Many people might not know this, but listen up: Theresa Knutson does not consider herself to be an elite player.

"I don't consider myself a great player," states the Onalaska junior forward. "I just strive every day to be my best and to improve my game."

The numbers have a tendency to say otherwise. Consider this: in two plus years of playing high school hockey, Knutson has scored 227 points on 161 goals and 66 assists.

Think about that for a minute...

So what drives her?

"I love the game of hockey," Knutson says. "I love everything about it: practicing on and off the ice, watching it, and the friends you make.

"My love of the game drives me to be the best I can be."

This young lady began her journey over a dozen years ago at the age of three. And as with many kids, her introduction to the sport came courtesy of a hockey-playing sibling. In Theresa's case, it was two brothers: twins Zac and James.

"I always watched them play when I was younger," remembers Knutson. "They were great players and I always wanted to be just like them."

Although the Knutson boys had solid careers at Aquinas High School, Theresa has arguably bypassed her older brothers for the title of 'best player' in the family.

Current Onalaska teammate Baylee Darling played on a team with Knutson back in the day, when both were playing at the Mite level. They were friends then and are best friends now.

"She was a lot of fun to be on a team with, then and now," says Knutson.

Last season, many experts predicted that Onalaska would run away with the state title. They ran into a roadblock called the Kettle Moraine co-op, The team with the nickname 'Glacier' was anything but slow, and took the Hilltoppers to a fourth overtime before succumbing on that March afternoon just nine short months ago.

"Winning in four overtimes was incredible," says Knutson. "We knew that we had won and our team came together and we were all so happy."

The next day in the championship game, tired legs and a tenacious Central Wisconsin Storm defense prevented the Hilltoppers from winning their first title.

"Losing the next day was very upsetting, and I was disappointed," notes Knutson.

That negative event was a wake-up call for the Onalaska star.

"From that experience, I worked even harder since then so we can get back (to state) this year and try to win it."

Most players practice during the season and maybe go to a camp in the summer or play AAA hockey.

Knutson takes that one step farther. In addition to playing with Team Wisconsin, she works on parts of her game each day and pumps iron in an effort to improve her game.

"I have a net in my garage where I shoot every night, and also work on stick-handling," says the Hilltopper right winger. "I also spend a lot of time in the weight room to stay strong and fit. I play volleyball and softball, which keeps me active in many different ways."

To watch her play, you would think that she can't get much better, but Knutson is her own worst critic and disputes that notion.

"Every aspect of my game needs to improve," she states.

Her future is bright, but Knutson is still undecided on what her academic field will be in college, or even where she will go. But one thing is for sure--she will go somewhere.

"I just need to keep working on my game and see where it gets me."

Sometime in late 2014, watch for Theresa Knutson to start writing a new chapter in her ongoing, impressive hockey story at a college near you.

(*) Thru 12/14/12