Penalty Box Post
Friday, March 19, 2021
Zumwinkle named as Top-3 finalist for 2021 Patty Kazmaier Award;
Northeastern's Frankel, Wisconsin's Watts also honored
Gopher Women's Hockey senior forward and co-captain Grace Zumwinkle was honored yesterday as the USA Hockey Foundation named her as a Top-3 finalist for the 2021 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which is presented to the top Division I women's ice hockey player. Zumwinkle is joined as a finalist by Northeastern goaltender Aerin Frankel and Wisconsin forward Daryl Watts.
As noted in the announcement, Zumwinkle was tied for the NCAA lead with 17 goals, while placing second in goals-per-game (0.85) and tying for second in game-winning goals (prior to yesterday's NCAA semifinals).
The winner of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be revealed on Saturday, March 27, as part of a special broadcast on NHL Network.
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Women’s Hockey Commissioners Association names Goalie & Rookie of the Year – In addition to being a Patty Kazmaier Top-3 finalist, Northeastern's Aerin Frankel was honored as the inaugural Goalie of the Year, announced by the WHCA on Wednesday. Through the NCAA quarterfinal round, Frankel led the nation in save percentage (.969), goals-against average (0.71), wins (19) and shutouts (9).
Penn State freshman forward Kiara Zanon was honored as the Women’s College Hockey Rookie of the Year, as chosen in a vote the nation’s assistant coaches from a ballot consisting of each conference's Rookie of the Year. Zanon led all NCAA first-year players with 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points. She was a Top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award.
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Northeastern, Wisconsin advance to NCAA Championship Game
Puck drop March 20 at 7:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm CT, televised on ESPNU
The top two seeds in the 2021 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Hockey Tournament – the #1 Northeastern University Huskies and #2 University of Wisconsin Badgers – have advanced to tomorrow night's National Championship Game. Action is set for 7:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm CT at Erie Insurance Arena in Erie, PA, with live television coverage on ESPNU.
The teams met just 14 months ago at the championship game of the in-season Battle at the Burgh tournament in Pittsburgh. In a wild contest which saw Wisconsin hold a 55-40 shots on goal advantage, the game went to overtime and Caitlin Schneider scored on a power play with a minute left in the extra session for a 4-3 Badgers victory. Only UW's Brette Pettet & Sophie Shirley recorded multiple points, dishing out two assists apiece. Kristen Campbell made 37 saves for the Badgers, while Aerin Frankel stopped 51 shots for the Huskies.
Here are our summaries of the NCAA Tournament action leading up to the title game.
Quarterfinals
#1 Northeastern 5, #8 Robert Morris 1 – Skylar Fontaine scored twice, including the game-winning goal, and also had an assist, while Chloé Aurard and Alina Mueller each added a goal and an assist for the Huskies, who outshot the Colonials 46-21. Emily Curlett netted the lone goal for RMU on a power play.
#5 Minnesota Duluth 1, #4 Colgate 0, OT – In a goaltending battle, UMD's Emma Söderberg stopped all 30 shots she faced. She was matched through regulation by the Raiders' Kayle Osborne, but Ashton Bell scored at the 6:39 mark of overtime on the Bulldogs' 30th shot on goal.
#2 Wisconsin 3, #7 Providence 0 – The Badgers held the Friars without a first-period shot on goal and only 12 for the contest. Brette Pettet scored in the first stanza and Sophie Shirley lit the lamp twice in the third, despite 41 saves from Providence goaltender Sandra Abstreiter.
#3 Ohio State 3, #6 Boston College 1 – After shots were 5-5 at the first intermission and the Eagles led 1-0 on a Savannah Norcross goal, the Buckeyes came out firing, outshooting BC 43-7 over the final 40 minutes. Jenna Buglioni knotted the score on a power play and Brooke Bink put OSU ahead in the second period, and Gabby Rosenthal added an insurance goal in the final frame.
Semifinals
#1 Northeastern 3, #5 Minnesota Duluth 2, OT – Mannon McMahon and Taylor Anderson lit the lamp in the second period to put the Bulldogs up 2-0, but Maureen Murphy capitalized on a Huskies 5-on-3 power play 42 seconds into the third stanza and Katy Knoll knotted the score less than 5 minutes later. Emma Söderberg made 44 saves for UMD, including 11 in overtime, and the game appeared to be headed to a second extra session, but Northeastern's Skylar Fontaine intercepted a pass at the offensive blue line and took a shot which floated over Söderberg and into the net with 27 seconds left in the first OT.
#2 Wisconsin 4, #3 Ohio State 2 – Makenna Webster opened the scoring just 1:19 into the contest, and Casey O'Brien & Caitlin Schneider each recorded a goal and two assists to put the Badgers up 3-0 in the second period. Gabby Rosenthal and Sara Säkkinen scored for Ohio State to cut the Wisconsin lead to 3-2, but Daryl Watts tacked on an empty-netter with 14 seconds remaining. Kennedy Blair made 37 saves for the victory.
Live updates from the tournament can be found on NCAA.com.
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PWHPA announces next showcase in St. Louis, April 11 & 12
The Professional Women's Hockey Players Association announced yesterday a new partnership with the NHL's St. Louis Blues, who will host the organization's third showcase of the 2021 Secret® Dream Gap Tour. The event will include games between Team adidas from the Minnesota region and Team Women's Sports Foundation from the New Hampshire region, played on Sunday, April 11 at Centene Community Ice Center at 5 p.m. CT, and Monday, April 12 with a 6 p.m. CT puck drop at Enterprise Center, home of the Blues.
Both teams participating in the showcase include Gopher Women's Hockey alumnae, with Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein playing for Team adidas (Minnesota), and Amanda Kessel & Gigi Marvin dressing for Team WSF (New Hampshire).
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St. Thomas concludes final D-III season before move to WCHA
The University of St. Thomas women's hockey team saw its pandemic-shortened Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season come to an end this past Sunday, also concluding the program's tenure in the MIAC and at the Division III level. The Tommies will make the move to Division I next season, joining the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as that conference's eighth team.
As noted in the post-season recap from UST, the Tommie women have played 588 games over 23 seasons, with 362 all-time victories, 174 losses and 52 ties – a .660 win percentage. They went 6-2 in the recently-finished year, wrapping up play with a 3-0 victory over St. Mary's. Head coach Tom Palkowski has compiled a 220-99-40 record at St. Thomas over 14 seasons, with two Division III Frozen Four appearances.
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