The Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, January 25th
Chalk Talk – Saturday, February 4 at 12:30 p.m.
The third and final PPC Chalk Talk of the 2022-2023 season with a member of the Gopher Women's Hockey coaching staff is set for Saturday, February 4, at 12:30 p.m., prior to the second game of the series against Ohio State. The Chalk Talk is tentatively planned to be held in the Ridder Arena weight room (on the upper level). This member-exclusive event will include a discussion of team strategy and the previous night's game, plus time for a brief question & answer session.
Goals for a Goal – Gophers continue to light the lamp
With 11 goals scored against Bemidji State, including three tallied on the power play, the Gopher Women's Hockey has lit the lamp 127 times in 2022-2023, which includes 26 power play conversions!!
We continue to accept pledges to the Goals for a Goal program, converting each Gopher goal scored during the regular season & postseason into donations to the team for Ridder Arena improvements, with the option to double the per-goal amount for power play goals. 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. Thanks, and GO GOPHERS!!
Upcoming schedule reminder – February 11 vs. Wisconsin
We provide a friendly reminder that the Saturday, February 11 game between Minnesota and Wisconsin at Ridder Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. that evening. That game is Senior Night, so we hope to see many of you in attendance as we recognize and honor our Gopher seniors.
#3/3 Minnesota Golden Gophers (20-3-2, 17-1-2-1 WCHA)
at
#6/6 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (19-6-1, 13-6-1-0 WCHA)
Friday, January 27 at 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 28 at 3:00 p.m.
AMSOIL Arena – Duluth
After extending its active winning streak to 10 games, the Gopher Women's Hockey team heads to Duluth for a crucial WCHA battle against the UMD Bulldogs, who enter the series with their own 9-game undefeated streak. Action at AMSOIL Arena begins with another Friday afternoon matinee, January 27 at 3:00 p.m., and continues Saturday, January 28, also at 3:00 p.m.
Television coverage – Saturday's game will be televised on FOX 9+ in the Twin Cities. To find your FOX 9+ channel number, click here.
Last time against Minnesota Duluth – The Gophers took 5 of 6 standings points from the Bulldogs when the teams met at Ridder Arena in early November. Ella Huber and Lizi Norton scored in the first 6:02 of opener, but UMD's Gabby Krause lit the lamp in the second period and Nina Jobst-Smith converted a 3rd-period power play to even the score at 2-2. With no further scoring in regulation, Taylor Heise netted the first 3-on-3 OT goal in Gopher program history on a give-and-go with Grace Zumwinkle 15 seconds into the extra period for a 3-2 victory. In the rematch, Catie Skaja & Abbey Murphy put the Gophers up 2-0 only 35 seconds into the contest, Maggie Flaherty tallied for the Bulldogs on a power play later in the first, but Skaja, Josefin Bouveng, and Abigail Boreen all lit the lamp in a 4-minute span of the second stanza for a 5-1 lead. Minnesota Duluth 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. Skylar Vetter made a combined 50 saves on the weekend; Emma Söderberg made 41 saves in a little over 4 periods for the Bulldogs, and Hailey MacLeod stopped all 12 shots she faced in relief.
Analyzing the Bulldogs – Minnesota Duluth has climbed back to sixth in the two national polls, partially due to their previously-mentioned 9-game undefeated streak which started with an overtime victory over Ohio State and includes a series sweep of Wisconsin in Madison three weekends ago. Their 13-6-1-0 WCHA record has them comfortably in fourth in the league standings.
Grad student Gabbie Hughes (#17) just became the 7th player in Bulldogs program history to reach the career 200-point mark; she leads UMD in total scoring the season with 34 points, dishing out a team-high 27 assists while scoring 7 times herself. Fifth-year forward Anneke Linser (#13) has a team-leading 17 goals with 10 assists for 27 points; she is on a six-game scoring streak (8g, 3a in those contests). Fifth-year blueliner Ashton Bell (#26) also has double-digit goals with 10 while adding 15 assists for 25 points. Two others – senior Mannon McMahon (#16; 7g, 17a) and junior Nina Jobst-Smith (#28; 4g, 17a) have also surpassed the 20-point mark for the season.
Fifth-year goaltender Emma Söderberg (#30) has started 22 of UMD's 26 games this season, posting a 16-6-0 record with 7 shutouts, a .932 save percentage, and a 1.50 goals-against average. Freshman Hailey MacLeod (#35) is 3-0-1 with one shutout as a starter; including two relief appearances, she has a 0.63 GAA and .961 SV%. Graduate transfer Blanka Škodová (#31) has yet to play for the Bulldogs.
Last weekend for Minnesota Duluth – Anneke Linser & Naomi Rogge each lit the lamp 3 times, Gabbie Hughes, Ashton Bell & Nina Jobst-Smith each dished out 3 assists, and Emma Söderberg needed only 30 saves combined for a weekend road sweep of St. Thomas, 3-0 & 5-1. Anna Solheim scored for the Tommies to prevent back-to-back shutouts, and Saskia Maurer made 73 saves.
Gophers extend win streak to 10 with sweep of Bemidji State
The Gopher Women's Hockey team went 3-for-7 on the power play and also scored short-handed while Skylar Vetter and Olivia King combined for a 16-save 7-0 shutout victory Friday at Bemidji State, then completed the sweep of the Beavers with a 4-1 Saturday win on goals from four different players and another 18 saves from Vetter.
Taylor Heise led Minnesota with a power-play tally, a short-handed goal (replay via Twitter), and three assists. Grace Zumwinkle recorded two goals and an assist Friday and followed it with her 3rd goal of the weekend on Saturday. Abbey Murphy and Abigail Boreen each added two goals & an assist, with one of Boreen's goals coming on the player advantage. Peyton Hemp converted a power play on Friday, Josefin Bouveng opened the scoring on Saturday, and Madison Kaiser dished out four assists – two in each game. King made her season debut in Friday's third period, stopping all 4 shots she faced.
Claire Vekich lit the lamp for Bemidji State, and netminder Hannah Hogenson made a combined 83 saves.
Zumwinkle continues to climb up the Gophers' all-time goal list; now with 105, she has pulled within one of Krissy Wendell for fourth place. Heise's shorty was the 8th of her career, tying her with Ambria Thomas for fourth in Minnesota program history; she has also reached the top-10 for overall goals, tying Gigi Marvin with 87, and her 120 career assists are now within two of Kelly Stephens for fifth place on that list. The pair of Grace and Taylor were the first two Division I players to reach the 20-goal mark for the season.
Looking at team statistics, Minnesota now has 8 short-handed goals this year, maintaining a tie with the Stonehill College Skyhawks (NEWHA) for the most in Division I. The Gophers' 26 power-play tallies put them atop that scoring category after this past weekend.
Heise, Kaiser earn weekly league recognition
Following their performances in Bemidji, Gopher fifth-year co-captain Taylor Heise and freshman Madison Kaiser were honored as the WCHA Forward & Rookie of the Week, respectively. The weekly awards are the fourth of the year for Heise and second of the season for Kaiser. Congratulations, Taylor & Madison!!
Game schedule announced for 2023 Women's Worlds
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Hockey Canada and the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) have released the game schedule for the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship, bring played April 5 through 16 at CAA Centre in Brampton, Ontario (press release here).
Though still listed as #3 in the world rankings, Finland will be playing in Group B due to their sixth-place finish at the 2022 tournament; they will face newly-promoted France in the opening game of the 2023 edition. Team USA will play the midday game on April 5 against Japan, while host Canada will begin its title defense that evening against Switzerland. Czechia from Group A and Germany, Hungary & Sweden from Group B will play their first games on April 6.
Preliminary round play will feature two or three games each day between April 5 and 11, including the U.S. versus Canada on April 10 at 7 p.m. ET. After an off-day for all teams on April 12, a quadruple-header of quarterfinals will take place on April 13. The two semi-finals are set for April 15, and the tournament will finish on April 16 with the 5th-place game, Bronze Medal Game, and Gold Medal Game. Tournament packages and group tickets go on sale to the public tomorrow (Thursday, January 26) at womensworlds.hockey.
Elsewhere around the WCHA...
Buckeyes defeat Huskies twice but drop a standings point – Paetyn Levis tallied two goals & an assist, and four other Buckeyes each added a goal & an assist as Ohio State defeated St. Cloud State, 6-2, in the opening game of their series. OSU took 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the rematch on goals by Sophie Jaques and Jenna Buglioni, but Svenja Voight and Addi Scribner knotted the score for the Huskies and Sanni Ahola made 46 saves in regulation (47 in total) to force overtime, swiping a league standings point in the process. Still, Jenn Gardiner scored in the extra period to give the Buckeyes the 3-2 victory, her 4th point of the weekend (2g, 2a). Emma Gentry (SCSU) recorded a goal & two assists in the series.
Wisconsin sweeps Minnesota State – Lacey Eden and Britta Curl each scored twice (once apiece in each game) and Cami Kronish stopped a combined 49 of 50 shots plus tallied an offensive assist to lead the Badgers to a weekend sweep of the Mavericks, 2-1 & 6-0. Kelsey King scored for MSU on a power play.
This weekend – The other three league series feature Friday evening and Saturday afternoon games. Ohio State hosts Minnesota State, St. Thomas hosts Wisconsin, and St. Cloud State hosts Bemidji State, with Saturday's 1 p.m. BSU-SCSU game televised on Bally Sports North Extra as part of Hockey Day Minnesota coverage.
Standings:
1. Minnesota – 53 points (.883 pts%), 17-1-2-1, 1-0 in OT (20-3-2 overall)
2. Ohio State – 51 points (.850 pts%), 17-2-1-1, 3-1 in OT (22-2-2 overall)
3. Wisconsin – 44 points (.733 pts%), 14-5-1-0, 1-2 in OT (18-7-1 overall)
4. Minn. Duluth – 39 points (.650 pts%), 13-6-1-0, 3-2 in OT (19-6-1 overall)
5. Minnesota State – 22 points (.367 pts%), 7-13-0-0, 0-1 in OT (13-13-0 overall)
6. St. Cloud State – 20 points (.333 pts%), 6-14-0-0, 0-2 in OT (13-14-0 overall)
7. St. Thomas – 8 points (.133 pts%), 2-17-1-1, 0-0 in OT (7-18-1 overall)
8. Bemidji State – 3 points (.050 pts%), 1-19-0-0, 0-0 in OT (4-21-1 overall)
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