Today we’d like to introduce you to Kurri Anderson.
Hi Kurri, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Kurri Anderson. I was born on August 10th, 1999 and from Woodbury, Minnesota. My family consists of my Mom (Renee), my Dad (Josh), and my 4 siblings (Karter, Keegan, Chloe, Cooper). I am the oldest of the 5 and couldn’t be more proud to be their oldest sibling for them. A question I always get is “how did you get your first name?” My dad being a former hockey player and a hockey fan, he named me after an former NHL hockey player Jari Kurri. He was linemates with “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky. Being named after an former NHL player it was born for me to put the skates on at the age of 3. I then played all my youth hockey through the Woodbury Association and then in high school at Woodbury High School. After high school, I attended and graduated from Minnesota State Mankato with a degree in Sports Management and a double minor in Marketing and Athletic Coaching. During my time in college, it clicked for me that I wanted to start coaching hockey. In 2020, I took on an coaching role for Blue Army AAA hockey. After I graduated from Minnesota State Mankato in 2021, I have been with the Woodbury hockey association. From 2021-2023 I was the Assistant Coach for the Bantam A team. In 2023-2024, I was the Head Coach for the Bantam A team. After my 1st season as an Head Coach in 2024-2025 I was named the Head Coach for the Bantam AA team. Since 2025 I have been coaching the Bantam A team. I am also currently an Lead Instructor/Coach for YURO SK8 SYSTEMS.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Growing up I was very fortunate to have the childhood that my parents gave me. I was a kid who loved to be outside, be with friends, go to different sport events, and play different sports. Growing up with 4 younger siblings was one of the best things that helped me having an amazing childhood. After High School, is where things started to go down hill for me. I was getting into trouble because of the decisions that I would make and not being the true me. In college, I was just an normal college student who was having fun and enjoying the freedom for the first time. I did very well in school but, the drinking and parties were one thing that got me in trouble. After a few incidents, COVID happened and made the decision to come home and finish school from Woodbury to get away from “party scene”. I have been on an roller coaster ride when it comes to my addiction to alcohol. The last year and half I have been struggling with my addiction. In late November of 2025, I tore my quad and that was one of many triggers for me. Some of those triggers are (my injury, death of my grandma, and death of friends). Those are just a few but, everyone in my life including family and friends knew that I was drinking. I have ruined relationships with my family and friends which hurts me because that is something I never wanted to do. I decided on July 7th, 2026 that I would check myself into a rehab facility called Cedar Ridge Treatment Center. It was the best decision I could have done for myself because I knew I was going down a dark path. In rehab, (I graduated with High Honors, never missed a class, became a Peer Advisor, and received my 30 day chip). I have been sober since July 5th and still going strong to continue my sobriety and rebuild the relationships with my family and friends who I’ve hurt along the way. Addiction is a disease and I accept that this will be apart of me for the rest of my life. It’s okay if people don’t think addiction is a disease because some people just don’t get/understand what it’s like. I am extremely thankful for everyone who has supported me throughout my journey of recovery like my family, friends, and the hockey community.
Believe.Hope.Faith
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love what I do and that is coaching. Currently coaching Bantam A hockey in the Woodbury Association and being an Lead Instructor/Coach for YURO SK8 SYSTEMS. God gave me the opportunity to continue to be apart of the game of hockey. I love coming to the rink everyday and being able to do something that I love and have a strong passion for. My coaching philosophy is centered around positivity, player development, accountability, and building strong relationships with every athlete on and off the rink. I believe players grow the most when they’re challenged, supported, and believe in a family culture everyday when it’s at the rink or when it’s in their outside life. My goal every year is to get these players to become young men but, be ready for the next level not only on the ice but, in life. I am most proud of three things when it comes to my coaching career. First, is being able to continue my coaching career and hearing from kids and parents how much they love being around me. That is something you want to hear because, it makes you want to come back every year and continue to do the one thing that you love and that is being able to coach. Being able to give back to the community and the kids is something that hits home for me. Second, is having an amazing coaching staff over the years. (Alec Wonsmos, Luke Notermann, John Conlee, Tomy Ogren, Brady Andrus, and Karter Anderson). Without these guys showing me new ways to improve as an coach, being supportive, game planning for games and practices none of this would be possible without them. Having them by my side is something I will never forget. To all of them I say thank you! Lastly, I am extremely blessed with my Head Coaching career. I have been able to meet and teach some fantastics kids along the way and that is what makes me want to come to the rink everyday. As an Head Coach in my first three years I have an record of 102-55-19. (38-16-5, 36-18-8, and 28-21-6) On February 7th, 2026 I hit a milestone of getting my 100th career Win. One of the best moments of my coaching career. I think what separates me from others is my passion and dedication to the game of hockey. Knowing that I am heading to the rink and being able to give back and teach these athletes give me that excitement like what it was for me when I was playing.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I believe that I have always been a risk taker throughout my life. Risk taking is the act of doing something where you don’t know what the outcome is going to be. I have done this through my playing career in hockey, college, family and friends, life, and of course coaching. Knowing that feeling of taking a chance or a challenge was something I always loved to do because you were believing that you made the right decision or you can overcome an challenge. I was someone who loved to take on challenges and risks to prove people that I can do it but, at the end of the day you don’t know if you made the right/wrong decision until you give it an try. Coaching is something you are taking a risk at even before the season starts. You’re up in the stands and watching tryouts for 3-5 days and in that time period you are preparing to chose your team. When it comes to choosing players theres always going to be risk taking because you don’t know who the kids are and you’re trying to put together an team to compete throughout the entire year. During the game, you are always going to be going with your gut decision when it comes to which kids should be out there or which goalie you should play for that game. You as an coach are always taking risks because you can either be right/wrong but, at the end of the day you learn from the risks that you take. No matter what risk you are about to take, you can’t live in fear. There are going to be good risks that you take and than there are bad risks.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Kurrianderson
- Facebook: Kurri Anderson
- LinkedIn: Kurri Anderson
- Twitter: KurriAnderson17
Image Credits
Hockey Photos: jennaoslinphoto
