The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Saturday, September 2, 2023

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

WCHA announces continued streaming on B1G+ for ‘23-24

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced yesterday that streaming packages for the 2023-2024 season on B1G+ are now available for purchase.  All league games plus any non-conference contests hosted by the eight league member school are included in the hockey-specific packages, with pricing starting at $49.99 for the season.  As noted, 2022-2023 annual pass members do not need to take any action unless they would like to make changes to their plan or payment within the profile settings.

The step-by-step guide to purchase a B1G+ streaming package is available here.

League shares updated composite schedule – Additionally, the completed composite schedule for the eight WCHA teams was unveiled by the league office on August 17.  The schedule is available in both HTML and PDF formats.

Reminder: PPC Board meeting – Tuesday, Sep. 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Here's one more reminder that the final off-season board meeting of the Power Play Club Board of Directors is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, September 5 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Meetings are open to all enrolled club members; 2022-2023 membership applies during the off-season, and you can attend by contacting club vice president Dave Malerich at dmalerich@yahoo.com.

Natalie Darwitz named GM of Minnesota's PWHL team, will have first pick in league draft on September 18

Gopher Women's Hockey alumna and former assistant coach Natalie Darwitz was named as one of the six team general managers in the Professional Women's Hockey League yesterday, leading Minnesota's franchise.  While her first actions will be signing up to three players during the pre-draft free agency period which runs through September 10, she'll also have the first overall pick in the league's draft on September 18 after Minnesota was named as the winner of the draft lottery.

Minnesota will be followed by (in order) Toronto, Boston, New York, Ottawa, and Montreal in the odd-numbered rounds of the draft.  The draft is using a snake format, meaning the order of selection will be reversed for even-numbered rounds.  Players have until tomorrow – Sunday, September 3 – to declare themselves eligible for the draft.

Darwitz took questions from the media following the general manager announcement.  (Video courtesy of The Hockey News.)

As mentioned this past Wednesday, we will continue to follow additional league announcements – particularly with respect to updates on Gopher Women's Hockey alumnae – as they are made.

Copyright © 2023 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.

The Two-Minute Minor: An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, August 30, 2023

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, August 30th

Kessel announces year away from U.S. National Team

In an article on NHL.com featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins' two new hires as special assistants to president of hockey operations & general manager Kyle Dubas, one of those new assistants – Gopher Women's Hockey alumna Amanda Kessel – announced her intention to take a year off from playing with the U.S. Women's National Hockey Team.  Kessel indicated that the time away from Team USA will allow her to focus on her new responsibilities with the Penguins and provide time to train in preparation for the inaugural season of the new Professional Women's Hockey League. 

We wish Amanda continued success in all her endeavors!!

Professional Women's Hockey League officially launches; Minnesota named as one of six locations for charter teams

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) was officially introduced yesterday, August 29, with a press release on its new website www.thepwhl.com and the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).  As part of that introduction, the league named the markets for its foundational first six teams: Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and the New York City area.

A number of details about the new league were also shared yesterday:

  • The 2023-2024 PWHL schedule will feature 24 regular season games per team, with that schedule to be announced in the coming months.  Note that, in separate reporting, it was indicated that some games may occur in neutral site markets or arenas.

  • Each team may sign up to three free agents in a ten-day window between September 1 & 10.  Following that, a 15-round draft will occur on September 18 in Toronto.  Additional free agent signings will take place after the draft to fill team rosters.

  • Training camps will begin in November.

The league's new handle on X is @thepwhlofficial, and a new Facebook page www.facebook.com/thepwhlofficial also launched.  An account for each team was created on X, with the Minnesota squad having the handle @pwhl_minnesota.

Home arenas for all six teams along with their nicknames and uniform schemes are still to be announced.

We will continue to follow league announcements, particularly with respect to updates on Gopher Women's Hockey alumnae, as they are made.

Copyright © 2023 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.

The Penalty Box Post - Monday, August 28, 2023

The Penalty Box Post
Monday, August 28th


PPC Locker Sponsor registration continuing!!

The Power Play Club's Locker Sponsor program is a significant fundraising campaign to support the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey Team through donations to the Gopher Women's Hockey Enhancement Fund.  With a minimum tax-deductible donation of $600 (per locker), donors get a photo with their player or coach and a meal with the team on a game day (tentatively set for January 13, 2024), plus Power Play Club membership and its base benefits.  Registration is continuing for the 2023-2024 season, and we need your support to sponsor the lockers of all 26 Gopher players!

If you are interested in sponsoring a player's or coach's locker, please contact Rennie McPherson at susanmcp58@gmail.com.  If you are signing up as a first-time Locker Sponsor or need a new player or coach this coming season, please provide FIVE names of players and/or coaches you are interested in sponsoring; the current team roster – including the incoming players – can be found at gophersports.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster.  Please do not send in any money or make a contribution at this time; you will receive an email in September with instructions on how to pay.

PPC Board meeting – Tuesday, September 5 at 7:00 p.m.

The next meeting of the Power Play Club Board of Directors is scheduled for Tuesday, September 5 at 7:00 p.m.  It will be held online over Zoom, and is the final off-season board meeting before the puck drops on the 2023-2024 season.  Meetings are open to all enrolled club members; 2022-2023 membership applies during the off-season, and you can attend by contacting club vice president Dave Malerich at dmalerich@yahoo.com.

August USA-Canadian series in Lake Placid ... Americans sweep Collegiate Series; Canadians take U18 games

The 2023 U.S. Women's Collegiate Select Team defeated the Canadian counterparts in all three games between the two squads earlier this month in Lake Placid, New York, winning 4-1, 4-3 & 4-3.  Kirsten Simms led the Americans with 4 goals and 2 assists, while Kiara Zanon added 3 goals and an assist and Casey O'Brien added a goal and 3 helpers.  Canada's scoring was spread out, with Jocelyn Amos lighting the lamp twice.  Gopher Women's Hockey defender Madeline Wethington played in all three games for Team USA but did not record a point.  Between the pipes, Gwyneth Philips earned the first two wins for the Americans, stopping 40 of 44 shots (.909 SV%, 2.00 GAA), while Amanda Thiele and Jojo Chobak split time in the finale, combining for 14 saves.  Canadian netminder Hannah Murphy made 61 saves over two starts (.884 SV%, 4.00 GAA), and Eve Gascon stopped 27 of 31 shots (.871 SV%) in her one game.  Across all three contests, Team USA held a shots-on-goal advantage of 100-61.

Canada's 2023 Women's Under-18 Select Team was dominant in their three-game series against Team USA, winning 4-0, 6-1 & 5-2, holding a 108-46 shots-on-goal edge.  Caitlin Kraemer led the Canadians with 5 points on a goal and 4 assists, while Sienna Dalessandro added two goals and an assist; Mary Derrenbacher, Kassidy Carmichael, and Josie St. Martin lit the lamp for the Americans.  Both programs will now begin preparations for the 2024 IIHF Women's Under-18 World Championship, scheduled for January 6-14 in Zug, Switzerland.

2023 IIHF Women's World Championship Division I Group A ... Host China, Denmark earn promotion to Top Division for 2024

China's Women's National Team, playing on home ice in Shenzhen, won all five of their round-robin games at the 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship Division I Group A tournament this past week, earning promotion to the top division 2024 Women's World Championship next April in Utica, New York. It will be the first appearance at the top level for the Chinese since 2009.

Denmark, Austria, and the Netherlands finished with 9 points apiece on matching 3-0-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) records. With the three tied squads also each going 1-1 in the contests played between them, the Danes earned promotion to the top division thanks to a +4 goal differential in those three games.

China and Denmark will join Sweden, Japan, and Germany in Group B of the top division in Utica. Group A will include the United States, Canada, Czechia, Switzerland, and Finland.

Slovakia went winless in the 2023 Division I Group A tournament and is relegated to Division I Group B for 2024. The nations competing at the 2024 Division I Group A tournament will include France & Hungary after their relegation from the top division, plus Austria, Netherlands, Norway, and newly-promoted South Korea.

Other international action in Europe...

Czechia tops host Finland, Sweden in 3 Nations tournament

Playing in the double-round-robin 3 Nations Tournament in Vierumäki and Lahti, Finland, the Czech National Women's Hockey Team rebounded from an opening-day 5-4 loss to the host Finns, winning the rematch 6-2 and sweeping Sweden 4-3 & 3-2 to finish atop the standings with a 3-1 record. Finland posted a 2-2 record after also splitting their games against the Swedes, winning 2-0 but then falling 4-1.

A pair of Gopher Women's Hockey players each found their name on the scoresheet as Finland's Nelli Laitinen netted a power-play goal and Sweden's Josefin Bouveng lit the lamp in the tournament. Czech veterans Denisa Křížová (5g, 1a) and Michaela Pejzlová (1g, 5a) led the competition with 6 points apiece.

Our thanks to the Finland Ice Hockey Federation for the tournament reporting.


Switzerland goes 2-0 in Four Nations competition

Hosting France, Hungary, and Germany in the city of Kloten, the Swiss National Women's Hockey Team won the two games it played this past week, defeating the Hungarians 4-1 and the French 4-1.

The Germans had a tough showing. Competing without a number of their 2023 Women's World Championship players, they fell to both France (1-0) and Hungary (4-0). Things then took a worse turn as their squad was hit by illness, forcing the cancellation of their scheduled game against the Swiss.

The Hungarian National Team finished the round-robin tournament with a 2-1 record after defeating France 3-2 on Saturday.

 North American women's professional league update ... Trademarks filed for “Professional Women's Hockey League”

As reported by Ian Kennedy on X (formerly Twitter), “Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)” was trademarked as the name of the new North American league on July 19, and was additionally trademarked for memorabilia and other branding purposes on August 19.

Writing for The Hockey News, Kennedy additionally noted that promotional period contracts for players in the PWHPA this past season end this Thursday, August 31, allowing the new league to begin signing, drafting, and placing them.

We will continue to monitor the new league's developments.

Copyright © 2023 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.

The Penalty Box Post - Monday, August 14, 2023

The Penalty Box Post
Monday, August 14th

PPC Locker Sponsor registration continues for 2023-2024!!

 Registration is continuing for the Power Play Club's Locker Sponsorship program for the 2023-2024 season, and we need your support to sponsor the lockers of all 26 Gopher players!  Member benefits include broader Power Play Club membership, a photo with your player or coach, and a meal with the team on a game day (tentatively set for January 13, 2024).  Locker sponsorships require a minimum tax-deductible donation of $600.00 (per locker), with all funds going to the Gopher Women's Hockey Enhancement Fund to support the team.

If you are interested in sponsoring a player's or coach's locker, please contact Rennie McPherson at susanmcp58@gmail.com.  If you are signing up as a first-time Locker Sponsor or need a new player or coach this coming season, please provide FIVE names of players and/or coaches you are interested in sponsoring; the current team roster – including the incoming players – can be found at gophersports.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster.  Please do not send in any money or make a contribution at this time; you will receive an email in September with instructions on how to pay.

Madeline Wethington named to U.S. Collegiate Select Team
Americans to face Canadian counterparts three times this week

 

We send congratulations to Gopher Women's Hockey fifth-year defender Madeline Wethington after she was named to the 23-player roster of the 2023 U.S. Collegiate Select Team, as announced yesterday (August 13) by USA Hockey.  The announcement comes following the Women's National Festival last week in Lake Placid, New York, and marks Wethington's second-straight year being selected for the team.

USA Hockey also announced a 24-player roster for the 2023 U.S. Under-18 Select Team.  Each squad will now face its respective Canadian counterpart in a three-game series at the Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, with the Collegiate Selects playing on the 1980 Rink and the Under-18 Selects facing off on the 1932 Rink.

Collegiate Select Series game schedule & viewing details 

  • Wednesday, August 16 at 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT

  • Thursday, August 17 at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT

  • Saturday, August 19 at 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT

All three Collegiate Series games plus the three Under-18 Series contests (schedule here) will be streamed on the USAHockeyTV.com paid subscription service.

GWH alumnae news ... West named Director of Hockey Operations at Colorado College

Gopher Women's Hockey alumna Emily West was named Director of Hockey Operations at Colorado College, as announced by the school on Wednesday, August 9.  West joins the Tigers men's hockey staff in her hometown of Colorado Springs after serving as an assistant coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes women from 2019 through 2022 and as the American Development Model manager for female hockey at USA Hockey from 2017 to 2019.  (Photo courtesy of Colorado College.)

West played five seasons with the Gophers (2007-2012) and was a three-year co-captain, being named a Top Ten Finalist for the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.  In her final game in Maroon & Gold, she scored the game-winning goal on a penalty shot in Minnesota's 4-2 victory over Wisconsin to claim the 2012 NCAA Championship.  She finished her collegiate career with 158 points on 82 goals and 76 assists.

Congratulations on the new opportunity, Emily!!

NCAA removes video reviews for too many players

 The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a proposal removing having too many players on the ice as reviewable by video following a goal on the ensuing play, as announced by the organization last Thursday, August 10.  As noted in the press release, “NCAA Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules Committee members made the recommendation due to significant confusion with several parts of the rule last season, namely the threshold of a ‘gained advantage.’”

We will continue to monitor news for further rule change and clarification announcements as the new season approaches.

Copyright © 2023 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.

The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, July 19, 2023

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, July 19th

PPC Locker Sponsor registration open for ‘23-‘24 season!

Once again, registration is now open for the Power Play Club's Locker Sponsorship program for the 2023-2024 season!  Member benefits include broader Power Play Club membership, a photo with your player, and a meal with your player and the team on a game day (tentatively set for January 13, 2024).  Locker sponsorships require a minimum tax-deductible donation of $600.00 (per locker), with all funds going to the Gopher Women's Hockey Enhancement Fund to support the team.

If you are interested in sponsoring a player's or coach's locker, please contact Rennie McPherson at susanmcp58@gmail.com.  If you are signing up as a first-time Locker Sponsor or need a new player or coach this coming season, please provide FIVE names of players and/or coaches you are interested in sponsoring, as we try to make sure that each player is sponsored before doubling and tripling up; the current team roster – including the incoming players – can be found at gophersports.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster.  Please do not send in any money or make a contribution at this time; you will receive an email in September with instructions on how to pay.

Next PPC Board meeting – Tuesday, August 8 at 7:00 p.m.

The next meeting of the Power Play Club Board of Directors is scheduled for Tuesday, August 8 at 7:00 p.m.  This will be an online meeting held over Zoom.  Board meetings are open to all enrolled club members; 2022-2023 membership applies during the off-season, and you can attend by contacting club vice president Dave Malerich at dmalerich@yahoo.com.

Record 22 GWH players earn Academic All-Big Ten honors

A Gopher Women's Hockey record 22 team members were named Monday among 125 University of Minnesota student-athletes earning Academic All-Big Ten conference honors for Spring 2023.  They join 193 honorees recognized earlier in the academic year.

We send congratulations to Emma Conner, Josey Dunne, Taylor Heise, Peyton Hemp, Crystalyn Hengler, Ella Huber, Olivia King, Sadie Lindsay, Abbey Murphy, Maggie Nicholson, Savannah Norcross, Lizi Norton, Emily Oden, Gracie Ostertag, Makayla Pahl, Catie Skaja, Tristana Tatur, Skylar Vetter, Audrey Wethington, Madeline Wethington, Emily Zumwinkle, and Grace Zumwinkle on this accomplishment!!

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten merits, student-athletes must be on a varsity team, have been enrolled full time at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Heise nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award

2022-2023 Gopher Women's Hockey fifth-year forward Taylor Heise was named as one of two U. of M. nominees for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year award.  She is joined by Gopher Track & Field's Amira Young in representing the school.

As noted in the announcement from the U., each nominee must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and must have earned her undergraduate degree by Summer 2023.  More details on the next steps in the selection process are also included in the press release.

Congratulations and best wishes, Taylor!!

Copyright © 2023 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.

The Two Minute Minor - An Edition of the Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, July 12, 2023

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Wednesday, July 12th

PPC Locker Sponsor registration open for ‘23-‘24 season!

Locker sponsorships are now available for the 2023-2024 season!  Locker sponsorships require a minimum tax-deductible donation of $600.00 (per locker), with all funds going to the Gopher Women's Hockey Enhancement Fund to support the team.

Member benefits include the Power Play Club membership, a photo with your player, and meal with your player and the team on a game day (tentatively set for January 13, 2024).

GWH fans who are interested in sponsoring a player's or coach's locker should contact Rennie McPherson at susanmcp58@gmail.com.  If you are signing up as a first-time Locker Sponsor or need a new player or coach this coming season, please provide FIVE names of players and/or coaches you are interested in sponsoring, as we try to make sure that each player is sponsored before doubling and tripling up; the current team roster – including the incoming players – can be found at gophersports.com/sports/womens-ice-hockey/roster.  Please do not send in any money or make a contribution at this time; you will receive an email in September with instructions on how to pay.

Eleven Gophers invited to USA Hockey Women’s Nat’l Festival
U.S. Collegiate Women’s Select roster to be named at Festival conclusion

Current Minnesota Women's Hockey players Peyton Hemp, Madison Kaiser, Abbey Murphy, Skylar Vetter & Madeline Wethington and alumnae Emily Brown, Taylor Heise, Amanda Kessel, Kelly Pannek, Lee Stecklein & Grace Zumwinkle were all named yesterday among 77 invitees to the 2023 USA Hockey Women's National Festival, being held August 7 through 13 at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, NY.  At the conclusion of the Festival, the roster for the U.S. Collegiate Women’s Select Team will be named, and they will play three games against their Canadian counterparts over August 16 through 19 in Lake Placid.

Another 32 Under-18 players will be announced as invitees to the Festival upon completion of the USA Hockey-BioSteel Girls Under-18 Select Player Development Camp later this month.  Again at the Festival's conclusion, the roster of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team will be named and they'll also play Canada on August 16-19.

We send congratulations to our 11 Gopher representatives on their invitations, and wishes of good luck to our current collegians as they look to make the Collegiate Select Team!!

Wroblewski to continue as U.S. Women’s National Team head coach through 2026 – USA Hockey also announced Monday that John Wroblewski will remain head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team through the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, after first being named to that position in June 2022.  Most recently, Wroblewski coached the team to the 2023 Women's World Championship gold medal following a silver medal performance at the 2022 Worlds.  He also has head coaching experience with the 2017 U.S. Under-18 Men’s National team and USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.

Copyright © 2023 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.
Follow the Power Play Club 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 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.

The Two-Minute Minor - An Edition of the Penalty Box Post - Saturday, July 8, 2023

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Saturday, July 8th

GWH names new Associate Head Coach, assistants for 2023-2024

Gopher Women's Hockey and head coach Brad Frost named Greg "Boom" May as the team's Associate Head Coach and Mitch Baker & Jess Scott as Assistant Coaches for the 2023-2024 season yesterday, filling out his bench staff.

May comes to the U. after two seasons as the head coach of the Augsburg University Auggies men's hockey team, taking them to the NCAA Division III Tournament both years and amassing a 41-15-2 record.  Prior to his time there, he was the Director of Hockey Operation for the Gopher Men's Hockey team in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.

Baker joins the Gopher Women's Hockey team following serving as head coach of the girls' U19 head coach at Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault since 2021, posting a 71% winning percentage and claiming the USA Hockey High School National Championship in 2023.  Baker served as an assistant coach of the Union College women's hockey team before that, joining the staff of the Dutchwomen in 2016.

Scott becomes a full-time assistant at Minnesota after four years as the team's Director of Hockey Operations and serving last season as Interim Assistant Coach.  Before joining the Gophers, she coached the Wayzata High School girls' hockey team for three seasons, earning honors as Class AA head coach of the year in 2018 and back-to-back Section 6AA coach of the year in 2018 & 2019.  More recently, Scott also served as the Director of Hockey Operations for the United States U18 Women's National Team which won the silver medal at the 2022 U18 IIHF World Championships and bronze in 2023.

We send our welcome to Coaches May and Baker as they join the Gopher Women's Hockey family, and congratulations to Coach Scott on the new title!!  We look forward to seeing all three on the bench this fall!!

Copyright © 2023 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.

Follow the Power Play Club 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 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.

Penalty Box Quick Hit - Saturday, June 24, 2023

Penalty Box Post Quick Hit
Saturday, June 24th

Boreen, Marshall, Bench sign PHF contracts for 2023-2024

A trio of Minnesota Women's Hockey alumnae have signed contracts with Premier Hockey Federation teams over the past fifteen days, ahead of the 2023-2024 season.

Recent Gopher graduate Abigail Boreen agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Whitecaps on June 9.  Boreen will make her professional debut this fall after tallying 126 points on 60 goals and 66 assists in her 5-year collegiate career at the U.

Defender Patti Marshall signed a two-year contract with the Whitecaps on June 14, remaining with the team after two previous seasons in which she was named a PHF All-Star for both.  She has 2 goals and 17 assists in the regular season and another 5 assists in the playoffs with the 'Caps.  Marshall started her pro career with Brynas IF in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) in 2020-2021.

The PHF announced yesterday (June 23) via Twitter and Facebook that goaltender Lauren Bench has signed with the Montreal Force for the upcoming season.  Bench made her professional debut last year with MoDo Hockey in the SDHL, posting a 14-12 regular season record with a .919 save percentage and 2.29 goals-against average, plus a 2-3 postseason mark with an .898 SV% and 3.03 GAA.

The trio becomes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Gophers to sign PHF contracts this off-season, joining Olivia Knowles (Whitecaps), Amanda Leveille (Whitecaps), Catie Skaja (Whitecaps), and Noora Räty (Metropolitan Riveters).

We send congratulations and best wishes to Abby, Patti, and Lauren in this next chapter of their respective hockey careers!!

Copyright © 2023 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.

Penalty Box Post Quick Hit - Friday, June 9, 2023

Penalty Box Post Quick Hit
Friday, June 9th

Darwitz leaves U., named as co-head coach at Hill-Murray

After two seasons in her latest stint as a Gopher Women's Hockey assistant coach, Natalie Darwitz is returning to the high school ranks. Following news of her departure from the U. on Monday, she was named co-head coach of the Hill-Murray Pioneers girls hockey team on Wednesday, sharing duties with Jake Bobrowski.

Bobrowski stepped down as head coach of the Division III Elmira College Eagles two weeks ago after a single season. The Eagles went 21-6-0 overall (including playoffs) and 17-0-0 in New England Hockey Conference play for their second-straight league regular-season title.

We send Natalie best wishes for continued success in this next chapter of her career.

Skaja signs one-year deal with PHF's Minnesota Whitecaps

We also send best wishes to recent Gopher Women's Hockey alumna Catie Skaja as it was announced Tuesday that she signed a one-year contract to play with the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Premier Hockey Federation.  Skaja joins the 'Caps after posting 34 points (12g, 22a) this past season with the Gophers and 114 points (45g, 69a) over her five-year collegiate career.

Skaja becomes the fourth Gopher to sign with a PHF team for the 2023-2024 season, joining Olivia Knowles (Whitecaps), Amanda Leveille (Whitecaps), and Noora Räty (Metropolitan Riveters).

Congratulations and good luck, Catie!!

Copyright © 2023 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.

The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Tuesday, June 6, 2023

The Two-Minute Minor
An edition of the Penalty Box Post
Tuesday, June 6th

Gophers release 2023-2024 non-conference schedule

Gopher Women's Hockey yesterday released its non-conference schedule for the 2023-2024 season, filling out the calendar as found on its schedule page on Gophersports.com.

Minnesota will host an exhibition on Saturday, September 23, against the Durham West Lightning prep team.  The Gophers then go on the road to open the regular season on October 6 & 7 at RIT in Rochester, New York.  As has now become somewhat of a Thanksgiving weekend tradition, the team will play in a neutral-site event, participating in the “D1 in DC” showcase in Arlington, Virginia, with games against Cornell on November 24 & Harvard on November 25.  Finally, Minnesota will host UConn at Ridder Arena to open the 2024 portion of the schedule on January 5 & 6.

Most game times are still to be announced at a later date.  We provide a reminder that the WCHA opener on October 13 against St. Thomas will be played at 4:00 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, with tickets going on sale in August.

Power Play Club events for the 2023-2024 season

With the announcement of the team's full schedule, the Power Play Club Board of Directors has tentatively planned the following events for 2023-2024:

  • Saturday, September 23 – Reception with the team post-game

  • Saturday, December 2 – Chalk Talk prior to MN vs. Bemidji State

  • Saturday, January 6 – Brunch with the Coaches prior to MN vs. UConn

  • Saturday, January 13 – Locker Sponsor event prior to MN vs. Ohio State

  • Saturday, February 10 – Chalk Talk prior to MN vs. St. Cloud State

  • Saturday, February 24 – Chalk Talk prior to MN vs. Minnesota Duluth

Each Chalk Talk will begin 90 minutes before the scheduled game time and is a PPC exclusive event for members enrolled for the 2023-2024 season.  The Brunch with the Coaches will begin 4½ hours before puck drop; it is an extra fee event open to the public with registration starting in December.

PPC Board meeting tonight (Tuesday, June 6) at 7:00 p.m.

The next meeting of the Power Play Club Board of Directors is scheduled for this evening, Tuesday, June 6 at 7:00 p.m.  This will be an online meeting held over Zoom.  Board meetings are open to all enrolled club members; 2022-2023 membership applies during the off-season, and you can attend by contacting club vice president Dave Malerich at dmalerich@yahoo.com.

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