November 16, 2023

The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Thursday, November 16, 2023

November 16, 2023

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Thursday, November 16th

TODAY is Give to the Max Day! Help us raise funds for Gopher Women's Hockey!!

We kindly ask your help in raising $10,000 for the Gopher Women's Hockey program. The Power Play Club board and volunteers have pledged to match the first $7,500 of donations made today – Thursday, November 16 – dollar for dollar.

Donate at bit.ly/GWH_GTMD2023.

Watch a video featuring Coach Brad Frost!

Funds raised will go to support Ridder Arena updates – such as Olympian wall & “Gophers on the World Stage" display on the concourse and newly redesigned displays in the lower level outside the team's locker room – plus other expenses beyond the team's normal operating budget – such as extra travel costs for next week's D1 In DC Showcase.

Additionally, all donations made through 11:59 p.m. this evening will earn double Gopher Score loyalty program points by the U. of M. Intercollegiate Athletics Department.

Donations made on Give to the Max Day plus those for PPC membership
and Goals for a Goal are 100% tax-deductible!!

Fifth Minnesota 2024-2025 freshman signing announced

Coach Brad Frost and Gopher Women's Hockey announced yesterday via X/Twitter and Facebook that defender Gracie Graham (Kelowna, BC / Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna) has signed to become the fifth member of the team's freshman class of 2024-2025. Graham joins earlier signees Kendra Distad (F - Burnsville, MN), Carly Humphrey (D - Elk River, MN), Kate Kosobud (D - Moorhead, MN), and Ayla Puppe (F - Northfield, MN).

We pass along our warmest greetings to Gracie and look forward to seeing all five players represent the University of Minnesota next fall!!

GWH alumna Darwitz named to WCHA 25th Anniversary Team

We also send congratulations to Gopher Women's Hockey alumna and program all-time points-per-game leader Natalie Darwitz upon being named to the WCHA's 25th Anniversary Top 25 yesterday (Wednesday, November 15). Darwitz was among the second group of five honorees, joined by Wisconsin's Sara Bauer & Jessie Vetter, Ohio State's Tessa Bonhomme, and UMD's Kim Martin Hasson. Darwitz also joins Krissy Wendell-Pohl as Gophers named to the Top 25.

Darwitz, playing three seasons for the Maroon & Gold from 2002-03 to 2004-05, tallied 246 total points (102g-144a) over her 99 career contests for an average of 2.48 points per game. Together with Wendell, she won back-to-back national championships, WCHA regular-season titles, and WCHA postseason crowns in 2004 and 2005, and both were the first three-time All-Americans in program history.

More names on the 25th Anniversary Top 25 Team are expected next month and throughout the rest of the current season.

Copyright © 2023 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.

You can receive the Penalty Box Post newsletter via email by signing up here.

Follow the Power Play Club online at www.powerplayclub.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PowerPlayClubMN, or on Twitter at twitter.com/powerplayclub.

Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at 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.

Paula Rice Biever

November 14, 2023

The Penalty Box Post - Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Paula Rice Biever

November 14, 2023

The Penalty Box Post
Tuesday, November 14th

Help us raise $10,000 on Give to the Max Day for GWH!!

This Thursday, November 16, is Give to the Max Day. Help us raise $10,000 to support the Gopher Women's Hockey team!! The PPC board and volunteers have pledged to match the first $7,500 in donations!!

Donate here
Video: Hear from GWH head coach Brad Frost

Once again, the donation site is open! All gifts between now and 11:59 p.m. CT on Thursday will count toward the match. Additionally, Gopher Athletics is also doubling Gopher Score points for these gifts.

Funds raised will go to support...

Ridder Arena updates, such as the redesigned displays in the lower level outside the Gopher locker room.
Other expenses beyond the team's normal operating budget, such as extra travel costs for the D1 In DC Showcase later this month.

Many thanks for your consideration of this program, especially to those who have already donated!!

Pregame gathering in Duluth on Friday

Making the trip to Duluth this weekend? Join us for a time of socializing before Friday's game at the 310 Pub in Canal Park (310 S. Lake Avenue). Arrive at your leisure, and we hope to see many of you there!!

#4/4 Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-2-0, 5-2-0 WCHA)
vs. #8/7 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (8-2-0, 6-2-0 WCHA)
Friday, November 17 at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 18 at 3:00 p.m.
AMSOIL Arena – Duluth

It's a rivalry week for the Gopher Women's Hockey team as they head north on I-35 to take on the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth. The national top-ten matchup starts this Friday, November 17, at 6:00 p.m. and continues Saturday, November 18, at 3:00 p.m.

Game coverage – Video from both games will be streamed on the B1G+ subscription service. As always, free audio play-by-play is available on GopherSports.com for both Friday and Saturday, starting roughly 20 minutes before each contest.

Last season against Minnesota Duluth – The Gophers faced the Bulldogs five times in 2022-2023 and came away with a 5-0-0 record in those contests, sweeping last November's series at Ridder Arena 3-2 (OT) & 5-3, winning 3-1 & 4-3 in Duluth in January, and shutting out UMD in the NCAA Quarterfinals 3-0 in Minneapolis in March. Grace Zumwinkle was an assist machine, dishing out 6 helpers across the five meetings. Catie Skaja lit the lamp 4 times and added an assist, while Abbey Murphy also found the back of the net 4 times. Taylor Heise & Madeline Wethington each tallied a goal & 3 assists, while Abigail Boreen, Josefin Bouveng & Peyton Hemp added two goals and an assist apiece. Between the pipes, Skylar Vetter averaged 1.80 goals against, 27 saves per game, and a .938 save percentage. Mannon McMahon scored twice with an assist for the Bulldogs, while Nina Jobst-Smith added a goal & two helpers, Hanna Baskin & Ashton Bell each dished out 3 assists, and Gabby Krause lit the lamp twice. UMD netminder Emma Söderberg started all five games, posting a 3.87 GAA and .879 SV%, while Hailey MacLeod stopped all 15 shots she faced in a 28-minute relief appearance.

Analyzing the Bulldogs – Minnesota Duluth has a couple of notable similarities to the Gophers: seeing 9 fifth-year players from last year's team depart but having their only two losses so far this season come at the hands of Ohio State. The 'Dogs are looking for a return to the NCAA Frozen Four after finishing as national runner-up in 2022 but falling to the Gophers in last year's quarterfinal.

Current grad student Mannon McMahon has taken the reins as UMD's leading scorer; she has 13 points on 7 goals & 6 assists this year after tallying 29 points (10g, 19a) last season. Former Bemidji State Beaver Reece Hunt (#29) has joined the Bulldogs as a grad transfer and also has 13 points on 6 goals & 7 assists. Seniors Clara Van Wieren (#25) & Olivia Wallin (#14) are third and fourth in scoring; Van Wieren has 6 goals & 5 assists, while Wallin – a transfer after three years at Penn State – has 3 goals and 6 assists.

A big question for Minnesota Duluth entering 2023-2024 was their goaltending situation after the graduation of Sweden National Team member Emma Söderberg. The answer has been the tandem of sophomore Hailey MacLeod (#35) and freshman Ève Gascon (#1). While mostly splitting time, Gascon got both starts against Ohio State, resulting in a 4-2-0 record; three of her four wins have been by shutout, giving her a .958 save percentage and a 1.17 goals-against average. MacLeod is a perfect 4-0-0 this year with one shutout, yielding only 3 goals for a .962 SV% and 0.75 GAA, and she has not suffered a loss in collegiate play after posting a 5-0-1 record in her six starts last year. UMD's third netminder, freshman Anna Byczek (#31), has yet to see any official action.

Last action for Minnesota Duluth – Hosting St. Thomas two weekends ago, Reece Hunt scored twice Friday and dished out 3 assists on Saturday to lead the Bulldogs to 3-1 & 4-0 victories and the series sweep. Mannon McMahon lit the lamp in both games and Olivia Wallin added a goal & two assists. Hailey MacLeod stopped 23 of 24 shots on Friday, and Ève Gascon stopped all 26 shots she faced on Saturday.

Looking ahead: Teddy Bear Toss – Saturday, December 9

Getting ready for some holiday shopping? Gopher Women's Hockey and the Power Play Club encourage you to pick up a teddy bear (or two, or three...) for the annual Teddy Bear Toss presented by White Bear Mitsubishi! Bring a new stuffed animal in a bag to the game on Saturday, December 9, against Wisconsin, and you'll have an opportunity to toss it onto the ice during the intermission. All bears tossed will be donated to the Masonic Children's Hospital.

Rivalry Series: Team USA takes 2-0 series lead with Saturday win

Hannah Bilka's second-period goal gave the U.S. Women's National Team a 3-1 lead in Game Two of the 2023-2024 Rivalry Series this past Saturday in Los Angeles and proved to be the game-winning tally as the Americans won 5-2 to sweep the November portion of the series (after a 3-1 win in Game One).

Gopher Abbey Murphy assisted on an insurance goal by Gabbie Hughes and Minnesota alumna Taylor Heise assisted on a second Hughes goal. For the week, Heise (1g, 1a) and Murphy (2a) each recorded two points.

Alex Carpenter opened the scoring for Team USA but Laura Stacey evened the contest for the Canadians. Britta Curl capitalized on a turnover to light the lamp unassisted before Bilka's goal. Jamie Lee Rattray pulled Team Canada back within one before Hughes put things away. Nicole Hensley made 23 saves for the Americans, while Kristen Campbell stopped 19 shots for Canada.

The Rivalry Series will resume with a pair of games in Ontario on December 14 & 16. Tickets for those games – plus Games 5 & 6 in Saskatchewan in February – are available here.

Around the WCHA...

St. Thomas tops Minnesota State in Hall of Fame Game – Something had to give as the Tommies and Mavericks entered the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Face-Off Classic on matching 8-game losing streaks. Shelbi Guttormson put MSU up 1-0 after 20 minutes, but Ellah Hause & Ella Boerger lit the lamp for UST in the second period, Rylee Bartz tallied a pair of power-play goals in the third, and Calla Frank stopped 21 of 22 shots against her former team to end the Tommies' skid with a 4-1 victory. Lauren Barbro made 25 saves for the Mavericks. We provide a reminder that this game counted in overall records but not the conference standings.

Upcoming games – All eight WCHA teams are back in conference action on Friday and Saturday. Most notably, top-ranked Wisconsin will visit #2 Ohio State in Columbus. Elsewhere, St. Cloud State & St. Thomas will play a home-and-home series starting in Mendota Heights, while Bemijdi State hosts Minnesota State.

Copyright © 2023 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.

You can receive the Penalty Box Post newsletter via email by signing up here.

Follow the Power Play Club online at www.powerplayclub.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PowerPlayClubMN, or on Twitter/X at twitter.com/powerplayclub.

Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

Power Play Club

November 14, 2023

The Penalty Box Post - Thursday, November 9, 2023

Power Play Club

November 14, 2023

The Penalty Box Post
Thursday, November 9th

Goals for a Goal 2023-2024: Make Your Pledge Today!

Through its first 9 games, the Gopher Women's Hockey team has recorded 35 goals, including converting 12 power-play opportunities. Help us support the squad through our Goals for a Goal program, pledging to convert each goal scored throughout the regular season and postseason into a donation for the program, with the option to double your pledge for power play tallies.

Goals for a Goal pledges can be submitted electronically through this online form. After the postseason, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions. All contributions are tax-deductible donations to the Golden Gopher Fund. Thanks, and GO GOPHERS!!

Looking ahead... Schedule change vs. St. Thomas (Feb. 3, 2024)

Fox 9+ will be televising the Gophers' home game against St. Thomas at Ridder Arena on Saturday, February 3. As a result, the start time of that game has been pushed back to 4:30 p.m. You can find the updated GWH schedule here.

Recap: Gophers sweep home-and-home series vs. MN State

The Gopher Women's Hockey team found itself down a goal in both games of its home-and-home series against Minnesota State Univerity, as Whitney Tuttle scored early for the Mavericks on Friday at Ridder Arena and Lauren Zawoyski netted her first collegiate goal Saturday in Mankato. However, those were the only blemishes allowed by Gopher netminders Lucy Morgan and Skylar Vetter.

After Tuttle's goal just 1:11 into the weekend opener, Abbey Murphy ripped home a power-play goal in the second period to knot the score, Nelli Laitinen lit the lamp on a blue-line bomb in the third, Ava Lindsay added a power-play insurance tally, and Morgan finished with 33 saves for a 3-1 win.

Moving to the Mayo Clinic Health System Events Center for the rematch, Emma Kreisz netted the second goal of her career to draw the Gophers even, Madison Kaiser put away her own rebound to take the lead with 6:14 to play, and Vetter stopped 20 shots in total to give the Maroon & Gold a 2-1 victory and complete the series sweep.

Laitinen, Lindsay, and Kreisz finished with two points apiece in the series, each adding an assist to their respective goals.

Next up: The Gophers will head up I-35 to face Minnesota Duluth at AMSOIL Arena on November 17 at 6:00 p.m. and November 18 at 3:00 p.m.

Minnesota announces signings of four 2024-2025 freshmen

Coach Brad Frost and Gopher Women's Hockey announced yesterday via X/Twitter and Facebook that forwards Ayla Puppe (Northfield, MN; Northfield HS) & Kendra Distad (Burnsville, MN; Minnetonka HS) and defenders Kate Kosobud (Moorhead, MN; Moorhead HS) & Carly Humphrey (Elk River, MN; Elk River HS) have signed to become the members of the team's freshman class of 2024-2025.

We pass along our warmest greetings, and look forward to seeing Ayla, Kendra, Kate & Carly wearing the Maroon and Gold next fall!!

GWH alumna Emily Brown signs deal with PWHL Boston

Gopher Women's Hockey alumna Emily Brown signed a one-year contract with PWHL Boston, as announced by the team on X (formerly Twitter) and reported by The Hockey News this past Monday, November 6.

Brown is the sixth Gopher to sign a PWHL contract and will join Hannah Brandt in Boston. Lee Stecklein, Kelly Pannek, Taylor Heise, and Grace Zumwinkle have all signed with PWHL Minnesota. Congratulations, Emily!!

Rivalry Series, Game 1: Heise nets gamewinner for Team USA

Taylor Heise lit the lamp 3:28 into the third period to give the U.S. Women's National Team a 2-1 lead over Canada in the first game of the 2023-2024 Rivalry Series last night in Tempe, Arizona. That goal proved to be the game-winning tally as the Americans took a 1-0 series lead with a 3-1 victory.

Abbey Murphy recorded an assist as Hilary Knight opened the scoring for the U.S. in the first period, but Brianne Jenner evened things up for Canada in the second stanza. Alex Carpenter added an insurance goal for the Americans with 2 minutes to play. Unofficially, Aerin Frankel made 35 saves for Team USA while Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 24 shots for the Canadians.

Game 2 of the Rivalry Series is set for this Saturday, November 11, at 3 p.m. CT, with television coverage on the NHL Network.

Around the WCHA...

Wisconsin still perfect after sweeping St. Cloud State – Kirsten Simms recorded two goals & three assists, Layla Edwards tallied two goals & two assists, and Casey O'Brien added a goal & three helpers to lead the Badgers to 4-2 and 5-2 road wins over the Huskies. Alice Sauriol lit the lamp in both games for SCSU.

Minnesota Duluth sweeps visiting St. Thomas – Reece Hunt scored twice Friday and dished out 3 assists on Saturday to lead the Bulldogs to 3-1 & 4-0 victories over the Tommies. Mannon McMahon lit the lamp in both games, Olivia Wallin added a goal & two assists, and Ève Gascon stopped all 26 shots she faced in Saturday's contest. Allie Monrean netted the lone goal for UST.

Buckeyes rout Beavers in Bemidji – Ohio State started their weekend road series against Bemidji State with three goals in the first two minutes, then continued to roll to 9-1 and 5-0 victories. After the early blitz, OSU's Joy Dunne netted a hat trick plus an assist on Friday, then added another goal and a helper on Saturday for a 6-point weekend. Kiara Zanon recorded two goals and two assists in the series, Sloane Matthews lit the lamp twice, and Emma Peschel tallied a goal and three assists. Kayla Santl scored the lone goal for BSU, but they were outshot 95-24.

TONIGHT , November 9th – St. Thomas faces Minnesota State in the 2023 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Face-Off Classic, being played this year at the Maple Grove Ice Arena at 7 p.m. The game is an extra meeting between the Tommies and Mavericks and will count in their overall records but not the conference standings.

The other six WCHA teams, including the Gophers, are idle this week and will resume play on November 17.

Power Play Club

November 6, 2023

The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Monday, November 6, 2023

Power Play Club

November 6, 2023

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Monday, November 6th

Reminder: Give to the Max Day – Thursday, November 16

We provide a reminder that Give to the Max Day, the annual day of giving to non-profit organizations throughout the state of Minnesota, is scheduled this year for Thursday, November 16. The Power Play Club will again be participating in this event, and the club's Board of Directors has already pledged to match the first $10,000 in donations made that day.

Watch for more details coming soon. Thank you for your consideration of this program.

Donations made on Give to the Max Day plus those for PPC membership and Goals for a Goal are 100% tax-deductible!!

2023-2024 USA-Canada Rivalry Series begins this week with Murphy, three Gopher alumnae on Team USA roster

The 2023-2024 Rivalry Series between the U.S. and Canada Women's National Hockey Teams begins this week with games Wednesday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. CT at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona, and Saturday, November 11, at 1 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. CT at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Both contests will be televised live on NHL Network.

Team USA will feature a quartet of Minnesota Women's Hockey representatives as current Gopher assistant captain & junior forward Abbey Murphy and alumnae Taylor Heise, Kelly Pannek, and Grace Zumwinkle were named to the roster on October 12. Hockey Canada announced its roster yesterday (November 5).

We also provide a reminder that the Rivalry Series is set to conclude at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Sunday, February 11, at 1 p.m. CT.

Tickets for this week's games plus the contest in St. Paul are available through USA Hockey's Rivalry Series page. Canada is set to host four games in the series, with two in Ontario in December and two in Saskatchewan earlier in February; tickets for those contests can be purchased through Hockey Canada's site.

We again send wishes of good luck to Abbey, Taylor, Kelly & Grace!!

GWH alums Zumwinkle, Brandt sign PWHL contracts

Grace Zumwinkle – the second Gopher Women's Hockey alumna selected in the inaugural Professional Women's Hockey League draft – has come to terms on a three-year contract with PWHL Minnesota, as announced by the team on X (formerly Twitter) and reported by The Hockey News last Wednesday, November 1. Meanwhile, Hannah Brandt, the third Gopher selected in the draft, signed a one-year deal with PWHL Boston this past Friday, November 3 (additional reporting here).

Zumwinkle & Brandt join fellow former Gophers Lee Stecklein (MIN), Kelly Pannek (MIN), and Taylor Heise (MIN) as PWHL signees. Congratulations, Grace and Hannah!!

Power Play Club

November 1, 2023

The Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Power Play Club

November 1, 2023

The Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, November 1st

Goals for a Goal: Gophers reach 30 goal, 10 PPG marks

The Gopher Women's Hockey team continues to light the lamp in the 2023-2024 season! Through seven games, the team has hit the 30-goal mark, with 10 of those coming on the power play. You can help us convert those goals into donations back to the team by registering for the Goals for a Goal program. Pledge a dollar amount for every goal the Gophers score during the regular season and postseason, with the option to double your pledge for power play goals.

Goals for a Goal pledges can be submitted electronically through this online form. Thanks, and GO GOPHERS!!

Enroll in the Power Play Club for 2023-2024!!

We want you to join us in supporting the Gopher Women's Hockey team as a member of the Power Play Club! Don't miss out on our three exclusive Chalk Talks with the coaching staff and our behind-the-scenes tour of Ridder Arena. You'll also be contributing to our fundraising for the program through your tax-deductible enrollment donation.

Time is starting to run short for the opportunity to sponsor a player’s or coach’s locker for the season! With a minimum of $600 donation, you can become a locker sponsor-level member, getting a plaque with your name affixed to a player's or coach's locker, a photo of you with that player or coach, and a special meal with the team. If you wish to sponsor a locker, please contact Rennie McPherson (before donating) at susanmcp58@gmail.com.

Registration also remains open for our basic membership tier, which includes up to two adults and any children at same address and requires a minimum donation of $50. Online registration is preferred at bit.ly/GWH_PPC_2324; click the "Make A Gift" button on that page and follow the instructions. To register offline, download the form here and send it in to the listed address, with a check payable to the "University of Minnesota".

#4/4 Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-2-0, 3-2-0 WCHA)
vs.
Minnesota State University Mavericks (2-6-0, 0-6-0 WCHA)

Friday, November 3 at 6:00 p.m. – Ridder Arena
Saturday, November 4 at 4:00 p.m. - Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center – Mankato

The Gopher Women's Hockey team returns to the state of Minnesota for a home-and-home series against the Minnesota State University Mavericks. The series begins at Ridder Arena this Friday, November 3, at 6:00 p.m. before relocating to the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato for the rematch on Saturday, November 4, at 4:00 p.m.

Game coverage – Saturday's contest will be televised in the Twin Cities area on Fox 9+; you can find a channel guide here. Video from both games will be streamed on the B1G+ subscription service. As always, free audio play-by-play is available on GopherSports.com for both Friday and Saturday, starting roughly 20 minutes before each contest.

Last season against Minnesota State – The Gophers scored early and often against the Mavericks in their first two-game series last season, winning 11-0 in Mankato and 9-4 at Ridder Arena in October 2022. The Maroon & Gold only netted half as many goals in the rematch seven weeks later, but completed the season sweep with victories of 4-1 at Ridder and 6-0 in Mankato. Grace Zumwinkle led the Gophers with 12 points across the four meetings, lighting the lamp 4 times – including a hat trick in the first game – and dishing out 8 assists. Abbey Murphy found the back of the net 5 times and added 3 assists, while Taylor Heise tallied 3 goals & 5 assists. Abby Boreen (4g, 2a) and Ella Huber (2g, 4a) each recorded 6 points, and Josefin Bouveng netted a hat trick in the second of the four games. Between the pipes, Skylar Vetter allowed only 1 goal on 58 shots in over 3 games of action, resulting in a miniscule 0.31 goals-against average and .983 save percentage; Makayla Pahl started the second contest and made 18 saves but exited early after yielding four goals. Alexis Paddington scored twice and recorded an assist for MSU, while Kennedy Bobyck added a goal & an assist. Lauren Barbro started both games of the first series, making 69 saves in 91 minutes of action but getting roughed up for 15 goals against (.821 SV%; 9.82 GAA), while Alexa Berg stopped 98 shots but yielded the other 15 goals in just under 2½ games (.867 SV%, 6.07 GAA).

Analyzing the Mavericks – Minnesota State reached the 30-point mark in the 2022-2023 WCHA standings with a 9-18-1-0 (0-2 in OT) conference record but still finished sixth. They went 6-0-0 in regular-season non-conference play but were swept by Wisconsin in the league quarterfinals to see their year end with a 15-20-1 overall mark. Starting 2023-2024, they are one of three teams to not record a point after six conference contests, though they swept Sacred Heart in their opening weekend.

Senior Jamie Nelson (#10) finished as MSU's top scorer last season with 27 points on 5 goals and 22 assists despite appearing in only 29 of their 36 games; she is atop the team's scoresheet so far this season with 5 goals & 3 assists for 8 points. Fellow senior Madison Mashuga (#22) scored 10 goals with 12 assists for 22 points a year ago; she has 2 goals & 2 assists to open 2023-2024. A third senior, Sydney Langseth (#3), has 7 assists in the team's first 8 games this year, while sophomores Taylor Otremba (#24; 3g, 3a) and Whitney Tuttle (#7; 2g, 4a) each have 6 points.

Between the pipes, Lauren Barbro (#37) is back for her senior season after going 7-10-0 with 2 shutouts as a junior, posting a 2.98 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage; she's 1-3-0 this year with a shutout, a 3.35 GAA and an .887 SV%. Junior Suzette Faucher (#31) joined the Mavericks this year after two seasons playing for Franklin Pierce; in four starts plus a relief appearance, she's also 1-3-0 with a 3.50 GAA and an .878 SV%. Freshman Hailey Hansen (#33) saw one period of action three weekends ago at Wisconsin, stopping 12 of 14 shots.

Last weekend for Minnesota State – Facing St. Cloud State, Kennedy Bobyck lit the lamp for the Mavericks just 44 seconds into the series in Mankato. However, that would be all the scoring MSU would get as Huskies goaltender Sanni Ahola finished with 14 saves on Friday and Jojo Chobak posted a 26-save shutout on Saturday. Grace Wolfe found the back of the net twice for SCSU, Emma Gentry & Taylor Lind each added a goal and an assist, and they swept the Mavericks by scores of 3-1 & 2-0. Lauren Barbro stopped 28 shots and Suzette Faucher made 24 saves for MSU.

Gophers earn one point in Columbus – Josefin Bouveng posted a 5-point series and the trio of Ella Huber, Nelli Laitinen, and Abbey Murphy each added 2 goals & 2 assists as Minnesota went on the road against Ohio State. Unfortunately, the Gophers came home with only one point in the WCHA standings, falling 4-3 in overtime and 6-5. The Buckeyes' Jenn Gardiner took WCHA Forward of the Week honors for her 3-goal, 3-assist weekend, and Hannah Bilka added a goal and 3 helpers. Jocelyn Amos was named Rookie of the Week with 2 goals and an assist. Skylar Vetter was between the pipes for the Gophers in both games, stopping a career high 47 shots on Friday and making another 46 saves on Saturday but yielding 10 goals. Raygan Kirk made 25 saves for OSU on Friday and Amanda Thiele stopped 23 shots Saturday.

Laitinen named Defender of the Week

With her first career multi-goal game Saturday against Ohio State and four total points (2g, 2a) over the weekend, Gopher Women's Hockey sophomore Nelli Laitinen was named WCHA Defender of the Week!! Her four points also marked a career high for a series. Congratulations, Nelli!!

Around the WCHA

Minnesota Duluth earns sweep at Bemidji State – Beavers netminder Abbie Thompson stopped the first 39 shots she faced Friday and Taylor Nelson gave her a 1-0 lead early in the second period. However, Clara Van Wieren knotted score for UMD with 5:11 to play and former BSU forward Reece Hunt lit the lamp with 2:18 left for a 2-1 Bulldogs victory; Thompson finished with 42 saves. Van Wieren scored twice more on Saturday and Ève Gascon stopped all 21 shots she faced in a 6-0 UMD shutout and the weekend sweep.

Wisconsin stays perfect with sweep of St. Thomas – The Tommies erased 2-0 and 3-2 deficits against the Badgers on Friday with goals by Nicole Vallerio, Ellah Hause, and Abby Promersberger to knot the score 3-3 in the second period, but Anna Wilgren lit the lamp for Wisconsin with 1:14 left before the intermission and Britta Curl added a third-period power-play insurance goal for a 5-3 win. Curl netted her second goal of the weekend and Ava McNaughton stopped all 17 shots she faced in a 3-0 UW shutout and the sweep. Kirsten Simms led the Badgers with 2 goals & 3 assists, while Casey O'Brien tallied a goal & 4 helpers. Calla Frank made 39 saves for UST in Saturday's contest.

Upcoming games – Conference action continues for all eight member teams on Friday and Saturday. St. Cloud State will host Wisconsin in a matinee series, with Saturday's 1 p.m. game televised on Fox 9+. Meanwhile, St. Thomas will visit Minnesota Duluth and Ohio State will make the long trip to face Bemidji State.

Copyright © 2023 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.

You can receive the Penalty Box Post newsletter via email by signing up here.

Follow the Power Play Club online at www.powerplayclub.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PowerPlayClubMN, or on Twitter/X at twitter.com/powerplayclub.

Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

Power Play Club

October 30, 2023

Penalty Box Post Quick Hit - Monday, October 30, 2023

Power Play Club

October 30, 2023

Penalty Box Post Quick Hit
Monday, October 30th

Heise signs three-year deal with PWHL Minnesota

Recent Gopher Women's Hockey alumna Taylor Heise – the first overall pick in the inaugural Professional Women's Hockey League draft – has come to terms on a three-year contract with PWHL Minnesota, as announced by the team on X (formerly Twitter) and reported by The Hockey News last Thursday, October 26. Heise joins former Gophers Lee Stecklein and Kelly Pannek as Minnesota signees. Congratulations, Taylor!!

Copyright © 2023 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.

Follow the Power Play Club online at www.powerplayclub.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PowerPlayClubMN, or on Twitter/X at twitter.com/powerplayclub.

Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

Power Play Club

October 25, 2023

The Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Power Play Club

October 25, 2023

Goals for a Goal: Gophers on the board with 8 goals

The Gopher Women's Hockey team has lit the lamp 22 times in its opening five games, including 7 times on the power play, and the Power Play Club is asking for your assistance converting them to donations back to the team! Pledge a dollar amount for every goal the Gophers score during the regular season and postseason, with the option to double your pledge for power play goals.

Goals for a Goal pledges can be submitted electronically through this online form. Thanks, and GO GOPHERS!!

Power Play Club membership enrollment continues!!

Whether you join the Power Play Club through a basic membership or as a locker sponsor, we want you to enroll for 2023-2024, earning access to our three Chalk Talks with the Gopher Women's Hockey coaching staff and contributing to our fundraising for the team through your tax-deductible enrollment donation.

There is still time to sponsor a player’s or coach’s locker for the season! Locker sponsorships require a minimum of $600 donation. Locker sponsors will have a photo with the player or coach and a special meal with the team. If you wish to sponsor a locker, please contact Rennie McPherson (before donating) at susanmcp58@gmail.com.

You can join our basic membership tier, which includes up to two adults and any children at same address, with a minimum donation of $50. Online registration is preferred at bit.ly/GWH_PPC_2324; click the "Make A Gift" button on that page and follow the instructions. To register offline, download the form here and send it in to the listed address, with a check payable to the "University of Minnesota".

#4/4 Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-0-0, 3-0-0 WCHA)
at #2/2 Ohio State University Buckeyes (5-1-0, 4-0-0 WCHA)
Friday, October 27 at 6:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. CT
Saturday, October 28 at 3:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. CT
OSU Ice Rink – Columbus, Ohio

Coming off an idle weekend, the Gopher Women's Hockey team flies out to the Eastern Time Zone for a second time in the opening month of the season, heading to Columbus, Ohio for a national top-four showdown against the #2-ranked Ohio State University Buckeyes. The series at the OSU Ice Rink opens Friday, October 27, at 6:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. CT, and continues Saturday, October 28, at 3:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. CT.

Game coverage – Video from both games will be streamed on the B1G+ subscription service. Free audio play-by-play is available on GopherSports.com for both Friday and Saturday, starting roughly 20 minutes before each contest.

Last season against Ohio State – The Gophers went 3-1-1 against the Buckeyes last year, including a playoff victory. Minnesota took the opener last October in Columbus, 4-2, before the two squads played to a 4-4 tie with OSU earning the shootout win for the bonus point. Meeting at Ridder Arena in early February, the Gophers again won 4-2 but the Buckeyes salvaged a split with a 5-1 victory the next day. But it was Minnesota which took home the WCHA Tournament Championship, its 8th, defeating Ohio State 3-1 in the Final Faceoff title game at Ridder in March. While Taylor Heise led the Gophers in total scoring against OSU with 7 points on 2 goals & 5 assists, Abbey Murphy lit the lamp 5 times and added an assist & Peyton Hemp recorded 3 goals and 3 helpers. Skylar Vetter played every minute between the pipes, posting a 2.76 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. Jennifer Gardiner tallied an OSU-high 6 points (2g, 4a) against Minnesota, while Sophie Jaques (3g, 2a) & Makenna Webster (1g, 4a) each added 5 points and Gabby Rosenthal recorded 3 goals and an assist. Amanda Thiele went 1-2-0 against the Gophers with a 2.76 GAA and .923 SV%, while Raygan Kirk was 0-1-1 with a 3.93 GAA and .862 SV%.

Analyzing the Buckeyes – Ohio State is looking to defend its 2022-2023 WCHA Regular Season Championship, the first for the program, after posting a 23-4-1 (3-2 in OT) conference record, with the lone shootout win, and going 33-6-2 overall but falling to Wisconsin in the NCAA Championship Game. They have started the new year 5-1-0, splitting the opening weekend on the road at then-#4 Colgate – losing 3-2 & winning 3-2 in OT – before sweeping Minnesota Duluth and St. Thomas.

Jennifer Gardiner (#12) is back for her 5th season after posting a team-high 57 points (21g, 36a) last year. Senior Makenna Webster (#8) – a two-sport athlete for OSU – is expected to return following the field hockey season; she recorded 39 points (15g, 24a) on the ice in 2022-2023 despite playing in only 31 of the team's 41 games. The Buckeyes have done some retooling with 6 new transfer players, two of whom are leading the team so far this season; Hannah Bilka (#9) has 4 goals & 6 assists for Ohio State after playing 4 years at Boston College, while Kiara Zanon (#21) has 4 goals and 4 assists in scarlet & gray following three seasons at Penn State. Sophomore Emma Peschel (#7; 2g, 4a) and Gardiner (1g, 5a) each have six points.

One thing that has not changed from last year is Ohio State's goaltending corps. Amanda Thiele (#30) led the Buckeyes in 2022-2023 with a 20-4-1 record, 4 shutouts, a .914 save percentage, and 1.81 goals-against average; now a senior, she has a 2-1-0 record with an .897 SV% and 2.00 GAA. Raygan Kirk (#1) posted an 8-2-1 mark with 2 shutouts, a .912 SV%, and a 2.03 GAA as a junior; she's 3-0-0 to start the new year with one shutout, a .941 SV%, and a 1.32 GAA. Fifth-year backup Quinn Kuntz (#35) was a perfect 5-0-0 in her five starts as a senior, recording 3 shutouts, a minuscule 0.60 GAA, and a .961 SV%; however, she has yet to see any action this season.

Last weekend for Ohio State – A trio of Buckeyes each posted five-point performances in a weekend sweep on the road at St. Thomas, 6-2 & 7-1. Kiara Zanon tallied 3 goals & 2 assists, Hannah Bilka added 2 goals & 3 assists, and Jennifer Gardner lit the lamp once and dished out 4 helpers. Ohio State outshot the Tommies 102-40 in the series, getting a combined 37 saves from Raygan Kirk and Amanda Thiele; the Buckeyes lit the lamp 4 times on their opening 17 shots, chasing UST starting goalie Calla Frank, but Maggie Malecha made 38 saves in relief on Friday and Olivia King stopped another 38 shots on Saturday. Cara Sajevic found the back of the net twice for St. Thomas.

Professional Women's Hockey League unveils official logo

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) unveiled their official league logo in a press release yesterday (Tuesday, October 24). The logo features “a stylized ‘W’ to highlight women, and crossed hockey sticks and a puck that nestle perfectly within the middle of the letterform.”

We continue to follow league news as it prepares for its inaugural season, with training camps scheduled to begin on November 15. Thirteen (13) Gopher alumnae are looking for roster spots, including pre-draft free agents Kelly Pannek (Minnesota) & Lee Stecklein (Minnesota), draftees Taylor Heise (Minnesota), Grace Zumwinkle (Minnesota), Hannah Brandt (Boston), Emily Brown (Boston), Amanda Leveille (Minnesota), and Olivia Knowles (Toronto), and camp invitees Lauren Bench (Minnesota), Abigail Boreen (Minnesota), Gigi Marvin (Boston), Savannah Norcross (New York), and Catie Skaja (Minnesota). Patti Marshall has also been invited to Minnesota's training camp, but is not eligible to sign a standard player agreement under current league rules and will be required to start the season as a reserve.

Around the WCHA

St. Cloud State wins Icebreaker with two shutouts – Following two scoreless periods, Katie Kaufman lit the lamp for SCSU 9:27 into the third, Klára Hymlárová added an empty-netter with 39.3 seconds to play, and Sanni Ahola earned her 4th shutout in four starts with 21 saves to upset Northeastern, 2-0. Facing Lindenwood for the Icebreaker championship, Devyn Millwater scored for the Huskies only 11 seconds into the contest, CC Bowlby lit the lamp with a short-handed tally later in the first period, Hymlárová followed with a natural hat trick, and Jojo Chobak stopped all 34 shots she faced for a 5-0 victory.

Minnesota Duluth earns road sweep of Minnesota State – Mary Kate O'Brien recorded two goals & an assist, Gabby Krause lit the lamp twice, and Hailey MacLeod and Ève Gascon stopped a combined 50 of 52 shots as the Bulldogs swept the Mavericks in Mankato, 3-1 & 4-1. Jamie Nelson and Charlotte Akervik scored for MSU, and Lauren Barbro & Suzette Faucher combined for 47 saves.

Wisconsin keeps rolling with sweep of Bemidji State – Beavers netminder Abbie Thompson was named WCHA Goaltender of the Week after a 60-save performance last Friday night, stopping the first 35 shots she faced to keep the Badgers off the board through the first two periods; however, Wisconsin broke through in the third to win 4-0. They followed it up with an 8-1 rout Saturday to complete the weekend sweep. Maddi Wheeler tallied 2 goals & 2 assists, Britta Curl and Kirsten Simms each added two goals & an assist, and Lacey Eden dished out 4 helpers. Hailey Armstrong netted the lone goal for BSU, who were outshot 104-30.

Upcoming games – All eight teams will be in conference action on Friday and Saturday. Bemidji State hosts Minnesota Duluth in a pair of matinee contests, St. Cloud State visits Minnesota State in Mankato, and Wisconsin goes on the road to face St. Thomas.

Copyright © 2023 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.

You can receive the Penalty Box Post news bulletin via email by signing up here.

Follow the Power Play Club online at www.powerplayclub.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PowerPlayClubMN, or on Twitter/X at twitter.com/powerplayclub.

Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

Power Play Club

October 23, 2023

The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Monday, October 23, 2023

Power Play Club

October 23, 2023

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Monday, October 23rd

Frost signs contract extension through 2025-2026 season

Gopher Women's Hockey head coach Brad Frost signed a two-year contract extension which will keep him on the team bench through the 2025-2026 season, as announced by the university on Friday.

Frost is in his 17th season leading the program and – through the first five games of 2023-2024 – has a 482-99-39 career record (80.9%). He has also earned the AHCA Coach of the Year honor twice and been named WCHA Coach of the Year four times.

Congratulations, Coach Frost, and many wishes for continued success!!

GWH alumna Wendell named to WCHA 25th Anniversary Team

We also send congratulations to Gopher Women's Hockey alumna and 2005 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner Krissy Wendell-Pohl upon being named to the WCHA's 25th Anniversary Team last Wednesday, October 18. Wendell-Pohl was among the first five honorees, joined by Wisconsin's Molly Engstrom and UMD's Caroline Ouellette, Jenny Schmidgall-Potter & Maria Rooth.

Wendell-Pohl, playing three seasons for the Gophers from 2002-03 to 2004-05, still remains fourth on Minnesota's all-time career scoring list with 237 career points (106g-131a). She won back-to-back national championships, WCHA regular-season titles, and WCHA postseason crowns in 2004 and 2005. Alongside teammate Natalie Darwitz, Wendell was the first three-time All-American in program history.

More names on the 25th Anniversary Top 25 Team will be revealed as the current season progresses.

Murphy, 3 GWH alums named to USA roster for November games

Catching up on slightly older news, current GWH assistant captain & junior forward Abbey Murphy (pictured) plus Minnesota alumnae Taylor Heise, Kelly Pannek, and Grace Zumwinkle were named to the U.S. National Team roster for its November Rivalry Series games against Canada. The two squads are scheduled to square off on Wednesday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. CT at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona, and Saturday, November 11, at 1 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. CT at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Both games will be televised live on NHL Network. Tickets for both contests, along with the February 11 game at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, are available through USA Hockey's Rivalry Series page.

Congratulations and good luck, ladies!!

D1 in DC tickets

Later in November, the Gopher Women's Hockey team will be in greater Washington, DC, metropolitan area on Thanksgiving weekend for the D1 in DC showcase. Both Minnesota and the St. Thomas Tommies will face the Harvard Crimson and Cornell Big Red from the ECAC at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Alexandria, Virginia. General admission tickets at $25 for the entire showcase are on-sale here.

Copyright © 2023 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.

Follow the Power Play Club online at www.powerplayclub.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PowerPlayClubMN, or on Twitter at twitter.com/powerplayclub.

Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at 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.

Power Play Club

October 19, 2023

The Penalty Box Post - Thursday, October 19, 2023

Power Play Club

October 19, 2023

The Penalty Box Post
Thursday, October 19th

Recap: Gophers outlast Huskies in home opener

In what turned out to be a low-scoring affair, the Gopher Women's Hockey team defended home ice in their Ridder Arena opener and remained undefeated with a 2-1 victory over St. Cloud State on Tuesday. Ava Lindsay netted her second career goal in the 2nd period, cleaning up the rebound of an initial shot by Emily Zumwinkle. The score stayed 1-0 into the final minute when Taylor Stewart tallied her first goal as a Gopher, a short-handed bouncer into an empty net despite a deflection off a Huskies defender's stick. Stewart's goal turned into the gamewinner as SCSU's Avery Farrell broke up the shutout bid, lighting the lamp with 5.2 seconds remaining, but Skylar Vetter's 14 saves were enough for the win. Emma Kreisz assisted on both Minnesota goals, and St. Cloud State netminder Jojo Chobak stopped 29 shots.

PPC Board sets $67,500 fundraising goal for 2023-2024

The Power Play Club Board of Directors, in partnership with the Golden Gopher Fund at the U. of M. Athletics Department, has set a $67,500 fundraising goal to support the Gopher Women's Hockey program for the 2023-2024 season. We thank everyone who has given generously in the past and already this year, but we ask for your continued support.

Donations through club programs go into the Women's Hockey Enhancement Fund to cover team expenses outside of its normal operating budget. These include recent updates to the Ridder Arena lower level area (outside the locker room and player lounge) along with the team's trip to the D1 in DC showcase on Thanksgiving weekend.

Here are some of the ways you can provide financial support:

Power Play Club enrollment – Two membership tier options

We encourage all GWH fans to enroll in the Power Play Club for the 2023-2024 season. A key membership benefit is exclusive access to our three Chalk Talks with the coaching staff!!

Locker sponsors get a plaque with their name affixed to a player’s or coach’s locker, a photo with that player / coach in front of their locker, and a special meal with the team. Sponsorships require a minimum of $600 donation per locker, and we are still looking for additional sponsors this year!! If you wish to sponsor a locker, please contact Rennie McPherson (before donating) at susanmcp58@gmail.com.

You can also contribute through our basic membership tier with a minimum donation of $50, which includes up to two adults and any children at same address. Online registration is preferred at bit.ly/GWH_PPC_2324; click the "Make A Gift" button on that page and follow the instructions. To register offline, download the form here and send it in to the listed address, with a check payable to the "University of Minnesota".

Goals for a Goal – Gophers increase scoring total to 22!

Goals for a Goal is a pledge-per-goal program where the team assists in their own financial support. We encourage you to submit a pledge to convert each goal scored by the Gophers into a donation, and ask you to also consider doubling your pledge every time they convert on the power play. With their 2-1 victory this past Tuesday night, Minnesota has lit the lamp 22 times with seven (7) coming on the advantage.

Pledges can be made electronically using this online form, with the options to double your pledge for power-play goals. Thanks, and GO GOPHERS!!

Save the Date: Give to the Max Day 2023 – Thursday, November 16

The Power Play Club will again be participating in Give to the Max Day, the annual day of giving to non-profit organizations throughout the state of Minnesota, scheduled this year for Thursday, November 16. The PPC Board of Directors has already pledged to match the first $10,000 in GTMD donations.

We'll have more information as the event date approaches. Thank you for your consideration of this program.

Donations through PPC membership, Goals for a Goal, and Give to the Max Day
are 100% tax-deductible!!

Looking ahead – Gopher Women's Hockey online auction

After a brief hiatus, the online auction to support Gopher Women's Hockey will return in the latter half of the season. We thank our partners at the Golden Gopher Fund and the U. of M. Athletics Department for making this possible. Again, many details are to be announced as we approach the event dates.

Murphy named PPC Scholarship recipient for 2023-2024

Another way the Power Play Club supports Gopher Women's Hockey is through an endowed scholarship. We send congratulations to junior forward Abbey Murphy after being named the recipient of the PPC Scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year. The Evergreen Park, IL, native is majoring in Business & Marketing Education in the College of Education & Human Development. Murphy was also named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree for 2022-2023. Congratulations, Abbey!!

If you wish to donate to the Power Play Club Scholarship Fund, you can do so here. (Note that gifts to the Scholarship Fund do not count toward the PPC Board of Directors' fundraising goal.)

Power Play Club

October 16, 2023

The Penalty Box Post - Monday, October 16, 2023

Power Play Club

October 16, 2023

The Penalty Box Post
Monday, October 16th

We send many thanks to you, our fellow fans, for your support of Gopher Women's Hockey. We continue asking for your help raising funds for the program as they proceed in their 27th season of play and the 25th year of WCHA competition. Here are a couple of ways to provide that assistance.

Goals for a Goal: Gopher scoring total increases to 20!

The Gopher Women's Hockey team netted 12 goals this past weekend, bringing their season total to 20 with seven (7) coming on the power play. We encourage you to submit a pledge to convert each of those goals into a donation back to the team through our Goals for a Goal program!

Pledges can be made electronically using this online form, with the options to double your pledge for power-play goals. Thanks, and GO GOPHERS!!

PPC membership enrollment – Locker sponsors wanted!

Another way to donate to the Minnesota Women's Hockey program is to enroll in the Power Play Club for 2023-2024, earning access to our three Chalk Talks with the coaching staff!!

We are looking for additional locker sponsors this season, where a plaque with your name will be affixed to a player’s or coach’s locker and you will get a photo with that player / coach in front of their locker along with special meal with the team. Sponsorships require a minimum of $600 donation per locker. If you wish to sponsor a locker, please contact Rennie McPherson (before donating) at susanmcp58@gmail.com.

You can also contribute through our basic membership tier, which includes up to two adults and any children at same address, with a minimum donation of $50. Online registration is preferred at bit.ly/GWH_PPC_2324; click the "Make A Gift" button on that page and follow the instructions. To register offline, download the form here and send it in to the listed address, with a check payable to the "University of Minnesota".

Gopher Women's Hockey Home Opener!!
#4/4 Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-0-0, 2-0-0 WCHA)
vs.
#14/15 St. Cloud State Univ. Huskies (5-1-0, 2-0-0 WCHA)
Tuesday, October 17 at 7:00 p.m. - Ridder Arena

After sweeping their conference-opening series this past weekend, the Gopher Women's Hockey team begins the home portion of its 2023-2024 schedule with a special Tuesday game tomorrow night – October 17 – against the St. Cloud State University Huskies. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Ridder Arena.

Ticket and concession deals!! Help us pack Ridder for the opener, as tickets for the contest will be only $5! We hope to see many of you there, and encourage you to arrive a few minutes early as the team will raise its 2023 WCHA Final Faceoff Champions Banner! Additionally, a special $2 Tuesday promotion is planned with $2 hot dogs and soft drinks.

Game coverage – Tuesday's contest will be televised on Big Ten Network (channel finder here) and streamed on the BTN channel on FoxSports.com. Free audio play-by-play is available on GopherSports.com here.

Last season against St. Cloud State – After the Gophers earned a weekend sweep of the Huskies last October, winning 4-2 & 2-1, St. Cloud State responded with a 4-1 upset victory in the non-conference U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Women's Faceoff Classic just over two weeks later. However, Minnesota soundly replied in their 4th and 5th meetings in December, shutting out SCSU 6-0 & 9-0. Grace Zumwinkle had a team-high 6 goals against the Huskies plus 3 assists, but Taylor Heise led in total scoring with 12 points on 5 goals & 7 assists, while Abbey Murphy and Emily Oden each added a goal & 6 helpers and Abigail Boreen recorded 4 goals and 2 assists. Skylar Vetter stopped 84 of 91 SCSU shots for a .923 save percentage and 1.41 goals-against average. Klára Hymlárová led the Huskies with two goals and an assist against the Gophers, while Bailey Burton and Emma Gentry each added a goal and an assist. Sanni Ahola started three of the five contests for St. Cloud State, earning the lone win and posting a .932 SV% and 2.68 GAA, but Jojo Chobak yielded 15 goals in her two starts plus a 22-minute relief appearance, resulting in a .845 SV% and 6.45 GAA.

Analyzing the Huskies – St. Cloud State is looking to finish in the top half of the WCHA regular-season standings and earn home ice for the conference playoffs, something they have not accomplished since 2009-2010. They posted a fifth-place result last year with an 11-16-1-0 (0-2 in OT) league record, though they were a perfect 7-0-0 in regular-season non-conference play. However, they were swept by Minnesota Duluth, 1-0 & 5-1, in the WCHA quarterfinals to end their season. The Huskies have started the new year with a 5-1-0 record and were ranked 14th & 15th in the national polls last week.

Among SCSU players returning from last year, fifth-year forward Klára Hymlárová (#12) was the highest scorer, tallying 26 points on 17 goals and 9 assists. Senior Emma Gentry (#20) also surpassed the 20-point mark in 2022-2023, recording 13 goals and 9 helpers, and junior defender Grace Wolfe (#8) dished out a team-high 16 assists while scoring twice herself. Six games into the new season, another junior blueliner – Ella Anick (#17) – leads the team with 6 points on a goal and 5 assist; graduate transfer CC Bowlby (#28) has 4 goals and an assist, while Dayle Ross (#2; 2g, 3a), Katie Kaufman (#10; 1g, 4a) and Wolfe (1g, 4a) each also have five points.

Goaltenders Sanni Ahola (#1) and Jojo Chobak (#29) are back for their senior years. As juniors, Ahola went 9-11-0 with one shutout, a .923 save percentage, and a 2.50 goals-against average, while Chobak was 9-7-1 with 5 shutouts, also a .923 SV%, and a 2.46 GAA. This season, Ahola is 3-0-0, all by shutout with 64 combined saves, while Chobak is 2-1-0 with an .896 SV% and 1.70 GAA (though 3 of the 5 goals she's yielded were with SCSU on the penalty kill). Freshman Paige Hoogendam (#31) has yet to see any official action.

This past weekend for St. Cloud State – The Huskies got their conference schedule started with a sweep of Bemidji State in St. Cloud, winning 5-2 & 3-0. The teams were tied 2-2 at the second intermission of the opener, with Beavers freshman Hailey Armstrong scoring twice, but the Huskies netted the next six goals unanswered. CC Bowlby lit the lamp 3 times in the series, including both game-winning tallies, while Dayle Ross and Alice Sauriol each added a goal & two assists and Katie Kaufman dished out 3 helpers. Jojo Chobak made 10 saves on Friday and Sanni Ahola posted a 17-save shutout on Saturday. BSU's Abbie Thompson stopped 51 shots in the series.

Gophers shut out St. Thomas – Abbey Murphy posted a 4-goal, 2-assist weekend and Skylar Vetter & Lucy Morgan stopped all 43 shots they faced (combined) as Minnesota swept the Tommies, 8-0 at Xcel Energy Center on Friday and 4-0 at St. Thomas Ice Arena on Saturday. Murphy opened scoring in the series with a natural hat trick, including a short-handed tally, and Vetter made 27 saves in Friday's contest. The Gophers were held scoreless over the first 43 minutes of the rematch, but Emma Kreisz netted her first collegiate goal, the eventual game-winning tally, on a power play; at the other end, Morgan made 16 saves to blank UST. In the series, Ella Huber lit the lamp twice and added an assist, while Josefin Bouveng scored her first goal of the season and dished out two helpers. Emma Conner scored in her first game back since last Thanksgiving weekend, and Peyton Hemp, Audrey Wethington (PP) & Nelli Laitinen joined Bouveng in netting their first goals of the season. Madeline Wethington dished out 3 assists, and Lauren O'Hara earned her first collegiate point with an assist.

Around the WCHA

Wisconsin juggernaut continues with sweep of MSU – Sevens were lucky for the Badgers; Kirsten Simms (4g, 3a), Britta Curl (2g, 5a), and Caroline Harvey (1g, 6a) each tallied 7 points as they blanked the Mavericks in Madison, 6-0 & 9-0. Lacey Eden (3g, 2a) and Casey O'Brien (1g, 4a) each added 5 points. Jane Gervais and Ava McNaughton combined for 34 saves and the two shutouts. Suzette Faucher stopped 49 shots for Minnesota State over four periods of action.

Ohio State earns road sweep in Duluth – Hadley Hartmetz recorded a hat trick Friday and Hannah Bilka netted Saturday's game-winning power-play goal & dished out 3 assists as the Buckeyes topped the host Bulldogs 5-2 & 2-0. Jenna Buglioni scored the eventual Friday gamewinner short-handed. Katie Davis and Reece Hunt lit the lamp and Ève Gascon made 71 saves in the series for UMD.

Upcoming games – Following tomorrow night's contest, St. Cloud State will head east for the Icebreaker Tournament in Fairfield, CT, taking on Northeastern on Friday and either Sacred Heart or Lindenwood on Saturday. In three Friday-Saturday league series, St. Thomas will host Ohio State, Minnesota Duluth will visit Minnesota State, and Bemidji State will face Wisconsin in Madison.