A Few Questions with Senior Captain, Kat Jones

Kat Jones is in her final semester at Arizona State University. Below, Kat reminisces on her time as a Sun Devil and her future plans.

Talk about your experience playing hockey at ASU.
K: My experience playing hockey at ASU has been nothing short of fantastic. I was lucky enough to join in the early years of the program and have been able to watch it grow in so many ways. In the meantime, I have made lifelong friends and had the opportunity to be taught by top tier coaches.
 
What is your favorite thing about playing hockey at ASU?
K: My favorite thing about playing hockey at ASU is that we all get to be a part of history. We all get to experience this program growing in amazing ways. We also get to play the sport we love while living in a beautiful place that holds so much to do and discover. 
 
What is your favorite hockey memory from ASU?
K: My favorite hockey memory from ASU happened in February of my freshman year. One of my teammates gave me a beautiful pass and I was able to score in overtime while we were short handed against our rival GCU. It’s my favorite memory because of the way everyone sprinted off the bench and celebrated with me. I stayed up until 3 AM that night because it felt like a dream and I couldn’t get over it. I sat in my dorm room just smiling in disbelief. My honorable mention is the Missouri trip every year. It’s always so much fun.
 
What legacy do you hope to leave behind for ASU Women's Hockey?
K: I got to be a part of some great milestones during my time with this program. My freshman year, we tied Midland University, which was our first tie against a ranked program. This year was also the first time the program was ever ranked in the top 15. When I was a sophomore, the program had the best start of its history, coming out at 6-0. We also broke our record for most wins in a season. After a heartbreaking canceled junior season, my senior year brought many more milestones. We beat University of Colorado for the first time. We ranked in the top ten for the first time. We beat UMass in a nail biter, which meant for the first time in history, ASU Women’s Hockey beat a ranked program. One final legacy I’d like to leave behind is an obvious one: competing in a national championship for the first time as a program. I can’t think of a better way to go out. 

Any advice for younger players or players looking to play at ASU?
K: If you’re a younger player or a player looking to play at ASU, my advice is to work hard and be grateful. Be grateful for your coaches and be grateful for your teammates who will very likely be your friends forever. Enjoy the moments you laugh together. Be happy you get to skate. Love that you get to train. Appreciate the adrenaline that comes with great competition. Practice every chance you get. It won’t last forever and you don’t realize how fast it goes until you’re on the other side.
 
What is your plan after graduation?
K: My plan after graduation is to pursue a master’s degree in counseling in the fall. 

From Kat, "I would like to thank my family and boyfriend for their unwavering support during my time here. A lot of my family lives 2-3 hours ahead in a different time zone, but they still stayed up and followed my games regardless. My grandfather has texted me after every single game of my collegiate career. My dad flew from Pennsylvania to Arizona and surprised me for my first game with ASU. When my family was able to travel to see games, they did, and it was so much fun having them there. I would like to thank the wonderful teammates I got so lucky with. Thank you for making me laugh. Thank you to the coaches that gave me a better hockey experience than I could have ever imagined. Thank you to the media students that helped our loved ones watch us play. Thank you to the fans who show up for us with unmatched loyalty and support us as we pass every new milestone. We couldn’t do this without you."