Renee and her older sister, Ronda, played one year together on a Roseville boys mites team.  Renee was 3 and Ronda was 5.  Both progressed through the Roseville youth boys programs, but always playing on different teams.  They reunited in 1995-96 on the first Roseville girls varsity team.

Their neighbors and playing companions were the Brodts.  Winny Brodt was five years older than Renee and was the inaugural Ms Hockey winner.  Chelsey Brodt was the younger sister.  Renee, Ronda, and Winny (and Chelsey) often played spirited games of boot hockey in the backyards and driveways of their homes.  They practiced a lot, and learned a lot from watching Winny play.

Renee's older brother, Luke Curtin, was often included in those games.  Luke skated for Roseville High School, then went on to play in the Western Hockey League.

The Curtins' garage door had taken a beating from tennis balls and hockey pucks over the years, so in an effort to spare it additional abuse the Curtin girls sometimes left it up..  Sometimes an errant shot has cleaned off a shelf inside the garage and brought a fatherly rebuke from Ron Curtin.  ``Those pucks and tennis balls don't always hit the net,'' he said.  ``I've had a few things broken when they were knocked off the...

Renee was united with Ronda and Winny in 1995-96 on the first Roseville girls varsity team.  Winny (senior), Ronda (freshman), and Renee (7th grade).  They went undefeated and won the state championship.  [Chelsey was in 6th grade.]

Renee as a seventh-grader
puts a shot on
the net during
the 1996 State Tournament

Renee as a senior.

A Final Tribute

"Renee was the last of the pioneers who helped pave the way for girls hockey.  [She] left her imprint on the game in that she was one of those players who set the bar at a high level for the future, not only in the stats, but also in the intensity and competitive levels of the game.  She showed girls what is possible when you combine talent and hard work.  She helped make girls hockey strong and exciting."         Roseville coach Owen Zeumer

1996-97  All-State.

1998-99  First Team All-State.

1999-2000  First Team All-State.

2000-01 First Team All-State.

All State-Tournament pick four times.

Won two state championships [1996, 1999] with the Roseville Raiders.

The Nation's all-time career scoring leader (boys or girls) in high school hockey with 544 points.

2001 Ms Hockey.

2001 Co-Player of the Year.

Member of the Girls All-Time Top Players listing.

Tim Leighton,  St. Paul Pioneer Press,  July 2, 2002 

Squeals of delight often signal Renee Curtin's presence.  When girls hockey players spot Renee, they flock to her like fans at a rock concert.  They request pictures and thrust pieces of paper in front of her for autographs.

"I'm shocked by some of the attention I get.  It's very flattering.  It's actually kind of thrilling, but I still don't understand why they think so much of me,"  Renee said.

Modesty and class are among the treasons.  So is appreciation of her role as one of the pioneers of girls hockey in Minnesota.  In six varsity seasons, Renee was one of the few elite players who brought attention to a new sport and became examples for young girls to emulate.  Perhaps youngsters are just excited to be in the presence of Minnesota's all-time leading hockey scorer -- boy or girl.  The reasons are endless.