Penalty Box Post Quick Hit - Sunday, August 22, 2021


Penalty Box Post Quick Hit
Sunday, August 22nd

Norcross transfers to Minnesota for 2021-2022 season

Lyle, Massachusetts native Savannah Norcross was named yesterday as the newest member of the Gopher Women's Hockey team, transferring in as a senior after playing three seasons with the Boston College Eagles.

Norcross has improved her statistics every season, totaling 41 points on 26 goals and 15 assists in her collegiate career to-date. After lighting the lamp 3 times as a freshman, she recorded 11 goals and 6 assists in her sophomore year. As a junior in the abbreviated 2020-2021 season, Norcross averaged better than a point per game, netting 12 goals and dishing out 9 helpers in only 20 contests.

As noted in the announcement from the U., Norcross received an invitation to the U.S. Women's National Team Evaluation Camp in March; she was also invited to the USA Hockey Women's National Festival as a U-23 selection earlier this month. The 5-7 forward joins the Gophers while she pursues her Bachelor's degree in human development and psychology.

Welcome, Savannah!! We look forward to seeing you in a Gopher jersey this fall!!

Copyright © 2021 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.
Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at www.gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

The Penalty Box Post - Tuesday, August 17th

The Penalty Box Post
Tuesday, August 17, 2021

2021 IIHF Women's World Championship Begins Friday, August 20; medal games on Tuesday, August 31 at Winsport Arena at Canada Olympic Park, Calgary, Alberta

Following a cancelled 2020 tournament, two postponements and a venue change for the 2021 edition, and all 10 teams successfully getting through quarantine with no positive COVID tests, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women's World Championship will finally commence this Friday, August 20, at Winsport Arena at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta. The preliminary round runs through Thursday, August 26, with quarterfinals on August 28, the semifinals on August 30, and the Bronze- and Gold-Medal Games on Tuesday, August 31.

Storylines abound as the action gets underway. Team USA enters the tournament as the 5-time defending champions, looking to make it six in a row. Finland looks to avenge their 2019 championship game loss to the Americans after having an overtime goal waved off following video review. Meanwhile, host Canada looks to get back to the title game on home ice after being upset by the Finns in the 2019 semifinals.

Gophers at the World Championship – As previously reported seven representatives of the Minnesota Women's Hockey program will be participating at the World Championship. 2020-2021 Gophers Abbey Murphy & Grace Zumwinkle will make their tournament debuts with Team USA, and are joined on the squad by Minnesota alumnae Megan Bozek, Dani Cameranesi, Amanda Kessel, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein. That said, Hannah Brandt is one of three Americans selected for the national team's pre-Olympic residency program this autumn but not participating at the World Championship, and the Finland Women's National Team enters the tournament with neither Gopher alumnae Mira Jalosuo nor Noora Räty for the first time since 2004.

Team USA opens action with a pre-tournament exhibition tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday, August 18) at Noon MT / 1:00 p.m. CT against Russia. Their tournament schedule is as follows, with all games broadcast live on NHL Network:

  • Friday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. CT vs. Switzerland;

  • Sunday, August 22 at 7:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. CT vs. Finland;

  • Tuesday, August 24 at Noon MT / 1:00 p.m. CT vs. Russia;

  • Thursday, August 26 at 4:00 p.m. MT / 5:00 p.m. CT vs. Canada.

The full schedule of games can be found here. You can find all the news and information about the tournament at www.iihf.com/en/events/2021/ww, or through USA Hockey or Hockey Canada.

Zumwinkle named At-Large Academic All-American

Following her honor as an At-Large Academic All-District selection by the College Sports Information Directors of America in early July, Gopher Women's Hockey senior Grace Zumwinkle was named as one of five University of Minnesota student-athletes to earn At-Large Academic All-American honors, as announced by on Friday, August 6.

Zumwinkle was joined by Ona Loper (women's gymnastics) on the Second Team, while Jack LaFontaine (men's hockey), Lexy Ramler (women's gymnastics), and Shane Wiskus (men's gymnastics) were First Team honorees. As noted in the press release, Blais Andries (First Team, football) and Laura Bagwell Katalinich (Third Team, women's basketball) earned honors earlier in the 2020-2021 season. Additionally, eight members of the Gopher Track & Field and Cross Country programs were also recognized last week: Alec Basten (First Team), Teddy Frid (Second Team), Bethany Hasz (First Team), Owen Hoeft (Third Team), Abby Kohut-Jackson (Third Team), Val Larson (Third Team), Kaleb Siekmeier (Third Team) and Amira Young (Third Team).

We send congratulations to Grace and the other 14 Gopher student-athletes earning Academic All-American honors!!

New Ridder Arena PA announcer named for 2021-2022 season

We send a warm welcome to Brian Sweeney, who was named as the new public address announcer for Gopher Women's Hockey at Ridder Arena. Sweeney is a member of the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers, winning the organization's Bob Sheppard P.A. Announcer of the Year Award for high school announcers in 2019-2020 for his work at Simley H.S. in Inver Grove Heights. Sweeney also serves as the PA announcer for Concordia University, St. Paul, and the Minnesota Vixen professional women's football team.

We also send a very gracious thank you to former PA announcer Rick Benson, who served many years at Ridder Arena for Gopher Women's Hockey and WCHA & NCAA Tournament contests. Rick also emceed several Power Play Club events, most notably our receptions with incoming freshmen and outgoing seniors.

Copyright © 2021 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.
Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at www.gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Friday, August 6, 2021

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Friday, August 6th

Eleven Gophers invited to USA Hockey Women's Nat'l Festival

Eleven Gopher Women's Hockey representative are among 84 invitees to the USA Hockey Women's National Festival, which got underway yesterday (August 5) and runs through next Friday, August 13, at the Super Rink in Blaine, MN.

The invitees include players previously named to the pre-Olympic residency program roster, with Gophers Megan Bozek, Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, Amanda Kessel, Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Lee Stecklein, and Grace Zumwinkle. Three additional U. of M. players – Taylor Heise, Gracie Ostertag, and Madeline Wethington (pictured) – also received invitations to the Festival as members of a group of twenty-five (25) Under-23 selections. The Festival also features 32 Under-18 players who will be vying for spots on the team roster for January's 2022 IIHF Women's Under-18 World Championship in Sweden.

The Festival is serving as a pre-tournament camp for the U.S. National Team leading up to the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship later this month in Calgary, and activities through this coming Tuesday, August 10, are closed as a result. However, following the national team's departure for Calgary, the following scrimmages at the Super Rink's Rink 5 are open to the public:

  • U-18 intrasquad scrimmage – Wednesday, August 11 at 2 p.m. CT

  • U-23 vs. U-18 scrimmage #1 – Thursday, August 12 at Noon CT

  • U-23 vs. U-18 scrimmage #2 – Friday, August 13 at 10 a.m. CT


We once again send all the invited players congratulations on this honor, and wish the 7 Gophers headed to the World Championship good luck!!

Copyright © 2021 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.
Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at www.gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

The Penalty Box Box - Friday, July 30 2021

The Penalty Box Post
Friday, July 30th

Darwitz, Bobrowski named as new Gopher assistant coaches

We send warmest welcomes to new Gopher Women's Hockey assistant coaches Natalie Darwitz and Jake Bobrowski, following yesterday's announcement that they are joining Brad Frost's staff on the Minnesota bench.

Darwitz returns to the U. following six seasons as the head coach at Hamline University, taking the Pipers to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four in 2018 and NCAA Division III Final in 2019. She was also named both MIAC and USCHO D-III Coach of the Year for the 2017-2018 season. She previously served as a GWH assistant coach in 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 (taking a year off in between to train for the Olympics), and head coach of Lakeville South High School's girls hockey team from 2011 to 2015.

As a player, Darwitz still ranks third in Gopher program history in points (246), first in points per game (2.48), fifth in goals (102), second in assists (144), and first in assists per game (1.45). On the international stage, she's a three-time Olympic medalist (silver in 2002 & 2010 and bronze in 2006) and three-time IIHF World gold medalist with Team USA. She's also inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame, Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame, and 'M' Club Hall of Fame.

Bobrowski comes to the U. after serving on Darwitz's staff at Hamline as an assistant coach the past six seasons. Prior to his time at Hamline, he was the head coach of Hill-Murray's junior varsity girls hockey team and assistant coach of the Pioneers' varsity team for seven years.

Johnson officially named as head coach of U.S. Olympic Team

USA Hockey named its three head coaches for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on Wednesday, selecting former GWH associate head coach and current St. Thomas University head coach Joel Johnson to lead the U.S. Women's Olympic Hockey Team in Beijing, China.

Johnson has been involved with USA Hockey for many years, most notably leading the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team to four straight gold medals (2015-18) in the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship and serving as head coach of the U.S. Under-22 Women’s Select Team on two occasions for the U22 Series against Canada. He will serve as head coach of the 2021 U.S. Women’s National Team at the upcoming IIHF Women’s World Championship next month in Calgary, after making his debut with the team as an assistant coach in 2018-2019.

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan will serve as head coach of the U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team, and David Hoff, the head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team for the last three seasons – leading Team USA to back-to-back gold medals at the IPC Para Ice Hockey World Championship – will make his first appearance as head coach of a U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team.

We send congratulations and wishes of good luck to all three coaches!

2021 IIHF Women's World Championship game schedule set

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) released the game schedule for the 2021 Women's World Championship, being played August 20 through 31 in Calgary, with 20 preliminary round games and 8 playoff round contests. The full schedule can be found here.

Team USA – with GWH representatives Megan Bozek, Dani Cameranesi, Amanda Kessel, Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Lee Stecklein, and Grace Zumwinkle – will play in the third game of the tournament against Switzerland on Friday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. CT. The Americans' other preliminary round games include...

  • Sunday, August 22 at 7:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. CT vs. Finland;

  • Tuesday, August 24 at Noon MT / 1:00 p.m. CT vs. Russia;

  • Thursday, August 26 at 4:00 p.m. MT / 5:00 p.m. CT vs. Canada.

All Team USA games will be broadcast live on NHL Network.

Copyright © 2021 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.
Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at www.gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Saturday, July 24, 2021

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Saturday, July 24th

Seven Gophers named to Team USA for World Championship

2020-2021 Gopher Women's Hockey forwards Abbey Murphy & Grace Zumwinkle and 5 U. of M. alumnae – Megan Bozek, Dani Cameranesi, Amanda Kessel, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein – were named to the 25-player U.S. Women's National Hockey Team roster for the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship, as announced by USA Hockey this past Thursday.

Following two postponements of the World Championship from this past spring, the tournament was relocated from Nova Scotia to Calgary, Alberta, and rescheduled to August 20 through 31. As noted in the roster release, Team USA will hold a training camp August 4-9 at the Super Rink in Blaine as part of the U.S. Women’s National Team Festival.

The American squad will be in Group A with Canada, Finland, Switzerland, and Russia, while Group B is comprised of Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, and Japan. All 5 Group A teams and the top 3 Group B teams after round-robin group play will qualify for the playoff round.

We congratulate and send wishes of good luck to the 7 Gopher representatives and all the selected players!!

GWH-record 12 players earn All-American Scholor honors

A Minnesota Women's Hockey program-record 12 players were honored as 2020-2021 Krampade/American Hockey Coaches Association Division I All-American Scholars, announced by the association this past Monday, July 19.

We send our congratulations to Emily Brown, Anne Cherkowski, Josey Dunne, Tella Jungels, Olivia King, Maggie Nicholson, Emily Oden, Gracie Ostertag, Catie Skaja, Taylor Wente, Audrey Wethington, and Madeline Wethington on earning this recognition. To qualify, a student-athlete must have attained a 3.6 GPA for each semester, regardless of whether their school’s hockey team was able to play this season or not.

Copyright © 2021 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.
Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at www.gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

The Two-Minute Minor - An Edition of the Penalty Box Post - Friday, July 16, 2021

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Friday, July 16th

Three Gophers invited to Canada Nat'l Development Team camp

Current Gopher Women's Hockey players Olivia Knowles and Amy Potomak (left & right) and alumna Sarah Potomak (center) have been named among 43 players invited to the BFL CANADA National Women's Development Team Summer Camp, being held July 29 through August 9 at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

As noted in the roster release, “The 40 players who will attend camp – six goaltenders, 12 defence and 22 forwards – will be split into two teams and participate in practices and intrasquad games. The camp will also feature two scrimmages against Canada’s National Women’s Team from August 7-9.” Additionally, Hockey Canada is hosting its National Women’s Under-18 Team Summer Development Camp in Calgary, also starting on July 29 with 23 invitees.

We send our congratulations and wishes of good luck to Olivia, Amy, and Sarah!!

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Winny Brodt-Brown named as ‘M’ Club Hall of Fame inductee

We send further congratulations to Gopher Women's Hockey alumna and longtime Minnesota Whitecaps defender Winny Brodt-Brown on being named one of 10 members of the 'M' Club Hall of Fame Class of 2021, as announced by the University of Minnesota on Wednesday.

Brodt-Brown played for the Gophers in 1998-2000 and 2002-2003, recording 134 career points on 41 goals and 93 assists in 96 games. She was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the All-WCHA First Team in Minnesota's 1999-2000 National Championship season, and was also a Top Ten finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award that year. Among all Gopher blueliners in the program's history, she ranks 2nd for points and 3rd in both goals and assists; she is also 6th among all players in assists per game (0.97).

Winny remains an active, competitive player to this day, joining the Minnesota Whitecaps in their inaugural season in 2004-2005 and remaining with the team through its years in the Western Women's Hockey League, as an independent program, and most-recently as a member of the National Women's Hockey League.

The induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday, September 10 on the Williams Arena court. The ten individuals will be recognized throughout the weekend at various events, including the September 11 home football game against Miami (OH).

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Copyright © 2021 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.
Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at www.gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

The Two-Minute Minor - An Edition of the Penalty Box Post - Saturday, July 10, 2021

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Saturday, July 10th

Eight Gophers selected for U.S. Nat'l Team Residency Program

2020-2021 Gopher Women's Hockey forwards Abbey Murphy (pictured) & Grace Zumwinkle and 6 U. of M. alumnae – Megan Bozek, Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, Amanda Kessel, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein – were named yesterday among the 27 players invited to the 2021-2022 U.S. Women’s National Team Residency Program.

The residency will begin in October at the Super Rink in Blaine in preparation for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, with the final 23-player roster for the team expected to be revealed in very late December or early January. Prior to the residency, USA Hockey will name its 25-player roster later this month for the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship, which is set for August 21-30 in Calgary, Alberta.

We congratulate and send wishes of good luck to the 8 Gopher representatives and all the selected players!!

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Zumwinkle earns At-Large Academic All-District honors

We send further congratulations to Gopher Women's Hockey senior Grace Zumwinkle on being one of eight University of Minnesota student-athletes to earn At-Large Academic All-District honors, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America on Thursday.

Zumwinkle was joined by Colton Dee (men's gymnastics), Lindsay Eliasen (rowing), Jack LaFontaine (men's hockey), Ona Loper (women's gymnastics), Henry Meeker (men's gymnastics), Lexy Ramler (women's gymnastics), and Shane Wiskus (men's gymnastics) in being recognized. Each student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at their current institution in order to be nominated, and Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot with winners announced later this month.

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Copyright © 2021 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.
Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at www.gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

Penalty Box Post - Monday, July 5, 2021

Penalty Box Post
Monday, July 5th

Seven GWH players named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars
New school record set with 180 student-athletes honored by conference

Seven members of the Gopher Women's Hockey team were named Big Ten Distinguished Scholars this past Thursday, July 1, among a new U. of M. school record 180 student-athletes recognized by the conference for the 2020-2021 academic year.

We send our congratulations to Emily Brown, Olivia King, Emily Oden, Gracie Ostertag, Catie Skaja, Taylor Wente, and Madeline Wethington on earning this recognition. We give an extra shout-out to Wente and Wethington (pictured) for maintaining perfect 4.0 grade point averages for the year!

Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in the previous academic year, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire previous academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 or better during the previous academic year, excluding any summer grades.

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Brausen joins Johnson's coaching staff at St. Thomas

Accompanying the official entry of the St. Thomas Tommies into the Western Collegiate Hockey Association on Thursday, July 1, UST head coach Joel Johnson named his two new full-time assistant coaches, one of whom is GWH alumna and (now former) Minnesota assistant Bethany Brausen.

Brausen was on Brad Frost's coaching staff the past four seasons as the team posted a 94-31-8 (.737) record over that span. As a player from 2010 through 2014, she helped the Gophers post a 139-17-5 (.879) record with national championships in 2012 & 2013, playing in all 161 games while recording 51 points on 16 goals and 35 assists.

We thank Bethany for her service to the Gophers as both a player and coach, and wish her the best of luck in this new opportunity!

Marty Sertich was named as Johnson's other assistant. Sertich was on the Tommies' coaching staff for their final two seasons as a Division III program, joining them in the 2018-2019. He also currently runs Tradition Hockey, a youth training program based in Roseville.

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Wente selected by Whitecaps in 3rd round of 2021 NWHL Draft

Prior to earning another academic award (as documented above), 2020-2021 senior Taylor Wente became the latest Gopher Women's Hockey player selected in the National Women's Hockey League draft, being picked 18th overall by the Minnesota Whitecaps in the 3rd round last Tuesday (June 29).

Wente finished her collegiate career with 73 points on 29 goals and 44 assists in 127 games.

Congratulations and good luck, Taylor!!

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PPC Board of Directors meeting – Wednesday, July 14, at 7 p.m.
Meeting to be held online via Zoom

Here's an additional reminder that the next meeting of the Power Play Club's Board of Directors is scheduled for Wednesday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. Fundraising for the 2021-2022 Gopher Women's Hockey season is expected to be a focus of the meeting. Board meetings are open to all PPC members (2020-2021 membership applies for the current off-season). This meeting will be held online via Zoom; if you are interested in attending, please contact PPC president Bill Johnson at president@powerplayclub.org.

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Copyright © 2021 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.
Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at www.gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, June 23, 2021

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, June 23rd

U. of M. announces full capacity for Gopher athletic events

The University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics department announced yesterday “that it plans to operate at full capacity for live sporting events when teams return to competition for the 2021-22 academic year.” The new status begins with the Gopher volleyball, soccer, and football seasons this fall.

The press release also reported that the school will be transitioning to mobile tickets for all ticketed events on campus, with additional information and tutorials to be shared directly with ticket holders in the coming weeks.

We look forward to seeing all of you, our fellow GWH fans, at Ridder Arena this fall!!
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Bench, Brown, Knowles to return to GWH for 2021-2022 season

Gopher Women's Hockey seniors Lauren Bench, Emily Brown, and Olivia Knowles will return to the team in the 2021-2022 season, as announced by the university last Thursday, June 17, after each of them accepted the additional season of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of the COVID-19 pandemic. All three shared their thoughts on their respective decisions in the announcement.

We look forward to seeing Lauren, Emily, Olivia, and the remainder of the squad on the ice for the program's 25th season, which starts October 1!!

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PPC Board of Directors meeting – Wednesday, July 14, at 7 p.m.

We send out this reminder that the next meeting of the Power Play Club Board of Directors is now scheduled for Wednesday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. Fundraising for the 2021-2022 Gopher Women's Hockey season is expected to be a focus of the meeting. Board meetings are open to all PPC members (2020-2021 membership applies for the current off-season). Logistics for the meeting are still to be determined and will be shared as soon as they are available.

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Copyright © 2021 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.
Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at www.gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

The Two Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Monday, June 7, 2021

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Monday, June 7th

Joel Johnson named new head coach at University of St. Thomas

University of Minnesota women's hockey associate head coach Joel Johnson was named the new head coach of the University of St. Thomas women's hockey team earlier today, as that program transitions into NCAA Division I play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association starting in the 2021-2022 season.

Johnson has been part of the Gopher program over two stints spanning 16 combined seasons and 6 of the school's 7 national championships, as an assistant coach from 1999 through 2004 and then as the associate head coach from 2010 through 2021. He also coached in the Bethel University men's hockey program from 2004 through 2010, including 3 seasons as their head coach.

Johnson is also currently serving as interim head coach of the U.S. National Women's Hockey Team as it prepares for the rescheduled 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship and the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. He has spent the last 11 seasons with USA Hockey.

The U. of M. also published a press release on the news, with a brief statement from GWH head coach Brad Frost, here.

We send our congratulations and best wishes to Joel as he transitions to this new opportunity and guides the Tommies into Division I, and thank him for his years of service to the University of Minnesota and the Gopher Women's Hockey program.
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Calgary to host 2021 Women's World Championship in August

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), in partnership with Hockey Canada, announced last Wednesday, June 2, that Calgary, Alberta will serve as the new host city for the 2021 Women's World Championship. New event dates of August 20 through 31 were previously announced at the end of April.

The relocation of the tournament to Calgary follows two postponements of the event in its originally-selected host cities of Halifax & Truro, Nova Scotia, due to on-going concerns with COVID-19.

All 31 games of the tournament will be played at WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park, though the exact game schedule is to be announced. The championship will feature 10 teams for only the second time, following the expansion from 8 teams after the 2017 tournament.
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Copyright © 2021 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.
Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at www.gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.