#ken klee

[grantmentis]

“I told them Ken is never receptive to any sort of suggestions and that he is extremely arrogant,” one former PWHL Minnesota employee told The Rink Live, on the condition of anonymity. “Have you ever heard of a coach telling people to not come on the ice for practice (because) you are taking time away from the important girls that are playing? Why do you think (players) are retiring?”

[pwhl-mybeloved]

[stuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu]

what the fuck is going on in Minnesota right now 😭😭😭

[strawberryblondebutch]

Could we get a grapevine story of Ken Klee?

Oh man. Many of them are not my story to tell, but I can give you the highlights.

So, Klee was brought in as a replacement for Katey Stone, who went on to emotionally abuse her Harvard players for years (paywalled article). He was told at the time of his hiring that USA Hockey had a policy of dismissing coaches once their relationship with the team fractures. He ended up being ousted after two years and three gold medals.

Central to his coaching ethos, meanwhile, is that he was only there to coach "players who want to get better," which in practice meant that he decided for you if there was any room for improvement. Players at the top of their game? Yeah, you're good to go. Do what you want. Players he decided had hit their ceiling and it didn't impress him? Well, that's that. Go get garbage time. This take, I should add, is especially heinous when you look at the 2015 roster. Only four players over the age of 25, and none over 30. Your peak as a player is 27-30. Everyone on that team had room for improvement.

The other thing he did with great frequency was remind players that "someone is always coming to take your job," which maybe would have rung true had he not created a country club atmosphere where his favorite pets could do no wrong.

Now, I'll say this much: if I'm handed the roster he was given in 2015, I've got prime Meghan Duggan and near-prime Knight, Decker, and Coyne. Yeah, I'm giving them all big minutes. But that's something you discuss up front with your players in the locker room. I'm not saying he was running an Abby Lee Miller pyramid every week, but... you knew if you were on the in or out.

So, uh. I'm not exactly surprised to hear that some players got to do whatever they wanted and others were told to shut up and let the stars do their thing.

(FWIW regarding player retirements - I do know Soph personally and I've talked with her a little. She said there were "a few factors" that went into her retirement. Being away from Luke for half a year was hard on her, and she's been working outside of hockey for a few years now, because she didn't expect to be able to just exist as a full-time player. I can't speak to Brittyn at all, as I do not know her.)

[chirpingfromthebox]

My favorite bits from Minnesota's post-game press interviews after PHWL Finals Game 2

[You can find the entire interview here! Be sure to give them some views/likes/nice comments, because her channel is great.]

At the table were Nicole Hensley, Sophie Jaques, and Ken Klee.

First of all Nicole Hensley looks like she'd much rather be in bed than doing this press session. And I feel like that's the proper reaction to doing press interviews after playing an entire game of hockey.

Sophie Jaques, however, is utterly unfazed.

Anyways! Transcriptions of my favorite parts of the interviews under the break.

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REPORTER: What led to the goaltending change?

KEN KLEE: We have two great goalies so all year we’ve kinda rotated back and forth. Obviously Maddie got hot in the first round, so it was tough to take her out. But we knew we could go back to Nicole at any point and she would be ready to go. And she obviously played fantastic for us tonight. That was the benefit for me all year, is that I had two goalies that were always ready and able to go. I had 1a and 1b. I didn’t worry about who was in at the time. And certainly Nicole deserved another shot to get in there and she played great tonight.

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REPORTER: Sophie, just talk about this game, coming back against your old team.

[that’s not a question my dude…]

SOPHIE JAQUES: Yeah, it was definitely weird playing in here for the first time on a different team, but coming in here we knew we had to get one win on the road and I think we played really well today after coming back from Sunday’s game. And it was really fun.

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REPORTER: Coach and Nicole, if you guys could each kinda explain what you saw around the disallowed goal?

KEN KLEE: Well, I mean we all heard a whistle on the bench. It was definitely a whistle was blown, and then our players kinda stopped playing, then all a sudden we see the puck pop free and then get shot into the net. So that was kinda my take on it. And they said, ‘Yeah, we definitely blew the whistle long before the puck was even free to go into the net.’ So that was kinda what I saw, and that was the explanation I got.

NICOLE HENSLEY: Yeah, I didn’t see anything. I have no clue what happened, so...we’ll take it.

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REPORTER: Sophie, just talk about how you’ve been able to really acclimate yourself to the Minnesota team since being traded from Boston earlier this year.

[Once again, not a question. Maybe this is a common thing for the press to do, but I kinda hate the way it sounds.]

SOPHIE JAQUES: Yeah, it’s definitely been a lot of fun. All the players and coaching staff have been great at welcoming me in and I feel like I’ve been put in a position that plays to my strengths and has allowed me to succeed with the team so far.

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REPORTER: Sophie, any conversations with the players on Boston ahead of this game or ahead of the series?

[The first actual question to Sophie! Wanna guess which one of the 3 “questions” directed towards Sophie Jacques was from a woman and which ones were from men?]

SOPHIE JAQUES: [smiling] Not really. Like, I’ve talked to a few of my friends, but kinda just not talking about hockey as we’re gonna be enemies on the ice.

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REPORTER: Nicole, Ken was just talking about having this great tandem in Minnesota and Kelly Pannek actually talked a lot about the relationship that you and Maddie have. Can you just maybe speak a little bit to- or describe the relationship that you guys have as a tandem here?

NICOLE HENSLEY: Combined with Kelly there, we’re kinda the three musketeers and we do a lot of stuff together and we hang out all the time. I’ve spent a lot of time at Maddie’s house over the years and we’ve always been really close. Since, like 2017 I think, was the first time we played together. We’ve trained together for the past 3 years in Minnesota so we just kinda know how to bounce off each other and know what each other needs when they're in net to be successful. And try to help in any way we can. But at the same time we’re pushing each other all the time and I think it’s a really unique relationship that we’re really fortunate to have.

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REPORTER: How has this experience compared to your past playoff experience and this being the final? And also what does it mean to you guys to be going back home with the series tied?

SOPHIE JAQUES: I think the biggest difference has just been the competitiveness of every single game and the amount of travel. This is the most I’ve ever traveled for playoffs throughout my entire career. And it’s also been the longest series that I’ve ever played in before. So just making sure really prioritizing recovery. And then looking ahead we’re really excited to be back on home ice. I think we really succeed there, so I’m excited for it.

NICOLE HENSLEY: Yeah, I think we’re very used to playing one-and-done and every single game we play is kinda life or death, so it’s been a little bit of an adjustment. You get to go back and correct some things and come out the next day, so I think we’ve tried to use those things to our advantage and continue to do that going in front of our home crowd.

[hyenabeanz]

Me waking up to new fresh hell in Minnesota hockey

[bagelsunshinecoffee]

https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/more-pwhl-minnesota-staff-dismissed-from-toxic-and-unprofessional-environment

I’m taking applications for a new team to root for 🙃

I still feel conflicted because there are players on this team who are not part of the problem and don’t deserve to be stuck with this. And I have hope that there could be a leadership change in the future, perhaps even if there is enough public pressure. But I just want to cheer for a team I actually enjoy cheering for. And I don’t think I can actively support this organization without some change.

[music-traveler]

What is Ken Klee drinking? 👀 Wrong answers only. 😂

[honk-nee]

Ken Klee’s pre-game speech: bsbshensjais right? Nsnsh)jsja right? Sjshauaua right? Bsbshagayayaha right?

[pwhlconfessions]

It is at least a possibility worth considering that Ken Klee did nothing wrong

[iminasportyphase]

i feel so incredibly bad for the women who worked their entire lives to get to play professional hockey, only for their work to be undervalued by those in leadership positions. it’s so sad and i hope that pwhl mn makes some significant changes to their staff and team culture. because without it i don’t see how this team builds on any sort of success they established in the inaugural season.

[blusical]

currently thinking of how abusive some hockey coaches are and how players are supposed to act like that sort of stuff is normal

[harusaki-hugo]

Siblings HCs: Baji Edition

Fandom:Tokyo Revengers+Genshin Impact

Plot: What it's like being Tokyo Revengers younger/older siblings

Note: I'M BORED AND I KEEP HAVING IDEA.

Being Baji younger sister/with klee personality:

You like ten (10) in this Hcs, so you have like five (5) year age gap with Baji.

Just like Keisuke, you have black hair, and big doe eyes which is Keisuke weakness and you also have baby fangs just like your brother! You are just the cutest in the Baji family.

A ball of sunshine you are. opposite of Keisuke, like you just the cutest and brightest kid that steals everyone's heart with one smile.

Sometimes Mikey wonders if you are Keisuke's sister because of your endless kindness and happiness that you are willing to share with everyone.

But, he can see why you are Keisuke's sister. You both are arsonists.

While Keisuke burns the car when he's hungry. You burn cars for fun. like you have a certain fascination with burning things, like fireworks or even making a mini safe bomb, which is impressive considering your age.

The smartest in the family. You can easily skip a grade if it's not because of your childish personality. like you are sometimes the one who teaches Keisuke and you are just in elementary grade.

You love everyone. Everyone in your eyes is the best.

Big Brother is the best, Mikey the best, Emma the best, heck even Draken is the best.

Shinichiro is the weird grownup. Why is he always smoking? Is that why he is still single? Let's just say you see him crying.

Keisuke always tries to be the best brother example for you, he tries so hard not to start a fight when you are around. keeping his temper in front of you and heck, he even shares his yakisoba with you because you are his ✨fav✨ sister.

Brings you together to 🔥burn🔥some car with him when you are both hungry, Don't worry it's some old used cars.

Bonus:-

You give every single one of your friends a toy you call Jumpy Dumpty and make them keep it close to them.

Unknown to them it's an invention you make that explodes if something happens to the owner.

Basically, when Kazutora is about to unalive Shinichiro, that toy he keeps in his shop explodes, and no it's not that 💣 explosion 💥 It's just a flash bang that blinds someone for like a minute.

And behold, you save shinichiro.

And Mama Baji has to ground you for making something dangerous. which also means Keisuke accompanies you in a special room for you.

Valhalla Arc;-

You just want to find your big brother because you are bored and Mama Baji like busy so when you hear that Toman is fighting some gang you though he going to be there.

You just straight up sitting between Ran and Rindou, the two like "Whose kid is this?" While Rindou a bit worried about you, ran straight up ✨ befriend ✨ you, like you two now besties.

Fast forward to Kazutora about to go apeshit and bright out the knife, you bring out your 💥bomb💥

Imagine Kazutora seeing a familiar toy being thrown in front of him and he like, "Oh shi-"

Straight up explosion, not a flash bang this time. pure explosion, a loud one and you can see the smoke and things.

Like someone just throw a grenade.

Ran and rindou look at you like 😮 , "Kid, wtf-"

Keisuke having a panic attack because his sister is there and he never once brings you to any gang fights.

OG Toman is yelling and screaming in pure horror when they see you because one; you there sitting with their future enemies and two; you holding another bomb ready to throw it.

But thanks to you, the fight ended without anyone getting killed.

This is much longer than I expected...

Request open. pls, send me something. anything or I keep doing siblings Hcs.

[strawberryblondebutch]

[chirpingfromthebox]

My favorite bits from Minnesota's post-game press interviews after PWHL Finals Game 3

You can find the entire interview here! Be sure to give them some views/likes/nice comments/etc., because her channel is great and the support it gets means the more people who will find it.

At the table were Michela Cava, Taylor Heise, and coach Ken Klee.

Transcriptions and some of my thoughts under the break.

[p.s. did you know that on computer, if you press "J", then Tumblr will automatically skip you to the next post? Something to consider if you get bored of my ramblings after expanding.]

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[The gang all come up to the table while having an odd conversation.]

KEN KLEE: Sorry, we were just having a little side bar there.

REPORTER: Can you elaborate on the sidebar?

KK: Apparently we had a ponytail holder break. And then they said, “Coach, she can’t go, ‘cause she broke her ponytail.” And I said, “I played with Chris Simon. His hair was flying everywhere. She’ll be fine. She can get through a couple shifts.”

TAYLOR HEISE: So our athletic trainer gave her hers. So, she’s a team player.

KK: Our trainer came to save the day. Which was huge. She didn’t have to miss a shift.

[I will include a picture I found of Chris Simon here for those of you who are like me and don't know what he looks like and want some context to Klee's reference:

In other news, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say the words "pony-tail holder" before? I buzz my head 'cause I'm lazy like that. People with hair, is that a common term? Growing up I've only ever heard people say "hair ties" for the general term.]

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REPORTER: For Michela and Taylor, you’ve obviously scored and assisted for each other, is that something you’re working on, obviously, in practice? It’s quite the series.

TAYLOR HEISE: I just think we both think pretty similarly. I don’t think we’re always in the same place, but we’re always looking for one another. You know, Kendall [Coyne Schofield] makes it easy too. All three of us roll off what we’re doing. And we do talk things out a lot. I’m someone that likes to talk a lot and Cava does too and I think it’s fun for us to roll through things. You’re not always gonna have time to practice in actual practice when you’re playing this many games. So I just think we have trust in each other and know where we’re gonna be at.

MICHELA CAVA: Yeah. I’d say the same thing as her. We kinda feed off each other. And we give each other positive energy on the bench and stuff. And always talk out plays. And every time we come off we always have something for each other to be better. I think that’s the most important thing with our line. Everybody goes and everyone’s supporting each other. It’s been a lot of fun so far.

KEN KLEE: I would say, high hockey IQ. That’s why they’re good.

[I have no evidence for this, but I have a suspicion that the reason I tend to see Heise at these press sessions more than Captain Coyne Schofield is because KCS is incredibly direct in her interviews. Delightfully succinct. Which I would love from a Captain, but would probably hate as a journalist. For an example of this check out this brilliant moment from the post-game session after Finals game 1.]

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REPORTER: For Cava and Heise, can you speak to the emotions of getting to play in front of an electric crowd like that?

MICHELA CAVA: Yeah, I think, obviously, it’s great. It’s a change for a lot of us to have so many people supporting our games. And the fans definitely elevate your energy levels when you’re feeling a little down after a shift. The crowd has just been phenomenal here all season for us. And I would say a big way to help us get these wins when you’re feeling tired. And it’s been a long playoffs so far. So yeah, they’re amazing and we love them.

TAYLOR HEISE: I think it comes full circle for me. Like, going to Wild games as a kid and kind of wanting that? And knowing that wasn’t a possibility at the time. But knowing that such an electric atmosphere of playoff hockey is something that’s special. It holds a special place in my heart, and I know in our entire team’s. Even after they scored with that 1 second left. You wouldn’t have been able to tell that. Like, in the 2nd period, we came off the ice and the fans were electric. And to have them on our side is definitely a one-up that any other team that comes into this building can’t find and can’t have.

R: And just to follow-up, Michela, what happens to your game in the playoffs? And Taylor can you speak to that as well? Of how well Michela’s been playing.

TH: I’ll start. I’ll take that one.

She has a lot of confidence in her play and what she does. And not to say that the beginning of the year that wasn’t a thing, because we both have gone through ups and downs this entire year. We’ve had some injuries, we’ve been through the losing streak, we’ve been in the gutter, we’ve been feeling bad. But I think, at the end of the day great players step up in great moments. And this is definitely one of those. She sees the ice really well. Clearly she put two defenders in a blender in her move. Just getting her the puck and knowing that she has that confidence. And sometimes it just takes getting that puck in one time for you to change your game. And I know that’s happened to me, but you know, she’s a great hockey player. She’s got all that, like coach said, all the IQ in the world to make it happen.

MC: Yeah, [points to Heise] that was really nice.

[Everyone laughs]

KEN KLEE: What she said.

MC: I don’t really know how to add to that.

TH: Retweet!

MC: Playoffs is do or die. Obviously it’s a super fun experience to win a championship and obviously this is gonna be the first one. Basically just do everything you can, use all the skill you have, use all the energy you have, and leave it all out there. Kinda what I try to do every single game.

TH: And she’s won a championship too! So let’s put that out there.

MC: Couple.

TH: Couple. [gives an impressed ‘Whooo!’]

[see what I mean? Journalists have gotta love Heise. She gives them so much material to work with for their stories.

Transcribers, however? Well, she certainly ups the difficulty rating, I’ll tell ya that.]

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REPORTER: Michela, you know, you and Taylor are obviously scoring a lot of big goals in the post season right now. Can you just speak to some of the little things that Kendall Coyne has been doing on your line? Particularly on the goal you scored. She’s driving the net, she’s taking Tapani’s attention.

MICHELA CAVA: Exactly.

R: What does she do to make things more open for you guys?

MC: I mean, people can’t keep up with her speed. So she’s definitely driving on the rush, she’s driving players. Usually that goes unnoticed. But when you play on a line, like, obviously a lot of times you guys are asking about us, but she could be sitting here too. Because she’s creating the opportunities. And she sees the ice really well too. Obviously we’re both- like, Heise’s a little bit taller than us, but we’re both very small, but I mean, she had 5 or 6 hits today. She’s playing so physical and so strong. Definitely a lot of credit to her too. And she’s definitely taking their players out of the play for us as well.

R: Ken, can I maybe just follow-up and get your thoughts on Kendall?

KEN KLEE: Sure. I mean, she’s awesome. She’s one of the fastest players in the world. When she’s on the ice the other team knows it. Just her speed alone creates large holes in the other team’s defense. Because she such speed they all, they either over back check or the D have to give her respect, which creates a lot of room for these two guys to be able to make plays in. She’s hunting pucks, she’s on it. She’s just going a great job. I think all three of them together are playing really well.

[I really like this exchange, because I think they really get at the heart of what makes KCS such a powerhouse of a player to me. If you just look at goals and assists she doesn’t have the highest in the league, but take a look at her +/-. She had the second highest in the league during the regular season for a reason. Part of why she’s one of my favorites is because of the way she makes an impact every time she hits the ice. Like, damn, she just seems like she’d be a nightmare to play against.]

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REPORTER: Taylor, Michela touched on it a little bit, but have you allowed yourself to think about, it is one win away, it’s the first inaugural season, what it might mean or feel like to win the first championship?

TAYLOR HEISE: Yeah, not really. I mean, obviously it’s gonna be a special moment, but it’s like, kind of thinking about what my next first shift is next- uh, next game. Thinking about the whole game: it starts with one shift. Obviously we came out and scored in the first shift. Cava came and had a great forecheck, got the puck to the net, Kendall drove to the net, and I was just there and was able to shoot. Those are moments you want to think about for the future, wanna think about for next game. So, no, I haven’t thought about what it’s gonna feel like, ‘cause I want it to be a feeling, that like, when it happens? I want it to be electric and I want it to be something that I haven’t had time to think about. So I guess that and just coming out hard next game. We’re just so thrilled to be in the position we are and hopefully we won’t have to go back to Boston. That’s what our goal is.

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REPORTER: This could be for either Michela, Taylor, or Ken, really. I think Sydney Brodt’s goal will prove to be the game winner in this one. Considering her injury and the rehab in the early season, what does that goal from that player mean to this team?

KEN KLEE: Well, I can speak for us. It’s huge. It’s awesome to have a player like that who’s rehabbing the whole year basically, I mean, she had, I think, one game before the break. And then, you know, came into the team when we were not playing our best hockey. But she stuck with it. She’s been at the gym every day, at rehab every day, working hard. I know that her teammates see it and they know how hard she’s working. I know that she wants to contribute. In some of the other games she wasn’t getting many shifts, so for an opportunity for her to step up? I think it’s a huge boost for our whole team.

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[End of Interviews]

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What follows is a just a lot of me thinking out loud and at length. And what and the hell do I know? Continue into the maelstrom at your own peril.

The reporters were asking much more interesting and thoughtful questions here than they did to the Boston team. And I know that it's easier to go in depth on things with the winning team, but still. I think a knowledgeable reporter can do a hell of a lot better than the standard "What are you gonna do better next time?"s and "Why do you think you got beat?"s they're always throwing out there.

Minnesota seems really confident here, which I love. And crucially, I got the feeling like they were confident, but not cocky. I like Heise's answer about them not thinking about winning the championship, they just wanna focus on how they can win the next game.

Of all the teams in the league I think Minnesota is the one who benefits the most from this format of playing the same team multiple times.

Nicole Hensley said in her interview after Game 2 that they're all used to a more one-and-done format when in comes to playoffs/finals games. And as we've seen, in that format Minnesota would have lost the championship to Boston. In fact, they never would have gotten to Boston, because they would have lost to Toronto.

But they've shown themselves to be highly adaptable. On that note they are the only team in the post season who was willing to try a different goalie. It's gotta be annoying to play against a team who's willing to mix things up like that!

Look at Game 1. Both teams playing out of their minds. Minnesota barely loses. And instead of saying, "Well, we were so close! Let's just do that again and maybe it'll go better this time." They decided, "hey, our offense is doing great, but Boston they seem to have a read on Rooney's style right now, let's mix things up defensively."

(speaking of which, no shade to Frankel, but guess who's been in net for Boston during 2 of Boston's wins against Minnesota? That's right! Emma Söderberg. And I suspect Boston itself thought Söderberg had a good defense to Minnesota's style, because they put her against them in their final regular season game against them too. But after Frankel went full raid boss against Montreal, there was no way they were swapping her out. And that's exactly my point of why Minnesota has got to be annoying for being so willing and able to make moves like that.)

[as I've said before I will always advocate for swapping goalies around, because I'm selfish and want to see them all more. And every goalie has a different style. AND wouldn't you want to try and match their styles to the offensive style of your opponents?]

Anways, when Minnesota is at their worst seems to be when they lose confidence and start trying to do the same thing again and again, trying to force it to work. But when they start to get confident they'll come at you every which way they can until they find that in.

But you can never count Boston out, because Boston seems to be unfamiliar with the word quit.

And as long as Boston doesn't let the stakes get to them, they are definitely a team that you have to respect. When they're on their game? The second you underestimate them, they'll come for your throat.

So will Minnesota get cocky and let their win streak go to their heads? Will Boston let the looming risk of losing the championship get in the way of playing their best? Will both teams bring everything they have and leave it all on the ice?

Here's hoping that whatever happens on Sunday, it's a game to remember.

[hyenabeanz]

LOOOOOOL the room booing Ken Klee.