“Her hockey IQ is one of her best attributes. She knows the game really well. The reason we moved her back is because I thought she’d be a good college defenseman.”
And through hard work, she has become just that.
“She worked as hard as anyone we’ve ever had,” Paolucci said. “And she’s continued to work hard, which is one of the things I’m most proud of. When she comes home in the summer, she works incredibly hard.”
Heading into this season, the Crimson will rely heavily on an experienced defensive unit led by Farni, co-captain Cori Bassett, and Kessler.
“You hope to be leading by example,” Farni said. “You hope to be someone who is a contributing member, supportive off the ice, and with a young team, you really want freshmen to be comfortable. [The captains are] making a really big effort to make sure everyone feels on the same page, really comfortable so we can hit the ground running.”
For all her accomplishments and leadership credentials, Farni remains humble and soft-spoken.
“She’s a great kid,” Stone said. “Her teammates love her...she’s got a strong work ethic and leads by example. Nothing flashy, nothing cocky, she just does her job.”
“She’s highly competitive,” Paolucci added. “She may be a little on the quiet side, but don’t let that fool you...She has that fire inside of her that burns...She’s one of the most competitive kids we’ve ever had and one of the most competitive people I’ve ever known.”
The Crimson hopes that drive will help take it to the top. For now, Farni remains grounded, focusing on the importance of the work ahead.
“With it being an Olympic year, you kind of don’t know what to expect,” she said. “So we’re going to focus on our effort, make sure we outwork every team we play.”
It is that desire to outwork everyone that has earned Farni respect wherever she goes. Though her high school scoring mark no longer stands, her legacy at Hopkins remains untouched, and the current team keeps track of her college career.
“I watch every game,” Paolucci said.
When the Crimson played in the NCAA Tournament in Wisconsin in 2007, Paolucci and the Hopkins girls rented a bus to go out to watch her.
“She’s just been a great role model,” Paolucci said. “Our girls at the high school team are really proud of her. As a coach, you can’t ask for anything more.”