The Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, January 4th
Locker Sponsor event – Saturday, January 7
ATTENTION ALL LOCKER SPONSORS!! Just a reminder that our special event is scheduled for this Saturday, January 7, at Ridder Arena. If you have not received event details or know that you will be unavailable that day, please contact Rennie McPherson at lockersponsorship@powerplayclub.org.
Brunch with the Coaches – Saturday, January 14 at 9:45 a.m.
LAST CALL!! Our Brunch with the Coaches event is Saturday, January 14, with former Gopher associate head coach & current University of St. Thomas head coach Joel Johnson and our own Brad Frost. The brunch will start at 9:45 a.m. in the 3M Arena at Mariucci Club Room. Tickets are $30 per person, and registrations must be received by this Friday, January 6. Download the registration form here (PDF file) and return it with a check made out to the "Power Play Club". Registrations will be collected at the PPC table on the Ridder Arena concourse on Friday.
Goals for a Goal continues through the postseason
With the resumption of the 2022-2023 season, we resume counting goals scored by the Gopher Women's Hockey team. Through 19 games, the squad has lit the lamp 90 times, including converting 17 power-play opportunities. We again request your assistance supporting the program and funding updates & improvements of Ridder Arena by enrolling in our Goals for a Goal program. Pledge to convert each Gopher goal scored during the regular season & postseason into donations to the team, with the option to double your pledge 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. 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.
East/West Showcase at Ridder Arena
Friday, January 6
#15 St. Cloud St. (11-10-0) vs. New Hampshire (7-14-0) – 2:30 p.m.
#5/4 Minnesota (14-3-2) vs. Merrimack (7-13-1) – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 7
St. Cloud State vs. Merrimack – 1:00 p.m.
Minnesota vs. New Hampshire – 4:30 p.m.
NCAA women's hockey resumes at Ridder Arena with the East/West Showcase as the Gophers wrap up their final two non-conference games of the regular season, facing the Merrimack College Warriors and University of New Hampshire Wildcats, both out of Hockey East. St. Cloud State also makes the quick trip to Minneapolis for the showcase.
Action begins this Friday, January 6, when St. Cloud State takes on New Hampshire at 2:30 p.m., followed by Minnesota against Merrimack at 6:00 p.m. Pairings switch on Saturday, January 7, when the Huskies and Warriors drop the puck at 1:00 p.m. followed by the Gophers and Wildcats at 4:30 p.m.
Traffic Alert on Saturday – Please note that Gopher Men's Basketball is in action at Williams Arena on Saturday, with their game starting at 11:00 a.m. If you are coming to the SCSU-Merrimack game, allow extra time for parking along with increased vehicular & pedestrian traffic as the basketball game concludes.
Minnesota last time against Merrimack – The Gophers' and Warriors' only previous meetings were at the start of the 2017-2018 season at Ridder Arena. Merrimack pulled off an upset in the opener, coming from 3-1 down to defeat Minnesota 4-3 behind a 54-save performance from goaltender Lea-Kristine Demers. However, the Gophers salvaged a weekend split with a 4-1 victory in the rematch. Nicole Schammel led Minnesota with 4 points in the series, tallying 2 goals & 2 assists. Kippin Keller and Olivia Knowles each added a goal & two assists, while Grace Zumwinkle recorded her first two career goals in the Maroon & Gold. Emily Volpe was the high scorer for the Warriors with 2 assists. Between the pipes for the Gophers, Sidney Peters made 8 saves in 25 minutes of action before Alex Gulstene stopped 21 of 22 shots in the remainder of the weekend. Following Demers' performance in game 1, Samantha Ridgewell made 35 saves for Merrimack in game 2.
Analyzing the Warriors – After starting the season 1-6-1, Merrimack has shown signs of improvement with a 6-7-0 record since then. They currently sit ninth in Hockey East with 12 points on a 4-11-1 conference mark (one win coming in OT).
Senior Katie Kaufman (#10), a Lake Elmo, MN native, leads the Warriors in points and assists, 15 and 8 respectively, while lighting the lamp 7 times as well. Sophomore Alexa Pongo (#26) has a team-high 8 goals with 3 assists for 11 points, while seniors Allison Reeb (#25; 5g, 4a) and Madison Oelkers (#13; 4g, 5a) each have 9 points.
Senior goaltender Emma Gorski (#31) is 4-8-1 with 1 shutout in her 13 starts, posting a .903 save percentage and 3.05 goals-against average. Freshman Calli Hogarth (#41) has a 3-5-0 record with a shutout in her 8 starts, recording a .918 SV% and 2.76 GAA. Junior Aries Mustoe (#35) has not played this season and has seen only limited action the past two years.
Last action for Merrimack – The Warriors played a single game this past weekend, winning on the road against St. Anselm on Saturday, 4-2. Madison Oelkers and Teghan Inglis each recorded a goal & an assist, while Calli Hogarth stopped 23 of 25 shots. The Warriors outshot the Hawks 43-25.
Minnesota last time against New Hampshire – The Gophers and Wildcats have not met since Thanksgiving weekend 2012 in New Hampshire, when Minnesota held an 80-25 shot advantage in the series and completed a weekend sweep 10-2 & 4-0. In the opener, Hannah Brandt recorded a hat trick plus 2 assists, Amanda Kessel also tallied 5 points on two goals & three assists, and Meghan Lorence & Lee Stecklein each added a goal and two assists. Kessel added another goal & assist in the rematch, Stecklein lit the lamp for her fourth point in the series, Rachel Bona netted her second goal of the weekend, and Amanda Leveille earned her second-career victory and shutout with a 16-save performance.
Analyzing the Wildcats – New Hampshire has seen its struggles throughout the season, having gone 3-7-0 since the start of November, though they do sport a 4-0 shutout victory over then-#14 UConn. They currently sit just ahead of Merrimack in eighth in Hockey East with 16 points on a 5-12-0 conference mark (1-2 in OT).
Grad student Emily Pinto (#26) leads the Wildcats in points and assists, with 15 and 12 respectively, while lighting the lamp 3 times. Sophomore Kira Juodikis (#14) has a team-high 7 goals plus 5 assists for 12 points. Junior Brianna Brooks (#17) also has 12 points, coming on 4 goals & 8 assists.
Grad student Ava Boutilier (#35) and senior Nicky Harnett (#1) have split time between the pipes for UNH. Boutilier is 3-8-0 in 11 starts with 1 shutout, a .902 save percentage, and a 2.89 goals-against average. Harnett is 4-6-0 in UNH's other 10 games with 2 shutouts, a .921 SV%, and a 2.07 GAA. Freshman Ava Hills (#33) has yet to see any official action.
Last action for New Hampshire – The Wildcats also opened the post-holiday portion of their schedule with a non-conference game against St. Anselm on Monday, also earning a 4-2 victory at home after trailing 1-0 and 2-1. Kira Juodikis lit the lamp twice with an assist in between, while Brianna Brooks added a goal & an assist and Emily Pinto dished out two helpers.
Vetter brings home second monthly league award
Following back-to-back WCHA Goaltender of the Week awards at the start of December, Gopher Women's Hockey sophomore Skylar Vetter was honored as the league's Goaltender of the Month for December. It is Vetter's second monthly recognition after earning the honor for her play in October.
In series against Minnesota State and St. Cloud State, Vetter stopped 67 of 68 shots over four contests, posting 3 shutouts with a 0.25 goals-against average and .985 save percentage. She is on an active shutout streak of 226 minutes, 23 seconds. For the season, she is 12-3-2 in her 17 starts with 4 shutouts, a 1.91 GAA, and a .923 SV%.
Congratulations, Skylar, and wishes of continued success as the season resumes!!
Future Gophers Klepinger, Lindsay at U18 World Championship
We send wishes of good luck to incoming 2023-2024 Gopher freshmen Elly Klepinger and Ava Lindsay, along with the rest of the U.S. Women's U18 National Team, as they compete in the 2023 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship being held in Östersund, Sweden.
The Americans are in pre-tournament action today (Wednesday, January 4) against host Sweden at 4 p.m. local time / 9 a.m. U.S. Central in the city of Sundsvall. Tournament play begins on Sunday, January 8, again with Team USA facing host Sweden at 4 p.m. local time / 9 a.m. U.S. Central in Östersund.
At this time, no viewing options have been announced. We will share game updates on our social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter). We also encourage you to check out the tournament website here, or get updates from USA Hockey at teamusa.usahockey.com/2023u18wwc.
Around the WCHA...
Buckeyes roll past Lindenwood – Ohio State cruised to a series sweep on the road against Lindenwood, holding a combined 142-26 shot advantage and winning 9-1 & 6-0. Jenn Gardiner led the Buckeyes with 7 points on 3 goals & 4 assists, while Makenna Webster posted a 5-goal, 1-assist weekend including a natural hat trick on Saturday. Gabby Rosenthal added two goals & two assists, while Emma Maltais tallied a goal & 3 assists. Chloe Corbin netted the lone goal for the Lions.
Wisconsin splits top-5 series at Quinnipiac – In an anticipated battle in Hamden, CT, Wisconsin got goals by Nicole LaMantia, Lacey Eden, and Britta Curl, plus 21 saves from Cami Kronish for a 3-0 road shutout victory over Quinnipiac on Saturday. However, the Bobcats returned the favor on Sunday with goals by Kate Reilly, Nina Steigauf (PP), and Maya Labad, plus 34 saves from Catie Boudiette for their own 3-0 shutout win and the weekend split.
This weekend – In a pair of non-conference series on Friday and Saturday, St. Thomas hosts RIT while Minnesota State hits the road to play Lindenwood. In league play, Minnesota Duluth heads to Madison for a Saturday-Sunday series against Wisconsin. Bemidji State and Ohio State are idle.
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