Reminder: PPC membership for 2024-2025 open at all levels!
First member-exclusive Chalk Talk scheduled for October 19
Registration to the Power Play Club for the 2024-2025 season is now open AT ALL LEVELS as Gopher Women's Hockey enters its 28th season of competition! Your annual membership enrollment donations are our biggest source of financial support for the team, last year raising more than $36,500.
Locker Sponsor level – Please consider sponsoring a GWH player's or coach's locker through our top membership tier. The donor's name is posted on a nameplate next to the locker, and donors will have an opportunity to meet with their respective player(s) at our event in January (with pictures and a team meal). A minimum $600 donation (per locker) is required, though any amount over and above that is encouraged. If you are interested, either as a renewing or new Locker Sponsor, please contact Bob Milligan at milligandanes@gmail.com as soon as possible but do not submit a donation at this time; donation instructions for Locker Sponsors will be sent at the start of November.
Basic Membership level – A minimum donation of $50 is required for our basic membership tier, which includes up to two adults and any children at same address. Online registration is preferred at z.umn.edu/PPC24; click the "Make A Gift" button on that page and follow the instructions. To register offline, download the form here and send it in to the listed address, with a check payable to the "University of Minnesota".
Chalk Talk access – Exclusive access to our three in-person Chalk Talk events is included with Power Play Club membership at either level. Come join us pre-game to hear from one of the GWH coaches as we discuss team strategy and the previous contest. The first Chalk Talk for 2024-2025 is scheduled for Saturday, October 19, at 12:30 p.m., prior to the second game of the series against Wisconsin, likely in the Ridder Arena weight room on the suite (upper) level.
Goals for a Goal program returns for the new season!
As mentioned in our August 6 membership letter, another fundraiser for the Gopher Women's Hockey team is our Goals for a Goal program, a pledge-per-goal campaign. Register your pledge for every goal the Gophers score in 2024-2025, with the option to double your pledge for power play tallies. Pledges can be submitted electronically through the online form at z.umn.edu/GoalsForAGoal. Following the conclusion of the season, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions. In 2023-2024, Minnesota lit the lamp 135 times with 37 of those coming on the power play, resulting in an additional $4,300 raised for the program.
Primerano honored as WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year;
Murphy, Laitinen named to Preseason All-WCHA Team
We send more congratulations to incoming Gopher Women's Hockey defender Chloe Primerano, as she was selected WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year by the league's coaches, earning 6 of the 8 votes. Primerano is the first Gopher to earn the award since Peyton Hemp was one of three players to split it prior to the 2021-2022 season, and the first to earn it outright since Abbey Murphy entering 2020-2021.
Murphy and Nelli Laitinen were both named to the Preseason All-WCHA Team. It's the second-straight year Murphy was selected to the preseason squad, and she also received two votes for this year's Preseason Player of the Year award (trailing winner Kirsten Simms of Wisconsin). Primerano and Natalie Mlýnková also received All-WCHA Team votes.
Minnesota ranked third in WCHA Coaches Poll, both national rankings – Also in the WCHA announcement, the Gophers were selected to finish third in the Preseason Coaches Poll. The Gophers earned 40 voting points and one first-place vote, trailing Wisconsin (46 points) and Ohio State (43). Minnesota Duluth (31), St. Cloud State (25), St. Thomas (17), Minnesota State (15), and Bemidji State (7) rounded out the poll.
Minnesota was also ranked third in both the USCHO.com Division I Women's Poll (receiving two first-place votes) and the USA Hockey/The Rink Live College Hockey Poll. Ohio State led Wisconsin atop the USCHO poll, but the Badgers edged the Buckeyes by one voting point in the USA Hockey/The Rink Live poll. In both rankings, Minnesota Duluth came in 7th, St. Cloud State placed 11th, and Minnesota State also received votes.
Drop the puck! WCHA action begins this week with two series
Continuing with Western Collegiate Hockey Association news, the 2024-2025 season begins this weekend with a pair of Saturday-Sunday series (September 21 & 22).
Defending league regular-season and NCAA Tournament champion Ohio State will host Minnesota Duluth in matinee games both days at the OSU Ice Rink in Columbus.
Meanwhile, St. Cloud State begins its season with a non-conference series on the road, headed south to the Centene Community Ice Center in St. Charles, Missouri, to face Lindenwood. The Huskies and Lions will open their action Saturday evening before meeting again Sunday afternoon.
ICYMI – PWHL announces team nicknames & logos
The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) "reintroduced" its original six teams last week, releasing their nicknames and logos in a long-awaited announcement.
The six squads are the Boston Fleet, the Minnesota Frost, the Montréal Victoire, the New York Sirens, the Ottawa Charge, and the Toronto Sceptres.
We'll have more on Gopher Women's Hockey alumnae on PWHL rosters in the upcoming weeks.
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