University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Women's Hockey 2006-07 Outlook
9/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The University of Minnesota women’s hockey team accomplished more than most expected in the 2005-06 season. With the loss of four Olympians and four other seniors gone from the 2004-05 championship team, many critics expected a rebuilding year. However, with budding talent, an unparalleled team chemistry and a never-say-die attitude, the Gopher women’s hockey team advanced to their fifth-straight NCAA Frozen Four and a second-place finish in 2005-06. With 87 percent of their scoring returning from last year and the addition of eight newcomers, the 2006-07 edition is hoping for the same outcome.
“We had a very young team in 2005-2006, and not many people outside our program expected us to make it to the Frozen Four,” head coach Laura Halldorson said. “This year will be different because we will be more experienced. We hope to continue the strong tradition of Gopher women’s hockey, and see if we can again be in the hunt for a national championship in March.”
In order to achieve this goal, the Gophers will need strong leadership. This leadership will most likely come from their two captains, senior forward Andrea Nichols and junior forward Bobbi Ross. Nichols was the Gophers’ captain last year, while Ross was an assistant captain as a sophomore.
“I believe that both of these captains lead by example,” Halldorson said. “They are hard workers, they put the team first and they care deeply about their teammates. When necessary, though, they will also speak up in the locker room in order to keep people focused and motivated. They are hard-nosed, “blue collar” hockey players who will both contribute a great deal to our team’s success.”
With the leadership from the captains, Halldorson will also look within her own staff to guide this team. Following the 2005-06 season, Brad Frost was promoted to associate head coach, a role that has never been introduced within Gopher women’s hockey. Along with his Gopher experience, Frost was named an assistant coach to Team USA’s Under-22 Team. Halldorson added a familiar face when she hired former Gopher Laura Slominski as an assistant coach in July.
“We have had tremendous coaching staffs over the years, and this season is no exception,” Halldorson said. “Brad Frost, after six years here, has been promoted to Associate Head Coach; and we also added Laura Slominski, a former Gopher captain to the staff. It will be a group of individuals who complement each other very well. I am excited about working with those two because they are both very talented, dedicated, and a lot of fun.”
Halldorson's final addition to the staff was Justin Johnson, who played for the Gopher men’s team from 2001-05. Johnson will serve as the goalie coach.
“With his playing and coaching experience, Justin will definitely help our goaltenders,” Halldorson said.
Goaltenders
When looking at the Gophers’ depth in net, the three goaltenders in the mix include two sophomores and one freshman. However, looking back to 2005-06, the Gophers are in good hands with sophomores Brittony Chartier and Kim Hanlon. Chartier played in 25 games, including 24 starts. Holding a 15-8-1 record, Chartier led the Gophers in appearances and shutouts. In her 24 starts, the Saskatoon, Sask., native recorded seven shutouts, including four against conference opponents. One of her most notable shutouts came a the 4-0 win over Princeton in which Chartier stopped 33 Tiger shots on goal and earned the first-ever shutout in NCAA history.
Hanlon enters her sophomore season as the reigning 2006 WCHA Goaltending Champion. In 19 games played, Hanlon had a goals against average of 1.19 and a save percentage mark of .943, which led the nation in both categories. In her 17 starts as a freshman, the Blaine, Minn., native recorded six shutouts overall and four in the WCHA. Named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team, Hanlon held a 10-2-0 record in conference play. Hanlon’s freshman season, however, was cut short due to an ankle injury she suffered in the WCHA Championship game against Wisconsin. Both goalies will look for starting time this season.
The Gophers’ newcomer between the pipes is freshman Brittany Krause. Hailing from Hibbing, Minn., Krause played with the Hibbing varsity team since 2001. An all-state selection in 2005 and 2006, Krause held a 92-38-8 overall record. Named the team’s most valuable player, Krause had a 1.59 goals against average and 10 shutouts her senior season.
“Although we may look young on paper, we actually have quite a bit of experience in net,” Halldorson said. “Both Kim and Brittony received a lot of playing time as freshmen, and I expect them to build on that early success. As sophomores I think they will continue to improve and push each other to be the best they can be. Incoming freshman Brittany Krause will also give us depth as our third goaltender.”
Defensemen
The most experience lost from last year’s team will be at defense. After graduating Ashley Albrecht, Chelsey Brodt and Allie Sanchez, the Gophers will look to their returners, junior Anya Miller and sophomores Melanie Gagnon and Dagney Willey. Along with the veterans, the Gophers will turn to freshmen defenders in Michelle Maunu and Alexandra Zebro to step up and take consistent shifts.
Miller will lead the Gophers’ defense after a solid performance a year ago. Miller saw action in 39 of 41 games for the Maroon and Gold last season and had 15 points. Of her 15, 10 came during the power-play when she scored a goal and nine assists. In post-season play, Miller scored a goal in the Gophers’ 3-0 win over Minnesota State in the WCHA First Round and followed with a plus/minus rating of +2 in the NCAA semifinal win over New Hampshire. The Elk River, Minn., native was also invited to participate at the USA Hockey Festival in August and was named to the Under-22 Team, her first honor.
Gagnon returns for her sophomore season after posting two goals and nine assists for 11 points. Named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team, Gagnon posted a plus/minus rating of +18, which ranked second on the team among defensemen. Gagnon scored the game-winning goal against Princeton to propel the Gophers into the NCAA Frozen Four. The St. Adolphe, Man., native was recently named to her fourth-straight Canadian Under-22 Team and recently participated at the Canadian Fall Festival.
Willey played in all 41 games for the Gophers and posted three points. Holding a plus/minus rating of +7, the Maple Grove, Minn., native tallied two of her three points against Minnesota State in the first round of the WCHA Playoffs. Maggie Souba may see action as both a defenseman and as a forward this year. Souba played as a forward in 2005-06, after seeing action as a blueliner in 2004-05. Last year, the Moorhead, Minn., native played in 31 games and missed 10 due to mono. During her sophomore campaign, Souba netted a goal and three assists for four points.
Maunu was a three-time all-state honoree with Cloquet/Esko/Carlton in high school. Maunu was a three-year participant of the USA Hockey Development Camp and was one of five players to represent the United States at the IIHF Women’s Development Camp in Finland. A four-sport athlete, Maunu earned six letters in hockey.
Zebro played her high school hockey with the St. Francis/North Branch team. A three-year captain, Zebro was an all-conference selection in 2003-04 and 2004-05 as well as an all-state honoree in 2004-05 and 2005-06. The Oak Grove, Minn., native was named the team’s rookie of the year in 2001 and was a four-year participant at the USA Hockey National Development Camp.
“With the loss of three key defensemen, we will be less experienced at that position,” Halldorson said. “However, we have a lot of confidence in our returning ‘D,’ as well as the two freshmen who will join us this year. From our returning defensemen - Anya, Melanie and Dagney - they will be our leaders on the blue line. Both Melanie and Anya gained valuable international experience over the summer. They will be joined by freshmen Michelle Maunu and Alexandra Zebro, as well as senior Maggie Souba, who has spent most of her college career as a forward. It should be a good blend of veterans and newcomers this season.”
Forwards
Minnesota’s most experienced position will be at forward with eight letterwinners returning. Leading the Gophers will be captains Andrea Nichols and Bobbi Ross. Nichols, from Mt. Iron, Minn., played in 38 games, missing three due to an injury. In her junior campaign, Nichols netted eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points. A clutch player, Nichols scored four power-play goals and three gamewinners in her eight tallies. In post-season play, Nichols scored a power-play goal against Minnesota Duluth to advance the team to the WCHA Championship game. She also tied a career-high two assists in the NCAA semifinal win over New Hampshire.
Ross was named the team’s most valuable player after posting 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points. She ranked third on the team in scoring and held 16 points on the power play. During her sophomore season, the Verwood, Sask., native had three hat tricks, including two against conference opponents UMD and Ohio State. Her most memorable performance, however, was in the 5-4 win over New Hampshire, when she tied her career-high of four goals in the NCAA semifinal win. Of her four goals, one was on a penalty shot, the first in NCAA championship history to be attempted and made. Ross was later named to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.
Also returning are the Gophers’ two leading scorers from a year ago, Erica McKenzie and Gigi Marvin. McKenzie, a sophomore from Hastings, Minn., tallied a team-high 53 points. Of her 53, 40 came in conference competition, earning her the WCHA Scoring Champion award. McKenzie was named an All-WCHA First Team selection. She led the league and the nation with eight game-winning goals. McKenzie scored three hat tricks in 2005-06, including a four-goal performance against Brown last year. A five-time WCHA Offensive Player of the Week honoree, McKenzie led the team in power-play points with 20. Along with her college experience, McKenzie was invited to the USA Hockey Festival and was named to the Under-22 Team.
Marvin enters her sophomore season after a stellar rookie campaign. Marvin, the WCHA Rookie of the Year, had 46 points and finished second on the team in scoring. The Warroad, Minn., native led the team with 30 assists, which ranked second in the league. Named the WCHA Rookie of the Week five times, Marvin notched seven power-play goals, one short-handed goal and three gamewinners. Marvin was named to the WCHA All-Tournament Team after tallying two assists. She also participated at the USA Hockey Festival and was named to the Under-22 Team.
Also returning to the mix is senior Becky Wacker, juniors Whitney Graft and Jenelle Philipczyk, and sophomore Lindsay Block. Wacker enters her senior season with 46 career points, including 13 her junior year. The York, Maine, native played in 41 games. In the post-season, Wacker tied her career-high of two goals against Minnesota State in the first round of the WCHA playoffs. She followed that game with a goal against Princeton in the Gophers’ NCAA Regional and added a goal against New Hampshire in the NCAA semifinal win.
After seeing limited time in 2004-05, Graft stormed onto the scene and played in all 41 games. Graft ranked fifth in scoring with eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points. The Wayzata, Minn., product tallied a short-handed goal against Princeton in the NCAA Regional game and followed with an assist on the game-winning goal over New Hampshire in the NCAA semifinal. Philipczyk scored 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points, ranking fourth on the team. Of her 11 goals scored, four were on the power-play while three were gamewinners. Philipczyk’s most memorable goal came when she scored the gamewinner against Minnesota Duluth to advance the Gophers to the WCHA Championship game. Block saw action in all 41 games and earned her first letter. She produced her first multiple-point game in the 7-2 win over Bemidji State on Jan. 6.
The Gopher staff will add four freshmen to the offensive corps this year in Kelli Blankenship, Brittany Francis, Jaimie Horton and Tiffany Johnson. Blankenship was recently selected to participate at the USA Hockey Festival and was named to the Under-22 Team. While at the festival, Blankenship scored two goals with the White Team. A native of Lusby, Md., Blankenship was a member of the North American Hockey Academy the past three years. During her tenure, she was named NAHA’s Offensive Player of the Year and tallied 216 points.
Francis competed with the Toronto Junior Aeros the past two seasons and held the assistant captain role last year. In 2004-05, Francis netted 28 goals and 34 assists for 62 points and led her team to Provincial Women’s Hockey League regular season and tournament championships.
Horton, from Maple Grove, Minn., scored 49 goals and 27 assists for 76 points as a senior for Maple Grove High School. A five-time all-conference selection, Horton was the all-time leading scorer for Maple Grove with 286 points.
In her senior year, Johnson scored 24 goals and 33 assists for 57 points with Wayzata High School. Johnson, a Plymouth, Minn., native, had 172 points in her high school career.
“We have a strong group of returning forwards, with seniors Andrea and Becky, juniors Bobbi, Erica, Jenelle and Whitney and sophomores Gigi and Lindsay,” Halldorson said. “Erica, Gigi and Bobbi all had over 40 points last year and I expect those three and others to contribute even more offense with another year under their belts. By adding talented freshmen Kelli Blankenship, Brittany Francis, Jaimie Horton, and Tiff Johnson to the mix, we will have significant depth in our line-up at forward. By participating in the U-22 series this summer, Bobbi, Erica, Gigi and Kelli all enter the college season with additional confidence.”
