Women's Hockey Standout Hochkins '12 Shines On and Off the Ice

Stacey Hochkins '12 has had such a successful career on the women's ice hockey team at Holy Cross, you might overlook her exceptional performance in the classroom.

You shouldn’t.

The most decorated player in Holy Cross women's hockey history is also a standout student of economics.

Hochkins holds multiple school records and has received numerous awards. She owns the school record in most career points, career goals, career assists, game winning goals, power play goals, shorthanded goals, single season goals and single season points. Aside from her record setting seasons, Hochkins notched numerous awards including Eastern College Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player, ECAC Most Outstanding Player, ECAC Rookie of the Year, two-time Holy Cross MVP, three-time AT&T Crusader of the Week and seven-time ECAC Player of the Week.

Thanks to her contributions, the team came close to capturing their fourth straight ECAC title this season, and concluded with the best record of all Holy Cross teams 19-4-3 (14-3-1 ECAC East).

Hochkins' performance in the classroom is also impressive, although her destiny wasn't always clear cut. She hails from New Boston, Mich., not too far from Detroit (aka “Hockeytown, USA”). After arriving to Holy Cross in fall 2008, Hochkins felt the impact of the 700-mile distance from Detroit to Boston.

“One of the biggest adjustments I have had to make at Holy Cross is being so far away from my family and close friends that I have known all of my life. I can remember feeling lost without them the first few months,” she says.

Like many college students, it took some time for Hochkins to discover her academic passion. Initially in the premed program, Hochkins enrolled in Financial Accounting and Principles of Macroeconomics course and gravitated toward the subject matter before declaring a major in economics.

“I really enjoy the applicability of economics to real life situations and the analytical way of thinking,” she says.

Hochkins' interest in economics led her to participate in the summer research program with Katherine Kiel, professor and chair of the economics department. The faculty-student team collaborated on several projects, including analyzing long-term economic recovery from terrorist attacks and the correlation between disclosure laws about environmental problems and how the laws affect housing prices.

Hochkins impressed Kiel with her work ethic and determination.

“Stacey was a collaborator, not an assistant," says Kiel. "She is extremely tenacious — give her a problem to solve and she will not give up until she solves it. She holds herself to very high standards and does nothing less than her very best.”

Given her athletic and academic prowess, Hochkins probably could have succeeded anywhere. However, she credits Holy Cross for shaping her to be the person she is today. Activities such as Student Programs for Urban Development, the Spring Break Immersion Program (where she did community service in Roanoke, Va.), and summer study abroad in Rome helped Hochkins enjoy a rich undergraduate experience.

“My Holy Cross experience is defined by the close relationship with students, faculty, and community that I developed through my involvement,” she says.

Although Hochkins’ college hockey days may be over, she is not ready to hang up her skates. Focused and determined as ever, she hopes to continue playing hockey in Europe with her eyes set on Germany or Austria. After a career in Europe, this scholar-athlete wants to combine her passions to work in the sports industry.