The Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, December 7th
GWH Teddy Bear Toss – this Friday vs. St. Cloud State
The annual White Bear Mitsubushi Teddy Bear Toss is back, scheduled for this Friday, December 9, in the game against St. Cloud State. Puck drop at Ridder Arena is set for 6:00 p.m., and the toss is scheduled for the first intermission.
Additionally, fans bringing teddy bears to toss will receive $5 day-of-game admission.
Teddy bears must be wrapped in plastic bags; bags will be provided at Ridder as necessary. All bears will be donated to the Masonic Children's Hospital. We send thanks in advance for everyone supporting this effort!
Goals for a Goal 2022-2023: Make Your Pledge Today!
Entering the final 2022 weekend of action, the Gopher Women's Hockey team has recorded 75 goals, including converting 15 power-play opportunities. Pledge to convert each of those goals plus any scored the remainder of the regular season & postseason into donations to the team by enrolling in our Goals for a Goal program, with the option to double your pledge for power play goals. Collected funds will go towards 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.
Brunch with the Coaches – Saturday, January 14 at 9:45 a.m.
Our Brunch with the Coaches event is scheduled for Saturday, January 14, at 9:45 a.m. in the 3M Arena at Mariucci Club Room as we welcome former Gopher associate head coach & current University of St. Thomas head coach Joel Johnson and our own Brad Frost. We look forward to hearing from Coach Johnson about his experiences leading the 2022 U.S. Olympic Women's Hockey Team. transitioning the Tommies to a Division I program, and balancing both of those at the same time. Tickets are $30 per person. Download the registration form here (PDF file) and return it with a check made out to the "Power Play Club" to the PPC table on the Ridder Arena concourse, or send it by mail before January 6 to the address listed.
#6/4 Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-3-2, 11-1-2 in WCHA)
vs. #14/14 St. Cloud State Univ. Huskies (11-8-0, 6-8-0 WCHA)
Friday, December 9 at 6:00 p.m. – Ridder Arena
Saturday, December 10 at 3:00 p.m. - Herb Brooks National Hockey Center – St. Cloud
Wrapping up the 2022 portion of their schedule, the Gopher Women's Hockey team plays a second-straight home-and-home series, facing the newly-ranked St. Cloud State Huskies who also played home-and-home last weekend. Action begins at Ridder Arena on Friday evening, December 9, with puck drop set for 6:00 p.m. The teams then head to St. Cloud for the rematch at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on Saturday, December 10 at 3:00 p.m.
Traffic advisory on Friday – Please allow for extra vehicular and pedestrian traffic on campus at the U. on Friday, as the Gopher Men's Hockey hosts Wisconsin at Mariucci Arena at 8:00 p.m.
Television coverage Saturday – Saturday's game will be broadcast live in the Twin Cities area on FOX9+. To find your FOX 9+ channel number, click here.
This season against St. Cloud State – Minnesota swept the first two games against the Huskies in October, coming in league play, 4-2 & 2-1, but St. Cloud State earned a 4-1 upset victory in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Faceoff Classic in early November. Taylor Heise and Grace Zumwinkle led the Gophers with 2 goals & an assist apiece over the three games, while Catie Skaja dished out 3 assists and Abigail Boreen & Abbey Murphy each added a goal and an assist. SCSU's Klára Hymlárová recorded 2 goals and an assist against Minnesota so far, while Emma Gentry and Bailey Burton have each added a goal and an assist. Skylar Vetter has been the only Gopher goaltender to see action against the Huskies this season, posting a 2.37 goals-against average and an.887 save percentage. After yielding 4 goals on the opening 8 shots by Minnesota, SCSU netminder Jojo Chobak stopped the next 24, resulting in an .889 SV%. Sanni Ahola was between the pipes for the Huskies in the other two contests, making 77 saves on 80 shots for a 1.51 GAA and .963 SV%.
About the Huskies – With a pair of wins this past weekend (more on that shortly), St. Cloud State has moved into fourth in the WCHA standings, improving to 19 points on a 6-8-0 conference record (with one of their losses coming in OT) after starting league play 0-6-0. Two highlights include taking Wisconsin to overtime in October and the Hall of Fame Game win over the Gophers. SCSU also has non-conference sweeps of RPI and Lindenwood for an 11-8-0 overall mark, earning them the #14 ranking in the latest national polls.
Fifth-year Jenniina Nylund (#81) is averaging better than a point-per-game, holding the Huskies' assist lead with 13 while scoring 11 times herself for 24 points. Senior Klára Hymlárová (#12) has a team-high 12 goals plus 5 assists for 17 points. Junior Emma Gentry (#20) also has double-digit goals with 11, plus 3 assists for 14 points, while senior Taylor Lind (#13) has also recorded 14 points on 5 goals & 9 assists.
Junior Sanni Ahola (#1) has started 11 of St. Cloud State's 19 games; she has a 6-5-0 record with one shutout, a 2.46 goals-against average, and a .922 save percentage. Junior Jojo Chobak (#29) started the other 8 contests plus made a relief appearance, posting a 5-3-0 record with two shutouts, a 2.19 GAA and a .923 SV%. Freshman Julia Bachetti (#31) has yet to see any official action.
Last action for St. Cloud State – Taking on St. Thomas in a home-and-home series, the Huskies saw a 2-0 lead evaporate before getting a late goal from Courtney Hall to win 3-2, then traded leads with Tommies in the rematch before pulling away for a 6-3 victory and the weekend sweep. Klára Hymlárová recorded a hat trick on Saturday while Emma Gentry also lit the lamp 3 times in the series, Jenniina Nylund added a goal and two assists, and Grace Wolfe dished out 4 helpers. Sanni Ahola made 33 saves in Friday's victory. Lauren Stenslie netted two goals, one in each game, for the Tommies.
Gophers complete season sweep of Minnesota State
Kennedy Bobyck's first-period goal Friday night was the only highlight of the weekend for the Mavericks, as the Gophers scored 10 times unanswered for 4-1 & 6-0 victories in their home-and-home series, completing the four-game season sweep. Abigail Boreen knotted the score with a power-play marker, her 100th career point, and followed it with 3 more goals over the weekend, two of those also coming on the power play. After tallying an assist on Friday, Taylor Heise posted a 2-goal, 3-assist outburst on Saturday, with one of the goals coming short-handed. Abbey Murphy scored two goals, once in each game, including a shorty on Saturday. Grace Zumwinkle did not record a goal but dished out 5 assists, Ella Huber added a goal and an assist, Audrey Wethington lit the lamp once, and Allie Franco earned her first career point with an assist on Huber's goal.
Vetter earns fourth Goalie of the Week honor this season
Gopher Women's Hockey sophomore netminder Skylar Vetter was honored Monday as the WCHA Goaltender of the Week following her 38-save performance over two games in the series against Minnesota State, with only 1 goal against. The award is Vetter's fourth such recognition this season, along with being named Goaltender of the Month for October. In three full games as the starter plus a 16-minute relief appearance against the Mavericks, Vetter has stopped 57 of 58 shots for a .983 save percentage and 0.31 goals-against average.
Congratulations, Skylar!!
Bouveng recognized by Lindahl Academic Center
Recognition came from a performance not only on the ice but in the classroom, as Gopher Women's Hockey freshman Josefin Bouveng was named as one of the Lindahl Academic Center's Student-Athletes of the Month. Congratulations and good work, Josefin!!
7 Gophers named to Team USA December Rivalry Series Roster
Seven Gopher Women's Hockey representatives will be dressing in the Red, White & Blue of Team USA for the next two games of the Rivalry Series against Canada.
Current Gophers Taylor Heise, Abbey Murphy, and Grace Zumwinkle will join alumnae Hannah Brandt, Amanda Kessel, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein on the U.S. Women's National Team's December roster, which was announced by USA Hockey on Monday, December 5. The Americans will face their Canadian couterparts at The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, NV, on Thursday, December 15, and at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA, on Monday, December 19, with both games at 7 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. CT and televised on NHL Network. Tickets to both games are still on sale, with links available on USA Hockey's Rivalry Series web page.
Congratulations and good luck, ladies!!
Around the WCHA...
Buckeyes, Bulldogs split in Duluth – Ohio State and Minnesota Duluth battled to a pair of one-goal results, with the Buckeyes winning 2-1 Friday before the Bulldogs took a 5-4 overtime victory on Saturday. Emma Maltais netted the gamewinning goal after an earlier assist for OSU on Friday, while Gabby Rosenthal added two goals & an assist on Saturday. UMD's Kylie Hanley recorded two goals & an assist in the series, and Clara Van Wieran lit the lamp twice Saturday including the OT gamewinner.
Badgers steamroll Beavers – Wisconsin cruised to a series sweep on the road, routing Bemidji State 13-1 in the opener followed by a 4-1 victory in the rematch. Three different Badgers each posted seven-point weekends; Britta Curl lit the lamp 5 times – including a hat trick on Friday – and dished out two assists, while Casey O'Brien & Sophie Shirley added 2 goals & 5 assists apiece. Mya Headrick and Reece Hunt (PP) scored for the Beavers.
Upcoming games – Two other league series are occuring this weekend with Friday & Saturday games. Minnesota Duluth hosts St. Thomas in a pair of afternoon matinees, while Wisconsin visits Minnesota State Friday evening and Saturday afteroon. Bemidji State and Ohio State are idle.
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