The Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, February 25, 2026

View the February 25th Penalty Box Post newsletter

PPC All-Member Meeting – Saturday, Feb. 28 at 12:00 p.m.

The annual Power Play Club All-Member Meeting is set for this Saturday, February 28 at 12:00 p.m. and will be held in the Baseline Tennis Center Club Room (adjacent to Ridder Arena).

We encourage all club members to attend as we hold Board of Director elections and gather feedback on what we can – and should – be doing better to support both the Gopher Women's Hockey team and the membership in upcoming seasons.

GWH Senior Celebration reminder

Again, for those of you who RSVPed to coach Jess Scott, the 2025-2026 GWH Senior Celebration is scheduled to follow Saturday's WCHA quarterfinal game, beginning at approximately 5:30 p.m. at Club Cambria inside Huntington Bank Stadium.  Paying attendees are also reminded that the fee is due upon check-in, and any checks should be made payable to University of Minnesota.

Goals for a Goal – Gophers add 3 to wrap up regular season

As the official booster club for the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey program, the primary objective of the Power Play Club is to provide financial support.  One method of doing so is by contributing to the Goals for a Goal pledge-per-goal program, part of our partnership with the Golden Gopher Fund!

The Gophers added three more goals for the second-straight weekend, bringing their season-to-date goal total to 161.  Their power play conversion total remained at 26.  Register a pledge for every goal tallied through the playoffs, with the option to double your pledge for power play conversions, electronically through the online form at z.umn.edu/GoalsForAGoal.  Following the conclusion of the season, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions.  Thanks as always for your support of this effort!!

Care note

We again send sympathies to GWH head coach Brad Frost and his entire family following the passing of his father, Don, earlier this month.  The visitation is being held this Sunday, March 1, at David Lee Funeral Home, 1220 Wayzata Blvd East in Wayzata, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.; members of the Power Play Club's Board of Directors are planning to be in attendance (pending the results of Friday's & Saturday's games) if you wish to join them.  The funeral is on Monday, March 2, at Grove Church, 8585 Rice Lake Road in Maple Grove, at 11:00 a.m. with additional visitation time at 10 a.m.

WCHA Playoff Tournament – First Round (best 2-of-3)
#4 Minnesota Golden Gophers (24-9-1, 18-9-1-1 WCHA) vs. St. Cloud State Univ. Huskies (11-21-2, 7-19-2-1 WCHA)
Friday, February 27 at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 28 at 2:00 p.m.
(if necessary) Sunday, March 1 at 3:00 p.m.
Ridder Arena

Earning the #3 seed in the final WCHA regular-season standings, the Gopher Women's Hockey team once again hosts a best 2-of-3 First / Quarterfinal Round conference playoff series, this time taking on the sixth-seeded St. Cloud State University Huskies.  Action at Ridder Arena begins Friday evening, February 27 at 6:00 p.m. and continues on Saturday, February 28 at 2:00 p.m.  If necessary, the third game will be played Sunday, March 1 at 3:00 p.m.

Saturday traffic alert – Please note that the Gopher Men's Basketball team also has a home game on Saturday as they host UCLA at 1:00 p.m. at Williams Arena.  Please allow appropriate time for arriving on campus and parking.

Ticket information – Season ticket holders should have these games included in their package, so additional purchases are not necessary.  Otherwise, tickets can be purchased online through the U. of M. ticket office here or by calling 1-800-U-GOPHER.  Walk-up ticket sales will also be occurring at the arena.

Game coverage –

• All games televised on Fox 9+

• The games will also be streamed through the B1G+ subscription service – Friday / Check the B1G+ schedule page for Saturday's & Sunday's game links

• Free audio play-by-play on GopherSports.com – Friday / Saturday / Sunday's link TBA if necessary

• Live stats on GopherSports.com

 
This season vs. St. Cloud State – The Gopher Women's Hockey team swept the four-game season series against the Huskies, winning 4-1 & 5-3 in October and 8-1 & 5-1 last month.

A quartet of Gophers each recorded six combined points across the four contests.  Abbey Murphy compiled six goals, lighting the lamp at least once in each game.  Jamie Nelson's five-point performance on January 23 with 3 goals and 2 assists added to an assist she tallied in the first October game.  Josefin Bouveng recorded 2 goals & 4 assists, getting at least one point in each game, and Sydney Morrow dished out 6 assists with four of those coming on January 23.  In net for the Maroon & Gold, Hannah Clark made two starts and a relief appearance, earning all three wins, stopping 52 of 54 shots for a 0.86 goals-against average and .963 save percentage, while Peyton Hemp earned the other victory and posted a 2.41 GAA and an .892 SV%.

Maria Mikaelyan (2g, 1a) and Avery Farrell (1g, 2a) each recorded 3 points for St. Cloud State.  Raili Mustonen was their only other multi-point scorer, dishing out two assists across the four meetings.  Goaltender Jojo Chobak took all four losses, starting three of the four games and entering in relief in the other; she posted a 5.36 GAA and an .870 SV%.  Emilia Kyrkkö stopped 30 of 32 shots in just 32 minutes in her lone start (a 3.75 GAA & .938 SV%).

Analyzing the Huskies – In Mira Jalosuo's first year as head coach, St. Cloud State posted a 7-19-2-1 (1-4 in OT) conference record, exchanging league standings positions with Minnesota State and St. Thomas throughout the season and ultimately finishing sixth.  Since the start of February, the Huskies have gone 3-3-0 to complete the regular season.

Junior Alice Sauriol (#4) is SCSU's leader in total scoring and assists, dishing out 21 helpers while lighting the lamp 8 times herself for 29 points.  Another junior, Sofianna Sundelin (#34), has a team-high 16 goals with 10 assists for 26 points.  Senior Avery Farrell (#16; 6g, 14a) and grad student Grace Wolfe (#8; 5g, 15a) have each reached the 20-point mark for the season.  Freshman Maria Mikaelyan (#44) rounds out their top five in scoring; she's second in goals with 12 and has 6 assists for 18 points.

Between the pipes, graduate student Jojo Chobak (#29) has an edge in time played, starting 20 games and appearing in two more; she has a 5-14-0 record with 2 shutouts, a 3.66 goals-against average, and an .897 save percentage.  Sophomore Emilia Kyrkkö (#42) has made 13 starts with 2 relief appearances, posting a 6-5-2 record with three shutouts, a 2.35 GAA, and a .932 SV%.  Redshirt sophomore Paige Hoogendam (#31) started one game and appeared in relief in another, both back in October; she took losses as goaltender-of-record in both, yielding 6 goals on 40 shots in 98 minutes of action (3.68 GAA, .850 SV%).  Senior transfer Hali Lawrence (#56) has not seen any action.

Last action: SCSU swept by Wisconsin – Lacey Eden posted an 8-point weekend on 4 goals & 4 assists (including a hat trick on Friday), Laney Potter added 6 points on a goal and 5 helpers, Vivian Jungels recorded 5 assists, and Kelly Gorbatenko netted four goals on Friday as the Badgers claimed the WCHA Regular-Season Championship with a sweep of the Huskies, 9-2 & 4-2.  Sydney Lamb lit the lamp in each game for the St. Cloud State, Grace Wolfe & Sofianna Sundelin each tallied a goal & an assist, and Alice Sauriol dished out 3 helpers.  Jojo Chobak and Emilia Kyrkkö combined for 89 saves for SCSU.

Gophers fall twice in overtime to Minnesota Duluth

Two comeback efforts by the Gopher Women's Hockey team to force overtime in both games against Minnesota Duluth at Ridder Arena were not enough as the Bulldogs won both in the extra sessions in very similar fashion.

UMD netminder Ève Gascon saw her extended shutout streak come to an early end on Friday as Madison Kaiser lit the lamp for Minnesota just 3:27 into the contest.  But Zoey Krock evened the score for the Bulldogs just over 6 minutes later and Madi Burr put them in the lead in the second stanza.  Ava Lindsay's third-period goal knotted the score again and neither team was able to take another lead in regulation, but UMD's Tova Henderson got an open shot and scored 3:19 into OT to hand the Gophers a 3-2 loss.

The Bulldogs took the initial lead on Saturday as Caitlin Kraemer found the back of the net on a power play in the first period, but Bella Fanale pulled the Gophers even 7:03 into period two.  The teams played the remaining 33 minutes of regulation without scoring, but it was Henderson again ending the contest in overtime, this time at the 1:47 mark for a 2-1 score.

In addition to her two overtime game-winners, Henderson also dished out two assists to lead UMD with four points.  Kraemer assisted on Saturday's GWG, giving her two points in the contest, and Gascon stopped 65 shots.  Hannah Clark made 29 saves for the Gophers on Friday and Layla Hemp stopped 24 shots on Saturday.

Olympic recap: Murphy leads Gopher contingent in scoring

Wrapping up our coverage of the 2026 Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Tournament in Milan, Italy, we once again give a shout-out to all nine Gopher Women's Hockey representatives who played in the competition: current Gophers Josefin Bouveng, Nelli Laitinen, Abbey Murphy, and Tereza Plosová, and alumnae Taylor Heise, Natálie Mlýnková, Kelly Pannek, Lee Stecklein, and Grace Zumwinkle.

We send an additional congratulations to Heise, Murphy, Pannek, Stecklein, and Zumwinkle on earning the gold medal with Team USA!!

Here's our quick summary of how the nine did individually in the tournament:

• Abbey Murphy (USA) – 2 goal, 5 assists

• Taylor Heise (USA) – 2 goals, 3 assist

• Natálie Mlýnková (Czechia) – 3 goals, 1 assist

• Josefin Bouveng (Sweden) – 1 goal, 1 assist

• Kelly Pannek (USA) – 2 assists

• Lee Stecklein (USA) – 2 assists

• Tereza Plosová (Czechia) – 1 goal

• Grace Zumwinkle (USA) – 1 assist

• Nelli Laitinen (FIN) – No scoring

We add a special recognition for Mlýnková.  As we previously noted, her single Olympic tournament mark of three goals this year and her career total (to-date) of four goals in the Olympics (after scoring once in 2022) are both Czechia national records!!  Congratulations, Natálie!!

GWH recruit Sander named MN Co-Defenseman of the Year

We send congratulations to incoming Gopher Women's Hockey freshman class of 2026-2027 member Katya Sander (Holy Family Catholic HS / Chanhassen, MN) upon being named a co-winner of the inaugural Defenseman of the Year award by Let's Play Hockey at the annual Ms. Hockey Minnesota Banquet this past Sunday, February 22.

Sander (on the right in the picture, with fellow winner Mia Miller of Northfield HS) posted 10 goals & 12 assists in 26 games as a senior for the Fire.  She recorded two assists in their 3-0 victory over Edina in the Minnesota class AA third-place game.

 
Around the WCHA...

Mavericks earn road sweep of Tommies – Entering the final weekend of the regular season in sixth in the league standings, Minnesota State got two goals & two assists from Mercury Bischoff, a goal and 3 assists from Taylor Otremba, two goals from Sophie Stramel, and an overtime game-winner from Kianna Roeske to sweep St. Thomas in St. Paul, 5-2 and 4-3 (OT).  The wins moved MSU past St. Cloud State and into 5th place.  Ella Boerger tallied two goals & three assists and Rylee Bartz added two goals & two helpers for UST.

Buckeyes earn road sweep of Beavers – Emma Peschel recorded 7 points on 2 goals & 5 assists, Kaia Malachino tallied 5 goals & an assist – including her first collegiate hat trick on Friday, and Sloane Matthews (3g, 2a) & Maxine Cimoroni (1g, 4a) each added 5 points as Ohio State rolled to 7-1 and 6-3 road victories over Bemidji State.  Raeley Carney and Hannah Graves each had a goal & an assist for BSU.

Other playoff quarterfinals / Best-of-3 / Feb. 27 & 28 and (if necessary) March 1

• #5-seed Minnesota State University at #4-seed University of Minnesota Duluth
  Friday at 2:00 p.m. CT / Saturday & Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT

• #7-seed University of St. Thomas at #2-seed Ohio State University
  Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET / Saturday & Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET

• #8-seed Bemidji State University at #1-seed University of Wisconsin
  Friday at 6:00 p.m. CT / Saturday at 3:00 p.m. CT / Sunday at 2:00 p.m. CT

Final regular-season standings:
1. Wisconsin – 72 points (.857 pts%), 23-3-2-1, 1-1 in OT (29-3-2 overall)
2. Ohio State – 70 points (.833 pts%), 24-4-0-0, 2-0 in OT (30-4-0 overall)
3. Minnesota – 57 points (.679 pts%), 18-9-1-1, 1-2 in OT (24-9-1 overall)
4. Minn. Duluth – 48 points (.571 pts%), 15-10-3-2, 2-0 in OT (19-12-3 overall)
5. Minnesota State – 29 points (.345 pts%), 9-17-2-1, 2-1 in OT (15-17-2 overall)
6. St. Cloud State – 27 points (.321 pts%), 7-19-2-1, 1-4 in OT (11-21-2 overall)
7. St. Thomas – 24 points (.286 pts%), 7-20-1-0, 3-5 in OT (12-21-1 overall)
8. Bemidji State – 9 points (.107 pts%), 3-24-1-0, 1-0 in OT (6-25-3 overall)

Copyright © 2026 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 atwww.powerplayclub.org, on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/PowerPlayClubMN, or on X atx.com/powerplayclub.

Penalty Box Post Quick Hit - Sunday, February 22, 2026

PPC All-Member Meeting – Saturday, Feb. 28 at 12:00 p.m.

The annual Power Play Club All-Member Meeting is set for this coming Saturday, February 28 at 12:00 p.m. and will be held in the Baseline Tennis Center Club Room (adjacent to Ridder Arena).

We encourage all club members to attend as we hold Board of Director elections and gather feedback on what we can – and should – be doing better to support both the Gopher Women's Hockey team and the membership in upcoming seasons.  News on an potential upcoming fundraising effort may also be shared.

GWH Senior Celebration Reminder

For those of you who RSVPed to coach Jess Scott, the 2025-2026 GWH Senior Celebration is scheduled to follow Saturday's WCHA quarterfinal game, beginning at approximately 5:30 p.m. at Club Cambria inside Huntington Bank Stadium.  Paying attendees are also reminded that the fee is due upon check-in, and any checks should be made payable to University of Minnesota.

2026 WCHA playoff quarterfinal pairings set; Minnesota to host St. Cloud State in best-of-three series

Upon completion of the WCHA regular season earlier this afternoon (Sunday, February 22), the Gopher Women's Hockey team finished as the #3 seed for the conference playoffs, posting an 18-9-1-1 conference record (1-2 in OT).  As a result, the Gophers will face #6-seed St. Cloud State in a best-of-3 conference quarterfinal series at Ridder Arena next weekend.

Game times are set for...

• Friday, February 27 at 6:00 p.m.

• Saturday, February 28 at 2:00 p.m.

• Sunday, March 1 at 3:00 p.m. (if necessary)

We'll have more details with our full series preview in our regular Penalty Box Post later this week.

Season ticket holders should have received tickets for the quarterfinal series as part of their package, and should contact the U. of M. Ticket Office at 1-800-U-GOPHER with any questions or concerns.  Tickets for each of the three contests are available to purchase on the ticket office website.

All-session packages and single-session tickets for the 2026 WCHA Final Faceoff, being played at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in St. Paul, are on sale through the St. Thomas ticket office; please refer to the website for prices.

Game times are set as follows:

• Semifinal Game 1: Thursday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m.

• Semifinal Game 2: Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. (approximately)

• Championship Game: Saturday, March 7 at 2:00 p.m. CT

Tickets can also be purchased by phone at 651-962-5900.

2026 NCAA Frozen Four, March 20 & 22 – The 2026 NCAA Frozen Four is being played at Pegula Ice Arena in State College, PA, hosted by Penn State University.  Tickets are on sale through PSU's Ticketmaster site or by phone at 1-800-NITTANY.

Other WCHA quarterfinal pairings...

Best 2-out-of-3 / Friday, Saturday, and (if necessary) Sunday, February 27-March 1

#5-seed Minnesota State University at #4-seed University of Minnesota Duluth
Friday at 2:00 p.m. CT / Saturday & Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT

#7-seed University of St. Thomas at #2-seed Ohio State University
Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET / Saturday & Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET

#8-seed Bemidji State University at #1-seed University of Wisconsin
Friday at 6:00 p.m. CT / Saturday at 3:00 p.m. CT / Sunday at 2:00 p.m. CT

More information about the entire WCHA Playoff Tournament is available here.

Copyright © 2026 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 X at x.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 X at x.com/GopherWHockey.

The Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, February 18, 2026

View the February 18th Penalty Box Post newsletter

All-member PPC Chalk Talk – Saturday, Feb. 21 at 12:30 p.m.

As we've shared the past couple of weeks, the final of our three member-exclusive Chalk Talks for the 2025-2026 season is scheduled for this Saturday, February 21 at 12:30 p.m., prior to the Gophers' regular-season finale against Minnesota Duluth.  We will be joined by one of the Gopher coaches to discuss on-ice strategy and the team's performance in Friday night's game.  The event will be held in the Ridder Arena Weight Room, on the upstairs level across the hall from the suites and press box.

Goals for a Goal – Gophers score three more, one on PP

As the official booster club for the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey program, the primary objective of the Power Play Club is to provide financial support.  One method of doing so is by contributing to the Goals for a Goal pledge-per-goal program, part of our partnership with the Golden Gopher Fund!

The Gophers added three more goals this past weekend, pushing their season-to-date goal total to 158.  Their total now includes twenty-six (26) power play conversions.  Register a pledge for every goal tallied through the playoffs, with the option to double your pledge for power play conversions, electronically through the online form at z.umn.edu/GoalsForAGoal.  Following the conclusion of the season, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions.  Thanks as always for your support of this effort!!

WCHA Quarterfinal / First Round tickets on sale!

With home ice clinched for the first / quarterfinal round of the WCHA Playoff Tournament, the Gopher Women's Hockey team has announced game times for the best-of-three series and tickets for those contests are now on sale!!

• Game 1 – Friday, February 27 at 6:00 p.m.

• Game 2 – Saturday, February 28 at 2:00 p.m.

• Game 3 (if necessary) – Sunday, March 1 at 3:00 p.m.

For season ticket holders, these games are included in your package and additional purchases are not necessary.

Otherwise, tickets can be purchased online through the U. of M. ticket office here or by calling 1-800-U-GOPHER.

#3 Minnesota Golden Gophers (24-7-1, 18-7-1-1 WCHA)
vs. #10 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (17-12-3, 13-10-3-2 WCHA)

Friday, February 20 at 6:00 p.m. (CT)
Saturday, February 21 at 2:00 p.m. (CT)
Ridder Arena

The Gopher Women's Hockey team returns home to wrap up the 2025-2026 regular season, facing a familiar rival in the form of the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in a national top-ten matchup.  Action at Ridder Arena begins Friday evening, February 20 at 6:00 p.m. and continues on Saturday, February 21 at 2:00 p.m.

We add a reminder that, due to Gophers participating at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Senior Weekend activities will not be held during the UMD series but rather during the WCHA first-round playoff series.  The team will be holding Fan Appreciation Night this Friday.

Game coverage –

• Friday's game televised on Fox 9+

• Both contests streamed through the B1G+ subscription service – Friday / Saturday

• Free audio play-by-play on GopherSports.com – Friday / Saturday

• Live stats on GopherSports.com

 
Last time against Minnesota Duluth – The Gopher Women's Hockey team put together a complete effort in their series opener at AMSOIL Arena in October to shut out the Bulldogs, 4-0.  They followed it with a 3-2 victory in the rematch to earn the weekend sweep.

Both games started with scoreless first periods, but Ava Lindsay lit the lamp just 46 seconds into the 2nd period in the opener.  Madison Kaiser extended the Gopher lead to 2-0 less than three minutes later, and Lindsay netted her second goal of the contest later in the period.  Jamie Nelson added a power-play goal with less than 5 minutes remaining in regulation, and Hannah Clark posted a 24-save clean sheet.  Sydney Morrow dished out three assists.  Bulldogs netminder Ève Gascon made 16 saves but left with an apparent injury after Kaiser's goal; Sophia Villanueva entered in relief and made another 16 saves.

Gascon was back between the pipes for UMD for the rematch, and Caitlin Kraemer scored to give them the lead nearly 8 minutes into the second period.  However, Josefin Bouveng lit the lamp roughly 3½ minutes later to knot the score and Abbey Murphy put the Gophers ahead with a backhanded goal less than four minutes after that.  Murphy then pushed the lead to 3-1 with an unassisted tally midway through the third period.  UMD went on a power play with 5:19 to play, pulling Gascon for a 6-on-4 attack, and Josie St. Martin converted to bring the Bulldogs within one, but Clark shut the door the rest of the way, finishing with 37 saves and the victory.  Morrow picked up her fourth assist of the weekend on Bouveng's goal, and Nelson recorded two assists in the series to accompany her goal.

Analyzing the Bulldogs – Despite mathematically having the third-strongest strength of schedule nationally, Minnesota Duluth's 12 losses so far have them on the NCAA Tournament bubble and needing wins to solidify their chances of making the field.  They have locked in fourth place in the WCHA standings and home ice for next weekend's first round.

Sophomore Caitlin Kraemer (#11) leads the Bulldogs with 27 total points on 14 goals & 13 assists, but they are without their top goal scorer, senior Thea Johansson, who is still at the Olympics with Team Sweden (she has 15 goals & 6 assists with UMD).  Freshman Rae Meyer (#2) is third on the team in scoring with 12 goals and 8 assists, and seniors Danielle Burgen (#8; 5g, 12a) and Mary Kate O'Brien (#3; 3g, 13a) round out their top five.

The biggest story for UMD, however, has been the recent play of junior Ève Gascon (#1) between the pipes.  Gascon has been on a tear, currently working an active 194-minute shutout streak; for the season, she has a 15-11-3 record with nine shutouts (including the last 3 games), a 1.90 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage.  Freshman Sophia Villanueva (#30) has made five appearances with three starts, going 2-1-0 with a 2.60 GAA and a .917 SV%.  Redshirt sophomore Anna Byczek (#31) has yet to see any official collegiate action.

Last action: UMD shuts out St. Thomas – Ève Gascon earned WCHA Goaltender of the Week honors for stopping all 57 shots she faced against the Tommies in Duluth.  Meanwhile, Caitlin Kraemer tallied a short-handed goal after an earlier assist on Friday and Zoey Krock scored into an empty net after assisting on Molly Cole's opening goal on Saturday in a pair of 3-0 Bulldog victories for the series sweep.

Gophers come up empty in road trip to Columbus

A road series against #2-ranked Ohio State wound up with the Gopher Women's Hockey team being swept, falling 4-2 on Friday and 3-1 on Saturday.  The results mean Minnesota will finish the regular season as the third-place team in the WCHA standings.

The penalty kill was not working for the Gophers in the opener as the Buckeyes converted their first three power-play opportunities, and they added another goal at equal strength to take a 4-0 lead into the second intermission; Maxine Cimoroni, Jocelyn Amos, and Emma Peschel each recorded a goal & an assist.  Bella Fanale got Minnesota on the scoreboard 2:30 into the third period and Ava Lindsay lit the lamp with 2:40 to play after assisting on Fanale's goal, but they could not get any closer.  Hannah Clark made 35 saves, while OSU's Hailey MacLeod stopped 26 shots.

Chloe Primarano gave Minnesota its lone lead of the weekend 12:09 into the rematch, scoring on a 5-on-3 power play, but Grace McCoshen evened the score for the Buckeyes 2½ minutes later.  Cimoroni followed with her second goal of the series in the second stanza to put Ohio State in the lead.  The teams appeared to play out the remainder of the second period, but OSU challenged for a major penalty against the Gopher after the horn and got the call, forcing the teams to return to the ice to replay the final 64 seconds; Sloane Matthews then scored with 11.2 seconds to go in the frame.  Neither team scored in the third, with Clark finishing with 23 saves and MacLeod stopping another 21 shots.

Fourteen Gophers named to WCHA All-Academic Team

We send congratulations to the fourteen (14) members of the Gopher Women's Hockey team named as WCHA All-Academic Team members: Josefin Bouveng, Hannah Clark, Kendra Distad, Allie Franco, Gracie Graham, Carly Humphrey, Sophia Johnson, Madison Kaiser, Emma Kreisz, Nelli Laitinen, Ava Lindsay, Sydney Morrow, Abbey Murphy & Chloe Primerano.

The fourteen were among 118 student-athletes recognized by the league yesterday, each of whom have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in their previous two semesters or three quarters and who have achieved at least sophomore status in their academic careers.

Great job, ladies!  Keep up the excellent work!

Olympics: USA vs. Canada for gold Thursday at 12:10pm CT; Sweden to face Switzerland for bronze at 7:40am CT

For the 7th time in eight Olympic Women's Ice Hockey tournaments, Teams USA and Canada will square off for the gold medal.  Meanwhile, Sweden has returned to medal contention and will play against Switzerland for the bronze medal.

The American squad has remained dominant in the competition, pushing their record to 6-0, defeating Italy, 5-0, in the quarterfinals and the Swedes, also 5-0, in the semis.  The three U.S. goaltenders – Aerin Frankel, Gwyneth Philips, and Ava McNaughton – have a combined active shutout streak of 331 minutes of game play, a new Olympic record, going into the championship contest.  Current Gopher Abbey Murphy and alumna Taylor Heise scored in the semifinal contest.

The Canadians eliminated Germany, 5-1, in the quarterfinals but only edged Switzerland 2-1 in the semifinals; Swiss netminder Andrea Brändli made 44 saves but could not stop Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who scored twice to set a new record with her 19th & 20th career Olympic goals.

In the other quarterfinals, Sweden upset Czechia by a 2-0 score and Finland fell 1-0 to Switzerland.  We give a shout-out to current Gophers Nelli Laitinen (FIN) & Tereza Plosová (CZE) and alumna Natálie Mlýnková (CZE) on their tournament performances.

Both medal games will be played tomorrow – Thursday, February 19 – with the Bronze Medal Game at 7:40 a.m. Central Time and the Gold Medal Game at 12:10 p.m. CST.  We wish good luck to Josefin Bouveng with Team Sweden and Heise, Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Lee Stecklein & Grace Zumwinkle with Team USA.

Both contests will be streamed live on the Peacock TV subscription service in the United States and on the CBC Gem subscription service in Canada.  USA Network will show condensed highlights from the Bronze Medal Game at 11:00 a.m. CST before televising the Gold Medal Game in its entirety.  (Sorry... Canadian TV listings were not clear about game coverage.)

We'll have a final update on the performances of all nine of our Gopher Olympians next week.

 
Around the WCHA...

Badgers earn road sweep in Mankato – Finlay McCarthy tallied 2 goals & 3 assists, Lacey Eden & Marianne Picard each added 2 goals & 2 assists, and Rhyah Stewart stopped 42 of 44 shots as Wisconsin earned a road sweep of Minnesota State, 4‑1 and 5‑1.  Lauren Zawoyski & Ava Guillemette scored for the Mavericks and Hailey Hansen & Kaydence Roeske combined for 73 saves.

Huskies sweep Beavers in St. Cloud – Kasey Sendin & Hailey Armstrong scored for Bemidji State to put them up 2-0 after the first period of their weekend opener against St. Cloud State.  However, the Huskies battled back with six unanswered goals to win that game, 6-2, and followed it with a 5-0 shutout victory in the rematch for the sweep.  Alice Sauriol tallied 2 goals & 3 assists in the opener, then added another three helpers in the rematch for an 8-point weekend.  Jojo Chobak stopped a combined 49 of 51 shots for SCSU.  The two wins moved the Huskies into fifth in the league standings.

Upcoming games – Five positions in the WCHA standings – and all the playoff pairings – are still to be determined entering the final weekend of the regular season.  In addition to the Gophers taking on the Bulldogs, Minnesota State will visit St. Thomas and Bemidji State will host Ohio State on Friday & Saturday.  St. Cloud State will head to Madison to take on Wisconsin on Saturday & Sunday to conclude the league schedule.

Standings (* clinched home ice to open conference playoffs):
1. Wisconsin* – 66 points (.846 pts%), 21-3-2-1, 1-1 in OT (27-3-2 overall)
2. Ohio State* – 64 points (.821 pts%), 22-4-0-0, 2-0 in OT (28-4-0 overall)
3. Minnesota* – 55 points (.705 pts%), 18-7-1-1, 1-0 in OT (24-7-1 overall)
4. Minn. Duluth* – 44 points (.564 pts%), 13-10-3-2, 0-0 in OT (17-12-3 overall)
5. St. Cloud State – 27 points (.346 pts%), 7-17-2-1, 1-4 in OT (11-19-2 overall)
6. Minnesota State – 24 points (.308 pts%), 7-17-2-1, 1-1 in OT (13-17-2 overall)
7. St. Thomas – 23 points (.295 pts%), 7-18-1-0, 3-4 in OT (12-18-1 overall)
8. Bemidji State – 9 points (.115 pts%), 3-22-1-0, 1-0 in OT (6-23-3 overall)

Copyright © 2026 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 X at x.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 X at x.com/GopherWHockey.

PBP Quick Hit - An Edition of the Penalty Box Post - Friday, February 13, 2026

GWH Game Day!!
#3 Minnesota at #2 Ohio State
6pm ET / 5pm CT – OSU Ice Rink

Televised on Fox9+
Video stream on B1G+

Free audio play-by-play
Live stats

Olympic quarterfinal bracket set, with action beginning today! (Friday, February 13th)

With the completion of the preliminary round of the 2026 Olympic Women's Ice Hockey tournament yesterday as Canada defeated Finland, 5-0, to claim the second seed in the playoff bracket, attention turns to the quarterfinals which start later this morning, Friday, February 13, and continue tomorrow, Saturday, February 14.

Having suffered yesterday's loss, the Finns finished as the 4th-place team in Group A, with Czechia taking the #3 spot.  This sets up the following pairings, with game times listed in Central Standard Time (GMT-06)...
 

• Czechia (3rd in Group A) vs. Sweden (1st in Group B) – Today at 9:40 a.m.

• U.S.A. (1st in Group A) vs. Italy (3rd in Group B) – Today at 2:10 p.m.

• Canada (2nd in Group A) vs. Germany (2nd in Group B) – Saturday at 9:40 a.m.

• Finland (4th in Group A) vs. Switzerland (5th in Group A) – Saturday at 2:10 p.m.

With the national teams of all nine Gopher representatives qualifying, we send another round of both congratulations and good luck to them all!

Copyright © 2026 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 X at x.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 X at x.com/GopherWHockey.

The Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, February 11, 2026

View the February 11th Penalty Box Post newsletter

All-member PPC Chalk Talk – Saturday, Feb. 21 at 12:30 p.m.

The final of our three member-exclusive Chalk Talks for the 2025-2026 season is scheduled for February 21 at 12:30 p.m., prior to the Gophers' regular-season finale against Minnesota Duluth.  We will be joined by one of the Gopher coaches to discuss on-ice strategy and the team's performance in the previous game.  The event will be held in the Ridder Arena Weight Room, on the upstairs level across the hall from the suites and press box.

Goals for a Goal – Gophers' season total continues to climb

As the official booster club for the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey program, the primary objective of the Power Play Club is to provide financial support.  One method of doing so is by contributing to the Goals for a Goal pledge-per-goal program, part of our partnership with the Golden Gopher Fund!

The Gophers netted five goals this past weekend to bring their season-to-date goal total to 155, surpassing their final amount from the 2024-2025 season.  Twenty-five (25) of this year's goals have come on the power play!  Register a pledge for every goal tallied through the playoffs, with the option to double your pledge for power play conversions, electronically through the online form at z.umn.edu/GoalsForAGoal.  Following the conclusion of the season, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions.  Thanks as always for your support of this effort!!

In memoriam – Donald Frost (1945 - 2026)

It is with sadness that we share news of the passing of Don Frost, father of Gopher Women's Hockey head coach Brad Frost, last Thursday, February 5.  In the years since retiring to Minnesota, Don and his wife Joanne made numerous appearances at the team's games at Ridder Arena.

A full obituary including visitation and funeral details can be found here.

We send our condolences to Joanne, Brad and his brothers Paul, Rob & Mike, and the rest of the Frost family.

#3 Minnesota Golden Gophers (24-5-1, 18-5-1-1 WCHA)
 at #2 Ohio State University Buckeyes (26-4-0, 20-4-0-0 WCHA)

Friday, February 13 at 6:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. CT
Saturday, February 14 at 3:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. CT
OSU Ice Rink – Columbus

The Gopher Women's Hockey team hits the road for the final time in the 2025-2026 regular season, making the trip to Columbus, OH, to face the Ohio State University Buckeyes at the OSU Ice Rink.  The top-three national battle begins Friday evening, February 13 at 6:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. CT and continues on Saturday, February 14 at 3:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. CT.

Game coverage –

• Both games televised on Fox 9+

• Both also streamed through the B1G+ subscription service – Friday / Saturday

• Free audio play-by-play on GopherSports.com – Friday / Saturday

• Live stats on GopherSports.com

 
Last time against Ohio State – Meeting in mid-October at Ridder Arena, the Gophers suffered their first loss of the season, falling to the Buckeyes 4-1 in the series opener, but rebounded with a 6-3 victory in the rematch to salvage a weekend split.

Kassidy Carmichael gave OSU an early lead in the opener with a power-play goal 2:42 into the contest, and Joy Dunne & Hilda Svensson extended the Buckeyes' lead to 3-0 in the second period.  Madison Kaiser got Minnesota on the board with 5:52 to play, but Jocelyn Amos tacked on an empty-netter for Ohio State.  Hannah Clark stopped 43 shots between the pipes for the Gophers, while Hailey MacLeod made 28 saves for the Buckeyes.

The second contest saw Minnesota light the lamp on 3 of their first 6 shots on goal as Bella Fanale, Josefin Bouveng, and Ava Lindsay (PP) each found the back of the net, though Dunne scored her second goal of the series for OSU to make it 3-1 at the first intermission.  Jamie Nelson tallied her first goal as a Golden Gopher on the team's first shot of the second period, prompting a goalie change by the Buckeyes.  In the third period, Ohio State cut Minnesota's lead to two twice on goals by Sanni Vanhanen and Jenna Raunio, but Nelli Laitinen & Emma Kreisz (PP) responded for the Gophers.  Clark made another 27 saves for the victory.

In addition to her goal, Bouveng also dished out three assists in the series for a 4-point weekend.  Laitinen also recorded two assists in Sunday's contest for a 3-point performance.

Analyzing the Buckeyes – Ohio State has been ranked #2 in the national polls for much of the season, along with being second in the WCHA standings.  Their only losses have come against the Gophers and Wisconsin (three times).  But they are also missing five players to the Olympic Winter Games: forwards Joy Dunne (USA), Hilda Svensson (SWE) & Sanni Vanhanen (FIN) and defenders Mira Jungåker (SWE) & Jenna Raunio (SWE).

Even without their Olympians, the Buckeyes still have two 30+ point scorers in their lineup.  Junior Jocelyn Amos (#17) has lit the lamp 16 times and dished out 15 assists, while senior Sloane Matthews (#22) has found the back of the net 12 times and added 18 assists.  Freshman Maxine Cimoroni (#18) is the third-highest scorer among their available players, adding 23 points on 9 goals & 14 assists.

Senior Hailey MacLeod (#35) has been OSU's primary goaltender this season, posting a 16-3-0 record with 4 shutouts, a 1.61 goals-against average, and a .927 save percentage.  Freshman Taylor Kressin (#30) and sophomore Genny Klein (#1) have split the remaining starts; Kressin is a perfect 6-0-0 with one shutout, a 1.33 GAA, and a .920 SV%, while Klein in 4-1-0 with one shutout, a 2.52 GAA, and an .896 SV%. 

Last action: OSU splits with UW – Facing top-ranked Wisconsin in Madison, the Buckeyes split their series with the Badgers, winning the opener 4-1 before losing the rematch by the same score.  Jordyn Petrie netted the weekend's opening goal for OSU and added two assists, Maxine Cimoroni tallied a goal & an assist, and Hailey MacLeod stopped 30 of 31 shots.  But Wisconsin's Lacey Eden replicated Petrie's effort in the second game, lighting the lamp and then dishing out two assists, while Rhyah Stewart stopped 20 of 21 shots for the win; Kaia Malachino scored and MacLeod made another 26 saves for OSU.

Gophers earn 5 points on win, tie with SOW vs. St. Thomas

The Gopher Women's Hockey team earned five points in the WCHA standings in their matchup against St. Thomas, winning 4-1 in St. Paul on Friday before playing the Tommies to a 1-1 tie with a 1-0 shootout win at Ridder Arena on Saturday.

Chloe Primerano, Avery Hovland & Ava Lindsay put the Gophers up 3-0 in the second period of the opener before Cara Sajevic tallied for UST.  But Bella Fanale lit the lamp in the third stanza and Hannah Clark finished with 30 saves for the win.  Sydney Morrow dished out two assists in the contest.

Jamie Nelson tallied on a first-period power play to put Minnesota up 1-0 in the rematch but Jenessa Gadzik evened the score for St. Thomas with 7:50 left in regulation.  Neither team scored over the remainder of the third period nor in overtime as Clark finished with 26 saves and UST's Julia Minotti posted 22 saves.  In the shootout, Clark shut down the three Tommies shooters she faced, while Minotti stopped the first two Gophers but was beaten by Morrow in the third round for the extra WCHA standings point.

Finale, Primerano & Nelson each had an assist to go with their respective goals, joining Morrow with (officially) a two-point series.

Clark named WCHA Goaltender of the Week for third time

With a combined 56 saves on 58 shots faced against St. Thomas, resulting in a .967 save percentage and 0.96 goals-against average, Gopher sophomore Hannah Clark was named WCHA Goaltender of the Week on Monday.

The award is Clark's third of the season and of her collegiate career after she was honored twice in October.  For the season, she has a 1.85 GAA & .928 SV%.

Congratulations, Hannah!!

2026 Olympic Games: U.S. finishes preliminaries atop Group A, Sweden takes top spot in Group B, host Italy advances

 The U.S. Women's Hockey Team will be the #1 seed in the playoff bracket of the 2026 Olympic tournament after winning all four of their preliminary round contests in Group A by a combined score of 20-1, including a 5-0 shutout victory over Canada yesterday.

However, the standings order of three of the other four teams in Group A remains TBD due to the postponement of the Canada-Finland game, which will be played tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 12).  Only Switzerland knows they finished last in the group and will be the #5 seed in the playoff round.

In Group B, Sweden took the top spot with their own perfect 4-0-0-0 record (W-OTW-OTL-L).  After an opening day loss to the Swedes, Germany bounced back to take second position in the group with a 2-1-0-1 mark.  However, a big surprise was the performance of host nation Italy; with a 3-2 victory over Japan on Monday, they finished preliminary round play with a 2-0-0-2 record, good enough to advance to the playoff quarterfinals where they'll face the Americans.  The Japanese squad will head home after going 1-0-0-3, only beating a winless French team (0-0-1-3) which was also eliminated.

Gophers at the Olympics – Several Gopher Women's Hockey representatives participating at the 2026 Winter Games have found the scoresheet in the preliminary round.  We give a special shout-out to Natálie Mlýnková; her 3 goals in this year's Games and 4 career goals in Olympic competition are both new Czechia national records.  Here's the update through yesterday's contests...

• Abbey Murphy (USA) – 1 goal, 4 assists

• Natálie Mlýnková (Czechia) – 3 goals, 1 assist

• Taylor Heise (USA) – 1 goal, 1 assist

• Josefin Bouveng (Sweden) – 1 goal, 1 assist

• Tereza Plosová (Czechia) – 1 goal

• Kelly Pannek (USA) – 1 assist

• Nelli Laitinen (FIN), Lee Stecklein (USA) & Grace Zumwinkle (USA) – No scoring

Tomorrow's Canada-Finland preliminary round game is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. US/Canada Central Time.  We'll recap it and share the playoff bracket on Friday morning.  Again, the full schedule of games can be found on the IIHF's tournament site.  The quarterfinals begin on Friday (Feb. 13) at 9:40 a.m. CT, and the game between Team USA & Italy is tentatively scheduled for Friday at 2:10 p.m. CT.

In the United States, all playoff games will streamed on Peacock TV subscription service.  The U.S.-Italy contest will also be televised live on USA Network, with re-airings in the evening, and Saturday's games will be televised on CNBC.  The complete coverage schedule for both the women's and men's tournaments can be found on NBCOlympics.com.

For our Canadian families & friends, no change is expected.  All games of the women's hockey tournament will be streamed on the CBC Gem subscription service, with Team Canada games televised live on CBC TV.  Their full Olympic streaming and TV schedule is available here.

 
Around the WCHA...

Bulldogs sweep Beavers, clinch home ice – Kate Kosobud tallied a goal & 3 assists for Minnesota Duluth, including setting up Zoey Krock's game-winning goal late in Friday's contest, as UMD swept Bemidji State, 3-2 & 5-0.  Caitlin Kraemer and Madi Burr each added two goals and an assist for the Bulldogs, and Ève Gascon stopped 55 of 57 shots – including all 26 she faced Saturday.  Morgan Smith recorded a goal & an assist and Ava Hills made a combined 63 saves for BSU.  With the sweep, Minnesota Duluth clinched the #4 seed for the WCHA Playoff Tournament and home ice for the First Round.

Huskies, Mavericks split – Marie Moran & Sofianna Sundelin each tallied a goal and an assist and Jojo Chobak stopped 31 of 32 shots as St. Cloud State won the opening game of their series against Minnesota State, 5-1; Mercury Bischoff scored and Hailey Hansen made 31 saves for MSU.  Bischoff added a goal & an assist, Taylor Otremba recorded a goal and two helpers, and Hansen stopped 34 of 35 shots as the Mavericks salvaged a split with a 4-1 win over the Huskies in the rematch; Maélie Pion lit the lamp and Chobak made 31 saves for SCSU.

Upcoming games – The other three WCHA series will also be played Friday & Saturday.  Two will start with Friday matinees as St. Cloud State hosts Bemidji State and Wisconsin visits Minnesota State.  Meanwhile, St. Thomas will head north to take on Minnesota Duluth.

Standings (* clinched home ice to open conference playoffs):
1. Wisconsin* – 60 points (.833 pts%), 19-3-2-1, 1-1 in OT (25-3-2 overall)
2. Ohio State* – 58 points (.806 pts%), 20-4-0-0, 2-0 in OT (26-4-0 overall)
3. Minnesota* – 55 points (.764 pts%), 18-5-1-1, 1-0 in OT (24-5-1 overall)
4. Minn. Duluth* – 38 points (.528 pts%), 11-10-3-2, 0-0 in OT (15-12-3 overall)
5. Minnesota State – 24 points (.333 pts%), 7-15-2-1, 1-1 in OT (13-15-2 overall)
6. St. Thomas – 23 points (.319 pts%), 7-16-1-0, 3-4 in OT (12-17-1 overall)
7. St. Cloud State – 21 points (.292 pts%), 5-17-2-1, 1-4 in OT (9-19-2 overall)
8. Bemidji State – 9 points (.125 pts%), 3-20-1-0, 1-0 in OT (6-21-3 overall)

Copyright © 2026 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 X at x.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 X at x.com/GopherWHockey.

The Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, February 4, 2026

View the February 4th Penalty Box Post newsletter

Looking ahead...
All-member PPC Chalk Talk – Saturday, Feb. 21 at 12:30 p.m.

The final of our three member-exclusive Chalk Talks for the 2025-2026 season is scheduled for February 21 at 12:30 p.m., prior to the Gophers' regular-season finale against Minnesota Duluth.  We will be joined by one of the Gopher coaches to discuss on-ice strategy and the team's performance in the previous game.  The event will be held in the Ridder Arena Weight Room, on the upstairs level across the hall from the suites and press box.

Enrollment remains open for basic PPC membership!

As the official booster club for the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey program, the primary objective of the Power Play Club is to provide financial support.  Membership in the club is our best fundraising vehicle and encourages the players and coaching staff in their quest for academic and athletic excellence.  Enrollment in our Basic Membership level is still open and requires a minimum donation of $125, which includes up to two adults and any children at same address.  Online registration is preferred at z.umn.edu/PPC25; click the "Make A Gift" button on that page and follow the instructions.  Offline registration is also available by downloading the form here and sending it in to the listed address, with a check payable to the "University of Minnesota".

Goals for a Goal – Gophers reach season to-date total of 150

Another method of financially supporting the Gopher Women's Hockey program is by contributing to the Goals for a Goal pledge-per-goal program, part of our partnership with the Golden Gopher Fund!

Lighting the lamp four times this past weekend, the Gophers increased their season-to-date goal total to 150, with twenty-four (24) of those coming on the power play!  Register a pledge for every goal tallied through the playoffs, with the option to double your pledge for power play conversions, electronically through the online form at z.umn.edu/GoalsForAGoal.  Following the conclusion of the season, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions.  Thanks as always for your support of this effort!!

#3 Minnesota Golden Gophers (23-5-0, 17-5-0-0 WCHA)
vs. Univ. of St. Thomas Tommies (12-16-0, 7-15-0-0 WCHA)

Friday, February 6 at 12:00 p.m. - Lee and Penny Anderson Arena – St. Paul
Saturday, February 7 at 2:00 p.m. – Ridder Arena

The Gopher Women's Hockey Team looks to start a new winning streak with a home-and-home series against their crosstown rivals, the University of St. Thomas Tommies.  The action begins this Friday, February 6, with a 12 p.m. matinee at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in St. Paul, then moves to Ridder Arena for the rematch on Saturday, February 7, at 2 p.m.

Ticket information – Please note that St. Thomas relies primarily on digital ticketing; you can purchase tickets here, though you may have to create an account and log in first.  Ticket prices include parking at the Anderson Parking Facility at the southwest corner of Cretin Avenue & Grand Avenue.

Tickets for Saturday's game at Ridder Arena can be purchased here.

Game coverage –

• Friday's game televised on Fox 9+

• Both games streamed through the B1G+ subscription service – Friday / Saturday

• Free audio play-by-play on GopherSports.com – Friday / Saturday

• Live stats on GopherSports.com

 
Traffic & parking alert Saturday – Fans coming to Saturday's game are advised to allow time for additional vehicle and pedestrian traffic around the U. as four other Gopher teams are also hosting events: Men's & Women's Swimming and Diving are holding their First Chance Meet at the Jean Freeman Aquatic Center starting at 11 a.m., Gymnastics is facing UCLA at Maturi Pavilion at 4 p.m., and Men's Hockey is taking on Ohio State at 3M Arena at Mariucci at 8 p.m.

Last time against St. Thomas – Meeting at the start of December, the Gopher Women's Hockey team defeated the Tommies in their first-ever visit to Lee & Penny Anderson Arena, 5-3, before returning to Ridder Arena and completing the series sweep with a 4-1 victory.

The two teams exchanged goals over the first 54 minutes of the opener as Minnesota took 3 one-goal leads only for St. Thomas to even the score each time; Abbey Murphy, Kendra Distad, and Allie Franco lit the lamp for the Maroon & Gold, but Whitney Horton netted two goals and JuliAnna Gazdik knotted things up again for UST with 6:24 remaining in regulation.  However, Sydney Morrow put Minnesota ahead for good with 2:39 remaining and Josefin Bouveng added an insurance goal 51 seconds later.  Nelli Laitinen led the Gophers with 2 points on a pair of assists and Hannah Clark made 26 saves, while Tommies netminder Julia Minotti stopped 41 shots.

In the rematch, Minnesota got first-period goals from Madison Kaiser and Murphy, and Bouveng & Jamie Nelson pushed the lead to 4-0 just past the midway point of the contest, sending Minotti to the bench in the process.  Dani Strom entered between the pipes for UST and kept the Gophers from netting anything else, but her teammates could only manage a goal by Ellah Hause in the final stanza.  Nelson finished with a three-point game, dishing out two assists before her own goal, and Layla Hemp stopped 13 of 14 shots for the win.  Minotti made 18 saves before being relieved, and Strom stopped another 16 shots.

Analyzing the Tommies – St. Thomas enters the series with a full roster as only former players Saskia Maurer & Nicole Vallario were Olympic team selections (for Switzerland).  UST also comes in as the fifth-best team in the WCHA after last weekend's games (more on that shortly), posting a 7-15-0-0 conference record and a 12-16-0 mark overall.

As we noted before the December series, the Tommies have been overtime warriors, now with seven of their games – all in WCHA play – needing extra time.  They've gone 3-4-0 in those contests, including a road win over Minnesota State (2-1), two losses to Ohio State (3-2 & 2-1), a road loss at Wisconsin (4-3), and two wins & a loss against St. Cloud State.

Junior Rylee Bartz (#6) is the Tommies' leader in both goals (15) and total points (26), having dished out 11 assists, while fellow junior Ella Boerger (#15) has a team-high 16 helpers while lighting the lamp 6 times herself for 22 points.  Sophomore Chloe Boreen (#20) is third in scoring with 19 points on 10 goals & 9 assists, and junior Maddie Brown (#10) follows in fourth with 4 goals and 14 assists for 18 points.

Graduate student Julia Minotti (#37), the transfer from Clarkson, continues as UST's primary goaltender; she now has a 9-14-0 record with 2 shutouts, a 2.82 goals-against average, and a .904 save percentage.  Sophomore Dani Strom (#1) remains the main backup this season, going 3-1-0 with one no decision in five starts; two wins at Bemidji State last month improved her stats to a 2.83 GAA and an .881 SV%.  Freshman Nora Hannan (#31) added a start two weekends ago at Ohio State (a 5-0 loss) to three relief appearances; in 131 minutes of action, she has a 5.49 GAA and an .862 SV%.  Senior Maggie Malecha (#33) remains on the St. Thomas roster but has yet to play this season.

Last action – UST earns 5-point sweep of SCSU – Hosting St. Cloud State at Anderson Arena and trying to get out of the 7th spot in the league standings, the Tommies did just that with a 3-2 overtime victory followed by a 3-2 regulation win.  Friday's series opener saw Ella Boerger put UST up late in the first period, but Maria Mikaelyan converted on the second stanza power play and Raili Mustonen lit the lamp to give SCSU the lead with 5:34 left in regulation; however, JuliAnna Gazdik knotted the score again for the Tommies with 1:27 remaining in the third to force overtime and Rylee Bartz found the back of the net on a power play 2:50 into the extra session.  In the rematch, Maddie Brown, Bartz, and Chloe Boreen tallied to put St. Thomas up 3-0 after 40 minutes; St. Cloud State tried to rally with two goals in the third from Sofianna Sundelin but they were unable to find an equalizer.  Julia Minotti made a combined 36 saves in the series for the Tommies, while Jojo Chobak stopped 61 shots for the Huskies.

Gophers defeat Badgers in OT on Friday, fall on Saturday

A 25-save performance by Hannah Clark and a pair of unassisted goals led the Gopher Womne's Hockey team to a 3-2 come-from-behind overtime victory over top-ranked Wisconsin at Ridder Arena on Friday, but the Badgers earned a measure of payback with a 6-1 win of their own in the rematch Saturday for a series split.

Sydney Morrow opened the weekend's scoring, lighting the lamp on a rebound 3:47 into the contest to put Minnesota up 1-0.  That lead held until Lacey Eden & Finlay McCarthy found the back of the net exactly one minute apart in the second period to give Wisconsin a 2-1 advantage.  But Avery Hovland knotted the score in the third, popping the puck up from center ice into the Badger zone, racing past two Badgers to catch up to it herself, and putting it past goalie Rhyah Stewart.  The game required overtime, and Clark kept the Gophers in it with a breakaway save about a minute into the extra session.  Speeding down to the other end of the ice, a centering pass hit a Badger defender but Molly Jordan collected the loose puck and ripped a wrist shot high on Stewart's stick side for the win at the 1:17 mark.

Saturday was a much different story as Wisconsin roughed up Gopher netminder Layla Hemp for 3 goals in the first 11+ minutes of the contest, with Cassie Hall scoring twice.  Clark came in to relieve Hemp, but gave up three more goals in the second stanza; Vivian Jungels netted her second goal of the game and Hall completed her hat trick.  No further damage was done in the third, and Chloe Primerano scored for Minnesota to break up the potential shutout.

Ava Lindsay was the lone Gopher to record multiple points in the series, dishing out a pair of assists.  Hall had two assists to go with her hat trick for a five-point weekend and Stewart finished with 48 combined saves.

Olympic Women's Hockey begins tomorrow; here's how to watch

With 4 current and 5 alumnae members of the Minnesota Women's Hockey program representing their respective countries, here's how to watch all the action in the 2026 Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Tournament in Milan, Italy.

The full schedule of games can be found on the IIHF's tournament site.  Tomorrow's action (Thursday, Feb. 6 – times shown are U.S./Canada CST) includes Sweden vs. Germany at 5:10 a.m., Italy vs. France at 7:40 a.m., USA vs. Czechia at 9:40 a.m., and Canada vs. Finland at 2:10 p.m.

In the United States, all four of Team USA's preliminary round games will be televised live on USA Network, with re-airings also occurring.  (Note that elimination round game coverage is TBD.)  Other select games will be also televised on the USA Network.  Regardless, all the games will streamed on Peacock TV subscription service.  The complete coverage schedule for both the women's and men's tournaments can be found on NBCOlympics.com.

For our Canadian families & friends, CBC is the exclusive English-language broadcaster for the Olympics.  All games of the women's hockey tournament will be streamed on the CBC Gem subscription service, and it is expected that all Team Canada games will be televised live on CBC TV.  Their full Olympic streaming and TV schedule is available here.

 
Around the WCHA...

Buckeyes sweep Bulldogs in Columbus – Jocelyn Amos tallied a hat trick & an assist on Friday and added a fourth goal Saturday to lead Ohio State to a home sweep of Minnesota Duluth, 6-2 and 3-1.  Maxine Cimoroni dished out 5 assists in the series and Hailey MacLeod stopped 64 shots for OSU.  Grace Sadura recorded a goal & an assist for UMD.

Mavericks, Beavers split – Taylor Otremba, Lauren Zawoyski, and Mercury Bischoff lit the lamp and Hailey Hansen posted a 17-save clean sheet as Minnesota State earned a 3-0 victory to open their weekend series against Bemidji State; Ava Hills stopped 38 shots for BSU.  Playing Saturday in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Face-Off Classic in Grand Rapids, Otremba gave MSU a 1-0 first-period lead, but Izy Fairchild knotted the score for the Beavers 7 minutes later, Shelby Sandburg put BSU ahead with 12 minutes to play, and Hills made another 29 saves for a 2-1 win and the weekend split.

Upcoming games – In two other Friday-Saturday series, Minnesota Duluth hosts Bemidji State while Minnesota State visits St. Cloud State.  The big matchup of the weekend, however, features #2 Ohio State at #1 Wisconsin on Saturday & Sunday; Saturday's game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network at 3 p.m. CT.

Standings (* clinched home ice to open conference playoffs):
1. Wisconsin* – 57 points (.864 pts%), 18-2-2-1, 1-1 in OT (24-2-2 overall)
2. Ohio State* – 55 points (.833 pts%), 19-3-0-0, 2-0 in OT (25-3-0 overall)
3. Minnesota* – 50 points (.758 pts%), 17-5-0-0, 1-0 in OT (23-5-0 overall)
4. Minn. Duluth – 32 points (.485 pts%), 9-10-3-2, 0-0 in OT (13-12-3 overall)
5. St. Thomas – 22 points (.333 pts%), 7-15-0-0, 3-4 in OT (12-16-0 overall)
6. Minnesota State – 21 points (.318 pts%), 6-14-2-1, 1-1 in OT (12-14-2 overall)
7. St. Cloud State – 18 points (.273 pts%), 4-16-2-1, 1-4 in OT (8-18-2 overall)
8. Bemidji State – 9 points (.136 pts%), 3-18-1-0, 1-0 in OT (6-19-3 overall)

Copyright © 2026 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 X at x.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 X at x.com/GopherWHockey.

Penalty Box Post Quick Hit - Thursday, January 29, 2026

Gopher Women's & Men's Hockey Saturday GOLD OUT

The Gopher Women's and Men's Hockey teams are encouraging all fans attending this Saturday's (January 31) Border Battle games against Wisconsin – at Ridder Arena and 3M Arena at Mariucci, respectively – to wear gold-colored apparel.  Additionally, gold rally towels will also be distributed to all attendees!!

Brunch with the Coaches Update

We received news yesterday (Wednesday, Jan. 28) that, due to the recent passing of a close friend, University of Wisconsin women's hockey head coach Mark Johnson will be unable to attend our Brunch with the Coaches this coming Saturday morning (January 31).  We send our thoughts with Coach Johnson at this time.

That said, the event will go on as scheduled and we will be joined additionally by Gopher Women's Hockey associate head coach Greg “Boom” May, who served as an assistant coach for the United States Under-18 Women's National Team earlier this month.  We look forward to hearing from Coach May on what it took from a coaching perspective to lead Team USA to a gold medal-winning performance at the 2026 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship, along with his thoughts on the Gophers' play so far this season.

Again for those who registered, the brunch will occur in the Club Room at 3M Arena at Mariucci, starting at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday.  Please enter the building through the Sundet Lobby on the southwest corner and take the elevator or stairs up to the third floor.  We look forward to seeing you there!!

Copyright © 2026 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 X at x.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 X at x.com/GopherWHockey.

Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Brunch with the Coaches registrant reminder...

Gopher Women's Hockey fans who have registered for the Power Play Club's annual Brunch with the Coaches with University of Wisconsin women's hockey head coach Mark Johnson and Minnesota head coach Brad Frost are reminded that the event starts at 9:45 a.m. this coming Saturday morning (January 31).

The brunch will occur in the Club Room at 3M Arena at Mariucci.  Please enter the building through the Sundet Lobby on the southwest corner and take the elevator or stairs up to the third floor.  We look forward to seeing you there!!

Note: Coach Johnson will be unable to attend the brunch. Updated information about the brunch will be sent to registrants - watch your email!

2026 GWH Senior Celebration – Saturday, February 28
Club Cambria at Huntington Bank Stadium

We also provide a reminder that RSVPs are being accepted for the 2026 Gopher Women's Hockey Senior Celebration, recognizing the nine seniors and grad students on the team.  The event is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, at Club Cambria inside Huntington Bank Stadium following the Gophers' WCHA First Round / Quarterfinal game that afternoon, with a social hour starting at roughly 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner banquet & program at 6:00 p.m..

Tickets for the event are $50 per person, though members of the team & staff plus the immediate family members of the honorees are exempt.  Please submit RSVPs to Jess Scott at jascott@umn.edu by this Sunday, February 1.  Payments for tickets will be collected at the event's check-in table.

Goals for a Goal – Gophers add 13 more to season total

As the official booster club for the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey program, the primary objective of the Power Play Club is to provide financial support.  One method of doing that is contributing to the Goals for a Goal pledge-per-goal program, part of our partnership with the Golden Gopher Fund!

The Maroon & Gold posted a fourth-straight weekend series in which they lit the lamp more than 10 times, pushing their season-to-date total to 146 goals.  Twenty-four (24) of those have come on the power play!  Register a pledge for every goal tallied through the playoffs, with the option to double your pledge for power play conversions, electronically through the online form at z.umn.edu/GoalsForAGoal.  Following the conclusion of the season, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions.  Thanks as always for your support of this effort!!

#3 Minnesota Golden Gophers (22-4-0, 16-4-0-0 WCHA) vs. #1 Univ. of Wisconsin Badgers (23-1-2, 17-1-2-1 WCHA)
Friday, January 30 at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 31 at 2:00 p.m.
Ridder Arena

Having extended their winning streak to ten games, the Gopher Women's Hockey team next faces the challenge of the Minneapolis leg of the Border Battle.  They host the top-ranked University of Wisconsin Badgers at Ridder Arena with the action beginning this Friday, January 30, at 6:00 p.m. and continuing on Saturday, January 31, at 2:00 p.m.

Game coverage –

• Both games streamed through the B1G+ subscription service – Friday / Saturday

• Free audio play-by-play on GopherSports.com – Friday / Saturday

• Live stats on GopherSports.com

 
Traffic & parking alert – Fans coming to this weekend's games are advised allow time for additional vehicle and pedestrian traffic around the U. as Gopher Men's Hockey is also hosting Border Battle games against Wisconsin at 3M Arena at Mariucci both days (Friday at 7 p.m. & Saturday at 6 p.m.), and Gopher Gymnastics hosts Iowa at Maturi Pavilion on Saturday (at 4 p.m.).

Last time against Wisconsin – Going to LaBahn Arena in Madison to end October and start November, the Gopher Women's Hockey team upset the Badgers with a 5-1 Friday victory, breaking a ten-game Border Battle losing streak and getting their first road win in the rivalry since December 2021.  However, Wisconsin responded with a 7-2 win in the rematch on Saturday for the series split.

Hannah Clark's performance between the pipes in the opener was a key element to Minnesota's win; Clark made 40 saves in total, including 23 in the second period, yielding only a first-period goal to Wisconsin's Cassie Hall.  Down 1-0, Josefin Bouveng put home a pass from Abbey Murphy with 1:10 left in the second stanza to knot things up.  The Gophers then netted four goals in a 6-minute, 42-second span of the third frame; Sienna D'Alessandro tallied her first collegiate goal on a rebound, Sydney Morrow scored on a breakaway off a pass from Tereza Plosová, Bouveng tallied her second goal of the contest on a power play, and Murphy lit the lamp 29 seconds later for the final difference.

Badger forward Maggie Scannell lit the lamp 14 seconds into Saturday's contest and Kirsten Simms made it 2-0 less than 2½ minutes later.  Nelli Laitinen pulled the Gophers within one later in the first period, netting a short-handed goal, but Wisconsin tallied the next three goals, taking a 5-1 lead in the third stanza.  Murphy found the back of the net on a power play to make it 5-2, but the Badgers added two more goals for the final margin.  Wisconsin netminder Ava McNaughton made 19 saves, but Clark was pulled after the sixth Badger goal, having stopped 23 shots, and Layla Hemp finished up for the Gophers with 10 saves.  The Badgers' Kelly Gorbatenko recorded two goals & an assist, and Simms & Caroline Harvey each added a goal and two helpers.

For the series, Laitinen led the Gophers with 4 points, adding three assists to her goal.  Bouveng (2g, 1a), Murphy (2g, 1a), and Ava Lindsay (3a) each collected 3 points.

Analyzing the Badgers – Wisconsin has been the #1-ranked team since the onset of the season, with their only loss so far being the one to the Gophers.  They subsequently also dropped WCHA standings points to St. Cloud State (a 4-4 tie), St. Thomas (needing OT for a 2-1 win), and Minnesota Duluth (a 1-1 tie).  Like Minnesota, the Badgers enter the Border Battle with several players having departed for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games: forwards Kirsten Simms (USA) & Adéla Šapovalivová (CZE), defenders Laila Edwards (USA) & Caroline Harvey (USA), and goaltender Ava McNaughton (USA).

With Harvey, Simms, and Edwards away, fifth-year forward Lacey Eden (#6) leads Wisconsin for the next several weeks; she has 49 points this season on 19 goals & 30 assists.  Juniors Cassie Hall (#11) and Kelly Gorbatenko (#7) have also reached the 30-point mark; Hall has tallied 16 goals & 15 assists, while Gorbatenko has lit the lamp 18 times and dished out 12 assists.  Sophomore Maggie Scannell (#14) has added 22 points on 9 goals and 13 assists.

One strength of the Badgers has been their defense and goaltending, yielding only 34 goals across their 26 games with 8 shutouts.  However, McNaughton started 25 of those contests and was part of all eight shutouts, earning six of them by herself.  Without her, the Badgers will rely on freshman Rhyah Stewart (#1) and senior Chloe Baker (#32), who have combined for only 124 minutes of game play so far this season.  Stewart won her lone start (against Stonehill); in 95 minutes of action across four appearances, she has stopped 26 of 28 shots (for a 1.26 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage).  Baker has appeared in only two contests, compiling 29 minutes of work; she yielded a goal against Mercyhurst and made 9 total saves.

Last action – Wisconsin sweeps BSU – Hosting last-place Bemidji State in a Saturday-Sunday WCHA series, the Badgers found themselves trailing 1-0 and 3-2 in the first period of the opener as Isa Goettl, Hailey Armstrong, and Morgan Smith (PP) lit the lamp for the Beavers.  But Wisconsin outscored the visitors 14-1 over the remainder of the weekend.  Caroline Harvey & Kirsten Simms each finished Saturday's contest with 3 goals & 3 assists in a 10-3 win, and Lacey Eden added a goal and three helpers.  Smith netted her second goal of the series for BSU in Sunday's rematch, but Simms tallied another two goals & an assist and Eden recorded a goal and two assists in a 6-1 Badger victory.  Ava McNaughton earned both wins with 27 combined saves.

Gophers continue hot January in sweep of St. Cloud State

As mentioned above, the Gopher Women's Hockey team extended their winning streak to 10 games, sweeping St. Cloud State in a home-and-home series 8-1 in St. Cloud on Friday and 5-1 at Ridder Arena on Saturday.  The wins also complete a sweep of the Gophers' four-game season series against the Huskies.

Already leading the opener 1-0 after 20 minutes on Jamie Nelson's 49th career goal, Minnesota erupted in the second period, lighting the lamp 7 more times to put the game out of reach.  Nelson netted career goals #50 & 51 for her first collegiate hat trick and also dished out two assists for a 5-point performance.  Sydney Morrow recorded 4 assists, Josefin Bouveng, Abbey Murphy (PP), Kendra Distad, Bella Fanale (PP) & Ava Lindsay also found the back of the net, and Hannah Clark stopped 24 of 25 shots for the road win.  Sofianna Sundelin scored for SCSU in the third period and Jojo Chobak made 40 saves for the Huskies.

Murphy opened the scoring in Saturday's contest, lighting the lamp on a major power play in the first period.  Sydney Lamb got free on a breakaway to knot the score for St. Cloud State with 2:04 left in the second stanza, but Distad put the Gophers back in front 75 seconds later.  Murphy netted her 3rd goal of the weekend in the third frame, Chloe Primerano & Tereza Plosová (empty net) also scored, and Layla Hemp stopped 19 of 20 shots between the pipes.  Morrow recorded her 5th assist of the series on Primerano's goal.  Chobak made another 38 saves for SCSU.

Distad added an assist to her two goals, and Bouveng and Lindsay supplemented their respective goals with two assists apiece to join Murphy with three-point series.

Murphy ties GWH goals record; Nelson, Morrow hit milestones

Tallying her 34th, 35th, and 36th goals of 2025-2026 against St. Cloud State, setting a new personal single-season high, Abbey Murphy also made news as the goals were #137, 138 & 139 of her career, moving her into a tie with Gopher alumna Nadine Muzerall for most in Minnesota Women's Hockey program history!!

As mentioned in our recap of the SCSU series, Gopher graduate forward Jamie Nelson's second goal of the night last Friday was the 50th of her career!!  She then made it a double milestone, netting her 51st goal just 3:38 later to complete her first career hat trick!!

Meanwhile, senior defender Sydney Morrow earned an assist on Nelson's first goal on Friday, representing the 100th point of Morrow's career!!  She went on to add three more assists later in that game and another on Saturday, giving her 104 career points on 34 goals and 70 assists in 135 games played.

Frost earns win #550 – Saturday's victory over St. Cloud State was the 550th for Gopher Women's Hockey head coach Brad Frost!!  Frost now has a career 550-125-42 record (a 79.6% winning percentage) as the bench boss for Minnesota!!

Bouveng extends scoring streak – Additionally, with her goal 1:07 into the second period Friday night, senior forward Josefin Bouveng extended her active scoring streak to a 24th-straight game.  Bouveng then picked up an assist on Murphy's first-period power-play goal on Saturday, pushing her streak to 25 games!!

Per the NCAA Statistics Policy and Guidelines manual, Bouveng's streak will remain “active” while she is away, playing on the Swedish Olympic Women's Hockey Team at the 2026 Winter Games (dependent on her return to the Gophers following the Olympics).

 
Around the WCHA...

Buckeyes earn 5-point sweep of Tommies – A 45-save performance by Julia Minotti and a second-period goal by Whitney Horton to take a 1-0 lead were not enough for St. Thomas on the road at Ohio State on Friday; Jocelyn Amos knotted the score for the Buckeyes 7:58 into the third period, then lit the lamp again to win the game 38 seconds into overtime.  OSU completed the weekend sweep with a 5-0 shutout on Saturday; Amos netted her third goal of the series, and Maxine Cimoroni & Sloane Matthews each recorded a goal & an assist as they outshot the Tommies 36-10.

UMD gets tie, win, 5 points vs. MSU  in Mankato – Minnesota Duluth's Ève Gascon earned the WCHA Goalie of the Week award, stopping all 45 shots she faced in the weekend series at Minnesota State.  Gascon was matched by Mavericks netminder Hailey Hansen on Friday; Hansen made 28 saves as that game ended in a scoreless draw, though the Bulldogs earned the point winning the subsequent shootout, 1-0, when Caitlin Kraemer lit the lamp in the third round.  Another 27 saves by Hansen in Saturday's rematch were not enough as Thea Johansson, Zoey Krock, and Madi Burr scored for UMD to earn a 3‑0 victory.

Wisconsin, Ohio State, Minnesota clinch First Round home ice – Following last weekend's games, the Badgers, Buckeyes & Gophers each hold a 25+ point lead over the bottom four teams in the WCHA standings, clinching home ice for the First / Quarterfinal Round of the league's playoff tournament.  We note that Minnesota has yet to go on the road to start the conference playoffs in their current format.

Looking ahead – All eight teams in the conference will be playing Friday-Saturday series.  St. Cloud State and St. Thomas will open the action Friday afternoon in St. Paul, and Minnesota Duluth faces Ohio State in Columbus.  Minnesota State and Bemidji State will play Friday evening at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, but Saturday's rematch is the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Faceoff Classic being played at Yanmar Arena in Grand Rapids.

Standings (* clinched home ice to open conference playoffs):
1. Wisconsin* – 53 points (.883 pts%), 17-1-2-1, 1-0 in OT (23-1-2 overall)
2. Ohio State* – 49 points (.817 pts%), 17-3-0-0, 2-0 in OT (23-3-0 overall)
3. Minnesota* – 48 points (.800 pts%), 16-4-0-0, 0-0 in OT (22-4-0 overall)
4. Minn. Duluth – 32 points (.533 pts%), 9-8-3-2, 0-0 in OT (13-10-3 overall)
5. Minnesota State – 18 points (.300 pts%), 5-13-2-1, 1-1 in OT (11-13-2 overall)
6. St. Thomas – 17 points (.283 pts%), 5-15-0-0, 2-4 in OT (10-16-0 overall)
7. St. Cloud State – 17 points (.283 pts%), 4-14-2-1, 1-3 in OT (8-16-2 overall)
8. Bemidji State – 6 points (.100 pts%), 2-17-1-0, 1-0 in OT (5-18-3 overall)

Copyright © 2026 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 X at x.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 X at x.com/GopherWHockey.

Penalty Box Quick Hit - January 22, 2026

Gopher alumnae raising money for medical charities

We pass along this note from Minnesota Women's Hockey alumna Emily Oden, written on behalf of herself and Gopher teammate Catie Skaja... 

Hey all! Skaj and I are running the Chicago Marathon and each raising money for a charity to get a bib to be able to enter the race. Skaj is raising for Ronald McDonald Fund and I am raising for the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation. Donation page links are attached. Thank you!

• Catie Skaja's fundraising page for the Ronald McDonald Fund

• Emily Oden's fundraising page for the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation

We additionally provide our thanks for your consideration of these great efforts!!  The 2026 Chicago Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, October 11.

U18 Women's Worlds recap: U.S. shuts out Canada for gold, Czechia outlasts Sweden to take home bronze

Following up on our tournament report from last week, we provide an update on the final days of the 2026 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship.

We first report stunning news on the bottom side of the tournament standings.  Finland and Hungary met in the event's relegation game after each team went 0-4 between the preliminary round and quarterfinals.  In a high-scoring affair, the Finns fell to the Hungarians, 7-5, and were relegated to Division I-A; they will be replaced by newly-promoted Germany in the 2027 tournament.

In last Saturday's semifinals, Teams USA and Canada remained undefeated in this year's tournament.  The Americans rolled through Sweden by a 9-1 score, while tournament hosts Canada knocked off Czechia, 8-1.

Meeting up in the Bronze Medal Game, the Czechs took a 3-0 first-period lead over Sweden.  The Swedes cut that lead to 3-2 in the second stanza, but Kateřina Pěnčíková put Czechia back up by two before the intermission.  That goal was necessary insurance as Sweden's Moa Stridh netted her second goal of the game on a power play 6:20 into the third period.  However, the Swedes could not capitalize on three more power play opportunities after that, and Czechia held on for the 4-3 victory.

Finally, in the Gold Medal Game, American goaltender Bianca Birrittieri was named Top Player of the contest, stopping all 38 shots she faced as Team USA shut out Canada, 2-0.  Emily Pohl lit the lamp for the U.S. in the first period and Lindsay Stepnowski added the insurance goal in the second stanza.

We send congratulations to the five members of the Gopher Women's Hockey freshman class of 2026-2027 participating in the tournament, all of whom earned medals: U.S. defenders and gold medalists Sloane Hartmetz & Katya Sander, and Canadian forwards and silver medalists Maddie McCullough, Adrianna Milani & Rachel Piggott.  We give an extra shout-out to Milani, who was also named to the media's All-Star Team.  Here are the final tournament stats for the quintet:

• Hartmetz – 1g, 4a, +6 rating

• McCullough – 4g, 3a, +4 rating

• Milani – 10g, 3a, +12 rating

• Piggott – 7g, 5a, +17 rating

• Sander – 3a, +13 rating

We also send congratulations to two more members of the Gopher Women's Hockey family on the coaching staff of the gold medal-winning American squad: Team USA head coach & U. of M. alumna Courtney Kennedy and U.S. assistant coach & current Gopher associate head coach Greg "Boom" May.

Copyright © 2026 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 X at x.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 X at x.com/GopherWHockey.

The Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Directly view the January 21, 2026 Penalty Box Post Newsletter

Brunch with the Coaches – Saturday, January 31, 2026

The Power Play Club's annual Brunch with the Coaches with be taking place on Saturday, January 31 at 9:45 a.m. as we welcome University of Wisconsin women's hockey head coach Mark Johnson and Minnesota head coach Brad Frost.  Coach Johnson has led the Badgers since 2002 and also served as the head coach of Team USA for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

This is a separate-fee event, with tickets running $30 per person for PPC members and $40 per person for non-members, and registrations must be received by this coming Sunday, January 25.  At this time, we are not able to accept credit card payments.  Instead, please download the registration form here, fill it out, and submit it with a check made out to the Power Play Club to the address indicated, or pick up and fill one out in-person – with payment – at the PPC table at Ridder Arena this Saturday.

2026 GWH Senior Celebration – Saturday, February 28
Club Cambria at Huntington Bank Stadium

RSVPs are being accepted for the 2026 Gopher Women's Hockey Senior Celebration, recognizing the nine seniors and grad students on the team.  The event is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, at Club Cambria inside Huntington Bank Stadium following the Gophers' WCHA First Round / Quarterfinal game that afternoon, with a social hour starting at roughly 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner banquet & program at 6:00 p.m..

Tickets for the event are $50 per person, though members of the team & staff plus the immediate family members of the honorees are exempt.  RSVPs can be submitted to Jess Scott at jascott@umn.edu with a requested February 1 deadline, and payment will be collected at the event's check-in table.

Goals for a Goal – Gophers' January scoring blitz continues

As the official booster club for the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey program, the primary objective of the Power Play Club is to provide financial support, and one method of doing that is partnering with the Golden Gopher Fund in the Goals for a Goal pledge-per-goal program!

The Maroon & Gold continued their January scoring blitz this past weekend, lighting the lamp another 16 times to push their season-to-date total to 133 goals.  Twenty-one (21) of those have come on the power play!  Register a pledge for every goal tallied through the playoffs, with the option to double your pledge for power play conversions, electronically through the online form at z.umn.edu/GoalsForAGoal.  Following the conclusion of the season, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions.  Thanks as always for your support of this effort!!

#3/3 Minnesota Golden Gophers (20-4-0, 14-4-0-0 WCHA)
vs. #15/14 St. Cloud State Univ. Huskies (8-14-2, 4-12-2-1 WCHA)

Friday, January 23 at 6:00 p.m.
Herb Brooks National Hockey Center – St. Cloud

Saturday, January 24 at 2:00 p.m. – Ridder Arena

Remaining undefeated in 2026 and extending their winning streak to eight games, the Gopher Women's Hockey team looks to keep things rolling with a home-and-home series against the St. Cloud State University Huskies.  The action begins at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud this Friday, January 23, at 6:00 p.m. before continuing at Ridder Arena on Saturday, January 24, at 2:00 p.m.

Game coverage –

• Saturday's game televised on Fox 9+ (channel finder here)

• Both games streamed through the B1G+ subscription service – Friday / Saturday

• Free audio play-by-play on GopherSports.com – Friday / Saturday

• Live stats on GopherSports.com

 
Last time against St. Cloud State – A five-point performance (2 goals, 3 assists) by Sarah Paul, three goals by Abbey Murphy, and a combined 28 saves over four periods of action by Hannah Clark led the Gopher Women's Hockey team to a series sweep of St. Cloud State in October, 4-1 at Ridder Arena and 5-3 in St. Cloud.

Following a scoreless first period to open the weekend, Josefin Bouveng lit the lamp off a pass from Paul, but Maria Mikaelyan evened the score for the Huskies later in the second.  But Murphy scored on a ricochet off of SCSU netminder Jojo Chobak, Paul doubled the Gopher lead just 41 seconds later, and Tereza Plosová added a late empty-netter.

In the rematch, Laura Zimmermann lit the lamp on a deflected shot to give the Huskies a 1-0 first-intermission lead despite a 17-7 shots-on-goal advantage for Minnesota.  Chloe Primerano evened the score 1:46 into the second period and Murphy converted a power play 9½ minutes later to put the Gophers in the lead, but SCSU got their own power-play goal when another shot deflected off a Gopher, off of Mikaelyan's foot, and into the net to knot the score again.  Murphy's third goal of the series put Minnesota back in the lead, but Avery Farrell tallied for the Huskies with 31.1 seconds left in the 2nd to send the contest to the break tied up 3-3.  But Paul lit the lamp for the Gophers on a spin-o-rama 55 seconds into period 3, Emma Kreisz added an insurance goal just over 4 minutes after that, and Clark made that stand with 9 saves over a 20-minute relief appearance.  Layla Hemp had started for the Gophers and made 14 saves before being relieved.  Huskies starting goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö stopped 30 shots over the first 32 minutes of the contest but exited the game following a collision; Chobak replaced her and made another 13 saves.

In addition to her goal in the opener, Bouveng was also credited with two assists to finish with a 3-point series.  Gracie Graham, Madison Kaiser, and Ava Lindsay each also dished out two assists.

Analyzing the Huskies – Despite their sub-.500 record at 8-14-2 overall, St. Cloud State is nationally ranked in both major polls.  Following a strong series last weekend (more on that momentarily), they improved to sixth in the WCHA standings but still remain with a 4-12-2-1 (1-3 in OT) conference record under first-year head coach Mira Jalosuo.

Junior Sofianna Sundelin (#34) leads the Huskies in total scoring and goals, lighting the lamp 10 times and dishing out 8 assists for 18 points.  Senior Avery Farrell (#16) and junior Alice Sauriol (#4) are tied for second in scoring with 16 points apiece; Farrell has 6 goals and 10 assists, while Sauriol is SCSU's co-leader for assists with 11 while finding the back of the net 5 times herself.  Freshman Maria Mikaelyan (#44) has 15 points on 9 goals & 6 assists, while graduate defender Grace Wolfe (#8) is tied with Sauriol with 11 assists and has tallied 3 goals for 14 points.

Sophomore Emilia Kyrkkö (#42) and graduate player Jojo Chobak (#29) have mainly split time between the pipes for St. Cloud State.  Kyrkkö has a 6-4-2 record in her 12 starts, posting 3 shutouts, a 2.02 goals-against average, and a .939 save percentage.  Chobak has not been as successful, going 2-8-0 with one no-decision in her 11 starts; one of her two wins came by shutout but she has a 3.81 GAA and an .889 SV%.  Redshirt sophomore Paige Hoogendam (#31) made two appearances (one start, one in relief) in October for which she was goaltender of record, losing both; in 98 combined minutes of action, she's yielded 6 goals on 40 shots (3.68 GAA, .850 SV%).  Senior Hali Lawrence (#56) transferred to SCSU after spending the previous two years at Post University, but she has yet to play for the Huskies.

Last action – SCSU takes 5 points from UMD – Trailing Minnesota Duluth 2-0 after the first two periods of action last Friday, with both goals scored by Rae Mayer, St. Cloud State battled back as Avery Farrell tallied with 4:15 left in regulation and Maélie Pion knotted the score 79 seconds later; 39 total saves by Emilia Kyrkkö, including 7 in overtime, preserved a 2-2 tie.  The Huskies then earned the standings point for winning the subsequent shootout as Grace Wolfe was the only shooter to light the lamp in six rounds.  Caitlin Kraemer put the Bulldogs up 1-0 in the rematch but Laura Zimmermann tied things up early in the second period and Maria Mikaelyan found the back of the net twice to give the Huskies a 3-1 lead.  UMD pulled goaltender Ève Gascon early and SCSU capitalized as Alice Sauriol found an empty net.  Thea Johansson pulled the Bulldogs back within two with 55 seconds to play, but Farrell added another empty-netter and Kyrkkö finished with another 37 saves for a 5-2 Huskies victory.  With 76 combined stops and a .950 save percentage in the series, Kyrkkö was named WCHA Goaltender of the Week.

Gophers continue offensive outburst in sweep of Bemidji State

The Gopher Women's Hockey team continued to roll in 2026, completing a WCHA series sweep on the road at Bemidji State.  Following a 5-3 victory over the Beavers on Friday, the Gophers hit double-digit goals in a game for the third-straight weekend in an 11-1 rout on Saturday.  With the wins, Minnesota swept the four-game season series over BSU.

Five different Gophers found the back of the net and 12 in total got on the scoresheet in Friday's contest.  Abbey Murphy & Ava Lindsay lit the lamp only 14 seconds apart in the first period, and Kendra Distad, Bella Fanale & Sydney Morrow (PP) pushed Minnesota's lead to 5-0 at the second intermission.  The Beavers responded with power-play goals by Hailey Armstrong & Izy Fairchild and an unassisted tally by Shelby Sandberg; however, they ran out of time to get any closer.  Hannah Clark finished with 16 saves, while BSU's Kaitlin Groess stopped 34 shots.  With assists on Fanale's goal, Murphy was the only Gopher to record multiple points in the contest and Josefin Bouveng extended her scoring streak to 22 games. 

Murphy, Bouveng (PP), Lindsay, and Emma Kreisz netted first-period goals to open the rematch.  After Murphy tallied her second goal of the game 3 minutes into the second stanza, Lindsay followed it with two more of her own to complete her first career hat trick.  Distad extended the Gopher lead just 19 seconds after that, and Murphy lit the lamp again to complete her third hat trick in as many weekends, putting Minnesota up 9-0 after 40 minutes.  Layla Hemp couldn't maintain the shutout as BSU's Morgan Smith scored on a short-handed breakaway in the third period, but Murphy netted her career-high fourth goal of the contest on a power play, then picked up her 6th point of the game with an assist on Fanale's second goal of the series.  Bouveng's scoring streak reached 23 games on her goal & an assist.  Hemp finished with 24 saves, while Groess and Ava Hills combined for 38 saves for the Beavers.

Fanale earned two assists to go with her two goals on the weekend, joining Lindsay with four points apiece.  Seven different Gophers each tallied 3 points as Distad added an assist to her two goals, Kreisz joined Bouveng with her goal & two helpers, and Molly Jordan, Nelli Laitinen, Jamie Nelson, and Chloe Primerano each recorded three assists.

Murphy earns third-straight WCHA Forward of the Week award,
becomes second-highest GWH all-time career scorer

With a third hat trick in as many weekends and a career-high four-goal game on Saturday, Gopher co-captain Abbey Murphy claimed a third-straight WCHA Forward of the Week award, her fifth of the 2025-2026 season and the twelfth of her career.  For the series against Bemidji State, she tallied eight points (5g, 3a) with a +5 plus-minus rating.

The Gopher Women's Hockey record book went through several updates over the weekend as Murphy added to her scoring.  Her goal and assist on Friday brought her to 247 career points to put her third all-time in Minnesota history, surpassing Natalie Darwitz (246).  Her first two points on Saturday pushed her into 2nd, past Amanda Kessel (248).  Her second goal in that contest was career point #250, and she finished the weekend at 253 on 136 goals and 117 assists.  (Note that Murphy remains 33 points behind all-time leader Hannah Brandt's 286.)

With 33 goals to-date in 2025-2026, Murphy has already reached her personal single-season high, tying the mark she hit each of the last two full years (and the 8th-best mark in Gopher history).  However, we continue to watch the career record list as she now trails Nadine Muzerall as the most prolific Gopher goal scorer by only three, 139 to 136.

GWH Olympians set to depart for 2026 Winter Games next week

We again send wishes of good luck to all our Gopher Women's Hockey representatives participating in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan & Cortina, Italy.

Current Gophers (as pictured above) Tereza Plosová (Czechia), Josefin Bouveng (Sweden), Nelli Laitinen (Finland), and Abbey Murphy (USA) were recognized at the Gopher Men's Basketball game last Tuesday, January 13.  The quartet will be departing to join their respective national teams following this coming weekend's WCHA series against St. Cloud State, and fans attending Saturday's contest at Ridder Arena are encouraged to stop by the tables on the concourse to leave them a message.

We similarly give a shout-out to Gopher alumnae Taylor Heise (USA), Natálie Mlýnková (Czechia), Kelly Pannek (USA), Lee Stecklein (USA), and Grace Zumwinkle (USA).  All five are playing in the PWHL, which has games scheduled through next Wednesday, January 28, before taking an Olympic break (resuming February 26).

The four Olympic teams with Gophers on their rosters will all be in action on the women's hockey tournament's opening day, Thursday, February 5.  Sweden opens against Germany in Group B at 5:10 a.m. U.S. Central Time that morning.  In Group A, Team USA will play Czechia at 9:40 a.m. Central, and Finland will face Canada at 2:10 p.m. Central.

 
Around the WCHA...

All-session tickets on sale for Final Faceoff, March 5 & 7 – All-session ticket packages for the 2026 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff, being played at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in St. Paul, are on sale now!  The semifinals will be held at 4:00 and 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, and the championship is set for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7.  Reserved seating in the upper-level Capital Club section is $50 per ticket.  General admission seating in the main bowl is $40 for adults, $35 for youth, seniors & students, and $25 (per ticket) for groups of 10 or more.  Prices include facility & parking fees.

Tickets can be purchased here from the University of St. Thomas, and more information is available on the tournament's Information Center page.  Single-session tickets will go on sale on Monday, February 1, at 10 a.m.

Badgers sweep Tommies in St. Paul – Lacey Eden scored twice in each game for a four-goal weekend, Laila Edwards dished out four helpers, Cassie Hall tallied 2 goals & an assist on Saturday, and Ava McNaughton stopped a combined 36 of 38 shots as Wisconsin went on the road and swept St. Thomas by matching 5-1 scores.  Chloe Boreen & Rylie Bartz lit the lamp for UST and Julia Minotti made a combined 68 saves.

Buckeyes earn road sweep of Mavericks – Joy Dunne's first goal on Friday broke a 3-3 tie in the second period but she was just getting started, lighting the lamp 3 more times for a four-goal performance to lead Ohio State to a 7-4 victory over Minnesota State in Mankato; Jocelyn Amos added 2 goals & 2 assists for OSU, while Mercury Bischoff found the back of the net twice for MSU.  Dunne tallied another goal & an assist Saturday, Hilda Svensson added a goal to her three Friday assists, and Taylor Kressin stopped 16 of 17 shots in a 4-1 OSU win and the weekend sweep; Taylor Otremba scored for the Mavericks.

Looking ahead – In two other Friday-Saturday series, St. Thomas heads to Columbus to face Ohio State and Minnesota State hosts Minnesota Duluth in Mankato.  Meanwhile, Bemidji State visits Wisconsin in a Saturday-Sunday series, with Sunday's contest getting an early 11 a.m. start.

Standings:
1. Wisconsin – 47 points (.870 pts%), 15-1-2-1, 1-0 in OT (21-1-2 overall)
2. Ohio State – 44 points (.815 pts%), 15-3-0-0, 1-0 in OT (21-3-0 overall)
3. Minnesota – 42 points (.778 pts%), 14-4-0-0, 0-0 in OT (20-4-0 overall)
4. Minn. Duluth – 27 points (.500 pts%), 8-8-2-1, 0-0 in OT (12-10-2 overall)
5. Minnesota State – 17 points (.315 pts%), 5-12-1-1, 1-1 in OT (11-12-1 overall)
6. St. Cloud State – 17 points (.315 pts%), 4-12-2-1, 1-3 in OT (8-14-2 overall)
7. St. Thomas – 16 points (.296 pts%), 5-13-0-0, 2-3 in OT (10-14-0 overall)
8. Bemidji State – 6 points (.111 pts%), 2-15-1-0, 1-0 in OT (5-16-3 overall)

From Penalty Box Quick Hit - January 16, 2026:

Clark named to National Goalie of the Year watch list

We congratulate Gopher Women's Hockey sophomore netminder Hannah Clark upon being named to the Division I Women's National Goalie of the Year watch list by the Hockey Commissioners Association on Wednesday.

In 16 appearances this season, including 15 starts and one relief showing, Clark has a 13-3-0 record with 3 shutouts, an .818 winning percentage (4th nationally), a .929 save percentage (17th), and a 1.85 goals-against average (12th).

The watch list is comprised of 31 goaltenders with a goals-against average of 2.20 or lower and/or a save percentage of .923 or higher.  A committee of voters will pare the list down within the next two weeks and then choose the winner who will be announced in March during the NCAA Frozen Four.

Gopher recruits shining brightly at IIHF U18 Women's Worlds;
USA, Canada, Czechia, Sweden advance to tomorrow's semifinals

We send a round of shout-outs to the five members of the Gopher Women's Hockey freshman class of 2026-2027 who are playing at the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship currently occurring in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Through the preliminary round (3 games) and yesterday's quarterfinals, the five have posted the following stats:

• Sloane Hartmetz (D - USA) – 1g, 2a, +4 rating

• Maddie McCullough (F - CAN) – 2g, 3a, +4 rating

• Adrianna Milani (F - CAN) – 8g, 3a, +11 rating

• Rachel Piggott (F - CAN) – 5g, 4a, +15 rating

• Katya Sander (D - USA) – 3a, +10 rating

Teams USA and Canada have been dominant in the tournament, finishing atop Groups B and A (respectively) with perfect 3-0 records.  Czechia finished second in Group B to the Americans, winning their preliminary round contests against Slovakia & Finland, while Sweden took the second spot in Group A with wins over Switzerland & Hungary.  Those four top teams each won their quarterfinals yesterday – USA over Hungary (9-0), Canada over Finland (12-0), Czechia over Switzerland (2-1), and Sweden over Slovakia (7-2).

The semifinals are set for tomorrow – Saturday, Jan. 17 – with Team USA playing Sweden at 4 p.m. Atlantic Time / 2 p.m. Central, and Canada taking on Czechia at 7:30 p.m. AT / 5:30 p.m. CT.  The Bronze and Gold Medal Games are scheduled for Sunday, January 18.

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