December 21, 2022

The Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, December 21, 2022

December 21, 2022

The Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, December 21st
Happy Holidays!!

Locker Sponsor event – Saturday, January 7

ATTENTION ALL LOCKER SPONSORS!! Please reserve the date of January 7th in your calendar for photos and a meal with your sponsoree. The event will take place prior to the East-West Classic at Ridder Arena. The approximately start time will be 11:30 a.m. for photos, with lunch to follow.

STAY TUNED to your email for more information. If you know that you will be unavailable that day, please contact Rennie McPherson at lockersponsorship@powerplayclub.org.

We are looking forward to seeing you on January 7th!

Brunch with the Coaches – Saturday, January 14 at 9:45 a.m.

We also look forward to seeing many of you at our Brunch with the Coaches event on Saturday, January 14, with former Gopher associate head coach & current University of St. Thomas head coach Joel Johnson and our own Brad Frost. The brunch will start at 9:45 a.m. in the 3M Arena at Mariucci Club Room. Tickets are $30 per person, and registrations must be received by Friday, January 6. Download the registration form here (PDF file) and return it with a check made out to the "Power Play Club" to the PPC table on the Ridder Arena concourse, or send it by mail to the address listed.

Recap: Canada sweeps December Rivalry Series games
Team USA sees overall series lead shrink to 3 games to 2 with two to play

Canada's Women's National Hockey Team closed the deficit to their American counterparts to 3 games to 2 in the 2022-2023 Rivalry Series, winning 3-2 last Thursday night in Henderson, NV, and 3-2 in overtime on Monday in Los Angeles.

Amanda Kessel gave Team USA a 1-0 first intermission lead on Thursday, but Canada took a 2-1 advantage with second-period goals by Jamie Lee Rattray and Blayre Turnbull. Hilary Knight evened the score for the Americans 6:21 into the third period, but Sarah Nurse netted the game-winning goal from a sharp angle with 4:56 to play.

Monday's contest followed a similar script. Team USA took the initial lead as Kessel assisted on Cayla Barnes' first period goal, Laura Stacey & Sarah Fillier (power play) lit the lamp in the second stanza to put the Canadians ahead, and Taylor Heise responded in the third to tie things up for the U.S. This time the contest went to overtime, and Danielle Serdachny netted her first goal in international play 2:16 into the extra period to give Canada the win.

Canada will host the final two games in the series, expected to occur in February. Locations and exact dates are TBD.

Gophers in the Rivalry Series – Amanda Kessel leads the Gopher contingent at the Rivalry Series; prior to her goal and assist in the December games, she also posted an assist in the third November game to give her a total of 3 points. Kelly Pannek dished out a pair of assists during the November games, Hannah Brandt lit the lamp in the series opener, Taylor Heise scored on Monday, and Lee Stecklein recorded an assist on November 20. Abbey Murphy & Grace Zumwinkle did not score in their appearances in the December games.

Brampton, ON, to host 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship;
Tournament will run April 5 through 16

Hockey Canada and the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) announced last Thursday that Brampton, Ontario, will host the 2023 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship, scheduled for Wednesday, April 5, through Sunday, April 16, 2023. As noted in the press release, the tournament was last played in the Greater Toronto Area in 2000.

The individual game schedule and ticket information will be announced in January. In the interim, fans are encouraged to register on the priority ticket list here.

Gopher Women's Hockey alumnae update...

Lee Stecklein leads the Gopher alumnae playing in the 2022-2023 Secret® Dream Gap Tour in the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA); she also leads all defenders in the association with 8 points for Team Harvey's, coming on a goal and 7 assists. Sarah Potomak has 2 goals and 2 assists with Team adidas, Hannah Brandt has 2 goals and an assist while Emily Brown has an assist for Team Sonnet, and Kelly Pannek has an assist for Team Scotiabank. Team Harvey's currently leads the Secret® Dream Gap Tour standings with 21 points on a 5-3-1-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record.

Looking at the Premier Hockey Federation, specifically the Minnesota Whitecaps, Patti Marshall has been solid on defense, recording 9 points in 10 games, with 2 goals and 7 assists. Olivia Knowles has two points in her rookie season, tallying a goal & an assist, while Sydney Baldwin has an assist. Amanda Leveille continues to be a stalwart between the pipes, seeing all the action for the Whitecaps this season and posting a 4-4-2 (W-L-OTL) record with a 2.72 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. The 'Caps are currently third in the seven-team PHF with that same 4-4-2 record (14 points), though other teams currently below them in standings have games in hand.

Across the pond, Noora Räty has seen action for HPK in the Naisten Liiga (Women's League) in her native Finland. Appearing in 7 of the team's 28 games this season, Räty has a 3-3 record (W-L in games decided in regulation) plus a shootout victory, a 1.74 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. HPK currently sits fourth in the league with 49 points on a 14-3-1-10 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record.

Around the WCHA...

Tommies sweep Beavers amid several "firsts" – Makenna Deering's first-period goal Friday put Bemidji State up 1-0 on the road at St. Thomas, but that was the only lead they would have in the series; the Tommies scored three unanswered goals to win 3-1 and followed it with a 5-2 victory Saturday for their first-ever sweep of a WCHA league series. The Tommies had several other "firsts" on the weekend; Isabel Lippai netted her first goal at the Division I level, Kate Haug tallied her first collegiate goal after two earlier assists Saturday for the first 3-point game by a UST player in a WCHA series, and Maggie Malecha stopped 28 of 30 shots in her first collegiate start for the win on Saturday.

Ohio State sweeps Cornell in top-ten series – Gabby Rosenthal and Makenna Webster each recorded 2 goals & 2 assists and Jennifer Gardiner added a goal and two assists as the top-ranked Buckeyes defeated the #10 Big Red on the road, 4-3 & 4-0. OSU outshot Cornell 82-33 in the series, including 48-12 in the second game.

Minnesota State earns sweep of Long Island – Kelsey King exploded for 4 goals and an assist Friday, then added her fifth goal & sixth point of the weekend Saturday as the Mavericks swept the Sharks, 8-1 & 5-1. Alexis Paddington added three goals and an assist for MSU, while Jamie Nelson dished out 5 helpers.

Looking ahead – After a brief break this coming weekend, more non-conference action on the road concludes 2022 and opens 2023. Ohio State will head west to face Lindenwood on December 30 & 31, while Wisconsin travels east for a top-five matchup on December 31 & January 1 at Quinnipiac.

Copyright © 2022 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.

Follow the Power Play Club online at www.powerplayclub.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PowerPlayClubMN, or on Twitter at twitter.com/powerplayclub.

Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at 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

December 15, 2022

The Penalty Post Box Post - Thursday, December 15, 2022

Power Play Club

December 15, 2022

The Penalty Box Post
Thursday, December 15th

Goals for a Goal: Gophers hit 90-goal mark at holiday break

Through 19 games and entering the holiday break, the Gopher Women's Hockey team has reached the 90-goal mark, including converting 17 power-play opportunities. We again request your assistance supporting the program and funding updates & improvements of Ridder Arena by enrolling in our Goals for a Goal program. Pledge to convert each Gopher goal scored during the regular season & postseason into donations to the team, with the option to double your pledge for power play goals.

To make a pledge, fill out this online form (preferred) or download the PDF version, print it, and mail it in to the listed address. After the postseason, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions. All contributions are tax-deductible donations to the Golden Gopher Fund.

Brunch with the Coaches – Saturday, January 14 at 9:45 a.m.

Our Brunch with the Coaches event is scheduled for Saturday, January 14, at 9:45 a.m. in the 3M Arena at Mariucci Club Room as we welcome former Gopher associate head coach & current University of St. Thomas head coach Joel Johnson and our own Brad Frost. We look forward to hearing from Coach Johnson about his experiences leading the 2022 U.S. Olympic Women's Hockey Team. transitioning the Tommies to a Division I program, and balancing both of those at the same time. Tickets are $30 per person. Download the registration form here (PDF file) and return it with a check made out to the "Power Play Club" to the PPC table on the Ridder Arena concourse, or send it by mail to the address listed. Registrations must be received by Friday, January 6.

Gophers shut out the Huskies

For the second time this season, Gopher Women's Hockey saw players record hat tricks in both games of a weekend series. The team also posted a pair of 5-goal second periods in the process. Combined with solid defensive performances, they rolled to 6-0 & 9-0 victories over St. Cloud State.

Though the Huskies were able to keep Minnesota off the scoreboard in the first 20 minutes last Friday at Ridder Arena, Grace Zumwinkle lit the lamp just 51 seconds into the second stanza to get things rolling. Ella Huber doubled the lead, Emily Oden assisted on an Abigail Boreen goal to make it 3-0, and then Oden found the back of the net herself to make it 4-0. Late in the period, Zumwinkle scored on a short-handed rush, and she completed her hat trick 10:58 into the third with a power-play marker. Skylar Vetter stopped all 14 shots she faced, Taylor Heise dished out 4 assists, and Abbey Murphy recorded 3 helpers.

Relocating to the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center for the rematch, it appeared the first period would again be scoreless until Allie Franco (pictured right) tallied her first career goal with 1:07 left in the stanza. Josefin Bouveng lit the lamp 2:45 into the second period, again opening the floodgates. Huber netted her second goal of the weekend, Heise tallied the next two to push the lead to 5-0, and Boreen recorded her second goal of the series with under 45 seconds before intermission. Zumwinkle struck 1:11 into the third, Heise completed her hat trick with a power-play marker, and Boreen lit the lamp again to complete the scoring. Vetter made another 15 saves to keep the Huskies off the scoreboard. Heise dished out two assists to go with her 3 goals, posting a 5-point game. Boreen recorded an assist to accompany her two goals, Franco, Huber, and Zumwinkle each also earned an assist, and Oden dished out 3 helpers for a 5-point weekend (also recording a +8 plus-minus rating).

Heise, Vetter earn weekly league honors... Again!

Gopher fifth-year Taylor Heise and sophomore Skylar Vetter were both honored by the WCHA as the league's Forward & Goaltender of the Week, respectively, on Monday following their performances against St. Cloud State.

Heise recorded a team-high 9 points against the Huskies, recording her hat trick plus two assists on Saturday after dishing out 4 helpers on Friday, and posting a +7 plus-minus rating in the series. Vetter stopped all 29 shots she faced, extending her shutout streak to more than 11 periods as 223 minutes, 26 seconds.

Heise's honor is her third weekly award of the season, while Vetter's is her fifth and the second time she been recognized in back-to-back weeks.

Congratulations, Taylor and Skylar!!

Mid-season Recap

Minnesota currently sits atop the WCHA standings with 41 points, posting a 13-1-2-1 conference mark (1-0 in OT), though – due to an unbalanced schedule – Wisconsin holds a slight edge in points percentage (.881 vs. .854). Ohio State sits only one point back (40) with an .833 point percentage, while the Badgers have 37 points but two games in hand. Minnesota was 1-2-0 in non-conference play for a 14-3-2 overall record.

Ten (10) different Gopher players have recorded double-digit points and the team's season-long scoring average is 4.74, which is second among all Division I teams, trailing only Wisconsin (5.67). While the number of players having lit the lamp before the holiday break is down compared to last year (16 vs. last year's 17), the number finding the back of the net 10+ times has quadrupled; Taylor Heise and Grace Zumwinkle have each tallied 13 goals, Abigail Boreen has scored 12 goals, and Abbey Murphy has 11. Heise also holds the team lead in the other two scoring categories, dishing out 21 assists for 34 total points. Zumwinkle has 18 helpers for 31 points, while Murphy dished out 12 assists for 23 points. Ella Huber is fourth in total scoring with 19 points on 8 goals and 11 assists, while Boreen has 6 assists for a total of 18 points. As with this time last year, Madeline Wethington is the top-scoring defenseman; though she has yet to light the lamp herself, she has dished out 11 assists.

The Gophers' scoring defense is again yielding less than two goals per game, but their 1.89 mark (36 goals in 19 games) is only third in the WCHA and 10th in the NCAA. Sophomore Skylar Vetter has been the team's primary netminder, starting 17 of the team's 19 contests and going 12-3-2 with 4 shutouts, a 1.91 goals-against average, and a .923 save percentage. Senior Makayla Pahl won both of her two starts with one shutout; including two relief appearances, she has a 1.75 GAA and a .922 SV%.

Minnesota's power-play conversion rate currently stands second among WCHA teams and third nationally at 27.0% (17 of 63), but the penalty kill unit is fifth in the league at 82.0% (41 of 50). That said, a bright spot on the Gophers' PK is that they have only a -2 goal differential, tallying an NCAA-leading 7 short-handed goals with Heise and Murphy each having scored two. As with this time last year, Minnesota has yet to allow any shorties on their own power play.

Milestones galore!! There were multiple individual career milestones reached by the Gopher Women's Hockey team in the first part of the 2022-2023 season. Here's a recap of several...

With the team's 3-2 overtime victory over Minnesota Duluth on November 4, head coach Brad Frost reached 450 wins as the program's bench boss.
With the first of two goals against Minnesota State on December 2, Abigail Boreen reached the career 100-point mark. Additionally, her first goal this past Saturday against St. Cloud State was her 50th. Entering the break, she has 107 points on 51 goals & 56 assists.
With a goal and an assist this past Friday (Dec. 9) against SCSU, Emily Oden also reached the career 100-point mark. Adding 3 assists on Saturday, Oden now has 103 points on 29 goals & 74 assists.
Netting four goals this past weekend against the Huskies, Grace Zumwinkle moved into a tie for 6th on Minnesota's all-time goal scoring list with 97.
The Gophers' all-time total scoring list has a new entry into the top ten this season, as Taylor Heise currently sits in 10th with 194 points on 80 goals & 114 assists.

Return to action – The Gophers will resume play as hosts of the East/West Showcase at Ridder Arena in early January. Minnesota will face the Merrimack College Warriors on Friday, January 6 at 6:00 p.m., and the University of New Hampshire Wildcats on Saturday, January 7 at 4:30 p.m. St. Cloud State will also make another trip to Ridder, facing the Wildcats on Jan. 6 at 2:30 p.m. and the Warriors on Jan. 7 at 1:00 p.m.

Reminder: USA-Canada Rivalry Series games tonight & Monday
Tonight's game preceded by “Women of Gold” special on Bally Sports North

We reminder you, our fellow Gopher Women's Hockey fans, that the 2022-2023 Rivalry Series between the U.S. and Canada Women's National Teams resumes tonight (Thursday, December 15) in Henderson, NV, and continues next Monday, December 19, in Los Angeles. Both games will be televised on NHL Network at 9 p.m. CT.

As we noted last week, current Gophers Taylor Heise, Abbey Murphy, and Grace Zumwinkle are joining alumnae Hannah Brandt, Amanda Kessel, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein on Team USA roster for the two games. Good luck, ladies!!

“Women of Gold” special on Bally Sports North, tonight at 8 p.m. CT – One hour prior to tonight's USA-Canada game (Thursday, Dec. 15), tune into Bally Sports North for a special called “Women of Gold”, as Gopher alumnae and USA Hockey veterans Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein talk about their time in both programs.

Around the WCHA...

UMD earns win, tie vs. St. Thomas, but Tommies swipe two points – Ashton Bell tallied 2 goals & 2 assists and Mannon McMahon added a goal & 2 assists as Minnesota Duluth cruised to an 8-1 victory in their series opener against St. Thomas. McMahon gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the rematch, but UST netminder Saskia Maurer made 48 during run of play – including stopping McMahon on a second-period penalty shot – and Haley Maxwell netted her first collegiate goal on a power play to complete the game as a 1-1 overtime tie. The Tommies earned a second league standings point by winning the subsequent shootout 3-2; Maddy Clough netted the deciding goal in the fourth round.

Badgers sweep Mavericks in Mankato – Wisconsin earned another series sweep on the road, defeating Minnesota State 5-2 and 5-1. Britta Curl scored twice for the Badgers, Kirsten Simms & Laila Edwards each tallied a goal and 3 assists, and Natalie Buchbinder dished out 4 helpers. Alexis Paddington, Taylor Otremba, and Madison Mashuga scored for the Mavericks.

This weekend – Bemidji State visits St. Thomas in league play on Friday & Saturday. Two other WCHA teams will head to the state of New York for non-conference matchups, as Minnesota State plays a Friday-Saturday series at Long Island University while Ohio State has a Saturday-Sunday matchup at Cornell.

Looking ahead – More non-conference action on the road concludes 2022 and opens 2023. Ohio State will head west to face Lindenwood on December 30 & 31, while Wisconsin travels east for a top-five matchup on December 31 & January 1 at Quinnipiac.

Power Play Club

December 7, 2022

The Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Power Play Club

December 7, 2022

The Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, December 7th

GWH Teddy Bear Toss – this Friday vs. St. Cloud State

The annual White Bear Mitsubushi Teddy Bear Toss is back, scheduled for this Friday, December 9, in the game against St. Cloud State. Puck drop at Ridder Arena is set for 6:00 p.m., and the toss is scheduled for the first intermission.

Additionally, fans bringing teddy bears to toss will receive $5 day-of-game admission.

Teddy bears must be wrapped in plastic bags; bags will be provided at Ridder as necessary. All bears will be donated to the Masonic Children's Hospital. We send thanks in advance for everyone supporting this effort!

Goals for a Goal 2022-2023: Make Your Pledge Today!

Entering the final 2022 weekend of action, the Gopher Women's Hockey team has recorded 75 goals, including converting 15 power-play opportunities. Pledge to convert each of those goals plus any scored the remainder of the regular season & postseason into donations to the team by enrolling in our Goals for a Goal program, with the option to double your pledge for power play goals. Collected funds will go towards updates and improvements to Ridder Arena.

To make a pledge, fill out this online form (preferred) or download the PDF version, print it, and mail it in to the listed address. After the postseason, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions. All contributions are tax-deductible donations to the Golden Gopher Fund.

Brunch with the Coaches – Saturday, January 14 at 9:45 a.m.

#6/4 Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-3-2, 11-1-2 in WCHA)
vs. #14/14 St. Cloud State Univ. Huskies (11-8-0, 6-8-0 WCHA)

Friday, December 9 at 6:00 p.m. – Ridder Arena
Saturday, December 10 at 3:00 p.m. - Herb Brooks National Hockey Center – St. Cloud

Wrapping up the 2022 portion of their schedule, the Gopher Women's Hockey team plays a second-straight home-and-home series, facing the newly-ranked St. Cloud State Huskies who also played home-and-home last weekend. Action begins at Ridder Arena on Friday evening, December 9, with puck drop set for 6:00 p.m. The teams then head to St. Cloud for the rematch at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on Saturday, December 10 at 3:00 p.m.

Traffic advisory on Friday – Please allow for extra vehicular and pedestrian traffic on campus at the U. on Friday, as the Gopher Men's Hockey hosts Wisconsin at Mariucci Arena at 8:00 p.m.

Television coverage Saturday – Saturday's game will be broadcast live in the Twin Cities area on FOX9+. To find your FOX 9+ channel number, click here.

This season against St. Cloud State – Minnesota swept the first two games against the Huskies in October, coming in league play, 4-2 & 2-1, but St. Cloud State earned a 4-1 upset victory in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Faceoff Classic in early November. Taylor Heise and Grace Zumwinkle led the Gophers with 2 goals & an assist apiece over the three games, while Catie Skaja dished out 3 assists and Abigail Boreen & Abbey Murphy each added a goal and an assist. SCSU's Klára Hymlárová recorded 2 goals and an assist against Minnesota so far, while Emma Gentry and Bailey Burton have each added a goal and an assist. Skylar Vetter has been the only Gopher goaltender to see action against the Huskies this season, posting a 2.37 goals-against average and an.887 save percentage. After yielding 4 goals on the opening 8 shots by Minnesota, SCSU netminder Jojo Chobak stopped the next 24, resulting in an .889 SV%. Sanni Ahola was between the pipes for the Huskies in the other two contests, making 77 saves on 80 shots for a 1.51 GAA and .963 SV%.

About the Huskies – With a pair of wins this past weekend (more on that shortly), St. Cloud State has moved into fourth in the WCHA standings, improving to 19 points on a 6-8-0 conference record (with one of their losses coming in OT) after starting league play 0-6-0. Two highlights include taking Wisconsin to overtime in October and the Hall of Fame Game win over the Gophers. SCSU also has non-conference sweeps of RPI and Lindenwood for an 11-8-0 overall mark, earning them the #14 ranking in the latest national polls.

Fifth-year Jenniina Nylund (#81) is averaging better than a point-per-game, holding the Huskies' assist lead with 13 while scoring 11 times herself for 24 points. Senior Klára Hymlárová (#12) has a team-high 12 goals plus 5 assists for 17 points. Junior Emma Gentry (#20) also has double-digit goals with 11, plus 3 assists for 14 points, while senior Taylor Lind (#13) has also recorded 14 points on 5 goals & 9 assists.

Junior Sanni Ahola (#1) has started 11 of St. Cloud State's 19 games; she has a 6-5-0 record with one shutout, a 2.46 goals-against average, and a .922 save percentage. Junior Jojo Chobak (#29) started the other 8 contests plus made a relief appearance, posting a 5-3-0 record with two shutouts, a 2.19 GAA and a .923 SV%. Freshman Julia Bachetti (#31) has yet to see any official action.

Last action for St. Cloud State – Taking on St. Thomas in a home-and-home series, the Huskies saw a 2-0 lead evaporate before getting a late goal from Courtney Hall to win 3-2, then traded leads with Tommies in the rematch before pulling away for a 6-3 victory and the weekend sweep. Klára Hymlárová recorded a hat trick on Saturday while Emma Gentry also lit the lamp 3 times in the series, Jenniina Nylund added a goal and two assists, and Grace Wolfe dished out 4 helpers. Sanni Ahola made 33 saves in Friday's victory. Lauren Stenslie netted two goals, one in each game, for the Tommies.

Gophers complete season sweep of Minnesota State

Kennedy Bobyck's first-period goal Friday night was the only highlight of the weekend for the Mavericks, as the Gophers scored 10 times unanswered for 4-1 & 6-0 victories in their home-and-home series, completing the four-game season sweep. Abigail Boreen knotted the score with a power-play marker, her 100th career point, and followed it with 3 more goals over the weekend, two of those also coming on the power play. After tallying an assist on Friday, Taylor Heise posted a 2-goal, 3-assist outburst on Saturday, with one of the goals coming short-handed. Abbey Murphy scored two goals, once in each game, including a shorty on Saturday. Grace Zumwinkle did not record a goal but dished out 5 assists, Ella Huber added a goal and an assist, Audrey Wethington lit the lamp once, and Allie Franco earned her first career point with an assist on Huber's goal.

Vetter earns fourth Goalie of the Week honor this season

Gopher Women's Hockey sophomore netminder Skylar Vetter was honored Monday as the WCHA Goaltender of the Week following her 38-save performance over two games in the series against Minnesota State, with only 1 goal against. The award is Vetter's fourth such recognition this season, along with being named Goaltender of the Month for October. In three full games as the starter plus a 16-minute relief appearance against the Mavericks, Vetter has stopped 57 of 58 shots for a .983 save percentage and 0.31 goals-against average.

Congratulations, Skylar!!

Bouveng recognized by Lindahl Academic Center

Recognition came from a performance not only on the ice but in the classroom, as Gopher Women's Hockey freshman Josefin Bouveng was named as one of the Lindahl Academic Center's Student-Athletes of the Month. Congratulations and good work, Josefin!!

7 Gophers named to Team USA December Rivalry Series Roster

Seven Gopher Women's Hockey representatives will be dressing in the Red, White & Blue of Team USA for the next two games of the Rivalry Series against Canada.

Current Gophers Taylor Heise, Abbey Murphy, and Grace Zumwinkle will join alumnae Hannah Brandt, Amanda Kessel, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein on the U.S. Women's National Team's December roster, which was announced by USA Hockey on Monday, December 5. The Americans will face their Canadian couterparts at The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, NV, on Thursday, December 15, and at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA, on Monday, December 19, with both games at 7 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. CT and televised on NHL Network. Tickets to both games are still on sale, with links available on USA Hockey's Rivalry Series web page.

Congratulations and good luck, ladies!!

Around the WCHA...

Buckeyes, Bulldogs split in Duluth – Ohio State and Minnesota Duluth battled to a pair of one-goal results, with the Buckeyes winning 2-1 Friday before the Bulldogs took a 5-4 overtime victory on Saturday. Emma Maltais netted the gamewinning goal after an earlier assist for OSU on Friday, while Gabby Rosenthal added two goals & an assist on Saturday. UMD's Kylie Hanley recorded two goals & an assist in the series, and Clara Van Wieran lit the lamp twice Saturday including the OT gamewinner.

Badgers steamroll Beavers – Wisconsin cruised to a series sweep on the road, routing Bemidji State 13-1 in the opener followed by a 4-1 victory in the rematch. Three different Badgers each posted seven-point weekends; Britta Curl lit the lamp 5 times – including a hat trick on Friday – and dished out two assists, while Casey O'Brien & Sophie Shirley added 2 goals & 5 assists apiece. Mya Headrick and Reece Hunt (PP) scored for the Beavers.

Upcoming games – Two other league series are occuring this weekend with Friday & Saturday games. Minnesota Duluth hosts St. Thomas in a pair of afternoon matinees, while Wisconsin visits Minnesota State Friday evening and Saturday afteroon. Bemidji State and Ohio State are idle.

Copyright © 2022 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.

Follow the Power Play Club online at www.powerplayclub.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PowerPlayClubMN, or on Twitter at twitter.com/powerplayclub.

Follow the Gopher women's hockey team and all Univ. of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics at 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

December 5, 2022

The Two-Minute Minor - An Edition of the Penalty Box Post - Sunday, December 4, 2022

Power Play Club

December 5, 2022

The Two-Minute Minor
An Edition of the Penalty Box Post
Sunday, December 4th

GWH Teddy Bear Toss – Friday, December 9, vs. St. Cloud State

Going shopping this week? Pick up a teddy bear (or two, or several) while you're out and about!

The annual White Bear Mitsubushi Teddy Bear Toss is back, scheduled for this coming Friday, December 9, in the game against St. Cloud State. Game time at Ridder Arena is set for 6:00 p.m.

Additionally, fans bringing teddy bears to toss will receive $5 day-of-game admission.

All teddy bears will be donated to the Masonic Children's Hospital. We send thanks in advance for everyone supporting this effort!

2023 NCAA Frozen Four tickets now on sale!

Tickets are now on sale for the 2023 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Frozen Four, being held at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth on March 17th and 19th.

The 2023 edition of the Frozen Four will be the fourth time Duluth hosts the event, though the first time since 2012 when Minnesota defeated Wisconsin, 4-2, in the championship game.

Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster here. Single-session tickets for either semifinal Friday or championship Sunday range from $15 to $20. All-session tickets for both days are $25 to $35.

Brunch with the Coaches – Saturday, January 14 at 9:45 a.m.

Our Brunch with the Coaches event returns for 2022-2023 when we welcome former Gopher associate head coach & current University of St. Thomas head coach Joel Johnson and our own Brad Frost on Saturday, January 14, at 9:45 a.m. in the 3M Arena at Mariucci Club Room. We look forward to hearing from Coach Johnson about his experiences leading the 2022 U.S. Olympic Women's Hockey Team. transitioning the Tommies to a Division I program, and balancing both of those at the same time. Tickets are $30 per person. Download the registration form here (PDF file) and return it with a check made out to the "Power Play Club" to the PPC table on the Ridder Arena concourse, or send it by mail before January 6 to the address listed.

Power Play Club

November 30, 2022

The Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Power Play Club

November 30, 2022

The Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, November 30th

Brunch with the Coaches – Saturday, January 14 at 9:45 a.m.

Our Brunch with the Coaches event returns for 2022-2023 when we welcome former Gopher associate head coach & current University of St. Thomas head coach Joel Johnson and our own Brad Frost on Saturday, January 14, at 9:45 a.m. in the 3M Arena at Mariucci Club Room. We hope you can join us for a great meal as we hear from Coach Johnson on his experiences leading the 2022 U.S. Olympic Women's Hockey Team and transitioning the Tommies to a Division I program, along with balancing both at the same time. Tickets are $30 per person. Download the registration form here (PDF file) and return it with a check made out to the "Power Play Club" to the PPC table on the Ridder Arena concourse on December 2 or 9, or by mail to the address listed.

Goals for a Goal 2022-2023: Make Your Pledge Today!

With the season a little over two months old, the Gopher Women's Hockey team has recorded 65 goals in 15 games, including converting 12 power-play opportunities. We again ask for your support helping to fund updates and improvements to Ridder Arena through our Goals for a Goal program, pledging to convert each goal scored throughout the regular season and postseason into a donation for the program, with the option to double your pledge for power play goals.

To make a pledge, fill out this online form (preferred) or download the PDF version, print it, and mail it in to the listed address. After the postseason, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions. All contributions are tax-deductible donations to the Golden Gopher Fund.

#5/5 Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-3-2, 9-1-2 in WCHA)
vs.
Minnesota State University Mavericks (7-7-0, 5-7-0 WCHA)

Friday, December 2 at 6:00 p.m. – Ridder Arena
Saturday, December 3 at 2:00 p.m. - Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center – Mankato

After a holiday trip to the greater Las Vegas area and a split of their non-conference games last weekend, the Gopher Women's Hockey team returns to Minnesota and to WCHA play, facing the Minnesota State University Mavericks in a home-and-home series. Action begins at Ridder Arena on Friday evening, December 2, with puck drop set for 6:00 p.m. The teams then head to Mankato for the rematch at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center on Saturday, December 3 at 2:00 p.m.

Traffic advisory on Friday – Please allow for extra vehicular and pedestrian traffic on campus at the U. on Friday. Gopher Volleyball hosts First & Second Round matches of the NCAA Tournament at Maturi Pavilion (the match between Florida State and Northern Iowa begins at 4:30 p.m.) and both Gopher Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving hosts the Minnesota Invitational at Freeman Aquatic Center (with the evening session beginning at 6:00 p.m.).

Television coverage Saturday – Saturday's game will be broadcast live in the Twin Cities area on FOX9+. To find your FOX 9+ channel number, click here.

Last time against Minnesota State – Playing the Mavericks less than two months ago, the Gophers posted their highest single-series output in 23 years, lighting the lamp 20 times in wins of 11-0 in Mankato & 9-4 at Ridder Arena. Grace Zumwinkle tallied a hat trick plus an assist on Friday and added another goal & 2 assists on Saturday for a 7-point series, Josefin Bouveng dished out a pair of assists Friday and followed it with a hat trick on Saturday, and Abbey Murphy recorded 6 points on 3 goals & 3 assists. Emily Oden also had a four-point series, dishing out four helpers. Skylar Vetter earned the shutout in Mankato with 17 saves; Makalya Pahl earned the win at Ridder but exited early after MSU's fourth goal, making 18 saves, with Vetter playing the last 16-1/2 minutes with two more saves. Alexis Paddington scored twice for the Mavericks.

About the Mavericks – Thanks to the unbalanced schedule, Minnesota State sits fourth in the WCHA standings with 16 points on a 5-7-0 conference record (with one of their losses coming in OT). That said, their five league wins have come in a four-game season sweep of St. Thomas and a win over Bemidji State, and their two non-conference victories – bringing their overall mark to 7-7-0 – came against Sacred Heart. But, outside of their two losses to the Gophers, MSU has outscored their other opponents 29-17.

Junior Jamie Nelson (#10) is averaging better than a point-per-game, holding the Mavericks' assist lead with 10 while scoring 4 times herself for 14 points. Senior Claire Butorac (#7; 3g, 6a) and junior Madison Mashuga (#22; 2g, 7a) each have 9 points. Freshman Taylor Otremba (#24) has a team-high 5 goals plus 3 assists, joining senior Brooke Bryant (#17; 2g, 6a) with 8 points each.

Junior Lauren Barbro (#37) has started 8 of Minnesota State's 14 games; she has a 3-5-0 record with one shutout, a 3.08 goals-against average, and a .908 save percentage. Senior Alexa Berg (#1) started the other 6 contests plus made a relief appearance, posting a 4-2-0 record with two shutouts, a 2.17 GAA and a .917 SV%. Senior Calla Frank (#77) and junior Emerald Kelley (#55) remain on the roster but have not seeing any playing time this season.

Last action for Minnesota State – The Mavericks were idle last weekend. Playing with a short bench due to injuries & illnesses two weekends ago, MSU swept their home-and-home series against St. Thomas, 3-1 & 2-0, with only 17 skaters in the first contest and 14 in the second. Taylor Otremba scored in each game, Jamie Nelson tallied a goal and two assists, and Alexa Berg stopped all 27 shots she faced in Sunday's contest. Maija Almich netted the lone goal for the Tommies.

Gophers defeat Penn State, fall to Yale in Henderson Collegiate Hockey Showcase – Playing in a neutral-site Thanksgiving weekend tournament for the third time in four seasons, the Minnesota Women's Hockey team blitzed Penn State for 4 first-period goals to defeat Penn State 5-1 in the opening game of Henderson Collegiate Hockey Showcase in southern Nevada. However, the Gophers were on the wrong end of a four-goal first-period outburst by Yale in the championship game, falling 4-3.

Madison Kaiser, Taylor Heise, Peyton Hemp, and Grace Zumwinkle put the Gophers up 4-0 on the Nittany Lions after 20 minutes. Courtney Correia got Penn State on the board in the second stanza, but Minnesota killed off a major penalty later on and Ella Huber added an insurance goal in the third frame. PSU goaltender Josie Bothun made 31 saves; Skylar Vetter made 9 saves over the first 31 minutes, and Makalya Pahl stopped 17 shots in nearly 29 minutes of relief.

Yale's Rebecca Vanstone lit the lamp just 1:38 into Saturday's game. A flurry of goals followed midway through the first period; Hemp knotted the score for the Gophers and Huber put them ahead just 35 seconds later, but Emma Seitz evened things up for the Bulldogs just 10 seconds after that. Yale then struck twice more in the final minute of the period as Jordan Ray & Claire Dalton scored just 12 seconds apart for a 4-2 lead at the first intermission. That was all for Vetter, who left after making 8 saves. Minnesota got a glimpse of hope when Huber netted her second goal of the game and third of the weekend on a power play 4:09 into the second period, but the Gophers couldn't put another puck by Bulldogs goaltender Pia Dukaric, who made 29 saves in total. Pahl made 7 saves in her two-period appearance.

For the weekend, Huber tallied 4 points, adding an assist to her three goals. Hemp also had an assist to go with her two goals for a three-point weekend, while Kaiser added an assist to her goal. Vetter also recorded her first collegiate assist, coming on Zumwinkle's goal against Penn State.

Kaiser earns Rookie of the Week recognition

Gopher Women's Hockey freshman forward Madison Kaiser was honored Monday as the WCHA Rookie of the Week following her two-point (1 goal, 1 assist) performance in the Henderson Collegiate Hockey Showcase. She also posted a +2 plus-minus rating in the two games. Kaiser becomes the first Gopher freshman to earn weekly recognition from the league this season.

Congratulations, Madison!!

Around the WCHA...

Buckeyes get tie, win against Colgate – Playing a non-conference series before the holiday, Ohio State had to settle for a 4-4 tie against the Colgate last Tuesday due to a 48-save performance from Raiders goaltender Kayle Osborne and a game-tying goal Kristýna Kaltounková with 5:31 left in regulation. However the Buckeyes rebounded with a 6-2 victory over the Raiders on Wednesday. Jennifer Gardiner led OSU with 5 points on a goal & 4 assists, while Gabby Rosenthal added two goals & two assists and Sophie Jaques & Jenna Buglioni each tallied two goals and an assist. Danielle Serdachny recorded two goals and two assists for Colgate.

Huskies earn road sweep at Lindenwood – Jenniina Nylund tallied 3 goals & 3 assists and Taylor Lind added 3 goals and 2 assists for St. Cloud State as they swept Lindenwood on the road, 7-2 & 4-2. Morgan Neitzke scored twice for the Lions.

Beavers fall to Quinnipiac, defeat Sacred Heart – Playing in the Nutmeg Classic in Hamden, Connecticut, Bemidji State fell 5-0 in the semifinals to host Quinnipiac; Bobcats goaltender Catie Boudiette posted the 18-save shutout and Maya Labad recorded 2 goals and an assist. However, four different Beavers scored in a 4-1 victory over Sacred Heart in the consolation game despite 46 saves from Pioneers goaltender Carly Greene. BSU netminder Hannah Hogenson stopped a combined 49 shots in the two contests.

Upcoming games – All eight WCHA teams are in action in a full slate of league contests, with Friday & Saturday matinees in the other three series. St. Thomas and St. Cloud State play home-and-home starting in St. Cloud, Minnesota Duluth hosts Ohio State, and Wisconsin travels to Bemidji State.

Power Play Club

November 22, 2022

The Penalty Box Post - Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Power Play Club

November 22, 2022

The Penalty Box Post
Tuesday, November 22nd

Goals for a Goal 2022-2023: Make Your Pledge Today!

Through its first 13 games, the Gopher Women's Hockey team has recorded 57 goals, including converting 10 power-play opportunities. Help us support the squad through our Goals for a Goal program, pledging to convert each goal scored throughout the regular season and postseason into a donation for the program, with the option to double your pledge for power play goals. Your donation will help fund updates and improvements to Ridder Arena.

To make a pledge, fill out this online form (preferred) or download the PDF version, print it, and mail it in to the listed address. After the postseason, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions. All contributions are tax-deductible donations to the Golden Gopher Fund.

Save the Date – Brunch with the Coaches on January 14

Our Brunch with the Coaches event returns for 2022-2023 when we welcome former Gopher associate head coach and current University of St. Thomas head coach Joel Johnson and our own Brad Frost on Saturday, January 14, at 9:45 a.m. We hope you can join us as we hear from Coach Johnson on his experiences leading the 2022 U.S. Olympic Women's Hockey Team and the transition of the Tommies to a Division I program, along with balancing both at the same time. Registration will open next week.

Henderson Collegiate Hockey Showcase – Henderson, NV

Friday, November 25 – Semifinals at Lifeguard Arena
Boston Univ. (6-8-0) vs. #5 Yale (6-0-0) – 1 pm PT / 3 pm CT
#3 Minnesota (9-2-2) vs. #12 Penn St. (10-7-1) – 4 pm PT / 6 pm CT

Saturday, November 26 at The Dollar Loan Center
Third Place Game – 1 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. CT
Championship – 4 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. CT

Following a tough series in Madison, the #3 Gophers head west for Thanksgiving weekend, participating in the Henderson Collegiate Hockey Showcase in Henderson, Nevada. Action begins at Lifeguard Arena on Friday, November 25, with the Boston University Terriers and the Yale Bulldogs opening the tournament at 1:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. CT, followed by Minnesota facing the Penn State Nittany Lions at 4:00 p.m. PT / 6:00 p.m. CT. Action moves across town to The Dollar Loan Center on Saturday, November 26, with the 3rd Place Game at 1:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. CT and the Championship at 4:00 p.m. PT / 6:00 p.m. CT.

Last time against Penn State, Boston University, and Yale – Visiting Hockey Valley to open the 2015-2016 regular season, Minnesota shut out Penn State 2-0 & 5-0; Amanda Leveille and Sidney Peters stopped the combined 27 shots they faced, Kelly Pannek & Hannah Brandt each lit the lamp twice, and Megan Wolfe added a goal and an assist, while the Nittany Lions goaltenders combined for 74 saves. Minnesota visited Boston University in December 2016, splitting the series with a 5-1 Gopher victory followed by a 6-5 OT win for the Terriers; Kelly Pannek led Minnesota with 6 points (1g, 5a), Megan Wolfe tallied 5 points (1g, 4a), Sarah Potomak recorded two goals & two assists, and Kate Schipper added two goals & an assist, while BU's Natalie Flynn lit the lamp twice. Minnesota swept Yale at Ridder Arena the first weekend of January 2020, 6-3 & 4-1; Grace Zumwinkle netted 3 goals, Amy Potomak added two goals & an assist, Sarah Potomak tallied a goal & 3 assists, and Sydney Scobee made a combined 31 saves, while Claire Dalton led the Bulldogs with two goals & an assist.

Analyzing the Terriers & recent action – Boston University is 6-8-0 overall with a 5-7-0 mark in Hockey East, though they enter this weekend on a three-game winning streak after defeating #13 Vermont (4-3, OT) and sweeping #12 UConn (2-1 OT, 5-2). Against the Huskies, Brooke Disher (#27) tallied the overtime gamewinner Friday, Haylee Blinkhorn (#18) scored twice Saturday, and Catherine Foulem (#28) recorded a goal & two assists in the series. Senior Julia Nearis (#16) leads the Terriers in all three scoring categories, with 14 points on 6 goals & 8 assists, while junior Lacey Martin (#17) has 3 goals and also 8 assists. Foulem, a junior, and senior Nadia Mattivi (#6) each have 3 goals & 5 assists. Former Ohio State goaltender Andrea Brändli (#40) joined BU as a graduate transfer; she is 4-4-0 with 2 shutout in 8 starts, posting a 1.87 goals-against average and .944 save percentage; sophomore Callie Shanahan (#37) has started the other 6 games, posting a 2-4-0 record with a 3.33 GAA and .901 SV%.

Analyzing the Nittany Lions – Penn State (10-7-1, 3-1-0 in the CHA) has had its ups and downs, upsetting Wisconsin in the season opener but then falling 9-1 to the Badgers the next night, getting a win & a tie against Boston College, but being swept in series against Colgate & Yale (more on that shortly). Freshman Tessa Janecke (#15) and junior Kiara Zanon (#11) are averaging 1.00 points per game; Janecke has 11 goals & 7 assists, while Zanon has 7 goals & 11 assists. Senior Courtney Correia is third in scoring with 7 goals and 7 assists. Between the pipes, junior Josie Bothun (#30) has started 17 of Penn State's 18 games, going 9-7-1 with 2 shutouts, a 2.05 GAA and .921 SV%. Freshman Katie DeSa (#35) earned a win in her lone start against Franklin Pierce, stopping 10 of 11 shots, but she also yielded 3 goals on 5 shots in a very brief relief appearance against Wisconsin. Junior Annie Spring (#31) has also seen action, stopping 10 of 11 shots in 30 minutes of relief.

Analyzing the Bulldogs – As is standard for Ivy League teams, Yale didn't start the season until late October, but they're undefeated so far (6‑0‑0, 4-0-0 in the ECAC) including wins over Quinnipiac, Princeton, and a pair against Penn State, earning them the #5 ranking in the latest DCU/USCHO poll. Sophomore Anna Bargman (#22) and freshman Jordan Ray (#20) each have 4 goals & 4 assists to lead the Bulldogs. Sophomore Vita Poniatovskaia (#21) has tallied two goals & 4 assists, junior Elle Hartje (#4) has a goal & 5 helpers, and freshman Carina DiAntonio (#25) has lit the lamp 3 times and dished out an assist. Sophomore Pia Dukaric (#30) has been the only Bulldogs netminder to see action; she has two shutouts, a 0.82 GAA and .969 SV%.

Yale sweeps home series against Penn State – The Bulldogs hosted the Nittany Lions this past weekend, with Yale sweeping the series 3-0 & 2-1 (OT). Elle Hartje netted the overtime gamewinner Saturday after two assists on Friday, while Vita Poniatovskaia also recorded a goal and two helpers for the Bulldogs. Eleri MacKay netted the lone goal for PSU. Pia Dukaric stopped 50 of 51 shots for Yale, while Penn State's Josie Bothun made 54 saves.

Gophers held to only two points in Madison

The Gopher Women's Hockey team earned only two points in the WCHA standings on their Border Battle road trip, getting a 3-3 tie with a shootout win over Wisconsin on Saturday before falling 4-1 on Sunday.

Vivian Jungels and Laila Edwards gave the Badgers 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the opener but Peyton Hemp responded both times to knot the score, with her first goal coming shorthanded. Grace Zumwinkle tucked the puck into the Badger net for a 3-2 Gopher lead in the second period, but Britta Curl scored with an extra attacker and only 10.5 seconds remaining in regulation. Following a scoreless overtime period, Abbey Murphy netted the only goal of the subsequent shootout to earn the bonus point.

Wisconsin's Nicole LaMantia and Minnesota's Taylor Heise traded first-period power-play goals in the rematch, but Sarah Wozniewicz put the Badgers ahead late in the second stanza and Kirsten Simms & Jesse Compher scored in the third.

Between the pipes, Minnesota's Skylar Vetter made a combined 76 saves in the series; Wisconsin's Cami Kronish stopped 64 shots, though she entered Sunday's game in relief after starter Jane Gervais left with an injury only 3½ minutes into the contest.

Team USA defeats Canada in 2022-2023 Rivalry Series Game 3;
three Gopher alumnae record assists for American squad

The U.S. Women's National Hockey Team completed a sweep of the first three games of the 2022-2023 Rivalry Series against Canada, winning Game 3 by a 4-2 score in Seattle this past Sunday night. Hilary Knight led the Americans with 2 goals & an assist, while Gopher Women's Hockey alumnae Amanda Kessel, Lee Stecklein, and Kelly Pannek each dished out an assist. The victory marked the first three-game winning streak for Team USA over Canada since 2019, and came in front of an American-record crowd of 14,551 fans at Climate Pledge Arena.

Action in the Rivalry Series will resume next month when the teams meet at The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, NV, on Thursday, December 15.

Future Gophers Lindsay & Klepinger named to USA U-18 Team

Our congratulations and wishes of good luck to future GWH players Ava Lindsay and Elly Klepinger as they were named to the U.S. Under-18 Women's National Hockey Team headed to the 2023 IIHF U-18 Women's Championship, being played Janaury 8-15 in Östersund, Sweden.

Around the WCHA...

Ohio State rolls in home sweep of Bemidji State – Ten different Buckeyes lit the lamp as they swept the Beavers in Columbus, 5-0 & 7-1. Jenna Buglioni and Jenn Gardiner each recorded a goal & 3 assists, while Hadley Hartmetz tallied two goals and an assist. Calli Forsberg netted an unassisted power-play goal for BSU.

Mavericks sweep Tommies despite short bench – Minnesota State swept their home-and-home series against St. Thomas, 3-1 & 2-0, overcoming a short bench with only 17 skaters on Saturday and 14 on Sunday. Taylor Otremba scored in each game, Jamie Nelson tallied a goal and two assists, and Alexa Berg stopped all 27 shots she faced in Sunday's contest. Maija Almich netted the lone goal for UST.

Minnesota Duluth shuts out Harvard – Gabbie Hughes posted a 6-point series on a goal & 5 assists, Anneke Linser lit the lamp 3 times and dished out 2 assists, and Emma Soderberg & Hailey MacLeod combined for 29 saves in the series to shut out Harvard, 4-0 & 9-0. Alex Pellicci stopped a combined 93 shots for the Crimson.

Upcoming games – As we noted last week, OSU is in action before the holiday, hosting Colgate in non-conference competition tonight & tomorrow (Tuesday and Wednesday). St. Cloud State goes on the road to face Lindenwood on Friday & Saturday. Bemidji State is also traveling, playing in the Nutmeg Classic in Hamden, Connecticut; the Beavers face host Quinnipiac on Friday and either UConn or Sacred Heart on Saturday. Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, St. Thomas and Wisconsin are idle.

Power Play Club

November 20, 2022

The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Friday, November 18, 2022

Power Play Club

November 20, 2022

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Friday, November 18th

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
Give to the Max Day donations surpass matching gift threshold

We send a very hearty and gracious thank you to everyone who contributed to our Give to the Max Day fundraiser yesterday. Our GTMD objective for full matching was reached late in the afternoon, and as of 11:30 p.m. last night we had raised (including the match) over $21,500 !!

GWH head coach Brad Frost shared a note of thanks on Twitter.

Goals for a Goal Update

Our fundraising efforts for the 2022-2023 Gopher Women's Hockey season continue in the Goals for a Goal campaign. As with our Give to the Max Day effort, funds raised go to support Ridder Arena improvements.

Pledge a dollar amount for every goal the Gophers score throughout the regular season and postseason. There's also an option to double your pledge for power play goals! In their first 11 games, the team lit the lamp 53 times with nine of those coming on the power play.

We encourage you to make your pledge online, or download the PDF version, print it, and mail it in to the Golden Gopher Fund. After the postseason, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions. All contributions are tax-deductible donations.

PPC Board of Directors Update

At its meeting this past Tuesday night, the Power Play Club Board of Directors approved the addition of Matt Floding & J. Lindsay as directors to finish out open terms which expire on March 31, 2023. We welcome them to the board!!

Henderson tournament to follow Border Battle

Following this weekend's Border Battle between Minnesota and Wisconsin at LaBahn Arena in Madison, the Gopher Women's Hockey team heads out to southern Nevada for the Henderson Collegiate Hockey Showcase on November 25 & 26. The event also includes the Penn State Nittany Lions, the Yale Bulldogs, and the Boston University Terriers.

Tickets are on sale for the consolation and championship games on Saturday, Nov. 26, at The Dollar Loan Center, but each ticket purchased includes complimentary admission to the Friday, Nov. 25, games at Lifeguard Arena (capacity permitting). Tickets can be purchased through axs.com here.

Once again, we thank our fellow GWH financial supporters who donated last season to make this event possible. We'll have our preview of the games in next week's Penalty Box Post.

USA defeats Canada in first 2 games of 2022-2023 Rivalry Series

Team USA took the first two games of the 2022-2023 Rivalry Series against Canada, getting a 4-3 shootout victory on Tuesday and winning 2-1 last night.

Gopher alumna Hannah Brandt opened the scoring in Tuesday's contest, and Hilary Knight pushed the American lead to 2-0 in the second period. However, Claire Thompson & Marie-Philip Poulin knotted the score for the Canadians before the second intermission, and Emily Clark gave them a 3-2 lead early in the third period. Still down a goal inside the final two minutes of regulation, Team USA got a power play and pulled netminder Nicole Hensley for a 6-on-4 attack, capitalizing when Alex Carpenter lit the lamp with 1:29 remaining. The game went to overtime where Hensley stopped Poulin on a penalty shot to force a shootout; Hensley then stoned all four Canadian shooters she faced, while Knight and Carpenter scored to give the Americans the win.

After a scoreless first stanza last night, Canada's Laura Stacey was taken down from behind on a second-period breakaway, resulting in another penalty shot; this time Poulin made no mistake, lighting the lamp for a 1-0 lead. But Rory Guilday scored for the Americans on a long shot from the point just 72 seconds later to knot the score, and Carpenter cleaned up a third-period rebound with 6:36 to play to give Team USA the victory. Kelly Pannek recorded an assist on Carpenter's goal.

The teams will play their third game this Sunday, November 20, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle at 4 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. CT. They then take a break before a pair of December contests: Thursday, December 15, at The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, NV and Monday, December 19, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Visit the USA Hockey Rivalry Series page for links to purchase tickets to these matchups. All games will be televised live on NHL Network.

Power Play Club

November 17, 2022

Penalty Box Post - Thursday, November 17, 2022

Power Play Club

November 17, 2022

The Penalty Box Post
Thursday, November 17th

TODAY is Give to the Max Day! Help us raise $20,000 for Gopher Women's Hockey!!

The Power Play Club board and volunteers have pledged to match the first $10,000 of donations made today, Thursday, November 17, dollar for dollar. With the match, help us raise a total of $20,000! Donate at bit.ly/GWH_GTMD2022.

Funds raised will go to support updates and improvements to Ridder Arena, like the beautiful new Gopher Olympians wall. Additionally, all donations made through 11:59 p.m. this evening will earn double points for the Gopher Loyalty Program managed by the U. of M. Intercollegiate Athletics Department.

#1/2 Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-1-1, 9-0-1 in WCHA)
vs.
#3/3 Univ. of Wisconsin Badgers (10-2-0, 7-1-0 WCHA)

Saturday & Sunday, November 19-20 - Both games at 2:00 p.m. CT at LaBahn Arena, Madison, WI

The Border Battle rivarly is renewed for the 2022-2023 season as the Gopher Women's Hockey team heads to Madison to face the 3rd-ranked Wisconsin Badgers. Action at LaBahn Arena starts Saturday, November 19, at 2:00 p.m. and continues on Sunday, November 20, also at 2:00 p.m.

Television coverage Saturday – Saturday's game will be broadcast live in the Twin Cities area on FOX9+. To find your FOX 9+ channel number, click here.

Last season against Wisconsin – The Gophers went 3-0-1 against the Badgers in the 2021-2022 campaign, winning 3-2 in Madison last December, playing to a 2-2 overtime tie and winning the subsequent shootout the next day, then earning their first weekend sweep in the Border Battle since 2016 with 2-1 & 4-3 victories at Ridder Arena in January.

Despite only netting 11 goals as a team in the 4 games, nine (9) different Gophers lit the lamp. Taylor Heise & Catie Skaja each recorded 2 goals and an assist, while Peyton Hemp & Emily Oden each added a goal and two assists. Abigail Boreen led Minnesota in total scoring with 4 assists, three of which came in the final contest. Casey O'Brien led the Badgers with 3 goals & an assist, Maddi Wheeler added a goal and two assists, Sarah Wozniewicz dished out three helpers, and Brette Pettet lit the lamp twice. Between the pipes for Minnesota, Lauren Bench stopped 98 of 105 shots – a .933 save percentage and 2.27 goals-against average – over three of the four contests, while Makayla Pahl made 40 saves on 41 shots (.976 SV%) in her one start. Wisconsin netminder Kennedy Blair posted a 2.75 GAA and .896 SV% across all four games.

About the Badgers – Wisconsin lost only 6 WCHA games in 2021-2022, matching Minnesota & Ohio State, but three ties pushed them into a third-place finish in the league standings behind the Gophers & Buckeyes. After sweeping Bemidji State in the conference quarterfinals, they fell to OSU in the semifinals. They earned an NCAA Tournament bid and defeated Clarkson 3-1 in the First Round, but fell to Northeastern 4-2 in the quarterfinals.

The 2022-2023 campaign for the Badgers started off auspiciously as they lost at Penn State, 4-1. However, they defeated the Nittany Lions by a resounding 9-1 result in the rematch, starting a nine-game winning streak before their series at Minnesota Duluth three weekends ago (more on that shortly). Currently, they sit third in the WCHA standings and both national polls, still trailing the Gophers and Buckeyes.

The Badgers entered the season without two of their top-three scorers from last year, as Daryl Watts graduated and Makenna Webster transferred. But Casey O'Brien (#26) is back for her junior year; after tallying 55 points (27g, 28a) last season, she has 17 points on 6 goals & 11 assists in the current campaign. Wisconsin's top two scorers so far, each with 19 points, were centralized with Team USA last season; redshirt sophomore Lacey Eden (#6) has a team-high 10 goals with 9 assists, while freshman blueliner Caroline Harvey (#4) has already been named WCHA Rookie of the Month twice with 6 goals and a team-high 13 assists. Fifth-year player Sophie Shirley (#9) has also picked up her game, recording 7 goals and 10 assists so far this year.

Much like the Gophers, Wisconsin is relying on home-grown goaltending this year after having had transferred veterans between the pipes the past several seasons. Redshirt senior Cami Kronish (#30) and redshirt sophomore Jane Gervais (#1) had only 4 combined starts prior to this season; they have split the first 12 games of 2022-2023. Kronish has a 4-2-0 record this year, but all four wins have been shutouts; for her career, she has a 0.97 goals-against average and .940 save percentage. Gervais is a perfect 6-0-0 with one shutout and a career 1.30 GAA and .932 SV%. Freshman Chloe Baker (#32) is the third goaltender on the Badgers' roster; she has yet to see any official action.

Last action for Wisconsin – The Badgers have not played since the end of October when they made the trip north to play at Minnesota Duluth. Lacey Eden lit the lamp unassisted to put UW up in the opener; however, Gabbie Hughes knotted the score for UMD with 2:50 remaining in regulation, and Nina Jobst-Smith found the back of the net in overtime for a 2-1 Bulldogs win. The rematch saw both teams hold leads, but Wisconsin took a 4-2 third-period advantage after Eden netted her 2nd goal of the weekend and Caroline Harvey lit the lamp twice. Ashton Bell scored for the Minnesota Duluth with 9:01 to play, but the Badgers took the 4-3 victory. Cami Kronish had 23 saves for UW on Friday, and Jane Gervais stopped 35 shots on Saturday.

Gophers sign Hungarian National Team forward Kreisz

Minnesota Women's Hockey announced yesterday that Emma Kreisz has signed to become the sixth member of the freshman class of 2023-2024. Kreisz, a native of Budapest, Hungary, will become the first Hungarian to play for the Gophers. Currently, Kreisz is playing for Stanstead prep school in Quebec, where she posted 47 points (27g, 20a) in 37 games in 2021-2022. She has also played for the senior Hungarian National Team in the 2019 Women's World Championship Division I-A tournament, the 2021 & 2022 Women's World Championships (top division), and the 2022 Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Kreisz joins Lauren O'Hara, Elly Klepinger, Ava Lindsay, Josie Hemp, and Isa Goettl as next season's Gopher freshmen.

We pass along our warmest greetings to Emma, and look forward to seeing her wearing the Maroon & Gold next fall!!

Around the WCHA...

Tommies earn road sweep over Lindenwood – Starting a weekend series with an unusual Thursday morning puck drop, St. Thomas earned only their second sweep as a Division I program with 4-1 & 5-3 victories at Lindenwood. Gabby Billing and Saskia Maurer earned WCHA Forward & Goaltender of the Week honors, respectively; Billing recorded 4 points on a goal & 3 assists, while Maurer stopped 46 of 50 shots in the two contests. Maddie Clough added two goals & an assist and Maija Almich also lit the lamp twice.

Bulldogs sweep Huskies in St. Cloud – Maggie Flaherty scored twice, Anneke Linser recorded a goal and an assist, Emma Söderberg stopped all 14 shots she faced Friday, and Hailey MacLeod made 18 saves Saturday as Minnesota Duluth swept St. Cloud State on the road, 2-0 & 5-1. Grace Wolfe netted the lone goal for SCSU late in regulation Saturday to prevent being shutout over the weekend.

Minnesota State wins in exhibition – Sydney Langseth recorded two goals & an assist, Taylor Otremba added a goal & two assists, and four other Mavericks lit the lamp as they defeated Division III Wisconsin-Eau Claire 7-1 on Monday night. Sophie Rausch scored late in regulation for the Blugolds.

Upcoming games – Two Friday-Saturday series get the weekend started as Bemidji State visits Ohio State in Columbus and Minnesota Duluth hosts a non-conference matchup against Harvard. Meanwhile, St. Thomas and Minnesota State will play a home-and-home series starting Saturday in Mendota Heights before moving to Mankato on Sunday. St. Cloud State is idle this weekend. Next week, OSU will play two more games before Thanksgiving, hosting Colgate in non-conference competition on Tuesday & Wednesday.

Power Play Club

November 10, 2022

Penalty Box Post - Thursday, November 10, 2022

Power Play Club

November 10, 2022

Penalty Box Post
Thursday, November 10th

Give to the Max Day: PPC Board Announces $10,000 Match!

Next Thursday, November 17, is Give to the Max Day. The Power Play Club board and volunteers have pledged to match all donations dollar for dollar, up to $10,000. That means all gifts will be doubled, up to a total of $20,000!

Funds raised will go to support updates and improvements to Ridder Arena, like the beautiful new Gopher Olympians wall.

The GTMD page to make your online donation will be live soon, so look for the link in the next Penalty Box Post.

Goals for a Goal 2022-2023: Make Your Pledge Today!

Through its first 11 games, the Gopher Women's Hockey team has recorded 53 goals, including converting 8 power-play opportunities. Help us support the squad through our Goals for a Goal program, pledging to convert each goal scored throughout the regular season and postseason into a donation for the program, with the option to double your pledge for power play goals. Your donation will help fund updates and improvements to Ridder Arena.

To make a pledge, fill out this online form (preferred) or download the PDF version, print it, and mail it in to the listed address. After the postseason, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions. All contributions are tax-deductible donations to the Golden Gopher Fund.

Board of Directors meeting – Tuesday, November 15

Here's another reminder that the next meeting of the Power Play Club Board of Directors is scheduled for Tuesday evening, November 15, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held online over Zoom. Board meetings continue to be open to all registered club members; please contact Dave Malerich at vicepresident@powerplayclub.org if you wish to attend.

Gophers sweep UMD to retain #1 ranking in national polls, but fall to SCSU in U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Game

The Gopher Women's Hockey team remained undefeated in WCHA play with a weekend sweep of Minnesota Duluth at Ridder Arena, 3-2 (OT) & 5-3, but their 10-game unbeaten streak to start the season ended Monday night in Andover with a 4-1 loss to St. Cloud State in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Face-off Classic.

Minnesota took an opening 2-0 lead on the Bulldogs when Ella Huber and Lizi Norton scored in the opening 6:02 of Friday's contest. However, UMD battled back as the game progressed, with Gabby Krause lighting the lamp in the second period and Nina Jobst-Smith converting a 3rd-period power play to even the score at 2-2. After the remaining 17 minutes of regulation elapsed with no further goals, Taylor Heise scored on a give-and-go with Grace Zumwinkle 15 seconds into overtime, the first 3-on-3 OT goal in Gopher program history, for a 3-2 victory. Skylar Vetter made 27 saves, while UMD's Emma Söderberg stopped 29 shots.

The Gophers got off to an even faster start on Saturday, with Catie Skaja scoring only 25 seconds in and Abbey Murphy doubling the lead 10 seconds later. The Bulldogs again cut into the lead when Maggie Flaherty tallied on a power play, making the score 2-1 at the first intermission. But Minnesota went on another scoring burst in the second period with 3 goals in a 4-minute span; Skaja netted her second of the game on a power play, Josefin Bouveng lit the lamp 52 seconds later, and Abigail Boreen took a shot which bounced a shot off the goalpost, off Söderberg's back, and into the net to make it 5-1. That was all for Söderberg as she was relieved by Hailey MacLeod. UMD pulled back within two on third-period goals by Mannon McMahon and Clara Van Wieren (PP, extra attacker), but they ran out of time as the Gophers celebrated the 5-3 victory and the series sweep. Vetter made another 23 saves, while MacLeod stopped 15 shots after Söderberg's initial 12 saves.

In the series, Skaja (2g, 1a), Huber (1g, 2a), and Zumwinkle (3a) each finished with 3 points.

Unfortunately, Minnesota's momentum was abruptly halted on Monday night as St. Cloud State goaltender Sanni Ahola stopped 34 of 35 Gopher shots in the Hall of Fame Game. At the other end of the ice, Klára Hymlárová & Addi Scribner lit the lamp for the Huskies in the first period and Bailey Burton tallied on a power play 23 seconds into the 2nd stanza to push their lead to 3-0. Heise netted her sixth goal of the season to cut SCSU's advantage to 3-1, but the Gophers got no closer and Allie Cornelius added an insurance goal for the 4-1 upset. Vetter made 15 saves.

With one-third of their regular-season schedule now complete, the Gophers are idle this coming weekend. They return to action when the Border Battle against Wisconsin resumes at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Saturday & Sunday, November 19-20.

Frost reaches career victory #450...

We send our congratulations to Minnesota Women's Hockey head coach Brad Frost as Friday's win over Minnesota Duluth was his 450th career victory as the Gophers' bench boss!!

Heise, Vetter go back-to-back with weekly league honors

Gopher fifth-year Taylor Heise and sophomore Skylar Vetter were both honored by the WCHA as the league's Forward & Goaltender of the Week, respectively, for the second-straight week following their performances against Minnesota Duluth.

Heise recorded a team-high 4 points against the Bulldogs, netting the overtime game-winning goal on Friday and dishing out 3 assists. Vetter stopped 50 of 55 shots (a .909 save percentage) in winning both games.

Congratulations, Taylor and Skylar!!

Gopher announce first two 2023-2024 freshmen signings

Coach Brad Frost and the Gopher Women's Hockey team announced yesterday via Twitter and Facebook that forward Lauren O'Hara (Blaine, MN; Centennial HS) and defender Elly Klepinger (Corcoran, MN; Minnetonka HS) have signed to become the first two members of the team's freshman class of 2023-2024.

We pass along our warmest greetings, and look forward to seeing Lauren & Elly wearing the Maroon & Gold next fall!!

Around the WCHA...

Huskies earn road sweep over Beavers – Before their victory over the Gophers on Monday, St. Cloud State earned a big six points in the WCHA standings with a sweep of Bemidji State on the road, 2-0 & 3-1. Emma Gentry lit the lamp twice, and Olivia Cvar & Klára Hymlárová each added a goal and an assist. Sanni Ahola posted a 15-save shutout on Friday & Jojo Chobak stopped 28 of 29 shots on Saturday for SCSU. Anika Stoskopf netted the lone goal for BSU and Hannah Hogenson made 50 saves in the series.

Buckeyes shut out Tommies – Ohio State got back into the win column in a big way, sweeping St. Thomas 4-0 & 6-0 in Mendota Heights. Emma Peschel netted her first 3 career goals for the Buckeyes, while Sophie Jaques & Gabby Rosenthal each added 2 goals & an assist. OSU senior goaltender Quinn Kuntz earned a 16-save shutout in her first career start on Saturday. Saskia Maurer made 47 saves Saturday & Alexa Dobchuk stopped 52 shots Sunday for UST.

Mavericks earn non-conference sweep of Sacred Heart – Jamie Nelson posted a 5-point series with 3 goals & 2 assists as they cruised to a sweep of Sacred Heart in Mankato, 4-1 & 5-1. Charlotte Akervik and Taylor Otremba each also lit the lamp twice, and Brooke Bryant dished out 4 assists. Lauren Barbro & Alexa Berg each made 16 saves in net for MSU. Delani MacKay and Cassandra Nevers scored for the Pioneers, and Carly Greene made a combined 64 saves.

Upcoming games – Action begins this morning (Thursday, Nov. 10) when St. Thomas opens a two-game series on the road at Lindenwood, continuing tomorrow (Friday) afternoon. St. Cloud State will look to continue its hot hand, hosting Minnesota Duluth in a matinee series Friday & Saturday afternoon. Early next week, Minnesota State will host an exhibition contest against the Division III Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds on Monday night. Bemidji State, Ohio State & Wisconsin are idle.

Power Play Club

November 4, 2022

Penalty Box Post Quick Hit - November 4, 2022

Power Play Club

November 4, 2022

Tickets have gone on sale for the Henderson Collegiate Hockey Showcase, the Thanksgiving weekend event November 25 & 26 in Henderson, Nevada, featuring the Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey team, the Penn State University Nittany Lions, the Yale University Bulldogs, and the Boston University Terriers. The event will be an in-season mini-tournament as follows:

Semifinals – Friday, November 25 at Lifeguard Arena

Yale vs. Boston Univ. – 1:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. CT
Minnesota vs. Penn State – 4:00 p.m. PT / 6:00 p.m. CT

Saturday, November 26 at The Dollar Loan Center

Consolation (Friday's losing teams) – 1:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. CT
Championship (Friday's winning teams) – 4:00 p.m. PT / 6:00 p.m. CT

Ticket sales are specifically for Saturday's contests at The Dollar Loan Center, but each ticket purchased includes complimentary admission to the Friday's games at Lifeguard Arena (capacity permitting). Tickets can be purchased through axs.com here.

We also send our thanks to our fellow GWH financial supporters who donated last season to make this event possible. For more opportunities to support the U. of M. Women's Hockey program, we encourage you to watch our Penalty Box Post newsletters for details on the upcoming Give to the Max Day occurring on Thursday, November 17, or you can sign up for the 2022-2023 Goals for a Goal campaign which raises money through pledges for every goal scored by the Gophers throughout the season.