2024-2025 PPC membership now open at all levels!!

To our fellow Gopher Women’s Hockey fans –

Registration to the Power Play Club for the 2024-2025 season is now open AT ALL LEVELS!  Join us to support Gopher Women's Hockey as it enters its 28th season of competition!

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

  • Build a bigger fan base.

  • Raise money to support the Gopher Women’s Hockey team.

  • Enrich the hockey experience at Ridder Arena (and at away games!).

  • Provide opportunities for member fun.

Your annual membership enrollment donations are our biggest source of financial support for the team, last year raising more than $36,500.  The club offers two membership tiers for the 2024-2025 season as follows...

Locker Sponsor level – Please consider sponsoring a GWH player's or coach's locker this season through our top membership tier.  The donor's name is posted on a nameplate next to the locker, and donors will have an opportunity to meet with their respective player(s) at our event in January (with pictures and a team meal).  A minimum $600 donation (per locker) is required, though any amount over and above that is encouraged.  If you are interested, either as a renewing or new Locker Sponsor, please contact Bob Milligan at milligandanes@gmail.com as soon as possible but do not submit a donation at this time; donation instructions for Locker Sponsors will be sent at the start of November.


Basic Membership level – A minimum donation of $50 is required for our basic membership tier, which includes up to two adults and any children at same address.  Exclusive access to our three in-person Chalk Talk events is included.

Online registration is preferred at z.umn.edu/PPC24; click the "Make A Gift" button on that page and follow the instructions.  To register offline, download the form here and send it in to the listed address, with a check payable to the "University of Minnesota".

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

Goals for a Goal returns for 2024-2025 – Another fundraiser for the Gopher Women's Hockey team is our Goals for a Goal program, a pledge-per-goal campaign.  Register your pledge for every goal the Gophers score in 2024-2025, with the option to double your pledge for power play tallies.  Pledges can be submitted electronically through the online form at z.umn.edu/GoalsForAGoal.  Following the conclusion of the season, you will receive an email with your pledge total and giving instructions.  In 2023-2024, Minnesota lit the lamp 135 times with 37 of those coming on the power play, resulting in an additional $4,300 raised for the program.

The Power Play Club is continuing its partnership with the Golden Gopher Fund on all fundraising efforts, including managing the club's membership enrollment.  All contributions are 100% tax-deductible donations to the Gopher Women's Hockey Enhancement Fund to cover expenses outside the team's normal operating budget.


Season-opening postgame reception – The Power Play Club will be hosting a postgame reception with the introduction of new members of the Gopher Women's Hockey team following the Sunday, October 6 game against Boston University.  Puck drop is set for 1:00 p.m.!!  We hope to see many of you there!!

Copyright © 2024 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 X at x.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 X at x.com/GopherWHockey.

The Penalty Box Post - Friday, September 6, 2024

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

Single-game tickets are now on sale for all 17 Gopher Women's Hockey 2024-2025 home contests at Ridder Arena!!  Prices start at $12.50 for adults, $10.50 for seniors & youth, and $7.50 for groups of 15 or more.

Tickets can be purchased at z.umn.edu/WHOtickets24, and a group ticket interest form is available at z.umn.edu/9rrd.


Tickets for Gopher-Badger series, Feb. 7 & 8 in Madison

Single-game tickets for Wisconsin Badger home games at LaBahn Arena in Madison, including Minnesota's road series February 7 & 8, are scheduled to go on sale next week.  Please watch our social media accounts – Facebook and X – for exact timing, and note that tickets will go quickly.

 

PPC member & Goals for a Goal enrollment begins soon!!

 We also encourage you to watch your email inbox over the next few days as we will be opening enrollment for 2024-2025 Power Play Club membership at our base tier, along with the “Goals for a Goal” pledge-per-goal fundraiser.  Many thanks to all of our past members and Goals for a Goal contributors for your financial support of Gopher Women's Hockey!!

Primerano invited to Canada National Team September Camp

We send congratulations to incoming Gopher Women's Hockey defender Chloe Primerano, as she was among 48 players invited to Canada’s National Women’s Team September Camp, being held next week – September 9-15 – at Canada Games Park in Thorold, Ontario.

Primerano, a standout at the 2024 IIHF Women's Under-18 World Championship last January, is the youngest invitee to the camp.

The (senior) Canada National Team will face Team USA in the 2024-2025 Rivalry Series with games in November and February (USA Hockey link), and will participate in the Euro Hockey Tour's December event in Finland.

Kreisz named Power Play Club Scholarship recipient for 2024-'25

We send a shout-out to Gopher Women's Hockey sophomore forward Emma Kreisz, who has been named the recipient of the Power Play Club Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year!!

Kreisz, a native of Budapest, Hungary, ranked fifth on the team in points (25) and seventh in goals (6) during her freshman campaign last season.  She's also a member of Hungary's Women's National Team, appearing in the 2022 and 2023 IIHF Women's World Championships.

Kreisz, Mlýnková each score twice in European action last week

Gopher Women's Hockey forwards Emma Kreisz and Natalie Mlýnková each lit the lamp twice with their respective national teams in a pair of European hockey tournaments last weekend.


Czechia wins Euro Hockey Tour event – Behind wins over Finland (3-2) & Sweden (6-3) and a point for finishing regulation tied against host Switzerland (SUI won 2-1 in a shootout), Czechia claimed the first event of the Euro Hockey Tour for the 2024-2025 season.  Natalie Mlýnková scored twice in the first period of the win over Sweden.  The Swedes, however, finished second after earning wins over the Swiss (4-1) and Finns (7-5), while Finland was third thanks to a 2-1 victory over Switzerland.  In other Gopher scoring, Josefin Bouveng lit the lamp for Sweden and Nelli Laitenen dished out an assist for Finland in their head-to-head matchup.

Hungary wins 4 Nations Tournament – Following a 2-1 upset loss to Slovakia, the Hungary Women's National Team shut out France, 4-0, before defeating host Germany, 4-3, to win the 4 Nations Tournament.  Emma Kreisz scored the game-winning goals in both of Hungary's victories.  The Germans finished second, getting wins over the French (2-1) and Slovaks (8-2).  France shut out Slovakia, 7-0, on the final day of the tournament to claim third.

Quick hits...

 Kessel enters M Club Hall of Fame tonight – We send another shout-out to Gopher Women's Hockey legend Amanda Kessel, who was named to the M Club Hall of Fame's Class of 2024 last month.  The induction ceremony will take place tonight, Friday, September 6, at Williams Arena, and the inductees will be recognized at Saturday's Gopher Football game.

PWHL Minnesota names new GM – Melissa Caruso, a 15-year member of the American Hockey League's front office, was named new General Manager of PWHL Minnesota on Tuesday.  Caruso was Vice President of Hockey Operations and Governance at the AHL since 2019.

Copyright © 2024 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/X 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/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

Penalty Box Post Quick Hit - Sunday, August 25, 2024

2024-2025 GWH Locker Sponsor selections due September 1

Once again, "pre-enrollment" for our Locker Sponsorship program is open, as we look forward to sponsoring the lockers of all 26 Gopher Women's Hockey players and raise funds for the program.  Lockers for coaches can also be sponsored.  Each sponsorship requires a minimum donation of $600, for which a placard with the sponsor's name is placed on the player's locker and all sponsors are invited to a special event (this season scheduled for January 11, during the St. Thomas series).

We ask that you send your top three (3) locker sponsorship preferences to Bob Milligan (milligandanes@gmail.com) by next Sunday, September 1; however, you will not receive an invoice for your donation from the Golden Gopher Fund until after November 1, 2024.  See the full GWH roster here.


PPC Board of Directors Meeting – Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 7 pm

 Here's another reminder that the last meeting of the Power Play Club Board of Directors before the start of the 2024-2025 season is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3 at 7:00 p.m. CT and will be held online on Zoom.  PPC board meetings are open to all enrolled club members; 2023-2024 registration or Locker Sponsorhip pre-enrollment for the 2024-2025 season applies for this meeting.  If you are interested in attending, please contact club president Bill Johnson at billjohnson013@gmail.com or vice president Dave Malerich at dmalerich@yahoo.com.

Five Gophers to play in European international competition across two separate events this week (August 29-31)

 Five members of the 2024-2025 Gopher Women's Hockey team have been selected to play with their respective national teams over a pair of European competitions running this Thursday, August 29, through Saturday, August 31.  We send congratulations and wishes of good luck to...

  • Josefin Bouveng – Sweden 

  • Emma Kreisz – Hungary 

  • Nelli Laitinen – Finland 

  • Natálie Mlýnková – Czechia 

  • Krista Parkkonen – Finland 

Euro Hockey Tour – Czechia, Finland, and Sweden are playing in the Euro Hockey Tour event hosted by Switzerland at SWISS Arena in the city of Kloten.  The round-robin schedule of games includes...

  • Czechia vs. Finland – Thursday, 8/29 at 3:30 p.m. local / 8:30 a.m. US Central

  • Switzerland vs. Sweden – Thursday, 8/29 at 7:00 p.m. local / Noon US Central

  • Sweden vs. Finland – Friday, 8/30 at 3:30 p.m. local / 8:30 a.m. US Central

  • Czechia vs. Switzerland – Friday, 8/30 at 7:00 p.m. local / Noon US Central

  • Czechia vs. Sweden – Saturday, 8/31 at 1:30 p.m. local / 6:30 a.m. US Central

  • Switzerland vs. Finland – Saturday, 8/31 at 5:00 p.m. local / 10:00 a.m. US Central

 Four Nations Tournament – Meanwhile, the Hungarians will be playing in a separate event hosted by Germany at BSP Arena in Füssen.  That event also includes the national teams from France and Slovakia.  The schedule for those six games features...

  • Germany vs. France – Thursday, 8/29 at 4:00 p.m. local / 9:00 a.m. US Central

  • Hungary vs. Slovakia – Thursday, 8/29 at 7:30 p.m. local / 12:30 p.m. US Central

  • France vs. Hungary – Friday, 8/30 at 3:00 p.m. local / 8:00 a.m. US Central

  • Germany vs. Slovakia – Friday, 8/30 at 6:30 p.m. local / 11:30 a.m. US Central

  • Slovakia vs. France – Saturday, 8/31 at 11:00 a.m. local / 4:00 a.m. US Central

  • Germany vs. Hungary – Saturday, 8/31 at 2:30 p.m. local / 7:30 a.m. US Central

Euro Hockey Tour revamps through 2027-2028 season;
U.S., Canada National Teams to participate in December events

This week's Euro Hockey Tour games are the first of 15 such events scheduled over the next four seasons (through 2027-2028), part of a joint agreement between the national ice hockey associations of Czechia, Finland, Sweden & Switzerland announced on August 2 (article from The Hockey News).  Events will be played each August, November, December and February; Sweden will host all November events, with the remainder rotating between the other three nations.  Sweden has opted out of the February 2025 event due to their participation in an Olympic qualifying tournament, and no event will be held in February 2026 due to the Winter Olympic Games.  Starting in 2025-2026, Germany will join as a fifth team for August and February games.

Additionally, the U.S. and Canada Women's National Teams have agreed to participate in three of the four December events (2024, 2026, and 2027), instead of playing additional Rivalry Series contests against each other.  Previously, Teams USA and Canada rarely faced European opponents outside of the IIHF Women's World Championships and Winter Olympics.  This year's games will be played December 9 through 15 in Finland.

Copyright © 2024 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/X 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/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Tuesday, August 20, 2024

2024-2025 GWH Locker Sponsor selections due September 1

We provide a reminder that "pre-enrollment" for our Locker Sponsorship program is open, as we once again look forward to sponsoring the lockers of all 26 Gopher Women's Hockey players and raise funds for the program.  Each sponsorship requires a minimum donation of $600, for which a placard with the sponsor's name is placed on the player's locker and all sponsors are invited to a special event (this season scheduled for January 11).

This year, we ask that you send your top three (3) locker sponsorship preferences to Bob Milligan (milligandanes@gmail.com) by September 1; however, you will not receive an invoice for your donation from the Golden Gopher Fund until after November 1, 2024.  See the full GWH roster here.

 PPC Board of Directors Meeting – Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 7 pm

The next meeting of the Power Play Club Board of Directors is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3 at 7:00 p.m. CT and will be held online on Zoom.  PPC board meetings are open to all enrolled club members; 2023-2024 registration will apply for all off-season meetings this summer.  This will be the last meeting before the start of the 2024-2025 season.  If you are interested in attending, please contact club president Bill Johnson at billjohnson013@gmail.com or vice president Dave Malerich at dmalerich@yahoo.com.

Amanda Kessel named 2024 M Club Hall of Fame inductee,
will not play in PWHL after front office promotion from Penguins

Gopher Women's Hockey alumna Amanda Kessel was named one of eight members of the Gopher Athletics M Club Hall of Fame Class of 2024 yesterday.

Kessel collected a number of honors over her collegiate career with the Gophers, including winning the 2013 Patty Kazmaier Award and three NCAA championships (2012, 2013 & 2016).  She was also a two-time All-American, 2013 WCHA Player of the Year, 2011 WCHA Rookie of the Year and 2012-2013 WCHA scoring champion.  Her 248 career points and 11 short-handed goals both remain second in the Gopher Women's Hockey records; she is also in the top 10 in several other scoring categories, and she is one of only three players (joining Natalie Darwitz & Krissy Wendell) to exceed the century mark for points in a season when she lit the lamp 46 times and dished out 55 assists in 2012-2013.

As a member of the USA Hockey program, Kessel was a three-time Olympian, winning gold in 2018 and recording 15 points (6g, 9a) in total.  Over seven IIHF Women's World Championships, Kessel recorded 59 career points (20g, 39a) and won four gold medals.  Professionally, Kessel played two seasons in the NWHL with the New York / Metropolitan Riveters and two years in the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA).

However, despite making herself eligible for the 2024 PWHL Draft and being selected 41st overall in the seventh round by Montréal, Kessel will apparently not being playing in the upcoming season, per reporting yesterday by The Hockey News.  As part of a broad announcement by the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, Kessel was promoted to be their Manager of Minor League Operations and assistant GM of the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  Kessel has spent two previous seasons in the Penguins organization, serving last year as Special Assistant to the General Manager in Pittsburgh.

The M Club Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday, September 6, at Williams Arena.  We send Amanda congratulations on the honor and also wish her much success in her new position with the Penguins!

Primerano records 5 points for Canada's U-18 Selects; Three Gophers dish out assists in Collegiate Series

Incoming Gopher freshman defender Chloe Primerano was one of two Canadian players to tally five (5) points in last week's U-18 Series in Thorold, Ontario.  Primerano lit the lamp twice and dished out an assist in Canada's 4-2 opening win over Team USA Wednesday, then added an assist in their 3-1 win Thursday and another in their 4-3 shootout loss Saturday.  She also converted on one of two shootout attempts in the finale.

Gophers Ella Huber (USA) and Gracie Graham (CAN) each recorded an assist in the opening contest of the Collegiate Series, with Huber's helper coming on the game-winning goal for an American 4-3 overtime victory.  Canada won the second game Thursday by a 5-3 score to even the series and took a 1-0 lead in Saturday's deciding third contest, but Team USA responded with seven unanswered goals – five on the power play – for a 7-1 win; new Gopher Sydney Morrow dished out a PP assist.

The "senior" national teams for the U.S. and Canada are scheduled to play a five-game Rivalry Series starting in November and continuing in February, before the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship in April in České Budějovice, Czechia.  The 2025 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship will be held January 4 through 12 in Vantaa, Finland.

Copyright © 2024 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/X 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/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

Two-Minute Minor - An Edition of the Penalty Box Post - Monday, August 12, 2024

Four Gophers to play in USA-Canada Collegiate Series this week; fifth named to Canadian U-18 squad for series against U.S.

Five (5) members of the Gopher Women's Hockey program will be in action this, representing their home countries as U.S. and Canada National Collegiate Select Teams and National U-18 Teams square off in a pair of three-game series later this week at Canada Games Park in Thorold, Ontario.  Both series will feature action on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, August 14, 15 & 17, with the U-18 squads playing at 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT and the Collegiate teams dropping the puck at 7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CT.

Peyton Hemp, Ella Huber, and new transfer Sydney Morrow were named to the U.S. Women's Collegiate Select Team this morning, and will wear the red, white, and blue in Thorold.

A pair of incoming Gopher freshmen defenders will be wearing the Canadian maple leaf.  Gracie Graham was among 24 players named to their Collegiate Select / National Development Team on August 1 and Chloe Primerano was named to the Canada National U-18 Team yesterday.

As of the time of publishing this email, no information has been shared about coverage of any of the six games.  We will post updates to our accounts on Facebook and X as they become available.

GWH alumna Noora Räty hired as assistant coach at SCSU

Gopher Women's Hockey alumna Noora Räty was named one of two new assistant coaches of the St. Cloud State Huskies women's hockey team on Friday, August 2.  Emily Ach will also join Brian Idalski's coaching staff after serving last year as an assistant coach at Merchyhurst.

Räty remains the winningest goaltender in GWH history with 114 victories, also holding the records for career shutouts (43) and saves (3,250).  She sits in the second spot for career save percentage (.946) and third in goals-against average (1.34).  Her 38 wins in the 2012-2013 are tied for most in a single season in program history (matched by Amanda Leveille the following year).

Räty is well known for her international play representing her home nation of Finland, earning two Olympic bronze medals in four Winter Games and five IIHF Women's World Championship medals (one silver and four bronze) across nine tournaments.  She also earned individual honors at both venues; at the Olympics, she was named an All-Star once and at the World Championships, she won the Best Goaltender Award five times, was named to the All-Star team four times and earned MVP honors once.

While playing professionally with a number of different teams across several leagues, including some appearances on men's teams in Finland, Räty performed at a top level, winning three league championships while playing in Russia (Russian Women's Hockey League / Zhenskaya Hockey League) and being named the Goaltender of the Year in the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL).  She last played in 2022-2023 with HPK in the Naisten Liiga (Finnish Women's League).

Moving over to the coaching side, Räty spend last season (2023-2024) as the goaltenders coach for Shenzhen Kunlun Red Star of the Chinese Women's Ice Hockey League (WCIHL).

We send Noora congratulations on this new opportunity, and we'll see her this fall when the Gophers face the Huskies in WCHA competition!

WCHA names Michelle McAteer as new commissioner
The UMD alumna takes over after 14 years as head coach at Augsburg

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced Thursday (Aug. 8) that 14-year Augsburg University women's hockey head coach Michelle McAteer has been selected as the league's new commissioner, following approval by the WCHA’s Board of Directors.

McAteer played collegiately at Minnesota Duluth from 1999 through 2003, earning three NCAA championships and being named a three time WCHA All-Academic Team and AWHCA All-American Scholar selection (2001, 2002, 2003).  She immediately switched to coaching, serving as a graduate assistant with the Bulldogs for two more seasons (2003-2005).  McAteer moved up to an assistant coaching position at Harvard for two years (2005-2007), spent one year as an assistant coach in the CWHL with the Vaughan Flames (2007-2008), then returned to UMD as an assistant coach there for two more seasons (2008-2010).  Following that, she was hired as the head coach of the Augsburg University Auggies women's hockey team in 2010, where she remained through last season.

As noted in the press release from the WCHA, McAteer also assisted with Augsburg's Athletics Department administrative duties including serving as the Assistant NCAA Compliance Director and as a Student Athlete Advisory Committee Advisor.  She has also served on multiple NCAA committees including the Division I Women's Ice Hockey Championship Committee and Division I & II Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules Committee.

Copyright © 2024 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/X 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/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Note: This was sent out to the Power Play Club mailing list on July 31st, but was not added to the website until August 12, 2024.

PPC Board of Directors Meeting – Tuesday, August 6 at 7 pm

The next meeting of the Power Play Club Board of Directors is scheduled for Tuesday, August 6 at 7:00 p.m. CT and will be held online on Zoom.  PPC board meetings are open to all enrolled club members; 2023-2024 registration will apply for all off-season meetings this summer.  If you are interested in attending, please contact club president Bill Johnson at billjohnson013@gmail.com or vice president Dave Malerich at dmalerich@yahoo.com.

2024-2025 Gopher Women's Hockey roster released

 The University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey team released its roster for the 2024-2025 season Monday, featuring ten new members to the squad and some first-time jersey numbers.

We again welcome transfers Natálie Mlýnková (5th year – #96), Sydney Morrow (junior – #32) & Krista Parkkonen (junior – #64), and incoming freshmen Hannah Clark (#56), Kendra Distad (#17), Gracie Graham (#47), Carly Humphrey (#24), Kate Kosobud (#5), Ayla Puppe (#6) & Chloe Primerano (#8).

Rule changes on scholarship, roster size limits – Following a settlement of several legal cases last Friday, the NCAA will be imposing roster size limits for sports teams but eliminating scholarship limits (so long as the roster limits are not exceeded).  As reported by The Hockey News, women's hockey rosters will be capped at 26 players; previously, teams were limited to the equivalent of 18 full-time scholarships.

GWH alumna goaltender Amanda Leveille announces retirement

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) last Tuesday, July 23, Gopher Women's Hockey alumna Amanda Leveille announced her retirement from playing, switching her focus to coaching going forward.

Leveille was a three-time NCAA champion with the Gophers and goalie of record in the 2015 & 2016 title games.  She sits at or near the top of the U. of M. record books for career goaltending statistics, still leading in goals-against average (1.18) and save percentage (.947) while placing second in wins (98) and shutouts (32).  Leveille is also tied for most wins in a season with 38 (set in 2013-2014).

Following her time in the Maroon & Gold, Leveille played seven seasons in the NWHL/PHF, first with the Buffalo Beauts for two years before joining the Minnesota Whitecaps.  Amanda continued to shine in the league, winning two Isobel Cup championships (2017 with Buffalo, 2019 with Minnesota) and being named the Goaltender of the Year in 2018 and 2021.  With the debut of the PWHL in 2023, Leveille was drafted by Minnesota in the 11th round but did not see any playing time last season.

Thank you, Amanda, for your contributions to the Gopher Women's Hockey team and the sport of women's ice hockey overall!  We congratulate you on a fantastic career and wish you all the best in your next endeavor!!

WCHA signs three-year streaming extension with BTN+

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced Monday the signing of a three-year extension with BTN+ as the league's exclusive streaming platform, running through the 2026-2027 season.

As noted in the release, “Games at all eight WCHA campuses will be streamed on the B1G+ platform, while the league is set to host at least two televised matchups on the Big Ten Network.”  Details on how to subscribe are also provided in the release.

We will share details on streaming and/or television coverage of the 2025 WCHA Final Faceoff as they become available.  We provide a reminder that that event will be held at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth on March 7 & 8.


Copyright © 2024 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/X 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/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

Penalty Box Post Quick Hit - Saturday, July 20, 2024

All-American defender Sydney Morrow transfers to Gophers

Gopher Women's Hockey and head coach Brad Frost announced yesterday (July 19) the signing of 2023-2024 Second Team All-American defender Sydney Morrow as a transfer to the team for the 2024-2025 season.  The Darien, CT, native will join Minnesota's roster as a junior.

Playing last season at Colgate University, Morrow collected several awards for her on-ice performance.  Her 13 goals & 26 assists earned her selection to the All-ECAC Second Team & ECAC All-Tournament Team.  She was also honored as ECAC Defender of the Month in December 2023 and was a three-time ECAC Defender of the Week.  Off the ice, Morrow earned ECAC Hockey All-Academic honors for her work in the classroom.

Morrow played for Ohio State in 2022-2023, tallying 3 goals and 5 assists.  Prior to college, she skated at Shattuck St. Mary; her 89 points in her senior year were a new school record for most in a season by a defender.

Morrow becomes the tenth player making her Gopher debut in 2024-2025, joining fellow transfers Krista Parkkonen & Natálie Mlýnková and incoming freshmen Hannah Clark, Kendra Distad, Gracie Graham, Carly Humphrey, Kate Kosobud, Ayla Puppe & Chloe Primerano.

Welcome Sydney!!  We look forward to seeing you in Maroon & Gold this fall!!

Gophers to face Bemidji State in U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game
Women's Face-Off Classic scheduled for Jan. 1st at 5 p.m. in Lakeville

The Gopher Women's Hockey team also announced Thursday that it has been selected to play in the 2025 U.S. Hockey of Fame Museum Women's Face-off Classic, being held Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 at 5 p.m. at Lakeville Hasse Arena in Lakeville.  Minnesota will face the Bemidji State University Beavers.

The game will be the Gophers' seventh all-time U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Face-Off Classic appearance.  They have a 5-1 record in their previous six Face-Off Classic contests.

Additional event details including ticket information will be announced at a later date.

Copyright © 2024 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/X 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/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

The Two-Minute Minor - An edition of the Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Madeline Wethington named First Team Academic All-American

Following being honored last month as an Academic All-District At-Large Team member, an AHCA 'Krampade All-American Scholar', a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and posting a perfect 4.0 GPA for the school year, 2023-2024 Gopher Women's Hockey alternate captain Madeline Wethington was named a Women's Division I At-Large First Team Academic All-American yesterday by the College Sports Communicators.

Congratulations, Madeline, on this great honor!!  We send best wishes on the ice next season with PWHL Ottawa as well as in your next endeavor off the ice!!

Six Gophers headed to USA Hockey's Women's National Festival

 We send even more congratulations to Madeline Wethington, her 2023-2024 GWH teammates Peyton Hemp & Ella Huber, and Minnesota alumnae Taylor Heise, Kelly Pannek, and Grace Zumwinkle as the six received invitations to the 2024 USA Hockey Women's National Festival, being held August 4 through 11 in Lake Placid, New York.

In addition to the 75 Festival invitees who have been playing professionally or collegiately, another 76 players were invited to the Under-18 Select Player Development Camp, also being held in Lake Placid.  At the end of the two events, USA Hockey will select rosters for the U.S. Under-18 Select and U.S. Collegiate Select Teams, who will each face their Canadian counterparts in games on August 14, 15 & 17 at the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre in St. Catharines, Ontario.  We'll share the Collegiate Select Team roster when it's announced and information on how to follow the team's games as it becomes available.

Copyright © 2024 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/X 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/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

The Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Gophers to face Bemidji State for Hockey Day Minnesota 2025
19th-annual outdoor event to be played at Valleyfair in Shakopee

 The Minnesota Wild, in conjunction with Bally Sports North, Minnesota Hockey and the Shakopee Local Organizing Committee, announced January 25, 2025, as the date for the 19th Annual Hockey Day Minnesota (HDM), presented by UnitedHealthcare, with Valleyfair Amusement Park in Shakopee serving as the host site.  Additionally, game matchups were also announced and include the Gopher Women's Hockey team taking on the Bemidji State University Beavers.  The game will be televised on BSN, though the exact time of puck drop will be announced at a later date.

As noted in the press release from the U., Hockey Day Minnesota 2025 will mark the third outdoor game in GWH history.  In the 2014 Hockey City Classic, Minnesota shut out Minnesota State 4-0 at Huntington Bank Stadium.  Then, on Hockey Day Minnesota 2020, the Gophers tallied a 2-1 victory over Ohio State at Parade Stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

Five 2023-2024 Gophers receive additional academic recognition

Following up on our Penalty Box Post from two weeks ago, we send additional congratulations to five members of the 2023-2024 Gopher Women's Hockey team upon receiving more accolades for their academic performance.

Allie Franco, Peyton Hemp, Maggie Nicholson, Audrey Wethington and Madeline Wethington were named among 122 U. of M. student-athletes recognized as Big Ten Distinguished Scholars on Thursday, June 25.  Both Audrey and Madeline Wethington were honored as two of 28 to post perfect 4.0 GPAs for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in the previous academic year, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire previous academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 or better during the previous academic year, excluding any summer grades.

We also provide a reminder than Madeline Wethington has been selected as a CSC Academic All-America® finalist, with the First-, Second- and Third-Team honorees scheduled to be announced next Tuesday, July 16.

Current & alumni Gophers in summer league action at Braemar

A handful of current & incoming Gopher Women's Hockey players and U. of M. alumnae are participating in a pair of summer leagues.

Da Beauty League will feature women's hockey action for the first time this year, holding one women's game to go along with two men's games each Wednesday night starting tonight (July 10) through August 28, plus Monday, August 26, at Braemar Arena in Edina.  Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.  For tonight's women's contest, Team Tradition Mortgage will include Gophers Ava Lindsay, Savannah Norcross, Kelly Pannek, Audrey Wethington, Madeline Wethington and Grace Zumwinkle, while Team Tradition Capital Bank features Abby Boreen, Emily Brown, Lee Stecklein, and Skylar Vetter.  The teams will play two 23-minute halves of 4-on-4 action, with a unique overtime detailed here.  Tickets are $15 for adults, with kids under 48" tall getting in free, and are available through tixr.com.  The league has also indicated that games will be streamed free on YouTube.

The Summer Celly League is already underway, also playing games at Braemar Arena through the rest of July.  The five-team league, comprised of current and incoming collegiate hockey players, includes Gophers Emma Conner, Kendra Distad, Allie Franco, Peyton Hemp, Ella Huber, Carly Humphrey, Maddie Kaiser, Elly Klepinger, Ava Lindsay, Maggie Nicholson, Lauren O'Hara, and Ayla Puppe.  Contests are played as two 25-minute halves with the clock stopping at penalties and at the close of each half, and ties at the end of regulation will go directly to a single-player sudden-death shootout.  The third night of games is tomorrow, July 11, starting at 5:10 p.m., with the rest of the schedule here.  Admission is FREE, and games are also being streamed on the MNHockey.tv subscription service.

USA, Canada announce initial 2024-2025 Rivalry Series schedule

USA Hockey and Hockey Canada jointly announced yesterday their five-game schedule for the 2024-2025 Rivalry Series (USA Hockey link).  The teams will play three contests in November, meeting in San Jose, CA, Salt Lake City, UT, and Boise, ID.  Games 4 & 5 will be hosted by Canada in February in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

Ticket information for the November games can be found on USA Hockey's Rivalry Series page.  Details for the tickets for February's games are not yet available but will be posted on Hockey Canada's tickets page soon.

Copyright © 2024 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.

You can receive the Penalty Box Post newsletter via email by signing up here.

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/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.

The Penalty Box Post - Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Darwitz, Wendell-Pohl named Hockey Hall of Fame inductees

We send many congratulations to Minnesota Women's Hockey alumnae Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl following yesterday's announcement that they are two of the seven Class of 2024 inductees to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto!!

Darwitz's induction to the HHOF in Toronto follows her induction into the IIHF Hall of Fame last month.  In 55 combined games at the Olympics & World Championships, Darwitz scored 43 goals and dished out 40 assists for 83 points with Team USA.  Over her three-year, 99-game Gopher career, she tallied 246 points on 102 goals and 144 assists, enough to still be #1 in the U. of M. records for points-per-game & assists-per-game (with 2.48 & 1.45, respectively)

Across 39 combined Olympic and World Championship contests, Wendell-Pohl recorded 25 goals and 44 assists for 69 points, also with Team USA.  Playing 101 games in the Maroon & Gold, her 237 points on 106 goals and 131 assists put her second (behind Natalie) on the points-per-game & assists-per-game lists (with 2.35 & 1.30, respectively) and also second for goals-per-game (1.05, trailing Nadine Muzerall's 1.08).

The pair led the Gophers to back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2003-2024 & 2004-2005.

The Hockey Hall of Fame will celebrate an “Induction Weekend” of events starting November 8 and concluding with the induction ceremony November 11 in Toronto.  More details will be posted to the 2024 Induction Celebration website.

Seven 2023-2024 Gophers recognized for academic excellence

Congratulations are also in order for seven members of the 2023-2024 Gopher Women's Hockey team who recently received accolades for their academic performance.

We first send a shout-out to Allie Franco, Lucy Morgan, Solveig Neunzert, Maggie Nicholson, Audrey Wethington and Madeline Wethington after they were named to the AHCA's eighth-annual Division I 'Krampade All-American Scholars' list on Monday, June 17.  To qualify, a student-athlete must have attained a 3.75 GPA for each semester, and had to appear in 40% of their team’s games (with exceptions granted for injuries and back-up goaltenders).

Peyton Hemp joined Madeline Wethington as two of ten U. of M. student-athletes named to the 2024 Academic All-District Men's & Women's At-Large Teams, selected by College Sports Communicator and announced yesterday (June 25).  Among the qualifying criteria, undergraduate student-athletes must have at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale), while graduate student-athletes must have at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) as both an undergraduate and a grad student (unless they are in their first semester as a graduate student and don't have an established graduate GPA).  Additionally, Wethington has been selected as a CSC Academic All-America® finalist, advancing to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members; the NCAA and NAIA Women's At-Large Academic All-America® First-, Second- and Third-Team honorees will be announced on Tuesday, July 16.

PWHL: Gopher alums Brandt, Brown sign extensions with Boston

We also recognize Gopher Women's Hockey alumnae Hannah Brandt and Emily Brown, who were among four players to sign contract extensions with PWHL Boston.  Brandt & Brown each received two-year extensions, keeping them with the current Walter Cup runners-up through the 2025-2026 season.

Both were selected by Boston in the inaugural PWHL Draft last summer – Brandt in the 5th round (21st overall) and Brown in the 8th round (46th overall).  In the 2024 PWHL season (regular season and playoffs combined), Brandt tallied 12 points on 6 goals & 6 assists, while Brown added 6 points on a goal and 5 assists.

Copyright © 2024 Power Play Club, All rights reserved.

You can receive the Penalty Box Post newsletter via email by signing up here.

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/X at twitter.com/GopherWHockey.