ROCHESTER — Tegan Carroll rarely checks what she refers to as her “junk email.” Recently, she just so happened to open it and noticed she received a message a couple of days prior from a Minnesota Wild staffer.
The email explained that the Century/John Marshall girls hockey senior defender was selected as one of two high school captains in the state as part of the
Wild’s Hockey Captain Spotlight.
The program recognizes two high school captains per month — one from a girls team and one from a boys team in Minnesota — during the season, November through March.
Carroll was honored for January alongside Northfield’s Bridger Riley.
“It was really fun to find out,” Carroll said. “It’s really cool that I got chosen for that, and I didn’t even know about it before. … I just got the email and had found out, and then my whole family thought it was super cool. I told them right away.”
The 10 captains are invited to attend a Minnesota Wild game against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, April 7. They also receive a custom Wild jersey and are highlighted on the team’s social media and
throughout the month of their nomination.
Post Bulletin sports reporter Madeline Warren talks to Century/John Marshall girls hockey players Kate Garren, center, and Tegan Carroll before receiving skating lessons during a practice on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at the Rochester Recreation Center.
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin
“When each team (in the state) has two to five captains, some of the teams we play have a lot of them and assistants, too. And it’s just cool that I just happen to be one of 10,” Carroll said.
Coaches nominate players who demonstrate a passion for hockey, exemplify leadership and hard work both on the ice and in the classroom, are good teammates, contribute to their local community and have a commitment to helping create a greater Minnesota.
In a brochure created by the coaches for the team’s senior night banquet, Century/JM head coach John Gamble wrote:
“Tegan is a skilled, smart, consistent and competitive player. She brings people together and makes them feel comfortable and welcome with her easy smile and high emotional intelligence. People respect her work ethic and how she holds herself accountable. Tegan’s people skills make her well-liked and valued. Tegan is a good liaison between the coaches and her teammates because she sees things clearly from both perspectives. … As a case in point of how Tegan is perceived on the team, the single loudest cheer this season was when she scored her first (and then minutes later, her second) high school goal. Her teammates erupted with joy for her.”
November’s selections for the Captain Spotlight were Alexa Van Straaten (Dodge County) and Owen Anklam (St. Louis Park) and December’s were Kylie DeBay (Grand Rapids-Greenway) and Bode Madill (Hermantown).
It’s been an exciting month for Carroll, who was also awarded one of the Shannon O’Hara Foundation scholarships during the Panthers game against Mayo on Jan. 22. Her teammate and fellow senior Kate Garren was another scholarship recipient, along with Mayo girls hockey’s Milania Black and Abby Weick.
Carroll said she was even recognized out in public by someone who saw her photo on the
announcing the winners of the program.
“I was at the store the other day, and one of the workers was like, ‘Hey, I just saw a Facebook post of you the other day.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my goodness,’” Carroll said. “Rochester is a small town, so it’s like a lot of people that see me every day probably would recognize it.”
Carroll, who plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to study psychology, has recorded eight points this season for the Panthers – three goals, five assists – through 24 games. Her commitment to hockey will remain strong even after she graduates. She hopes to join the women’s club hockey team at Eau Claire and wants to help out with her middle school-aged sister’s team.
Now that the regular season is complete for the Panthers (10-13-2) and the girls hockey section tournament is set to kick off on Wednesday, Feb. 4, the emotions are starting to set in for Carroll as she enters the home stretch of her senior season.
“It’s really sad that it’s our last couple of games, I know, especially our last one against Mayo, I cried a lot,” Carroll said. “It’s sad to be wrapping up the season, and I feel like every senior gets to a point where they’re kind of ready. High school sports are a lot of work, and especially being a captain, it’s a lot of pressure.
“But things like this are nice that it kind of feels like it pays off to be recognized. … I feel like I talk about the fact that I’m a captain a lot because I’m really proud of it.”
Madeline Warren is a sports reporter for the Post Bulletin. A midwesterner through and through, Madeline grew up in Lansing, Mich. She is a proud graduate of Michigan State University, where she earned her journalism degree in 2023. Readers can reach Madeline at 507-285-7724 or mwarren@postbulletin.com.