University of Minnesota Athletics
WHK: Gophers Host Ohio State This Weekend at Ridder Arena
11/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
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GOPHERS HOST WCHA RIVAL OHIO STATE
The No. 1 University of Minnesota women's hockey team hosts Ohio State, Saturday and Sunday afternoon, Nov. 6-7. Both games are slated for a 1:05 p.m. start at Ridder Arena. Sunday's game will be televised live on Fox Sports Net North.
The Golden Gopher women's hockey team announces its promotional activities for the Ohio State series, Nov. 6-7:
National Championship Ring Ceremony-Nov. 5-
The Golden Gopher women's hockey team will be honored at the Nov. 5 Gopher men's hockey game against Wisconsin. During the first intermission, the Gophers will receive their national championship rings for winning the 2004 Frozen Four.
Discount Rates, Nov. 6-
The Golden Gopher women's hockey team has announced that all fans that come to the Nov. 6 game against Ohio State before the start time of 1:05 p.m. can get general admission to the game for $1.05 (please come early).
High School and Team Day, Nov. 7-
ADMISSION IS FREE on Sunday, November 7 to all teams (girls and boys) from club, 8th grade and under, freshmen thru varsity. Fax in your team roster to the marketing department at 612-626-8379, attention Linda Roberts or e-mail her at rober008@umn.edu, no later then Nov. 5, 2004.
Silent Auction-
Purchase a $5.00 silent auction ticket to win a hockey suite (suite value $400) for the November 20th, women's hockey game against the UMD Bulldogs. Purchase silent auction tickets during the Ohio State series, November 6-7.
SCORING THREATS
Minnesota's line of Natalie Darwitz, Kelly Stephens and Krissy Wendell have tallied 73 of the team's 128 points in just eight games played. The trio hold the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 spots in Western Collegiate Hockey Association overall scoring. Darwitz leads the league in points (28) and assists (17), while Wendell leads the league in goals (12). Of the trio's 73 points, 36 have come on power-play attempts.
SHORT-HANDED SUCCESS
The Golden Gophers have scored 12 short-handed goals in eight games played this season. The school record for short-handed goals in a season is 13, set in the 1999-2000 championship season. Minnesota scored five short- handed marks against St. Cloud State (10/15-16), two against Bemidji State (10/22-23) and five in the Minnesota State series (10/29-30). The 12 tallies leads the nation, while the next closest team is Mercyhurst with five. Natalie Darwitz leads the team with four, Krissy Wendell has three, Andrea Nichols has two, followed by Kelly Stephens, Bobbi Ross and Becky Wacker each netting one. The Gophers have already surpassed last year's total of 11.
CREATING SCORING CHANCES
The Golden Gophers have outscored their opponents, 51-5 in six games played. The Maroon and Gold have scored 20 goals in the first period, 17 in the second, while tacking on 14 in the third stanza. The Gophers average 40.8 shots per game, rattling off 326 shots on goal and averaging 6.5 goals per game. Of the Gophers' 19 skaters, 16 have tallied a point, including eight in the Bemidji State series two weeks ago. On the defensive end, Minnesota has allowed an average of 17.3 shots a game and just four goals.
FOUR GOPHERS TO COMPETE AT FOUR NATIONS CUP
As the rest of the Golden Gopher women's hockey team takes a week off from competition, four Gophers will trade in their maroon and gold jerseys for red, white and blue. Natalie Darwitz, Kelly Stephens< /a>, Lyndsay Wall and Krissy Wendell will compete with Team USA at the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., Nov. 10-14. All four Gophers were on last year's Four Nations Cup team, earning a gold medal. In all, 15 players have been added to the roster, while the remaining players will be named this weekend. The United States team will face Finland in the opening game on Nov. 10, followed by Canada Nov. 11, and Sweden on Nov. 13. The gold and bronze medal games will be played on Nov. 14.
ON THE DOCKET
The Maroon and Gold are idle next week, but return to action, Nov. 19-20 against WCHA rival Minnesota-Duluth. Both games are slated for a 7:05 p.m. start at Ridder Arena.
All-TIME SERIES VS. OSU
The Golden Gophers hold a 19-3-1 mark against Ohio State in the all-time series, dating back to the 1999-2000 season. In the last series against the Buckeyes, the Gophers tied OSU, 1-1 (1/20/04), but bounced back for a 6-0 win. The last time Minnesota faced OSU was in the WCHA Final Five semifinal game when the Gophers defeated the Buckeyes, 5-1.
