On Tap with ... Julie Flynn

In a game against No. 10 Boston University, women’s ice hockey senior forward Julie Flynn showed that she can work under pressure. With two minutes gone in the third period, the Tigers were down, 2-1. Senior forward Melanie Wallace got the puck off a failed clearing attempt by BU, and she delivered it to Flynn, who found the back of the net to knot the score at two. Unfortunately for the Tigers, BU won the game, 3-1, but the Tigers have the satisfaction of knowing that they have a talented forward in Flynn. Last year, Flynn skated in all 31 games, and she was also a member of the ECAC All-Academic team.

Q: What was your ‘welcome to college’ moment?

A: I would have to say midterm week freshman year. That’s probably the point where I started drinking coffee for the first time. It’s also the moment when I gave up on my hope of being an econ major.

Q: What’s the greatest highlight of your sports career?

A: Probably last season. We finished the regular season 12-1, which included a sweep of Harvard and Dartmouth on the road.

Q: Who’s your quirkiest teammate? Why?

A: Sophomore [defender] Ann-Marie Elvin. She dry cleans her shoulder pads and sneakers, she doesn’t eat strawberries, and I’m pretty sure she’s the most influential person in Forbes right now.

Q: What has been your most embarrassing moment at Princeton?

A: I don’t know if there’s been just one, but I know that freshman year I did a lot of running around from class to class, and from class to practice, just to maximize efficiency.

Q: What’s the best part about being an athlete on campus?

A: Three-day weeks when we have road trips.

Q: What’s the worst part about being an athlete on campus?

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A: Probably having to miss the Ellen DeGeneres show at 4 p.m. every day. I don’t think it’s online, and it’s devastating!

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not practicing?

A: Definitely retail therapy on Nassau Street and T. Sweets. Or just watching TV. I like “Modern Family,” “30 Rock” or “The Office.”

Q: If not hockey, what other sport would you play?

A: Maybe rhythmic gymnastics. I’d have to work on my flexibility and grace, but it’s a beautiful sport.

Q: What would you do if you were the head coach for a day?

A: I’d probably have an ice cream sundae party and mandatory nap time.

Q: What’s your favorite class of those you’ve taken at Princeton so far?

A: I really like this class I’m taking now, JRN 445: Introduction to Investigative Journalism. It’s actually the first class in journalism I’ve ever taken.

Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals?

A: I don’t really have one in particular. I usually drink coffee before warmup and then just … [have] dance parties in the locker room.

Q: Is there any music in particular that inspires you?

A: I like everything, from Akon to Taylor Swift … ’60s pop music really does it for me. The Rolling Stones especially … but I’m really all over the place.

Q: What’s the most embarrassing song on your iPod?

A: This isn’t just one song, but I have the entire Aaron Carter self-titled album on my iTunes, which in itself is embarrassing. That’s one you don’t want to come up on the shuffle.

Q: What are you looking forward to doing over winter break that you could never do at Princeton?

A: Sleeping whenever I want … and seeing my family.

Q: Do members of the team get presents for each other for the holidays?

A: Yes. We do secret, non-denominational gift-giv[ing] ... I guess it’s called secret Christma-Hannu-Kwanza, or something like that.