Gophers Sign Transfers Mlýnková, Parkkonen for 2024-2025
The Gopher Women's Hockey team and head coach Brad Frost announced Monday the signing of transfers Natálie Mlýnková and Krista Parkkonen to the program for the 2024-2025 season. Both come to Minnesota after previously playing for the University of Vermont Catamounts and representing their respective home countries at the 2024 IIHF Women's World Championship last month.
Mlýnková will become the first Gopher to hail from the Czech Republic, and is the reigning Hockey East Player of the Year after tallying 26 points on a league-best 15 goals and 11 assists in conference play. Over her 104 career games at Vermont, she posted 48 goals and 49 assists for 97 points. At the 2024 World Championship, her fifth with Team Czechia, she recorded 4 goals & 2 assists; since 2019, she has 15 goals & 6 assists in World Championship play. She also tallied a goal at the 2022 Olympic Games after recording a goal & 3 assists in the Olympic qualifying tournament.
Parkkonen, a blueliner from Finland, recorded 20 points on 4 goals and 16 assists in 60 games over two seasons at Vermont and was named to the Hockey East All-Stars Second Team in 2023-2024. Though she didn't score at the 2024 Women's Worlds, she tallied a combined 5 points (1g-4a) with Team Finland in the 2022 & 2023 tournaments.
The duo joins incoming freshmen Hannah Clark, Kendra Distad, Gracie Graham, Carly Humphrey, Kate Kosobud, Chloe Primerano and Ayla Puppe as the newest class of Gophers. Welcome, Natálie and Krista!!
Grace Zumwinkle voted finalist for PWHL Rookie of the Year
Gopher Women's Hockey alumna Grace Zumwinkle was one of three players named as finalists for the PWHL Rookie of the Year award, as voted on by an 18-member selection committee and announced yesterday. She is joined by Emma Maltais and Alina Müller. (Photo courtesy of the PWHL)
Zumwinkle leads PWHL Minnesota with 19 points. Her 11 goals are second-most in the league and include the PWHL's first-ever hat trick (January 6 vs. Montreal). She also finished second in the PWHL's regular-season with four game-winning goals and tied for first in both shorthanded tallies (2) and shootout goals (3). Her two power-play conversions tied for first among rookies.
Winners of all PWHL Awards, presented by Woody Creek Distillers, will be announced in June. Congratulations and good luck, Grace!!
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