University of Minnesota Athletics
2001-2002 Golden Gopher Womens Hockey Season Outlook
10/4/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
| Senior Co-Captain Laura Slominski |
"Our team will be younger and less experienced than it has been over the past couple of years," said Halldorson. "It reminds me of the 1997-1998 season when we had so many first and second year players. The great thing about a young team is that the players are eager to learn and excited about the opportunity to play at the University of Minnesota. We have excellent leadership in our juniors and seniors, too, so it will be a fun group for us to coach. Due to the character and dedication that this team has already shown, I expect them to work hard and to improve throughout the season."
The Gophers add 10 rookies to the roster along with 11 returning players as the team gears up for the opening series against WCHA opponent Minnesota State, Mankato Oct. 12 and 13 in Mariucci Arena. The Gophers' first road trip consists of Minnesota taking on the defending national champion, Minnesota-Duluth Oct. 20-21.
Goaltending
Goaltending is a key in the success of any team. The Gophers have three strong candidates in sophomore Stephanie Johnson, and newcomers Jody Horak and Brenda Reinen. Johnson saw action in six games last season, including a first career shutout in the game against Minnesota State, Mankato, Jan 14, 2001. Johnson established a 4-1-0 record in six appearances and will see action this year as well.
| Senior Co-Captain Tracy Engstrom |
Reinen, a Sun Prairie, Wis. native, played on the Sun Prairie boys' team and finished her senior year with a 1.93 goals against average and a 90 percent save percentage.
"I am confident that they (the goalies) will learn a lot this season from Jeff Moen, our goalie coach," Halldorson said. "They will be in a great competitive situation where they will push each other every day, and the best goalie will earn the most playing time."
Defense
On the defensive side, Minnesota lost four key defenders from last year's squad, including 2001 Patty Kazmaier finalist and First-Team All-American Courtney Kennedy. However, the Gophers bring back sophomore Melissa Coulombe, who was second in defensive scoring with 13 points. Switching from forward to defense, sophomore Kelsey Bills, saw action in 33 games and scored three goals as a newcomer last year. Sophomore Cecilia Retelle played in six games last season and will look for additional playing time in the 2001-02 campaign.
The Gophers add three newcomers to the mix of defenders. Rookies Stacy Troumbly and Kate Swenson and sophomore Rachel Allen fill the second and third lines of the defense. Troumbly, a Bovey, Minn. native, was a 2001 all-state selection and was a member of the Minnesota Selects from 1996 to 2001. Swenson hails from Maple Grove, Minn., and was a five-year letterwinner for the Maple Grove High School girls team.
"We will be quite inexperienced defensively this season due to several factors," Halldorson said. "First of all, we graduated four defenders, including Courtney Kennedy, last season's WCHA Player of the Year. We also lost Bethany Petersen due to an injury and Winny Brodt who is taking the year off, both of whom would have been big contributors on the blue line. We will look to returners like Melissa Coulombe and Kelsey Bills to log a lot of ice time, in addition to giving a few forwards the chance to see some defensive action."
Forwards
Minnesota's strongest asset will be its offensive punch. The Gophers are led by the conference1s fifth-leading scorer, sophomore La
| Sophomore Forward La Toya Clark |
Seniors Tracy Engstrom and Laura Slominski will lead the team as the 2001-02 captains and provide leadership to the newcomers.
Engstrom, now a two-time team captain, finished last season with 26 points. Engstrom was named the WCHA Player of the Week where she scored seven points in the Bemidji State series in December.
Slominski scored 35 points last season, as she had 11 multiple-point games. Slominski tallied a hat trick in the second game of the season last year against St. Cloud State and received WCHA Player of the Week accolades.
"Laura Slominski and Tracy Engstrom, our two captains, will do a tremendous job of leading our young team," Halldorson said. "They are respected role models who really care about their teammates and the program."
| Junior Forward Ronda Curtin |
Among the 10 newcomers is last year's recipient of the Let1s Play Hockey Ms. Hockey award winner, Renee Curtin. A forward from Roseville, Minn. and younger sister of Ronda, Curtin established 544 career points at the Roseville Area High School and set the high school points record for a high school athlete, girl or boy. A five-time all-metro and all-state player, Curtin led the Roseville Area High School girls team to two state championships in 1996 and 1999.
Along with Curtin, Kelly Stephens will look to add a fire to the Minnesota offense. Stephens participated in the 2001 U.S. Festival and was a member of the U.S. Under-22 National Team. Stephens was a member of the 2000-01 Vancouver Griffins prior to her arrival at Minnesota.
Moose Jaw, Sask. native, Kristy Oonincx will look for ice time after a prosperous season last year as a member of the Notre Dame Hounds. In her career as a Hound, Oonincx had 498 points. In the 2000-01 season alone, Oonincx had 140 points, while in 1998-99 tallied 137 points.
"We have some very talented forwards this year, so we expect to score quite a few goals," Halldorson said. "Not only do we have veterans like La Toya Clarke, Laura Slominski, Ronda Curtin, and Tracy Engstrom returning; we have also added some talented first-year players like Renee Curtin, Kelly Stephens, and Kristy Oonincx. We will have forwards with speed, passing ability, competitiveness, and a knack for scoring."
| Senior Co-Captain Laura Slominski |
"Our team will be younger and less experienced than it has been over the past couple of years," said Halldorson. "It reminds me of the 1997-1998 season when we had so many first and second year players. The great thing about a young team is that the players are eager to learn and excited about the opportunity to play at the University of Minnesota. We have excellent leadership in our juniors and seniors, too, so it will be a fun group for us to coach. Due to the character and dedication that this team has already shown, I expect them to work hard and to improve throughout the season."
The Gophers add 10 rookies to the roster along with 11 returning players as the team gears up for the opening series against WCHA opponent Minnesota State, Mankato Oct. 12 and 13 in Mariucci Arena. The Gophers' first road trip consists of Minnesota taking on the defending national champion, Minnesota-Duluth Oct. 20-21.
Goaltending
Goaltending is a key in the success of any team. The Gophers have three strong candidates in sophomore Stephanie Johnson, and newcomers Jody Horak and Brenda Reinen. Johnson saw action in six games last season, including a first career shutout in the game against Minnesota State, Mankato, Jan 14, 2001. Johnson established a 4-1-0 record in six appearances and will see action this year as well.
| Senior Co-Captain Tracy Engstrom |
Reinen, a Sun Prairie, Wis. native, played on the Sun Prairie boys' team and finished her senior year with a 1.93 goals against average and a 90 percent save percentage.
"I am confident that they (the goalies) will learn a lot this season from Jeff Moen, our goalie coach," Halldorson said. "They will be in a great competitive situation where they will push each other every day, and the best goalie will earn the most playing time."
Defense
On the defensive side, Minnesota lost four key defenders from last year's squad, including 2001 Patty Kazmaier finalist and First-Team All-American Courtney Kennedy. However, the Gophers bring back sophomore Melissa Coulombe, who was second in defensive scoring with 13 points. Switching from forward to defense, sophomore Kelsey Bills, saw action in 33 games and scored three goals as a newcomer last year. Sophomore Cecilia Retelle played in six games last season and will look for additional playing time in the 2001-02 campaign.
The Gophers add three newcomers to the mix of defenders. Rookies Stacy Troumbly and Kate Swenson and sophomore Rachel Allen fill the second and third lines of the defense. Troumbly, a Bovey, Minn. native, was a 2001 all-state selection and was a member of the Minnesota Selects from 1996 to 2001. Swenson hails from Maple Grove, Minn., and was a five-year letterwinner for the Maple Grove High School girls team.
"We will be quite inexperienced defensively this season due to several factors," Halldorson said. "First of all, we graduated four defenders, including Courtney Kennedy, last season's WCHA Player of the Year. We also lost Bethany Petersen due to an injury and Winny Brodt who is taking the year off, both of whom would have been big contributors on the blue line. We will look to returners like Melissa Coulombe and Kelsey Bills to log a lot of ice time, in addition to giving a few forwards the chance to see some defensive action."
Forwards
Minnesota's strongest asset will be its offensive punch. The Gophers are led by the conference1s fifth-leading scorer, sophomore La
| Sophomore Forward La Toya Clark |
Seniors Tracy Engstrom and Laura Slominski will lead the team as the 2001-02 captains and provide leadership to the newcomers.
Engstrom, now a two-time team captain, finished last season with 26 points. Engstrom was named the WCHA Player of the Week where she scored seven points in the Bemidji State series in December.
Slominski scored 35 points last season, as she had 11 multiple-point games. Slominski tallied a hat trick in the second game of the season last year against St. Cloud State and received WCHA Player of the Week accolades.
"Laura Slominski and Tracy Engstrom, our two captains, will do a tremendous job of leading our young team," Halldorson said. "They are respected role models who really care about their teammates and the program."
| Junior Forward Ronda Curtin |
Among the 10 newcomers is last year's recipient of the Let1s Play Hockey Ms. Hockey award winner, Renee Curtin. A forward from Roseville, Minn. and younger sister of Ronda, Curtin established 544 career points at the Roseville Area High School and set the high school points record for a high school athlete, girl or boy. A five-time all-metro and all-state player, Curtin led the Roseville Area High School girls team to two state championships in 1996 and 1999.
Along with Curtin, Kelly Stephens will look to add a fire to the Minnesota offense. Stephens participated in the 2001 U.S. Festival and was a member of the U.S. Under-22 National Team. Stephens was a member of the 2000-01 Vancouver Griffins prior to her arrival at Minnesota.
Moose Jaw, Sask. native, Kristy Oonincx will look for ice time after a prosperous season last year as a member of the Notre Dame Hounds. In her career as a Hound, Oonincx had 498 points. In the 2000-01 season alone, Oonincx had 140 points, while in 1998-99 tallied 137 points.
"We have some very talented forwards this year, so we expect to score quite a few goals," Halldorson said. "Not only do we have veterans like La Toya Clarke, Laura Slominski, Ronda Curtin, and Tracy Engstrom returning; we have also added some talented first-year players like Renee Curtin, Kelly Stephens, and Kristy Oonincx. We will have forwards with speed, passing ability, competitiveness, and a knack for scoring."
