Penalty Box Post
Thursday, November 10th
Give to the Max Day: PPC Board Announces $10,000 Match!
Next Thursday, November 17, is Give to the Max Day. The Power Play Club board and volunteers have pledged to match all donations dollar for dollar, up to $10,000. That means all gifts will be doubled, up to a total of $20,000!
Funds raised will go to support updates and improvements to Ridder Arena, like the beautiful new Gopher Olympians wall.
The GTMD page to make your online donation will be live soon, so look for the link in the next Penalty Box Post.
Goals for a Goal 2022-2023: Make Your Pledge Today!
Through its first 11 games, the Gopher Women's Hockey team has recorded 53 goals, including converting 8 power-play opportunities. Help us support the squad through our Goals for a Goal program, pledging to convert each goal scored throughout the regular season and postseason into a donation for the program, with the option to double your pledge for power play goals. Your donation will help fund updates and improvements to Ridder Arena.
To make a pledge, fill out this online form (preferred) or download the PDF version, print it, and mail it in to the listed address. After the postseason, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions. All contributions are tax-deductible donations to the Golden Gopher Fund.
Board of Directors meeting – Tuesday, November 15
Here's another reminder that the next meeting of the Power Play Club Board of Directors is scheduled for Tuesday evening, November 15, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held online over Zoom. Board meetings continue to be open to all registered club members; please contact Dave Malerich at vicepresident@powerplayclub.org if you wish to attend.
Gophers sweep UMD to retain #1 ranking in national polls, but fall to SCSU in U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Game
The Gopher Women's Hockey team remained undefeated in WCHA play with a weekend sweep of Minnesota Duluth at Ridder Arena, 3-2 (OT) & 5-3, but their 10-game unbeaten streak to start the season ended Monday night in Andover with a 4-1 loss to St. Cloud State in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Face-off Classic.
Minnesota took an opening 2-0 lead on the Bulldogs when Ella Huber and Lizi Norton scored in the opening 6:02 of Friday's contest. However, UMD battled back as the game progressed, with Gabby Krause lighting the lamp in the second period and Nina Jobst-Smith converting a 3rd-period power play to even the score at 2-2. After the remaining 17 minutes of regulation elapsed with no further goals, Taylor Heise scored on a give-and-go with Grace Zumwinkle 15 seconds into overtime, the first 3-on-3 OT goal in Gopher program history, for a 3-2 victory. Skylar Vetter made 27 saves, while UMD's Emma Söderberg stopped 29 shots.
The Gophers got off to an even faster start on Saturday, with Catie Skaja scoring only 25 seconds in and Abbey Murphy doubling the lead 10 seconds later. The Bulldogs again cut into the lead when Maggie Flaherty tallied on a power play, making the score 2-1 at the first intermission. But Minnesota went on another scoring burst in the second period with 3 goals in a 4-minute span; Skaja netted her second of the game on a power play, Josefin Bouveng lit the lamp 52 seconds later, and Abigail Boreen took a shot which bounced a shot off the goalpost, off Söderberg's back, and into the net to make it 5-1. That was all for Söderberg as she was relieved by Hailey MacLeod. UMD pulled back within two on third-period goals by Mannon McMahon and Clara Van Wieren (PP, extra attacker), but they ran out of time as the Gophers celebrated the 5-3 victory and the series sweep. Vetter made another 23 saves, while MacLeod stopped 15 shots after Söderberg's initial 12 saves.
In the series, Skaja (2g, 1a), Huber (1g, 2a), and Zumwinkle (3a) each finished with 3 points.
Unfortunately, Minnesota's momentum was abruptly halted on Monday night as St. Cloud State goaltender Sanni Ahola stopped 34 of 35 Gopher shots in the Hall of Fame Game. At the other end of the ice, Klára Hymlárová & Addi Scribner lit the lamp for the Huskies in the first period and Bailey Burton tallied on a power play 23 seconds into the 2nd stanza to push their lead to 3-0. Heise netted her sixth goal of the season to cut SCSU's advantage to 3-1, but the Gophers got no closer and Allie Cornelius added an insurance goal for the 4-1 upset. Vetter made 15 saves.
With one-third of their regular-season schedule now complete, the Gophers are idle this coming weekend. They return to action when the Border Battle against Wisconsin resumes at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Saturday & Sunday, November 19-20.
Frost reaches career victory #450...
We send our congratulations to Minnesota Women's Hockey head coach Brad Frost as Friday's win over Minnesota Duluth was his 450th career victory as the Gophers' bench boss!!
Heise, Vetter go back-to-back with weekly league honors
Gopher fifth-year Taylor Heise and sophomore Skylar Vetter were both honored by the WCHA as the league's Forward & Goaltender of the Week, respectively, for the second-straight week following their performances against Minnesota Duluth.
Heise recorded a team-high 4 points against the Bulldogs, netting the overtime game-winning goal on Friday and dishing out 3 assists. Vetter stopped 50 of 55 shots (a .909 save percentage) in winning both games.
Congratulations, Taylor and Skylar!!
Gopher announce first two 2023-2024 freshmen signings
Coach Brad Frost and the Gopher Women's Hockey team announced yesterday via Twitter and Facebook that forward Lauren O'Hara (Blaine, MN; Centennial HS) and defender Elly Klepinger (Corcoran, MN; Minnetonka HS) have signed to become the first two members of the team's freshman class of 2023-2024.
We pass along our warmest greetings, and look forward to seeing Lauren & Elly wearing the Maroon & Gold next fall!!
Around the WCHA...
Huskies earn road sweep over Beavers – Before their victory over the Gophers on Monday, St. Cloud State earned a big six points in the WCHA standings with a sweep of Bemidji State on the road, 2-0 & 3-1. Emma Gentry lit the lamp twice, and Olivia Cvar & Klára Hymlárová each added a goal and an assist. Sanni Ahola posted a 15-save shutout on Friday & Jojo Chobak stopped 28 of 29 shots on Saturday for SCSU. Anika Stoskopf netted the lone goal for BSU and Hannah Hogenson made 50 saves in the series.
Buckeyes shut out Tommies – Ohio State got back into the win column in a big way, sweeping St. Thomas 4-0 & 6-0 in Mendota Heights. Emma Peschel netted her first 3 career goals for the Buckeyes, while Sophie Jaques & Gabby Rosenthal each added 2 goals & an assist. OSU senior goaltender Quinn Kuntz earned a 16-save shutout in her first career start on Saturday. Saskia Maurer made 47 saves Saturday & Alexa Dobchuk stopped 52 shots Sunday for UST.
Mavericks earn non-conference sweep of Sacred Heart – Jamie Nelson posted a 5-point series with 3 goals & 2 assists as they cruised to a sweep of Sacred Heart in Mankato, 4-1 & 5-1. Charlotte Akervik and Taylor Otremba each also lit the lamp twice, and Brooke Bryant dished out 4 assists. Lauren Barbro & Alexa Berg each made 16 saves in net for MSU. Delani MacKay and Cassandra Nevers scored for the Pioneers, and Carly Greene made a combined 64 saves.
Upcoming games – Action begins this morning (Thursday, Nov. 10) when St. Thomas opens a two-game series on the road at Lindenwood, continuing tomorrow (Friday) afternoon. St. Cloud State will look to continue its hot hand, hosting Minnesota Duluth in a matinee series Friday & Saturday afternoon. Early next week, Minnesota State will host an exhibition contest against the Division III Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds on Monday night. Bemidji State, Ohio State & Wisconsin are idle.
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