Five Gopher alumnae named to PWHL draft-eligible list
2024 PWHL Draft scheduled for Monday, June 10th in St. Paul
Five Gopher Women's Hockey alumnae were named Saturday in the list of 167 players who have been declared eligible for the 2024 PWHL Draft, being held on Monday evening, June 10, beginning at 6:00 p.m. CT at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in Saint Paul.
As noted in our Two-Minute Minor email this past Friday (May 24), former Gopher great Amanda Kessel and recent GWH alumna Madeline Wethington were previously confirmed as draft-eligible. Joining them on the list are forward Abigail Boreen and goaltenders Lucy Morgan & Noora Räty.
Boreen signed two 10-day contracts with PWHL Minnesota during the 2024 regular-season and also appearing in the Minnesota's league semifinal series against Toronto, recording 4 goals and 2 assists in 14 overall games. As a Gopher, she tallied 125 points on 60 goals and 65 assists in 165 games over five seasons.
Morgan completed her collegiate play this past season with the Gophers, posting a 15-3-0 record with 3 shutouts, a 1.65 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. Over her NCAA career spanning 5 seasons, she posted a 57-46-22 record with 16 shutouts, a 1.94 GAA, and a .929 save percentage.
Räty remains the Gophers' all-time goaltending wins leader with 114, including a tie for the season record-high of 38 (set in 2012-2013); she also has program highs for shutouts (43) and saves (3,250), is 2nd in save percentage (.946), and 3rd in goals-against average (1.34). She has played in several different leagues professionally since graduating, but is better known for her international play with the Finland National Team, winning two Olympic bronze medals and one silver & four bronze medals at the IIHF Women's World Championship, being named the World Championship Best Goaltender five times.
Per a separate press release from the PWHL, tickets for the draft are free and will be available to the public in limited quantities beginning tomorrow (Wednesday, May 29) at 2:00 p.m. CT; the digital tickets will be required to attend. Fans can also purchase a PWHL Draft Premium Experience Upgrade for $125 (plus applicable fees and taxes).
We send all five Gopher alumnae best wishes ahead of the draft!!
PWHL Walter Cup Finals: Game 5 on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT
Series between Boston & Minnesota tied 2-2 after splitting Games 3 & 4
We again send best wishes to the seven Gopher alumnae on the active rosters of PWHL Boston and Minnesota – Hannah Brandt (BOS), Emily Brown (BOS), Taylor Heise (MIN), Gigi Marvin (BOS), Kelly Pannek (MIN), Lee Stecklein (MIN), and Grace Zumwinkle (MIN) – heading into tomorrow's (Wednesday, May 29) deciding Game 5 of the league's Walter Cup Finals.
Heise recorded a goal & an assist, Zumwinkle netted a short-handed empty-net goal, and Pannek tallied an assist as Minnesota won 4-1 in Game 3 to take a 2 games to 1 lead, but Boston avoided elimination with a 1-0 double-overtime victory in Game 4 as Alina Müller lit the lamp at the 18:36 mark of the second extra period.
Wednesday's Game 5 is set for 6 p.m. CT / 7 p.m. ET at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, MA. The game will be streamed on the PWHL's YouTube channel, and will be televised in the Twin Cities area on Bally Sports North Extra (tentative – may be moved to the primary Bally Sports North).
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