Kristen Juven

By Kara Walser
UWRF Sports Information

Junior Kristen Juven has more on her plate than just playing as a forward for the Falcon women's hockey team.

Juven is majoring in marketing communications with a minor in coaching. "I picked this because advertising and the inter-workings of marketing are of interest of mine. I hope to get more into the advertising aspect," she says.  

While attending UWRF, Juven enjoys taking classes related to her major including consumer behavior and public relations. After graduating, she hopes to find a job close to the metropolitan area within an advertising company.

Juven claims that UWRF has been a perfect fit for her. Although it is a four hour trip back to her hometown of Moorhead, Minn., she enjoys the community and the attractions it has, including the nature trails for running and roller blading. She loves the big city feel of Minneapolis and St. Paul being so close by, but also enjoys her distance away from the noise.

Originally, she came to River Falls because of the hockey program. Juven has been playing with the hockey team since her freshman year. Returning as a junior, she plays forward but says she moves around from right to left wing to center depending on where the Falcons and Coach Joe Cranston need her talents and skills.

"She has a great attitude and will play anywhere. She always accepts her roll and does whatever needed to help the team," explains Cranston.

In her sophomore year, Juven played in all 27 games and finished with five goals and eight assists for 13 points. She was named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.

Juven explains that throughout her hockey career she has been lucky to have had good relationships with all her coaches and teammates. "It is about playing the game but at the same time it is important to create ties with the coaches and your teammates, who you are around all the time," she says.

"I love playing the game, its something that is completely separate from any other activity I do," says Juven. "It's a passion; sort of an "escape" but in a good aspect."

Cranston also explains that over the years, Juven has improved as a defensive player and has always come to the rink with a smile on her face and a great attitude towards the sport.

This year Juven has played in all 13 Falcon games and has one goal and three points. She scored the game-winning goal in an 8-2 win over St. Catherine on Nov. 21. Juven has scored seven career goals and has 20 career points. She has played in 63 games and has scored two power-play goals and two game-winners.

Juven started hockey in the third grade after her parents got her a white set of figure skates.   From what she is told, she walked straight back to her parents and said that she wanted black hockey skates.

Being an athlete and a student, Juven says it is difficult to find free time after practice and class. With the free time she can find, she usually spends it painting and drawing. "I love to do art," she explains. "It kind of ties in with the whole advertising business; it has the creative aspect built in."

Other free time is spent watching the Food Network, eating her favorite food Thai peanut noodles, or going out with friends.  

Juven is the daughter of Mark and Vicki Juven and has one brother.