“Three boys and two play hockey,” Nowakowski said. “My oldest is a fifth grader and my youngest is in Cougar Cubs. He’s four-years old and we also have an eight-year old.”
Being around hockey is part of Jacqueline’s identity – despite the fact she was not a rink rat as a youngster.
“I didn’t grow up playing hockey,” Nowakowski said. “My husband didn’t grow up playing hockey. This is a whole new world to us.”
Because of her boys, Jacqueline has a newfound puck passion and has put in countless hours getting them to games and practices.
“We’re eating out of the car,” Nowakowski said. “We’re going to Kwik Trip. We’re tailgating. We’re sometimes making meals in the kitchen. Early practices, late practices. Out of town tournaments.”
These sacrifices have not gone unnoticed.
In November – as part of the build up to the World Junior Championships in Minnesota that goes from December 26 through January 5 – Nowakowski was named the 2026 Hockey Mom of the year.
“I looked on social media and saw there was a chance to win a Mall of America gift card for hockey mom of the year,” Nowakowski said. “I went ahead and I entered, said some favorite things about hockey and what hockey means to us and our family.”
“Honored to represent all hockey moms”
Nowakowski is ecstatic she was chosen as the winner out of five finalists.
“I’m honored to represent all hockey moms,” Nowakowski said. “There’s thousands of us in the state of hockey. It’s an honor.”
Nowakowski received some cool gifts for winning the grand prize – including a $500 Mall of America gift card. But for Nowakowski this isn’t just about getting perks, it’s also a way for her to temporarily escape a serious medical issue she is battling.
“I was diagnosed with breast cancer in early June,” Nowakowski said. “For us hockey meant a lot over the summer. My oldest son plays year round so we still were able to go to travel tournaments and cheer him on in the games and it gave us something to look forward to and just be together as a family and with the camaraderie of the other parents and players.”
“She’s been going through a lot,” said Jacqueline’s son Leo Nowakowski. “I felt like she deserved it and I was really happy for her.”
Leo was thrilled to see his number 1 fan be chosen as the hockey mom of the year.
“I was just really happy when I heard her name get called,” Leo said. “I looked at my dad and my dad looked at me and we were all super surprised,” Leo said. “We were just really happy and excited.”
Focus on fun
The medical struggle for Jacqueline is real, but hockey gives her a chance to smile and focus on fun.
“Yeah, a hundred percent,” Nowakowski said. “Something to look forward to and kind of bring some joy back into our lives during a difficult time.”
Centennial and Hometown Hockey in Andover – who Leo plays for in the summer season – has rallied around Nowakowski and she is extremely grateful for that.
“At the time I was diagnosed with cancer he was 10 so (it’s good) for him to have peer support, wrapping their sticks in pink tape and pink t-shirts for tournament weekends and pink ribbons on their helmets,” Nowakowski said. ” More than anything it meant the world to have Leo have that peer support.”
Nowakowski admits she gets hyped up in close games, but lets Leo and the team do their thing on the ice. She just wants to be a spectator and give them total support.
