WCHA releases preliminary league schedule for 2025-2026
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced Wednesday its preliminary 2025-2026 league schedule of all 112 contests between the eight member schools.
Minnesota's conference home opener is scheduled for the weekend of October 10 & 11 against St. Cloud State. The Gophers will get their first look at the new Lee & Penny Anderson Arena on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in December, wrapping up the unofficial first half of the season. League action resumes January 9 & 10 against Minnesota State, and the regular-season concludes February 20 & 21 with Senior Weekend at Ridder Arena against Minnesota Duluth.
As noted in the press release, the schedule is subject to change and all game times are to be announced. In his meeting with the Power Play Club's Board of Directors earlier this month, GWH head coach Brad Frost indicated that some of the series may be switched to home-and-home weekends.
St. Thomas announces opening date of Anderson Arena
The University of St. Thomas announced Tuesday that the new Lee & Penny Anderson Arena will open Friday, October 24 as both their women's and men's hockey teams host the Providence College Friars in non-conference play. Game times are to be announced later this summer.
Gophers L. Hemp, Jordan attend USA Hockey goaltending camp, Coach Scott attends national women's coaching academy
Catching up on other Gopher Women's Hockey news, we give shout-outs to three members of the GWH family attending a pair of national events over the past eight days.
Incoming Minnesota freshman netminder Layla Hemp (right) and junior transfer Molly Jordan attended USA Hockey's National Goaltending Camp last week (May 15-17) at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. Hemp was one of 24 invited goaltenders (12 men & 12 women), while Jordan was one of 12 female defenders selected to participate. We congratulate both on these invitations!!
Meanwhile, we also recognize GWH assistant coach Jessica Scott's acceptance to and participation at the NCAA Academy 2.0 conference held earlier this week in Denver. The conference is the next level of training for past graduates of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy, and is co-sponsored by WeCOACH Sports.
Three Gophers named in PWHL Entry Draft eligibility list, league announces Expansion & Entry Draft procedures
We send wishes of good luck to recent Gopher Women's Hockey graduates Peyton Hemp, Ella Huber, and Natalie Mlynkova, who were named last Thursday (May 15) to the PWHL's 2025 Entry Draft eligibility list. The trio are among 117 forwards plus 56 defenders and 26 goaltenders on the list. The 2025 PWHL Entry Draft is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. CT at Hard Rock Live inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Ottawa, Ontario. The New York Sirens will pick first in the draft, but the full order of selection will be confirmed at a later date.
Meanwhile, the PWHL announced this past Monday (May 19) the "key dates, rules, and procedures for 2025 Expansion Rosters" for the league's new, incoming teams in Seattle and Vancouver.
Included in those regulations...
The PWHL's existing six teams will have until Tuesday, June 3 at 12 noon ET to designate three players apiece from selection in the Exclusive Signing Window and the Expansion Draft, and they can each protect one additional player after relinquishing two.
Between June 4 at 9 a.m. ET and June 8 at 5 p.m. ET, the expansion teams have an exclusive window to sign up to five players (with no minimum number). Any unprotected player or any player on an expiring contract is eligible to be signed.
The 2025 Expansion Draft will be held on Monday, June 9 at 8:30 p.m. ET, with Seattle and Vancouver selecting a minimum of seven players apiece until each has reached a 12-player roster. Players eligible to be selected consist of unprotected players under contract for the 2025-2026 season or those whose playing rights are held through the 2025-2026 season (2024 Entry Draft selections). The order in which the two teams will make their selections and coverage details are to be announced.
“March On to Victory” fundraising campaign – through June 24
The March On to Victory Spring fundraising campaign from the U. of M. Intercollegiate Athletics Department, supporting each of the 19 Gopher varsity athletics teams, the Spirit Squads, and the department-wide Golden Gopher Fund, continues through Tuesday, June 24.
We thank everyone who has contributed to this campaign to-date. As of 8:15 p.m. last night (Thursday, May 22), Gopher Women's Hockey had the third-highest amount raised for any of the individual programs!!
Links:
All gifts made through June 30, including those given as part of the “March On to Victory” campaign, count toward the Gopher Loyalty Program's member levels and their associated rewards for the 2025-2026 season. Rewards include Ridder Arena Club Room access at the $1,000 combined giving level. Previous contributions made since Nov. 1, 2024 – including 2024-2025 Power Play Club basic membership & locker sponsorships, Give to the Max Day 2024 giving, and '24-'25 Goals for a Goal donations – count toward '25-'26 Gopher Loyalty Program rewards.
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