Naomi Rogge was one of many kids who found their love for hockey on a frozen pond. This season she's playing 'across the pond' in Sweden as she chases her pro hockey dreams and collects experiences along the way.
Naomi Rogge was one of many kids who found their love for hockey on a frozen pond. This season she's playing 'across the pond' in Sweden as she chases her pro hockey dreams and collects experiences along the way.
Naomi Rogge fondly remembers growing up, the times she and her family would head up to the cabin over Christmas break, lace up their skates and spend hours on a nearby pond. She knew immediately that, despite the slips and falls, this was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.
Rogge, a centre who loves to play a full 200 foot game and a native of Minnesota, spent her formative years in her home state, saying it was “a dream come true” to be able to play so much hockey in front of family and friends.
“My parents never missed a game my entire college career,” Rogge shared, “I think that was a big reason why I stayed home in Minnesota; to have the support of family. I’m such a homebody and to be able to have that support constantly was awesome.”
As a passionate lacrosse player, as well as a hockey player, Rogge started off her post secondary search by looking for a university in which she could continue playing both sports.
“It was kind of a different journey than most who are just in hockey,” said Rogge.
“It was about narrowing down which sport I wanted to play and I decided around sophomore year of high school, when I was going on more visits for hockey, that this is what I truly wanted to do and had the most potential to grow and continue.”
Rogge knew though, the moment she stepped onto the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus, that it was going to be the perfect place for her to continue her hockey career.
In the off season, Rogge continues with her passion for lacrosse by coaching a team at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, which has helped her in making the transition from lacrosse and hockey to being solely focused on hockey a little less bittersweet.
The University of Minnesota-Duluth graduate spent five years playing for the Bulldogs, where she amassed 114 points in 168 games, which also included 11 game winning goals. Over that time, she was also named to the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team, and was selected to the All-WCHA All-Academic Team. She’s also fondly remembered by hockey fans in Minnesota, as her goal in double overtime in the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four semi final game sent the Bulldogs to the title game.
“I just remember getting a pass from Elizabeth Giguere and I just tried to get the puck on the net,” Rogge recalled. “I just remember turning and I saw the whole team coming at me and I thought ‘Oh my gosh! It just happened! We’re going to the National Championship.’”
During the 2019-20 season, her junior year, Rogge tore her ACL, PCL, and LCL and both of her meniscus' and ultimately missed the entire season, which was then followed the next season by COVID. Despite this hurdle, Rogge managed to stay close to the game, as her coaches kept her involved and brought her to away games.
“The coach called me her ‘eye in the sky,’ so I would sit up as high as I could and try to give pointers as much as I could about tendencies I was seeing in the opponents’ forecheck or good things we were doing as a team.”
Showing her character, in spite of these challenges, Rogge was also named a 2019-2020 WCHA Scholar Athlete and 2019-2020 WCHA All-Academic Team member for consecutive years, and earned a spot on the American Hockey Association's 2019-20 Division I Krampada All-American Scholars list.
Seeing the PWHL launch this year, Rogge shares in the excitement of the league's launch.
“I can’t even put it into words,” said Rogge, “I think it’s so awesome. Being from Minnesota, I was so excited to see how many fans showed up to that first home game. It’s so impressive to see the continued support all across all six teams. The talent and speed in these games is amazing to see. It’s long overdue that it’s getting the praise that it deserves and getting the attention that it deserves.”
Would she consider playing in the league? “If I was given the chance, it would be awesome to come back home and be closer to my family," said Rogge. "I would definitely look into it.”
After originally signing with the Metropolitan Riveters of the PHF, Rogge unexpectedly had to choose whether to wait to see if a spot would be available with a PWHL team or head overseas in order to continue her hockey career, as the PHF was shuttered to make way for the PWHL. After lengthy conversations with her parents, Rogge chose the latter and signed with SDE HF of the SDHL, where she is projected to score 21 points in 33 games for the club this season.
“It’s a real family vibe, which is exactly what I needed since I was so far from home," said Rogge. "It’s easy to play for someone when you love them like a sister.”
From her early years in Minnesota, where she fell in love with the game at the age of two as she skated around that pond, to an impressive collegiate career, to continuing her hockey journey overseas in Sweden, Naomi Rogge has never stopped loving this game and the skills it’s given her. To Rogge, it’s about the experiences she gathers along the way, the connections she makes and finding ways to continue doing something that’s given her so much.