more important.” And that path will undoubtedly lead to even more chapters full of even more incredible milestones.
My full conversation with University of Minnesota defender Molly Jordan is available now on YouTube.