University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHER WOMEN'S HOCKEY ANNOUNCES RECRUITING CLASS OF 2001
4/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
"As we say goodbye to nine special seniors, we say hello to a new generation of Gopher women's hockey players," said Minnesota head coach Laura Halldorson. "This is a talented group of young student-athletes who will help us continue the strong tradition we have built in the four short years of our program. We look forward to getting them in maroon and gold so we can start working toward the defense of our WCHA regular-season title."
Wendell, a native of Brooklyn Park, Minn., is the leading scorer on the U.S. National Team that recently won the silver medal at the World Championships. Wendell has scored 72 points through 38 games from her forward position. A U.S. National Team member of the last three years, Wendell is a 2000 graduate of Park Center High School and the 2000 Minnesota Ms. Hockey award winner. During her senior season at Park Center in 1999-2000, she set the national high school record with 110 goals. Wendell will join the Gophers for the 2002-03 school year, after competing at the 2002 Olympic Games.
The 2001 Let's Play Hockey Minnesota Ms. Hockey award winner, Curtin is the fifth of six Ms. Hockey recipients to attend Minnesota. A forward from Roseville, Minn., Curtin finished her career at Roseville Area High School as Minnesota's all-time leading scorer, girl or boy, with 544 career points. Curtin earned the 2001 Star Tribune Co-Metro Player of the Year and 2001 Pioneer Press Female Athlete of the Winter Sports Season awards. In addition to helping her high school squad to state titles in 1996 and 1999, Curtin attended the USA Hockey Development Camps in 1998 and 1999. She will join her older sister Ronda on the Gopher roster next season.
Horah, a goaltender from Blaine, Minn., was honored as the Let's Play Hockey Goalie of the Year in 2001 and shared the Star Tribune Co-Metro Player of the Year honors with Curtin. She led her Blaine High School team to a runner-up finish in the state tournament in 2001. She also attended the USA Hockey Development Camp in 1998.
Forward Kelly Stephens heads to Minnesota from Seattle, Wash., where she attends Shorewood High School and plays club hockey for the Vancouver Griffins. Stephens was a member of the 2000 U.S. Under-22 Team, participated in the 2000 USA Hockey Festival and attended USA Hockey Development Camps in 1999 and 2000.
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan native, Kristy Oonincx joins the Gophers with the ability to play either forward or defense. Oonincx currently is attending the College of Notre Dame prep school in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. She was a member of Team Western at the 2001 Canadian Under-18 Nationals and of Team Saskatchewan at the 1999 Canada Winter Games.
