Power Play Club

GWH Senior Celebration – RSVP deadline reminder (Feb. 10)

Here's our final reminder that RSVPs are due by next Monday, February 10 for the 2025 Gopher Women's Hockey Senior Celebration, which is scheduled for Thursday, February 20, at Club Cambria in Huntington Bank Stadium. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. with the meal and program to begin at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 for adults and $25 for children, with payment collected at the event. RSVP to Ashley Holmes by email at holme965@umn.edu or by text at 612-296-0057. More information is available in the event flyer here.

Murphy named National Women's Player of the Month; joined by Morrow as WCHA monthly award winners

Gopher Women's Hockey senior co-captain Abbey Murphy was named National Women's Player of the Month for January yesterday by the Hockey Commissioners Association, going back-to-back after having received the same honor for December. Murphy posted 18 points (8g, 10a) in ten games last month, including a four-point (1g, 3a) performance against Minnesota State on January 17 & a two-goal contest versus Bemidji State on January 24. She also recorded a +11 plus-minus rating.

Murphy was joined by junior Sydney Morrow as WCHA honorees, being named as the conference's Forward & Defender of the Month, respectively. Again, Murphy went back-to-back on the recognition after having also earned the award for December. Morrow's recognition was the first WCHA monthly award of her career; she tallied four goals and five assists throughout the month of January, recorded four multi-point games, posted a +10 plus-minus rating, and led the team with two power-play goals.

Congratulations, Abbey and Sydney!!

Kreisz records assist in opener of Olympic qualifying, Pannek nets Rivalry Series shootout goal

As we noted on Wednesday, three different qualifying tournaments for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games opened yesterday, and Gopher Women's Hockey sophomore forward Emma Kreisz dished out an assist on the eventual game-winning goal for Team Hungary in their contest against Slovakia, played in Bremerhaven, Germany. Additionally, though not credited with a second point, Kreisz provided the pressure to force a Slovakian turnover leading to an empty-net insurance goal for the Hungarians as they won 3-1.

In the other game played in Group I, host Germany shut out Austria, 2-0. All four teams are idle today before resuming Saturday, with Austria facing Slovakia and Hungary taking on the Germans.

Hosting the Group H tournament, Team Sweden defeated Norway in their opening contest, 3-0; however, Gopher junior Josefin Bouveng went without a point for the Swedes. Earlier in the day, Denmark topped the Netherlands, 3-1. Action continues this morning as the Danes play Norway, followed by Sweden taking on the Netherlands.

In Group G play, host Japan routed France, 7-1, after China topped Poland, 3-2 in a shootout (1-0 in five rounds). These teams are idle today before China faces France and Poland squares off against Japan on Saturday.

Rivalry Series, Game 4: USA 2, Canada 1, shootout – Goaltender Gwyneth Philips was the American player of the game, stopping 31 of 32 shots. Hilary Knight converted a first-period power play to put Team USA up 1-0, but Blayre Turnbull knotted the score for the Canadians with an extra-attacker goal with 2:20 remaining in regulation. However, Philip's performance sent the game first to overtime and then a shootout, and three Canadian shooters were unable to beat her. At the other end, Knight, Hannah Bilka, and Gopher Women's Hockey alumna Kelly Pannek all found the back of the net for the victory.

With the win, the U.S. National Team tied the series at two games apiece with the deciding Game 5 set for tomorrow night (Saturday, February 8) at 7 p.m. AT / 5 p.m. CT at Credit Union Place in Summerside, P.E.I. The contest will be televised on NHL Network.

Euro Hockey Tour / 3 Nations Tournament – In other international action occurring yesterday, Finland defeated Switzerland, 3-1, in the opening game of the 3 Nations Tournament in Liberec, Czechia, despite being outshot 36-17. Julia Liikala lit the lamp twice for the Finns and Anni Keisala made 35 saves.

Finland faces the host Czechs today, and the Swiss will take on Czechia on Saturday to wrap up the event.

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