Mia Fiscelli, Colorado's star player and person
- Hannah Howell
- 2m
- 3 min read
When Colorado Buffaloes women’s hockey coach Olivia Wilburn talks about Mia Fiscelli, her stats are the last thing she mentions.
Not because they aren’t notable, if anything, they’re the most impressive part of her résumé. But Wilburn turns to another side of Fiscelli — the energy, presence and character that she brings to the team every day.
On and off the ice, she wants her fellow players to succeed, and she’s there to cheer them on every step of the way. It’s the quality that seems to define her the most. In many ways, it’s what makes her not only a standout player but an irreplaceable teammate.
When it comes to stats, Fiscelli has had yet another impressive season. She leads the Buffs in goals, having racked up 14 just this fall.
When you add her goals and assists over her three seasons with CU, she has an impressive 80 points. But even with numbers that strong, Coach Wilburn insists it’s her drive to constantly get better that pushes her performance from good to great.
“She’s just excited to be here. Every time she steps on the ice, you see it. Every time she gets to the rink and sees her teammates, you see it,” Wilburn told Sko Buffs Sports. “She really loves all of the sport.”
That passion is something you can’t teach, and it's something she brings every time she steps on the ice.
You can see the energy and joy she brings to the team. Before their game against Michigan State last October, Fiscelli walked into the rec center carrying a hubcap. Why? Not sure. But it made people laugh, and that’s a special asset to bring to a team. CU seems to thrive off each other’s energy and how they lift each other. Fiscelli is part of that, but so is every other player.
Fiscelli has been playing hockey since she was eight years old. Growing up in Chicago, she hoped to follow in her dad’s footsteps, which she did. Her dad not only played hockey in college, but on an ACHA Division 1 team, just like Mia.
But her hockey experience traveled outside of America. She traveled to Europe this past summer, visiting five different countries with a group of college-aged players and getting to play against their best players and national teams. She brought back with her a new sense of competition and drive.
But when asked about the best part of playing hockey at CU, Fiscelli talks about her team first.
“I just love being a part of a second family. No matter what, I always have my team to fall back on,” Fiscelli said.
That’s what makes Fiscelli’s role so special. She’s a fierce competitor and leading scorer, but above all, she’s a kind person who has a team that feels like home. Her social media post on Thanksgiving discussed how grateful she is for the big hugs she gets after she scores.
I have firsthand seen this team before they go on the rink, on the ice and after a big win. And Fiscelli is at the center of so many of their celebrations. Because for her, a win means more when you have people to share it with.