Penalty Box Post Quick Hit
Thursday, August 11th
PPC Board Meeting – next Tuesday, August 16 at 7 pm
The next meeting of the Power Play Club Board of Directors is scheduled for Tuesday, August 16 at 7 p.m., online via Zoom. A full agenda is expected as the new season of Gopher Women's Hockey approaches.
As always, the meeting is open to all enrolled Power Play Club members (2021-2022 membership applies for off-season meetings); if you are interested in attending, please contact PPC vice president Dave Malerich at vicepresident@powerplayclub.org.
PPC Locker Sponsor registration open for ‘22-‘23 season!
Locker sponsorships are now available for the 2022-2023 season! Locker sponsorships require a minimum tax-deductible donation of $600.00 (per locker), with all funds going to the Gopher Women’s Hockey Enhancement Fund to support the team.
Member benefits include the Power Play Club membership, a photo with your player, and meal with your player and the team on a game day (tentatively set for January 7, 2023).
GWH fans who are interested in sponsoring a player’s or coach's locker should contact Rennie McPherson at susanmcp@drsusanmcp.com. Please provide FIVE names of players and/or coaches you are interested in sponsoring; we try to make sure that each player is sponsored before doubling and tripling up. The current team roster – including the incoming players – can be found at gophersports.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster.
Incoming Gopher freshman Laitinen named to Finland National Team roster for 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship
Incoming Minnesota Women's Hockey freshman defender Nelli Laitinen became the first Gopher representative officially named to a national team roster for the upcoming 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship when the Team Finland roster was released last week by the Finnish Ice Hockey Association. The tournament in Denmark, running August 25 through September 4, will be Laitinen's second World Championship and her third major competition with the senior national team after making her Olympic debut earlier this year in Beijing, China; the Finns claimed bronze if both of those events. (Laitinen photo courtesy of Keikko-Espoo Naiset hockey team.)
As mentioned in our previous newsletters, current Gopher Women's Hockey players Taylor Heise, Peyton Hemp, Madison Kaiser, Abbey Murphy, Makayla Pahl, Catie Skaja, Madeline Wethington & Grace Zumwinkle, and Minnesota alumnae Hannah Brandt, Amanda Kessel, Kelly Pannek & Lee Stecklein are currently attending the USA Hockey Women's National Festival in Buffalo, New York, while alumnae Olivia Knowles, Amy Potomak & Sarah Potomak are at Hockey Canada's National Team Selection Camp in Calgary, Alberta. Both of those national organizations are expected to announce their World Championship rosters this coming weekend. Additionally, the Gophers' other incoming European freshman, Josefin Bouveng, participated in the Sweden National Team's training camp late last month; she is expected to be on that team's WWC roster when it is officially announced within the next two weeks.
Penalty Box Post Quick Hit
Monday, August 1st
GWH alumnae Knowles, Amy & Sarah Potomak headed to Calgary for Hockey Canada Nat'l Women's Selection Camp
Hockey Canada announced Friday their list of 142 players invited to the BFL National Program Selection Camp, being held starting this Wednesday, August 3, at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta. The invitees include a trio of Minnesota Women's Hockey alumnae – recent grads Olivia Knowles & Amy Potomak and 2020 graduate Sarah Potomak.
As with USA Hockey's upcoming selection camp (in Buffalo, NY), the Canadian camp – previously known as the Summer Showcase – includes players both over and under 18 years of age. Following the completion of the camp on Sunday, August 14, the Canada National Team roster will be named for the upcoming 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship being held August 24 through September 4 in Herning and Frederikshavn, Denmark. Rosters will also be named for Canada's National Women’s Development Team and National Women’s Under-18 Team, both of which will play against their U.S. counterparts in Calgary on August 17, 18 & 20; those series are being held for the first time in three years.
We send congratulations and good luck wishes to Olivia, Amy & Sarah!!
Minnesota Whitecaps relocating to Richfield Ice Arena following lease agreement approval, starting with 2022-2023 season
The Premier Hockey Federation and Minnesota Whitecaps announced Friday that the team will relocate to the Richfield Ice Arena starting in the 2022-2023 season after reaching a 15-year lease agreement with the City of Richfield. The city published its own press release last Wednesday after the city council approved the agreement the previous evening.
As noted by both the team and the city, the Whitecaps gain a permanent locker room and training facility as part of the move from Saint Paul. They will be the Richfield arena’s main tenant, will hold sole advertising rights in Rink 1 and Rink 2, and will share a portion of advertising and concession revenues with the city.
Discussions regarding additional partnership opportunities between the team and the city are also expected.
Gopher Women's Hockey alumnae Sydney Baldwin, Olivia Knowles, Amanda Leveille, and Patti Marshall have signed with the Whitecaps for 2022-2023.
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