September 29, 2021

The Two-Minute Minor - Wednesday, September 29, 2021

September 29, 2021

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, September 29th

Goals for a Goal returns; MN Women's Hockey t-shirts available

The “Goals for a Goal” campaign returns as a Power Play Club-sponsored program for the 2021-2022 season, raising money to support Gopher Women's Hockey. The campaign is pledge-driven based on the number of goals scored by the Gophers throughout the regular season.

Details for the new season are still being finalized, and we will begin taking pledges in mid-October. That said, the goals scored in this weekend's series against Ohio State and next weekend at Minnesota Duluth will be counted in the total for end-of-season remittance.

A limited number of our Minnesota Women's Hockey / Power Play Club t-shirts are available for purchase as we roll into the GWH program's 25th season. Short-sleeved shirts are available for $12 apiece in adult sizes S and XL-4XL. Long-sleeved shirts are $20 apiece in sizes XL, 3XL and 4XL. Please contact PPC president Bill Johnson at president@powerplayclub.org if you are interested in making a purchase or go to the “Shop” on this website.

Gophers, Whitecaps duo Lorence & Leveille join coaching ranks

Gopher Women's Hockey alumnae and recent Minnesota Whitecaps players Meghan Lorence and Amanda Leveille both joined the high school coaching ranks, being named to the staff of the Roseville Raiders girls hockey team. We send our congratulations and wishes of good luck as they start this new journey!

NWHL rebrands as Premier Hockey Federation – Catching up on news from earlier this month, the National Women's Hockey League announced on September 7 that it was rebranding as the Premier Hockey Federation ahead of its seventh season. As noted in the press release, new PHF digital components such as website addresses and social media handles are expected soon, with the season beginning Saturday, November 6.

Olympic game schedule, 2022 World Championship announced

News also came through from the international game recently. First, the men's and women's game schedules for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China, were announced last Thursday, September 23. The women's tournament will begin on February 3 and continue through Feb. 17, featuring 10 teams for the first time in Olympic play. The top 6 teams in the world rankings – USA, Canada, Finland, Russia, Switzerland, and Japan – are automatically entered, as are the hosts from China; the remaining three spots will be filled by the winners of qualifying tournaments taking place November 11-14.

With eight Gopher Women's Hockey representatives vying for roster spots on the U.S. Women's Olympic Team, we share their preliminary-round game schedule.

Thursday, Feb. 3 vs. Finland – 9:10 pm local time / 7:10 am US Central Time
Saturday, Feb. 5 vs. Russia – 9:10 pm local time / 7:10 am US Central Time
Sunday, Feb. 6 vs. Switzerland – 9:10 pm local time / 7:10 am US Central Time
Tuesday, Feb. 8 vs. Canada – 12:10 pm local time / Feb. 7 at 10:10 pm US Central

All four games will be played at the Wukesong Sport Center.

2022 IIHF Women's World Championship approved with August schedule – The Olympic schedule announcement followed news released Wednesday, September 22, that “the 2021 IIHF Semi-Annual and General Congress approved a change in the IIHF Statutes & Bylaws to allow the top-level IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship to be played annually including in Olympic years.” It was also announced that the 2022 tournament would be played in August, and that the Danish Ice Hockey Union has applied to serve as tournament host.

Copyright © 2021 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.

Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at www.gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

Power Play Club

September 28, 2021

The Penalty Box Post - Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Power Play Club

September 28, 2021

The Penalty Box Post
Tuesday, September 28th

Important Notices:

Reminder of University of Minnesota face mask policy

We kindly remind our fellow Gopher Women's Hockey fans that all University of Minnesota faculty, staff, students, and visitors are required to wear a well-fitted face mask which covers the wearer’s nose and mouth, wraps under the chin, and does not have any noticeable gaps at all times when in any enclosed or indoor space on University campuses and properties – including Ridder Arena – regardless of vaccination status. For more information and a list of exceptions, visit the U.'s “Safe Campus” Face Covering Protocol page.

Traffic alert Saturday; Tour of Ridder Arena postponed

All fans coming to Saturday's Gopher Women's Hockey game should note that automotive and pedestrian traffic will be high around the university as the Gopher Men's Hockey team is also in action, with their game at 3M Arena at Mariucci starting at 2:30 p.m. Please allow for extra travel and parking time before the women's game at Ridder Arena at 3:00 p.m.

Also due to the game at Mariucci, Saturday's Tour of Ridder Arena (announced during last week's Chalk Talk) has been postponed and tentatively rescheduled for November 20 before the GWH game against St. Cloud State. We thank you for your understanding.

PPC member registration continues as season begins

As the 25th season of Gopher Women's Hockey gets underway, registration continues for Power Play Club membership as we emphasize our goals of raising money to support the team and building a bigger fan base.

A minimum donation of $50 is required for our basic membership tier, and includes exclusive access to our three in-person Chalk Talk events. Online registration is preferred at give.umn.edu/giveto/powerplayclub; 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".

Also consider sponsoring a GWH player’s or coach's locker this season through our top membership tier. The donor's name is posted on a nameplate next to the locker, and the donor will have an opportunity to meet with their respective player(s) over Zoom. A minimum $600 donation (per locker) is required. If you are interested, either as a renewing or new Locker Sponsor, please contact Susan "Rennie" McPherson at lockersponsorship@powerplayclub.org.

Watch for a Two-Minute Minor email
with more announcements later this week!!

SEASON OPENER!!

#4/5 Minnesota Golden Gopher vs. #3/3 Ohio State Buckeyes
Friday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m. CT
Saturday, October 2 at 3:00 p.m. CT
Ridder Arena

For the first time since the 2020 WCHA Final Faceoff, fans will be back at Ridder Arena to watch Gopher Women's Hockey as the team hosts a top-five matchup against the third-ranked Ohio State University Buckeyes. The puck drops to start the action on Friday, October 1, at 7:00 p.m. CT and continues on Saturday, October 2, at 3:00 p.m. CT.

Last year against the Buckeyes – Minnesota and Ohio State met for a rare six games in the regular-season. The teams split the first four contests; in Minneapolis in November, the Gophers won 4-0 but the Buckeyes responded with a 2-1 victory, and in Columbus in January, Minnesota again won the opener, 7-4, before Ohio State earned a split with a 3-1 decision. OSU took the season series by sweeping the fifth and sixth games, 2-1 and 3-2, at Ridder Arena in February.

Grace Zumwinkle led the Gophers with 5 goals and an assist, but Abigail Boreen was the only other Minnesota player with multiple goals against the Buckeyes, netting 3. Taylor Heise recorded a goal and 4 assists, while Emily Oden added a goal and 3 helpers. Emma Maltais recorded 3 goals and 5 assists for Ohio State, while Liz Schepers also lit the lamp 3 times while dishing out 2 assists and Tatum Skaggs added two goals and three assists. Between the pipes, Minnesota's Lauren Bench went 2-2 for Minnesota with a .929 save percentage and 2.29 goals-against average, while Makayla Pahl posted a .951 SV% and 2.05 GAA but took two losses; for Ohio State, Andrea Braendli was 3-2 with an .892 SV% and 2.63 GAA, and Amanda Thiele earned a win in her only start against the Gophers, stopping 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%).

Analyzing Ohio State – The Buckeyes have gone with experience for the 2021-2022 season, bringing in 7 players transferring from other programs but only two new freshmen. They look to continue improving after trips to two of the past three NCAA Frozen Fours and their 2020 WCHA Tournament Championship.

Tatum Skaggs and Emma Maltais are no longer with the program after leading the team with 19 & 16 points, respectively, last season and over 100 points apiece for their collegiate careers. However, a trio of 15-point scorers – junior Jennifer Gardiner (#12), freshman Jenna Buglioni (#10), and graduate Liz Schepers (#21) – are back for the new season; Gardiner and Buglioni each recorded 8 goals and 7 assists last year, while Schepers tallied 6 goals and 9 assists. The team also added graduate transfers Clair DeGeorge (#14), Lexi Templeman (#22), and Emily Curlett (#26); DeGeorge led Bemidji State last season with 5 goals and 7 assists, Templeman was the top scorer at Robert Morris with 7 goals and 23 assists, and Curlett was RMU's top-scoring defender with 6 goals and 10 assists.

Andrea Braendli (#20) returns as the top goaltender for Ohio State after playing for Team Switzerland in the IIHF Women's World Championship last month; she has a collegiate 47-22-7 career record with 12 shutouts, a 1.91 goals-against average, and .930 save percentage. Junior Raygan Kirk (#1) is another transfer from Robert Morris, posting a 23-13-2 career record (with 3 no-decisions), 7 shutouts, a 2.00 GAA and .931 SV%. Sophomore Amanda Thiele (now wearing #30) is back after winning both of her two starts as a freshman last year, stopping 53 of a combined 55 shots in those two games plus one relief appearance. Junior Quinn Kuntz (#35) is the Buckeyes' fourth goaltender, having made two short relief appearances two season ago.

Last weekend: Buckeyes sweep St. Thomas – Ohio State and new Division I program St. Thomas met to open the season this past weekend in Columbus. The debuting Tommies held the Buckeyes scoreless through the first period of the season, but OSU erupted for four goals in the second period of the opener en route to a weekend sweep, 6-0 and 4-1. Fifteen different Buckeyes recorded at least a point in the series; Jenna Buglioni tallied two goals and two assists, while Paetyn Levis added a goal and two assists. Abby Promersberger scored St. Thomas' first-ever goal in D-I play, lighting the lamp in Saturday's second period. Andrea Braendli recorded a 16-save shutout for OSU on Friday, earning her WCHA Goaltender of the Week honors, while Amanda Thiele stopped 14 of 15 shots on Saturday; Alexa Dobchuk made a combined 93 saves for UST.

Analyzing the Gophers – Despite a perfect 9-0-0 record against Bemidji State, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, and St. Cloud State last season, Minnesota looks to rebound and improve after a 2-8-1 mark against Wisconsin and Ohio State kept them out of the NCAA Tournament.

The Gophers also look to make that improvement without their top two scorers from last season, as Grace Zumwinkle and Abbey Murphy are participating in the U.S. Women's National Team Residency program. A trio of senior forwards – Taylor Heise (#9), Emily Oden (#21), and Abigail Boreen (#22) – lead the way into 2021-2022; Heise had 16 points on 7 goals and 9 assists last year, Oden only lit the lamp twice but dished out a team-leading 12 assists, and Boreen had the most goals among returning players with 8 while adding 3 assists. Graduate defender and team captain Emily Brown (#2) also returns after tallying 12 points on 3 goals and 9 assists in 2020-2021.

In net, Lauren Bench (#35) has also returned to use her extra year of eligibility; she was 9-6-0 last season, her first with Minnesota, and has a career .913 save percentage and 2.42 goals-against average. Junior Makayla Pahl (#33) saw action in 8 games as a sophomore, with 6 starts and a 2-2-1 record (with one no-decision); she has a 1.96 GAA and .927 SV% over her two years. Junior Olivia King (#1) has been limited to a single one-period relief appearance in Bemidji last February, stopping all 4 shots on goal she faced. Freshman Skylar Vetter (#31) joins the team after a stellar high school career with the Lakeville North boys team and gold & silver medals at the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship with Team USA.

Vetter is one of 9 new faces to the Gopher Women's Hockey roster and one of 7 incoming freshman. Senior Savannah Norcross (#27) transferred to Minnesota from Boston College after posting a team-leading 12 goals and 21 points last season for the Eagles. Graduate transfer Olivia Arkell (#11) comes to the Gophers from across town at Division III Hamline University, continuing to play for coaches Natalie Darwitz & Jake Bobrowski. Vetter is joined by Sadie Lindsay (#8), Emily Zumwinkle (#10), Peyton Hemp (#15), Emma Conner (#20), Tristana Tatur (#23), and Ella Huber (#26) in the freshman class; Hemp is the latest Minnesota Ms. Hockey award winner to become a Gopher, while Conner was the Star Tribune's Metro Player of the Year.

Around the WCHA...

Recent action – Casey O'Brien erupted for 6 goals in Wisconsin's opening series of the season, including a four-goal outburst on Saturday, as the Badgers crushed Lindenwood on the road, 8-1 and 10-0; Makenna Webster (2g, 4a) and Sophie Shirley (1g, 5a) each also had 6-point weekends, and Katie Kotlowski lit the lamp 3 times. Brooke Bryant recorded 3 goals and an assist, Claire Butorac added a goal and 3 assists, and Calla Frank posted a 16-save shutout on Friday as Minnesota State also swept a non-conference road series, defeating Merrimack 3-0 and 9-3. In exhibition play, St. Cloud State defeated Bemidji State 2-1 in overtime; Emma Gentry scored with 1:38 remaining in the 3-on-3 extra period.

Upcoming games – Three series will feature Friday evening and Saturday afternoon contests; Minnesota Duluth will open its season on the road at Minnesota State, St. Thomas hosts its first Division I home series against Bemidji State, and St. Cloud State opens its regular season at home with a non-conference matchup against Lindenwood. Meanwhile, Wisconsin will be the second-straight WCHA team to play a non-conference series at Merrimack, with matinee games Friday & Saturday afternoon.

Power Play Club

September 21, 2021

The Penalty Box Post - Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Power Play Club

September 21, 2021

The Penalty Box Post
Tuesday, September 21st

Online Preseason Chalk Talk – TODAY (9/21) at 4:00 p.m. CT

With the Minnesota Women's Hockey season just 10 days away, we're providing an opportunity to hear from Coach Brad Frost at a preseason Chalk Talk this afternoon (Sept. 21) at 4:00 p.m. CT He will preview the year to come and the changes to the team, including nine new players in the Maroon & Gold. We may also be joined by other members of the GWH coaching staff.

We hope many of you will be able to join us on Zoom using this link, as we get ready for puck drop. We will also touch base on club-led fundraising efforts for this historic season.

2021-2022 PPC membership now open at all levels!!

To our fellow Gopher Women’s Hockey fans –

Registration to the Power Play Club for the 2021-2022 season is now open AT ALL LEVELS! Join us to support Gopher Women's Hockey as it enters its 25th season of competition and the 20th year playing at Ridder Arena!

As the official booster association of Gopher Women’s Hockey, the Power Play Club seeks to:

Build a bigger fan base.
Raise money to support the Gopher Women’s Hockey team.
Enrich the hockey experience at Ridder Arena (and at away games!).
Provide opportunities for member fun.

The Power Play Club is continuing its partnership with the Golden Gopher Fund on all fundraising efforts, with the GGF managing the club's membership enrollment again this season. Starting this year, all membership donations are 100% tax deductible while still counting toward the $1,000 minimum Gopher Athletics giving threshold for Ridder Arena Club Room access.

Last season we consolidated our number of member levels from four down to two. Those two levels remain for the 2021-2022 year as follows...

Locker Sponsor level – Please consider sponsoring a GWH player’s or coach's locker this season through our top membership tier. The donor's name is posted on a nameplate next to the locker, and the donor will have an opportunity to meet with their respective player(s) over Zoom. A minimum $600 donation (per locker) is required, though any amount over and above that is encouraged. Our goal for the 2021-2022 season is to have two Locker Sponsorships for each GWH player and coach. If you are interested, either as a renewing or new Locker Sponsor, please contact Susan "Rennie" McPherson at lockersponsorship@powerplayclub.org.

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. Exclusive access to our three in-person Chalk Talk events is included.

Online registration is preferred at give.umn.edu/giveto/powerplayclub; 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".

As a Power Play Club member, you will have the opportunity to experience women’s hockey on a more personal level as you develop friendships with other fans, coaches and players. Your membership provides support and encouragement for the University of Minnesota Women’s Hockey Team players in their quest for academic and athletic excellence.

Gophers announce plans for program's 25th season!!

The University of Minnesota has announced plans honoring the history of Gopher Women's Hockey as the team enters its 25th year of competition on Friday, October 1 at Ridder Arena.

As noted in the press release and displayed here, a commemorative logo paying homage to the Gophers' 25th season and seven national championships will be used throughout the year. The logo will be displayed on merchandise available for purchase, and on signage throughout Ridder Arena. Some initial 25th season items are already available for purchase online; see the U.'s announcement for details.

Top 25 GWH Moments & 25th-season Celebration Game – As the season progresses, the top-25 moments in Gopher Women's Hockey history will be revealed, beginning with No. 25 being unveiled during the opener at Ridder Arena and on social media on October 1. The countdown will continue down to moment #1, which will be shared during the 25th Season Celebration Game on Saturday, February 5, against Bemidji State. More details about that game will be shared as it approaches.

All-Time Fan Favorites Team – The program will also call on fans to submit a lineup of their favorite Gopher stars. More information on this will be announced at a later date.

Brown, Knowles, Heise & Ostertag named as team captains

Catching up on releated news, the Gopher Women's Hockey team announced on September 10 that Emily Brown, Olivia Knowles, Taylor Heise, and Gracie Ostertag have been selected as team captains for the 2021-2022 season.

Fifth-year players Brown and Knowles will serve as the squad's captains, while seniors Heise and Ostertag will be assistant captains. This season will be Brown's third wearing the captain's 'C', while Knowles was an assistant captain last year.

Gophers ranked 4th in both national preseason polls

The Gopher Women's Hockey team was ranked fourth in both the USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine preseason poll last Tuesday and the USCHO preseason poll released yesterday. The Gophers find themselves tied with WCHA rival Minnesota Duluth in the USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine poll while just edging out the Bulldogs for the fourth position in the USCHO poll.

Wisconsin tops both rankings, garnering 18 of the 19 first-place votes in the USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine poll and 13 of the 15 first-place votes in the USCHO poll. Northeastern is the only non-WCHA program in the top five in either ranking, placing second in both and picking up the remaining first-place votes. Both polls list Ohio State third, Colgate sixth, Boston College seventh, and Cornell eighth. Princeton and Penn State round out the top ten in both rankings, though the Tigers are ninth in the USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine poll while the Nittany Lions hold the #9 spot in the USCHO poll.

Gophers, St. Cloud State to play U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Game – The WCHA league game between Minnesota and St. Cloud State at Ridder Arena on Saturday, November 20, has been designated as the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Face-Off Classic. The Gophers are the defending Face-Off Classic champions after defeating Minnesota State 4-0 at Dakotah! Ice Center in Prior Lake in December 2019.

As noted in the press release from the U., Gopher assistant coach – and 2018 inductee – Natalie Darwitz will be one of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame members acknowledged at the event.

Aound the WCHA – Action begins this weekend for 4 teams

While Minnesota, Bemidji State, Minnesota Duluth, and St. Cloud State are idle for one more weekend before starting their respective 2021-2022 campaigns, action begins this weekend for the other four Western Collegiate Hockey Association programs.

The St. Thomas Tommies will open their first season as a Division I team and WCHA member with a league series on the road, facing the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus. Meanwhile, Minnesota State heads to the East Coast for a non-conference matchup against Merrimack, and Wisconsin travels south to face Lindenwood on the road.

All three series feature Friday evening and Saturday afternoon games. Game recaps will be posted to wcha.com, and we will provide links to them on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Power Play Club

September 21, 2021

The Penalty Box Post - Friday, September 10, 2021

Power Play Club

September 21, 2021

The Penalty Box Post
Friday, September 10th

Save the date: Preseason Chalk Talk – Sept. 21 at 4 pm

The Minnesota Women's Hockey season is fast approaching, but there are a number of changes to the team. Given that, we're providing an opportunity to hear from Coach Brad Frost and his staff at a preseason Chalk Talk on Tuesday, September 21, at 4 p.m. as the team prepares for action.

This will be an online event via Zoom. We will be publishing the event link soon via an upcoming issue of the Penalty Box Post and on our social media accounts. We encourage you to join us as we get ready for the puck to drop on the 25th season of Gopher Women's Hockey!!

Locker Sponsorship registration open!

We provide a reminder that registration for the Power Play Club's Locker Sponsorship program is open for the 2021-2022 season! With a club membership at the Locker Sponsor level, your name is posted on a nameplate next to a player's or coach's locker. A minimum $600 donation (per locker) is required, though any amount over and above that is encouraged. Additional sponsors are needed for us to reach our goal this season of having two sponsorships for each player's and coach's locker. If you are interested, either as a renewing or new Locker Sponsor, contact Susan "Rennie" McPherson at lockersponsorship@powerplayclub.org.

Registration at our Basic Membership level will be opening soon. Thanks for your patience.

Gophers add graduate transfer Arkell for 2021-2022 season

The Minnesota Women's Hockey team announced the signing of a second transfer player. Stillwater, MN, native Olivia Arkell joins the Gophers as a graduate transfer for the 2021-2022 season after playing four years for coaches Natalie Darwitz and Jake Bobrowski at Hamline University.

Arkell was solid on the blueline for the Pipers, recording 14 goals and 28 assists for 42 points in 74 games. In 2019-2020, she tallied 6 goals and 16 assists while posting a +33 plus-minus rating and earning honors as a CCM/AHCA All-American Second Team selection. Arkell has also earned recognition for her work in the classroom, being named to the MIAC All-Academic Team in 2020-2021.

Welcome, Olivia!! We look forward to seeing you playing for the Gophers!!

GWH schedule updated & initial PPC event list set

The Minnesota Women's Hockey schedule has been updated with some notable changes as we approach the opener three weeks from today, Friday, October 1.

Most notably, the two series against Minnesota State-Mankato and the two series against St. Thomas have all been changed to home-and-home weekends, with the games as follows:

Minnesota State games

Fri., Oct. 15 at 6pm at Ridder Arena
Sat., Oct. 16 at 4pm in Mankato
Fri., Jan. 14 at 6pm in Mankato
Sat., Jan. 15 at 4pm at Ridder

St. Thomas games

Sat., Jan. 8 at 2pm at Ridder Arena
Sun., Jan. 9 at 2pm at UST
Thur., Feb. 17 at 7pm at UST
Sat., Feb. 19 at 4pm at Ridder

Most games, home and away, now have times set for puck drop. As always, these are subject to change; please reference the schedule on GopherSports.com for the latest information.

PPC board sets initial events list – The Power Play Club Board of Directors set an initial list of events for the 2021-2022 Gopher Women's Hockey season.

Chalk Talk - Saturday, November 13 at 2:30pm (prior to Gophers vs. RIT)
Chalk Talk - Saturday, December 11 at 2:30pm (prior to Gophers vs. UMD)
Brunch with the Coaches - Saturday, January 8 - Time TBA
Chalk Talk - Saturday, February 5 at 2:30pm (prior to Gophers vs. BSU)

Locations for these events are to be determined and will be announced as each event approaches.

The board also made the following event decisions at its meeting earlier this week:

A Ridder Arena tour is in the planning stage, and could occur as soon as the season's opening weekend against Ohio State. We will share more details as this gets finalized.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, in-person events with the players – including the postgame reception following the first home series of the season – will not be held this year. We thank you for your understanding.
An online auction featuring Gopher Women's Hockey gear and memorabilia is planned this season. This will be held in place of an in-person silent auction this year. More details will be shared as they are finalized.

Brown, Hemp earn WCHA preseason honors
Gophers ranked third in league's preseason coaches poll

The WCHA announced its preseason honors yesterday, with two Minnesota Women's Hockey players receiving recognition from the league.

Gopher freshman Peyton Hemp was one of three players selected as Co-Preseason Rookie of the Year. She was joined by Wisconsin's Marianne Picard and Sarah Wozniewicz, each earning two votes from the conference coaches. Fellow Gopher newcomers Emma Connor and Skylar Vetter each received one vote.

Fifth-year Gopher captain Emily Brown was again named to the Preseason All-WCHA Team, and was joined by Wisconsin's Daryl Watts, Sophie Shirley & Grace Bowlby, Ohio State's Andrea Braendli, and Minnesota-Duluth's Gabbie Hughes. Fellow Gophers Taylor Heise, Olivia Knowles and Amy Potomak were among other players receiving votes.

Watts was named WCHA Preseason Player of the Year, with 3 votes. Heise was second with 2 votes, while Shirley, Hughes, and Braedli earned one vote apiece.

In the Preseason Coaches Poll, Minnesota slotted into the #3 spot, earning 37 voting points. Wisconsin took the top spot with 49 points and 7 first-place votes. Ohio State was picked second with 40 points and one first-place vote. Following the Gophers, Minnesota Duluth came in fourth (34 points), followed by Minnesota State (25), a tie between Bemidji State and St. Cloud State (16 each), and St. Thomas (7).

Power Play Club

September 2, 2021

The Two-Minute Minor - Thursday, September 2, 2021

Power Play Club

September 2, 2021

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Thursday, September 2nd

IIHF Women's World Championship Final: Canada 3, USA 2, OT

Team USA's streak of five-straight IIHF Women's World Championship gold medals came to an end on Tuesday night when Canada came from behind to win 3-2 in overtime in Calgary.

The Americans took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission with Alex Carpenter scoring both goals. Gopher alumnae Amanda Kessel, Lee Stecklein, and Kelly Pannek recorded assists. But the Canadians battled back in the second stanza as Brianne Jenner converted an early power play and Jamie Lee Rattray knotted the score less than 5 minutes into the frame. Following a scoreless third period, the game went into 3-on-3 overtime, and Marie-Philip Poulin wired a hard shot past U.S. goaltender Nicole Hensley off the post and over the goal line for the victory. The win is the 11th for Team Canada, while Team USA claims its 11th silver medal.

Stecklein honored for World Championship performance – We send huge congratulations to Lee Stecklein, who was named the Best Defender at the World Championship by the IIHF Directorate and a member of the all-tournament team by the media. Lee led Team USA in total scoring with 7 points on 2 goals and 5 assists; she was also tied for third among all players with a team-high +12 plus-minus rating.

Other Gophers at the World Championship – All seven Gopher representatives playing with Team USA got onto the scoresheet at the tournament. As we noted this past Saturday, both Abbey Murphy and Grace Zumwinkle scored their first World Championship goals; Zumwinkle finished with 6 points in the tournament, netting 4 goals plus 2 assists, while Murphy added a second goal to her total. Kelly Pannek recorded 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points, Amanda Kessel did not find the back of the net herself but dished out 4 helpers, Dani Cameranesi tallied a goal & an assist, and Megan Bozek had two assists.

IIHF proposes World Championship in Olympic years – The IIHF Council made a proposal to its membership this past June to play the top-level Women’s World Championship in Olympic years. However, to avoid having two big tournaments within just two or three months, the World Championship those years would take place in August rather than spring. The proposal will be voted upon by the delegates at the 2021 IIHF Semi-Annual Congress in three weeks; if accepted, the next Women’s World Championship will take place in August 2022, with the Semi-Annual Congress also determining the venue of that event.

WCHA announces 3-year exclusive streaming deal with B1G+

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association annouced yesterday a new partnership with the Big Ten Network and B1G+ as its exclusive streaming platform for three years, beginning with the 2021-2022 season.

As noted in the announcement, games at all eight WCHA campuses will be streamed on the B1G+ platform, while the league is set to host at least two televised matchups on the Big Ten Network.

Three different packages – including a new WCHA Pass – are available to stream the hockey action. Details are available in the press release from the league.

Power Play Club

August 28, 2021

The Penalty Box Post - Saturday, August 28, 2021

Power Play Club

August 28, 2021

The Penalty Box Post
Saturday, August 28th

IIHF Women's World Championship Update: Zumwinkle, Murphy score first goals; Canada defeats USA in preliminary round

Host team Canada claimed the top spot in Group A and the #1 seed for the playoff round of 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship by defeating Team USA 5-1 in their preliminary round meeting on Thursday. Melodie Daoust and Renata Fast put the Canadians up 2-0 after one period, Jamie Lee Rattray doubled the lead with a pair of goals, and Sarah Nurse extended the advantage to 5-0 before the second intermission. Lee Stecklein broke up the shutout attempt with a blast early in the third period for the Americans, but they could get no closer and lost 5-1.

Both Canada and the U.S. were undefeated leading into Thursday's game. The Americans showed stout defense and goaltending, shutting out Switzerland and Finland by matching 3-0 scores and rolling over Russia, 6-0. Team Canada was challenged early by Finland, trailing 2-0 after 20 minutes, but came back with five goals of their own to win 5-3; they followed it up with a 5-1 win over Russia and a 5-0 shutout of Switzerland. After dropping their first two games, the Finns came back to claim 3rd place in the group with shutout wins over Russia and Switzerland, 4-0 and 6-0. The Russians won their tournament opener, defeating Switzerland 3-1, but their three losses placed them fourth in Group A, with the winless Swiss in 5th.

The Czech Republic went undefeated to take the top spot in Group B and earn the #6 seed for the playoff round, winning over Denmark 6-1, Hungary 4-2, Japan 4-0, and Germany 2-0. The Japanese took second in the group with a 1-0 shutout of Denmark, a 4-1 victory over Hungary, and a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Germany. The Germans got wins over Hungary and Denmark, 3-0 and 3-1, to claim third in Group B and the final playoff round spot. Already knowing they did not qualify for the playoff round, the Hungarians and Danes squared off in the final game for both at the tournament, with Hungary earning their first-ever win in the Top Division, 5-1.

Playoff Round Quarterfinals – TODAY (Saturday, 8/28)

#4 Russian Olympic Committee vs. #5 Switzerland – 11 a.m. CT
#2 USA vs. #7 Japan – 2:30 p.m. CT
#1 Canada vs. #8 Germany – 6:00 p.m. CT
#3 Finland vs. #6 Czech Republic – 9:30 p.m. CT

The USA-Japan and Canada-Germany games will be broadcast live in the U.S. on NHL Network.

Gophers at the World Championship – Both playing in the first World Championship with Team USA, Abbey Murphy and Grace Zumwinkle have each scored goals for the national squad. Zumwinkle netted her first goal in Team USA's opener against Switzerland, also lit the lamp against Finland, and added a pair of assists against Russia; she is tied with fellow Gopher Lee Stecklein (2g, 2a) for the most points by any American (4). Murphy netted her first goal against the Russians. Two other Gophers have also recorded points on the scoresheet, as Kelly Pannek has lit the lamp twice and added an assist while Megan Bozek has dished out two helpers.

WWC records set – We also recognize long-time U.S. National Team members Hilary Knight and Brianna Decker. Knight's two goals in this year's World Championship gave her a new all-time record of 45 in WWC play, breaking the former mark of 44 set by Cammi Granato. Decker recorded her 38th and 39th career World Championship assists, setting a new American record.

Big Ten Conference makes two key announcements

The Big Ten Conference, together with the ACC and PAC-12, announced an alliance “on a collaborative approach surrounding the future evolution of college athletics and scheduling.” As noted in the announcement this past Tuesday, “the alliance will be guided in all cases by a commitment to, and prioritization of, supporting student-athlete well-being, academic and athletic opportunities, experiences and diverse educational programming. The three conferences are grounded in their support of broad-based athletic programs, the collegiate model and opportunities for student-athletes as part of the educational missions of the institutions.”

The alliance includes a scheduling component for football and men's & women's basketball, with options to “create new inter-conference games, enhance opportunities for student-athletes, and optimize the college athletics experience for both student-athletes and fans across the country.” The announcement also indicates that “the three conferences will also explore opportunities for the vast and exceptional Olympic Sports programs to compete more frequently and forge additional attractive and meaningful rivalries.”

It is currently unknown if and/or how the alliance will impact either men's or women's ice hockey.

Big Ten forfeiture policy clarified – On Monday, the Big Ten made a media statement clarifying its forfeiture policy as it relates to COVID-19, saying: ”The conference has determined that if one of its member institutions is unable to play a conference contest due to COVID-19, that contest shall be declared a forfeit and will not be rescheduled. That contest shall be considered a loss for the team impacted by COVID-19 and a win for its opponent in the conference standings. If both of the two competing teams are unable to participate in a scheduled Conference competition due to COVID-19 and as a result the competition is unable to occur on the calendar day on which it is scheduled, the competition shall be considered a ‘no contest.'”

Though not explicitly stated, the forfeiture policy is assumed to apply to all sports overseen by the Big Ten, including men's ice hockey. No official statement has been made to-date by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with regards to its Women's League.

Gopher Women's Hockey single-game tickets now on sale!!

In case you missed the posts on social media, Gopher Women's Hockey single-game tickets and 5-for-$25 mini-plans are now on sale on GopherSports.com or by calling 1-800-U-GOPHER. Mini-plans let you combine single tickets for 5 games for a discounted price of $25. Single-game tickets are $10 for reserved chairback seats and $8 for general admission bench seating.

Games in Madison – weekend of December 3-5 – We also share that single game tickets for the road games at Wisconsin will go on sale from the UW Ticket Office at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 14, but they will go fast. Tickets will be available online at UWBadgers.com or over the phone at 1-800-GO-BADGERS. The final details for those games are not yet set, but the series is scheduled for the weekend of December 3-5.

Power Play Club

August 22, 2021

Penalty Box Post Quick Hit - Sunday, August 22, 2021

Power Play Club

August 22, 2021

Penalty Box Post Quick Hit
Sunday, August 22nd

Norcross transfers to Minnesota for 2021-2022 season

Lyle, Massachusetts native Savannah Norcross was named yesterday as the newest member of the Gopher Women's Hockey team, transferring in as a senior after playing three seasons with the Boston College Eagles.

Norcross has improved her statistics every season, totaling 41 points on 26 goals and 15 assists in her collegiate career to-date. After lighting the lamp 3 times as a freshman, she recorded 11 goals and 6 assists in her sophomore year. As a junior in the abbreviated 2020-2021 season, Norcross averaged better than a point per game, netting 12 goals and dishing out 9 helpers in only 20 contests.

As noted in the announcement from the U., Norcross received an invitation to the U.S. Women's National Team Evaluation Camp in March; she was also invited to the USA Hockey Women's National Festival as a U-23 selection earlier this month. The 5-7 forward joins the Gophers while she pursues her Bachelor's degree in human development and psychology.

Welcome, Savannah!! We look forward to seeing you in a Gopher jersey this fall!!

Copyright © 2021 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.
Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at www.gophersports.com. You can also find the Gopher women's hockey team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GopherWomensHockey and on Twitter at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

Power Play Club

August 17, 2021

The Penalty Box Post - Tuesday, August 17th

Power Play Club

August 17, 2021

The Penalty Box Post
Tuesday, August 17, 2021

2021 IIHF Women's World Championship Begins Friday, August 20; medal games on Tuesday, August 31 at Winsport Arena at Canada Olympic Park, Calgary, Alberta

Following a cancelled 2020 tournament, two postponements and a venue change for the 2021 edition, and all 10 teams successfully getting through quarantine with no positive COVID tests, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women's World Championship will finally commence this Friday, August 20, at Winsport Arena at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta. The preliminary round runs through Thursday, August 26, with quarterfinals on August 28, the semifinals on August 30, and the Bronze- and Gold-Medal Games on Tuesday, August 31.

Storylines abound as the action gets underway. Team USA enters the tournament as the 5-time defending champions, looking to make it six in a row. Finland looks to avenge their 2019 championship game loss to the Americans after having an overtime goal waved off following video review. Meanwhile, host Canada looks to get back to the title game on home ice after being upset by the Finns in the 2019 semifinals.

Gophers at the World Championship – As previously reported seven representatives of the Minnesota Women's Hockey program will be participating at the World Championship. 2020-2021 Gophers Abbey Murphy & Grace Zumwinkle will make their tournament debuts with Team USA, and are joined on the squad by Minnesota alumnae Megan Bozek, Dani Cameranesi, Amanda Kessel, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein. That said, Hannah Brandt is one of three Americans selected for the national team's pre-Olympic residency program this autumn but not participating at the World Championship, and the Finland Women's National Team enters the tournament with neither Gopher alumnae Mira Jalosuo nor Noora Räty for the first time since 2004.

Team USA opens action with a pre-tournament exhibition tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday, August 18) at Noon MT / 1:00 p.m. CT against Russia. Their tournament schedule is as follows, with all games broadcast live on NHL Network:

Friday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. CT vs. Switzerland;
Sunday, August 22 at 7:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. CT vs. Finland;
Tuesday, August 24 at Noon MT / 1:00 p.m. CT vs. Russia;
Thursday, August 26 at 4:00 p.m. MT / 5:00 p.m. CT vs. Canada.

The full schedule of games can be found here. You can find all the news and information about the tournament at www.iihf.com/en/events/2021/ww, or through USA Hockey or Hockey Canada.

Zumwinkle named At-Large Academic All-American

Following her honor as an At-Large Academic All-District selection by the College Sports Information Directors of America in early July, Gopher Women's Hockey senior Grace Zumwinkle was named as one of five University of Minnesota student-athletes to earn At-Large Academic All-American honors, as announced by on Friday, August 6.

Zumwinkle was joined by Ona Loper (women's gymnastics) on the Second Team, while Jack LaFontaine (men's hockey), Lexy Ramler (women's gymnastics), and Shane Wiskus (men's gymnastics) were First Team honorees. As noted in the press release, Blais Andries (First Team, football) and Laura Bagwell Katalinich (Third Team, women's basketball) earned honors earlier in the 2020-2021 season. Additionally, eight members of the Gopher Track & Field and Cross Country programs were also recognized last week: Alec Basten (First Team), Teddy Frid (Second Team), Bethany Hasz (First Team), Owen Hoeft (Third Team), Abby Kohut-Jackson (Third Team), Val Larson (Third Team), Kaleb Siekmeier (Third Team) and Amira Young (Third Team).

We send congratulations to Grace and the other 14 Gopher student-athletes earning Academic All-American honors!!

New Ridder Arena PA announcer named for 2021-2022 season

We send a warm welcome to Brian Sweeney, who was named as the new public address announcer for Gopher Women's Hockey at Ridder Arena. Sweeney is a member of the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers, winning the organization's Bob Sheppard P.A. Announcer of the Year Award for high school announcers in 2019-2020 for his work at Simley H.S. in Inver Grove Heights. Sweeney also serves as the PA announcer for Concordia University, St. Paul, and the Minnesota Vixen professional women's football team.

We also send a very gracious thank you to former PA announcer Rick Benson, who served many years at Ridder Arena for Gopher Women's Hockey and WCHA & NCAA Tournament contests. Rick also emceed several Power Play Club events, most notably our receptions with incoming freshmen and outgoing seniors.

Power Play Club

August 6, 2021

The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Friday, August 6, 2021

Power Play Club

August 6, 2021

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Friday, August 6th

Eleven Gophers invited to USA Hockey Women's Nat'l Festival

Eleven Gopher Women's Hockey representative are among 84 invitees to the USA Hockey Women's National Festival, which got underway yesterday (August 5) and runs through next Friday, August 13, at the Super Rink in Blaine, MN.

The invitees include players previously named to the pre-Olympic residency program roster, with Gophers Megan Bozek, Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, Amanda Kessel, Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Lee Stecklein, and Grace Zumwinkle. Three additional U. of M. players – Taylor Heise, Gracie Ostertag, and Madeline Wethington (pictured) – also received invitations to the Festival as members of a group of twenty-five (25) Under-23 selections. The Festival also features 32 Under-18 players who will be vying for spots on the team roster for January's 2022 IIHF Women's Under-18 World Championship in Sweden.

The Festival is serving as a pre-tournament camp for the U.S. National Team leading up to the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship later this month in Calgary, and activities through this coming Tuesday, August 10, are closed as a result. However, following the national team's departure for Calgary, the following scrimmages at the Super Rink's Rink 5 are open to the public:

U-18 intrasquad scrimmage – Wednesday, August 11 at 2 p.m. CT
U-23 vs. U-18 scrimmage #1 – Thursday, August 12 at Noon CT
U-23 vs. U-18 scrimmage #2 – Friday, August 13 at 10 a.m. CT

We once again send all the invited players congratulations on this honor, and wish the 7 Gophers headed to the World Championship good luck!!

Power Play Club

July 30, 2021

The Penalty Box Box - Friday, July 30 2021

Power Play Club

July 30, 2021

The Penalty Box Post
Friday, July 30th

Darwitz, Bobrowski named as new Gopher assistant coaches

We send warmest welcomes to new Gopher Women's Hockey assistant coaches Natalie Darwitz and Jake Bobrowski, following yesterday's announcement that they are joining Brad Frost's staff on the Minnesota bench.

Darwitz returns to the U. following six seasons as the head coach at Hamline University, taking the Pipers to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four in 2018 and NCAA Division III Final in 2019. She was also named both MIAC and USCHO D-III Coach of the Year for the 2017-2018 season. She previously served as a GWH assistant coach in 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 (taking a year off in between to train for the Olympics), and head coach of Lakeville South High School's girls hockey team from 2011 to 2015.

As a player, Darwitz still ranks third in Gopher program history in points (246), first in points per game (2.48), fifth in goals (102), second in assists (144), and first in assists per game (1.45). On the international stage, she's a three-time Olympic medalist (silver in 2002 & 2010 and bronze in 2006) and three-time IIHF World gold medalist with Team USA. She's also inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame, Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame, and 'M' Club Hall of Fame.

Bobrowski comes to the U. after serving on Darwitz's staff at Hamline as an assistant coach the past six seasons. Prior to his time at Hamline, he was the head coach of Hill-Murray's junior varsity girls hockey team and assistant coach of the Pioneers' varsity team for seven years.

Johnson officially named as head coach of U.S. Olympic Team

USA Hockey named its three head coaches for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on Wednesday, selecting former GWH associate head coach and current St. Thomas University head coach Joel Johnson to lead the U.S. Women's Olympic Hockey Team in Beijing, China.

Johnson has been involved with USA Hockey for many years, most notably leading the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team to four straight gold medals (2015-18) in the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship and serving as head coach of the U.S. Under-22 Women’s Select Team on two occasions for the U22 Series against Canada. He will serve as head coach of the 2021 U.S. Women’s National Team at the upcoming IIHF Women’s World Championship next month in Calgary, after making his debut with the team as an assistant coach in 2018-2019.

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan will serve as head coach of the U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team, and David Hoff, the head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team for the last three seasons – leading Team USA to back-to-back gold medals at the IPC Para Ice Hockey World Championship – will make his first appearance as head coach of a U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team.

We send congratulations and wishes of good luck to all three coaches!

2021 IIHF Women's World Championship game schedule set

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) released the game schedule for the 2021 Women's World Championship, being played August 20 through 31 in Calgary, with 20 preliminary round games and 8 playoff round contests. The full schedule can be found here.

Team USA – with GWH representatives Megan Bozek, Dani Cameranesi, Amanda Kessel, Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Lee Stecklein, and Grace Zumwinkle – will play in the third game of the tournament against Switzerland on Friday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. CT. The Americans' other preliminary round games include...

Sunday, August 22 at 7:30 p.m. MT / 8:30 p.m. CT vs. Finland;
Tuesday, August 24 at Noon MT / 1:00 p.m. CT vs. Russia;
Thursday, August 26 at 4:00 p.m. MT / 5:00 p.m. CT vs. Canada.

All Team USA games will be broadcast live on NHL Network.