Curtis an Understated Star in Minnesota
February 6, 2022 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)
Minnesota Whitecaps News Release
With the very best players from across the Premier Hockey Federation assembled in Buffalo for the 2022 All-Star Showcase, it should come as no surprise that Jonna Curtis scored the event's first two goals.
After all, special events are meant to showcase an athlete's best attributes and point producing is what the Minnesota Whitecaps forward does at a level among the game's greats.
"I was lucky enough to put two goals away for our team," Curtis said of her experience on Team Thunstrom. "It's easy when you have a lot of the best girls on your team. I can't take all the credit. They were team goals."
Modest as she may be, her six snipes this season are tied for fourth across the PHF and the 29 she's tallied over the course of her four-year career are presently tied for fifth all-time. That's more than simply luck which makes Curtis more than deserving of the All-Star accolades she's received annually since joining the PHF in 2018-19.
"I've been lucky enough to go to three All-Star games now and it's always such a great time," she said. "It's so fun to be able to play with girls from other teams and past teammates whether college or past Whitecaps and get to know those people off the ice. Often it's just on ice that you learn their personalities and it's very different than off the ice, so it's fun to get to know them."
At just 5-foot-4 it might be easy to overlook Curtis for her stature, and when scrolling through annual statistics she's always been right behind the best. The 2019 Newcomer of the Year finished second in points that season, then finished tied for second the following year with teammate Allie Thunstrom who shared co MVP honors with top scorer Jillian Dempsey.
"I've been pretty consistent over the years and I've felt like I've done my part to contribute most of the time," Curtis said. "I've loved playing and I want to win. As long as I'm consistent I'm ok if I'm in the background."
But Curtis is certainly at the forefront when it comes to Whitecaps records holding the franchise mark for points with 64 and counting. And by PHF standards, her career points-per-game at the All-Star break was 1.255 ranking eighth overall but first among players with four or more seasons of experience.
"I would definitely consider myself more offensive," Curtis said when asked to describe her game. "I like to think of myself more as a playmaker. I love making those passes and seeing people score. Obviously I love to score too. It's just a lot of fun all around whatever side you're on. I've been thankful to be on the ice with a lot of great girls that have put me in the position to play my offensive game."
It's hard to find Whitecaps highlights that don't feature Curtis with a breakaway opportunity, oftentimes converting.
"I feel like I don't get that many breakaways," she laughed. "Maybe? If I'm getting a breakaway it's because all of my teammates are doing the right things. I actually hate shootouts, but I feel like breakaways are a little different because you don't have as much time to think about it."
This of course begs the question, what does Curtis think about when she's on a breakaway?
"To be honest I have no idea what's going through my head," she laughed. "I think at this point my body just takes over and I hope I score. I will say most of the time I am probably going to deke. I don't know if I've ever shot on a breakaway."
Regardless the tactics the results are undeniable and her nose around the net is something the 27-year-old from Elk River, MN has developed over time.
"Growing up my Dad was my coach and he always told me to go to the net," Curtis says. "We always practiced stickhandling and different moves so it's always been part of my instincts to get as close to the net as I can. Shooting from wherever you can and getting that rebound. I have that mentality to always go to the net so that's probably why a lot of my goals are from close range."
Curtis was a standout at the University of New Hampshire where she scored 106 points in 122 games from 2012-17 and captained the Wildcats her final season. Upon graduation she returned home and joined the Whitecaps organization making history ever since.
"It's been such a great experience and that's why I keep coming back," she said. "The first year we came into the league I really wasn't sure what to expect and it was so fun. We won the Isobel Cup our first year, and of course it doesn't get better than that, but just seeing the way the league has grown has been incredible."
Like all PHF players, Curtis embraces being a role model and inspiring the young fans that cheer for her and her teammates every week.
"I'm so thankful to be a part of this and I hope it continues to grow and I can be a part of it a little longer," she said. "Knowing that our fans of little girls can potentially play here 15-20 years from now is just really cool to be a part of. I have a little niece and her and all her friends come to the games and absolutely love it, and seeing the smiles on their faces and how much fun they have at our games is why we keep doing this."
Right before All-Star weekend Curtis had a season-high four-point performance to help the Whitecaps pick up a much needed weekend sweep in Buffalo. While the first part of the season may not have lived up to their expectations, the second half starts with another double header at home to the Beauts.
"Before the Christmas break we were definitely frustrated," Curtis said. "We've always had more offense and scoring but in those first few games we just couldn't get it figured out. Our first series back we were able to get some scoring from quite a few players which is good for some confidence and that's what we needed. Hopefully we can continue off that this coming weekend. Buffalo is a good team and we can't take them easy just because we beat them last time. It's going to be a tough series and some important points to win here. I think we're ready and hopefully we come out strong."
Minnesota has been in the mix every season of their PHF tenure, winning the Isobel Cup in 2019 and making it to the finals the next two seasons. Curtis knows what a team effort and a couple of wins can do to get the Whitecaps rolling.
"I hope everyone is feeling more confident," she said. "Just finding those right line combinations and ultimately working together on offense and defense. As a team we've grown a lot since the beginning. We're working hard and challenging ourselves to make sure we know what our role is on the team. Hopefully we can continue to show that the rest of the year."
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Premier Hockey Federation Stories from February 6, 2022
- Curtis an Understated Star in Minnesota - Minnesota Whitecaps
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