The Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, December 8th
Teddy Bear Toss – Saturday vs. UMD
Before the Gophers head into 2022, this weekend's series against Minnesota Duluth is highlighted with a Teddy Bear Toss on Saturday, December 11. Fans are encouraged to bring new stuffed animals, preferably in plastic bags, to receive free admission to the contest; they can then toss the bagged animals onto the ice at the indicated time.
Goals for a Goal campaign accepting additional pledges!
Help us support Minnesota Women's Hockey's participation in a tournament in Las Vegas in the 2022-2023 regular season by making a pledge to our Goals for a Goal campaign!!
Pledge a dollar amount for every goal the Gophers score throughout the regular season and postseason, with the option to double your pledge for power play goals! Minnesota lit the lamp another 5 times this past weekend at LaBahn Arena, bringing their total to-date to 73 with 10 coming on the power play.
We encourage you to make your pledge online, or download the pledge form here and mail it in to the Golden Gopher Fund.
#3/4 Minnesota Golden Gophers (13-4-1, 8-3-1-1 WCHA)
vs. #7/9 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (8-6-0, 7-5-0-0 WCHA)
Friday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m CT
Saturday, December 11 at 3:30 p.m CT
Ridder Arena
Following a big rivalry series this past weekend, the Gopher Women's Hockey team moves on to face another top-10 opponent, the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, at Ridder Arena. Action begins Friday, December 10, at 7:00 p.m. and continues Saturday, December 11, at 3:30 p.m.
Time change reminder & TV coverage on Saturday – We remind everyone that the 3:30 p.m. start time on Saturday is 30 minutes earlier than originally scheduled. The game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network; check with your service provider for the channel and availability.
Last time against Minnesota Duluth – Going on the road for the first time in the 2021-2022 season, Minnesota took a 2-0 lead 20 minutes into its series at AMSOIL Arena; Audrey Wethington tipped home a shot by Peyton Hemp, then assisted on Ella Huber's first goal as a Golden Gopher later in the period. Elizabeth Giguere cut UMD's deficit in half in the second stanza, but the Gopher defense held firm in the third and Emily Oden found the back of an empty net late for a 3-1 Minnesota victory. The Gophers also got on the board first in Saturday's rematch when Taylor Heise scored just 39 seconds into the contest, but Gabbie Hughes scored two power-play goals and Mannon McMahon & Anna Klein each lit the lamp to give UMD a 4-1 lead just past the midway point of the second period. Minnesota came back, with Oden cutting the deficit to two just 27 seconds later and Abigail Boreen scoring twice in the final 3:38 left in regulation, the second with an extra attacker, to knot the score and force overtime. But UMD controlled the puck for much of the extra period and Maggie Flaherty scored at the 2:09 mark to give the Bulldogs the 5-4 win and the split. Despite the result officially being a loss, Minnesota earned a standing point for taking the game to OT, giving them 4 points for the series.
Hemp led the Gophers with 4 points, all on assists. Boreen (2g, 1a) and Heise (1g, 2a) tallied 3 points apiece, and Lauren Bench made 42 saves in the series. Giguere finished with 4 points for Minnesota Duluth (1g, 3a), while Hughes recorded 3 points (2g, 1a) and goaltender Emma Söderberg stopped 52 shots.
Analyzing the Bulldogs – Minnesota Duluth has a mixed record at 7-5-0 in WCHA play and 8-6-0 overall. They have a sub-.500 mark at home at 2-4-0, but those games were series against the three teams ahead of them in the conference standings: Minnesota, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. Their wins against the Gophers and Buckeyes are partially offset by losses to Minnesota State and Penn State. Still, they hold the #9 ranking in the latest USCHO poll and #7 spot in the USA TODAY / USA Hockey Magazine poll.
Special teams play has also returned mixed results for Minnesota Duluth. They have relied heavily on their power play, with more than 20% of their total goals coming with the advantage and converting at a 27.3% rate. On the flip side, their penalty kill has only been successful 74.4% of the time.
The Bulldogs feature three players having over 20 points apiece so far this season. Senior Gabbie Hughes (#17) leads the team in total scoring with 27 points on 9 goals and 18 assists. Graduate transfer Elizabeth Giguere (#8) is right behind with 26 points, also with 18 assists and 8 goals of her own. Fifth-year player Anna Klein (#19) is UMD's goals leader with 11 while dishing out 11 helpers for 22 points.
Senior Emma Söderberg (#30) has started all 14 games for the Bulldogs, recording 3 shutouts in her 8 wins, a 2.31 goals-against average, and a .913 save percentage. Sophomore Jojo Chobak (#31) has only made one relief appearance this season, stopping the 3 shots she faced in 28 minutes against St. Thomas. Freshman Holly Gruber (#35) has yet to see any official action.
Last action for Minnesota Duluth – The Bulldogs' two games against Ohio State were near-mirror images of each other as each team took a sizable lead in one of the games, their opponent responded with a couple of goals, but the result was sealed with an empty-netter. UMD upset the Buckeyes 5-2 on Friday, but OSU salvaged a split with a 6-2 win on Saturday. Anna Klein and Elizabeth Giguere each recorded two goals and an assist, Gabbie Hughes added a goal and 3 helpers, and Emma Söderberg made a combined 73 saves for the Bulldogs. Lexi Templeman scored twice and three other Buckeyes each added a goal and two assists.
Gophers take 5 of 6 standings points from Wisconsin – Minnesota never trailed in its road series against the top-ranked Badgers. Taylor Heise put the Gophers up just 27 into Friday's game and Emily Oden scored with 1:13 left in the first period. Wisconsin came back with a second-stanza goal by Casey O'Brien and the tying tally by Maddi Wheeler in the third, but Catie Skaja converted a Badger turnover into an unassisted go-ahead goal just 9 seconds later. Lauren Bench made 31 saves to earn a 3-2 victory. Peyton Hemp gave the Gophers an initial lead in Saturday's game in the first period but O'Brien tied things up in the second. Emily Zumwinkle put the Gophers ahead in the third frame, but O'Brien netted her third goal of the weekend to draw the Badgers even again. A scoreless overtime resulted in a 2-2 tie, with Bench making another 37 saves in the game. Heise lit the lamp in the first round of the subsequent shootout, but Daryl Watts pulled Wisconsin even in the 2nd round and neither team scored in the 3rd round. Nicole LaMantia tallied for the Badgers in the top half of the 4th round, but Emily Brown matched it in the bottom half to keep things going. The 5th, 6th, and 7th shooters for each squad were unsuccessful as was Wisconsin's Sophie Shirley in the 8th round, but Zumwinkle scored to end it and give the Gophers the extra point in the WCHA standings. Hemp and Oden each recorded an assist to accompany their respective goals.
Zumwinkle, Bench earn weekly conference honors
Freshman Emily Zumwinkle and graduate player Lauren Bench were recognized as the WCHA Rookie and Goaltender of the Week, respectively, following their performances against Wisconsin.
Zumwinkle earned her first conference award following her third-period goal, the second of her collegiate career, and the shootout winner on her first career attempt in Saturday's contest. She also recorded three blocked shots and a +2 plus-minus rating.
Bench set a career high with 68 saves in the weekend series, posting a .944 save percentage and 1.92 goals-against average over the two games. As noted by the league, the award is her first of the season, her fourth as a Gophers, and the 10th overall in her collegiate career.
Congratulations, Emily & Lauren!!
Around the WCHA...
Last weekend – Reece Hunt earned Forward of the Week honors for scoring 3 goals, including Saturday's overtime power-play gamewinner, and Hannah Hogenson made a combined 60 saves as Bemidji State swept St. Cloud State, 4-3 and 2-1 (OT). Taylor Lind recorded 2 goals and an assist for the Huskies.
Charlotte Akervik scored twice Friday, Brittyn Fleming tallied a goal and two assists Saturday, and Jessica Kondas took home the Defender of the Week award with 3 helpers as Minnesota State swept St. Thomas, 3-1 and 3-0. Calla Frank stopped 35 of 36 shots in the series. Jenna Hartung scored for the Tommies.
Upcoming games – Including the Gophers and Bulldogs, seven WCHA teams are in action with all games played Friday and Saturday. Wisconsin and Bemidji get things started Friday afternoon at the Sanford Center, Minnesota State hosts St. Cloud State, and St. Thomas is on the road for a non-conference series at Lindenwood. Ohio State is idle.
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