Small-Town Roots, Professional Dreams
Maddy Christian on Hockey, Community, Penn State and the PWHL
There are times in your life when you’re met with the opportunity to speak with someone who is so contagiously positive that you completely forget to keep track of the time. That was the scenario in my conversation with Penn State graduate and newest member of the Minnesota Frost, Maddy Christian.
During our conversation, one of the many things that stood out to me was her vulnerability and how that ran perfectly alongside her maturity. Maddy is proud of her Elk River, Minnesota community and has never stopped reminding herself of where she came from, and that shines through during this episode.
This conversation was recorded before the 2026 PWHL Draft, where she was selected 33rd overall by her hometown Minnesota Frost. Even though we spoke before the draft, it really did help lend perspective to how she was preparing, especially mentally, and what it would mean to her to be able to lead this next generation in a time where women’s sports are finally getting the spotlight they deserve.
This episode, and our conversation, is one that will stick with me and one that I’ll forever be grateful to have been able to take part in. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and if you do, please consider subscribing for more weekly episodes, just like this one, from across the world of women’s hockey.
Our full conversation is also available on YouTube here