University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Ink Four During Early Signing Period
11/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
University of Minnesota women’s hockey head coach Brad Frost has announced that Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), Becky Kortum (Minnetonka, Minn.), Mira Jalosuo (Lieksa, Finland) and Noora Rty (Espoo, Finland) have all committed to the Gopher program and will join the team in the fall of 2009-10.
“We are very excited about the four student-athletes who have decided to become Minnesota Golden Gophers,” head coach Brad Frost said. “We have once again added top players who have competed internationally and will bring that experience to our team. This is also a historic recruiting class as we will have our first European players joining our program in 2009. Each of the four recruits are great people as well as great hockey players. I would especially like to thank assistant coaches Jamie Wood and Natalie Darwitz during this process. Because of their hard work and dedication to the program, I feel that the University of Minnesota will again have another strong class coming in next year.”
Megan Bozek, a 5-9 defenseman, enters the Gopher program with a high level of experience on the USA Hockey scene. In 2007 and 2008, Bozek was a two-time member of the U.S. Under-18 Team when she competed against Canada in a three-game series. As a member of the Under-18 Team this past summer, Bozek scored a goal and an assist in the three-game series against Canada in August. In 2007, Bozek competed in her first of two USA Hockey Women’s National Festivals and in 2008 was also selected to compete at the USA Hockey Holiday Camp in December. Bozek also plays for the Chicago Mission U19 (MWEHL) team under head coach Greg Tam. As an assistant captain of the Mission last year, Bozek played in 66 games and scored 44 goals and 33 assists to help her team to an Under-19 National Championship. In 2007, Bozek tallied 61 points and aided the Mission to the Under-19 quarterfinals.
“Megan is a strong two way defenseman,” Frost said. “She is responsible on the defensive side of the puck, but also has gifts offensively. She has a great shot and is a good playmaker. Megan is currently on the U.S. Under-18 team, which will help prepare her for the next level. We are very happy that she has chosen Minnesota.”
“When I visited the U of M, I felt so comfortable there,” Bozek said. “The coaching staff is unbelievable and will improve my hockey sense and skills by 100 percent throughout my time there. My future teammates made me feel very welcomed and part of the team already. I can’t wait to be a Golden Gopher!”
Becky Kortum, a 5-7 forward, is in her senior season with Hopkins High School under head coach Vin Paolucci. As a junior, Kortum led the Hopkins Royals to a Classic Lake Conference title when she scored a team and league-high 37 goals and 59 points. As a sophomore, Kortum also led the Royals and the Classic Lake conference in goals with 28 and finished second overall in points (41). A member of the Hopkins varsity program since eighth grade, Kortum has accumulated over 160 points in her high school career. An all-conference selection since 2005, Kortum also garnered all-state honors her junior season. Becky, the daughter of Bob and Drew Kortum, is also a member of the National Honor Society and an academic letterwinner.
“Becky possesses qualities that all good forwards have,” Frost said. “She is an excellent skater, has a great shot, is strong on the puck and sees the ice well. She is well coached and comes from a great program in Minnesota. Becky is extremely intelligent and will be an excellent addition to our team.”
“I chose the University of Minnesota for a number of reasons,” Kortum said. “The coaching staff was awesome during the recruiting process and once they got me on campus I knew right away that I wanted to become a Gopher. The U also has a wonderful academic reputation and it is close to home so that my friends and family can come watch me play. I can't wait to become a part of such an outstanding program.”
Mira Jalosuo, is a standout defenseman for her national team in Finland. Jalosuo was a member of the Finnish National Team that competed two weeks ago at the Four Nation’s Cup. The six-foot blue liner scored a goal during the tournament and has played in over 30 games with the Finland. Jalusuo is also a two-year member of the Finland National Team that competed at the World Championships in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, the Finnish team finished fourth, while in 2008 they won the bronze medal as she played in all every games. With her club team, Jalosuo tallied 88 points, including 10 in playoff action. In back-to-back years, Jalosuo was a 2006-07 and a 2007-08 All-Star defender at the Finnish Championships.
“Mira is a big defenseman with a great shot,” Frost said. “She holds the women’s slap shot record in Finland. She has great international experience that will enable her to transition well into the college game. Mira is strong defensively and has a great reach. She has been a part of some big games for the Finnish National Team and we are happy that she will be part of our program.”
“I chose Minnesota because of its great academic reputation and the outstanding hockey program,” Jalosuo said. “The coaching staff is great. They know how to coach the team and players and develop national-level athletes. I feel that becoming a Golden Gopher will enable me to pursue my dreams of winning a national championship at the collegiate level and I believe that we can do it!”
Noora Rty, a 5-4 goaltender, has been Finland’s top goalie since she started with the national team. Playing in a total of 66 games for Finland, Rty has played in the Olympics and three world championships. The starting goalie for the Finnish Olympic Team, Rty was 15 at the time of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Last year, Rty helped Finland to a bronze medal at the 2008 World Championships. Her biggest win of the tournament came when she shut out Team USA, 1-0, and had 30 saves. She finished the championships with a 1.48 goals against average and a 3-1-0 record. In the last two years at the World Championships, Rty was named the tournament’s best goalie and earned the most valuable player award in 2008. In national league play, Rty played in a total of 52 games, 12 of which were shutouts. She held a 1.45 goals against average and a .950 save percentage. In playoff competition alone, Rty had eight shutouts in 22 games played with a 1.24 GAA.
“Noora is one of the best goalies in the world,” Frost said. “She is very sound fundamentally, is incredibly quick and she loves to compete. Noora brings great experiences from the 2006 Olympics when she was the starting goalie for Team Finland. She has played in many other IIHF tournaments over the last few years as Finland’s starting goalie. We are thrilled to have another Olympian joining our program.”
“Out of all the schools I visited, I felt Minnesota was definitely right for me,” Rty said. “I was very impressed with the coaching staff and hockey program, the players and all of the U of M facilities. It is an honor to be the first European hockey player in such a strong hockey tradition. My dream is to win the NCCA championship and I feel that becoming a Gopher will enable to pursue my dreams.”
Name Pos. Ht. DOB S/C Hometown/Recent Team
Megan Bozek D 5-9 3/27/91 R Buffalo Grove, Ill./Chicago Mission
Mira Jalosuo D 6-0 2/3/89 R Lieksa, Finland/Finnish National Team
Becky Kortum F 5-7 5/7/91 L Minnetonka, Minn/Hopkins HS
Noora Rty G 5-4 5/29/89 L Espoo, Finland/ Finnish National Team
“We are very excited about the four student-athletes who have decided to become Minnesota Golden Gophers,” head coach Brad Frost said. “We have once again added top players who have competed internationally and will bring that experience to our team. This is also a historic recruiting class as we will have our first European players joining our program in 2009. Each of the four recruits are great people as well as great hockey players. I would especially like to thank assistant coaches Jamie Wood and Natalie Darwitz during this process. Because of their hard work and dedication to the program, I feel that the University of Minnesota will again have another strong class coming in next year.”
Megan Bozek, a 5-9 defenseman, enters the Gopher program with a high level of experience on the USA Hockey scene. In 2007 and 2008, Bozek was a two-time member of the U.S. Under-18 Team when she competed against Canada in a three-game series. As a member of the Under-18 Team this past summer, Bozek scored a goal and an assist in the three-game series against Canada in August. In 2007, Bozek competed in her first of two USA Hockey Women’s National Festivals and in 2008 was also selected to compete at the USA Hockey Holiday Camp in December. Bozek also plays for the Chicago Mission U19 (MWEHL) team under head coach Greg Tam. As an assistant captain of the Mission last year, Bozek played in 66 games and scored 44 goals and 33 assists to help her team to an Under-19 National Championship. In 2007, Bozek tallied 61 points and aided the Mission to the Under-19 quarterfinals.
“Megan is a strong two way defenseman,” Frost said. “She is responsible on the defensive side of the puck, but also has gifts offensively. She has a great shot and is a good playmaker. Megan is currently on the U.S. Under-18 team, which will help prepare her for the next level. We are very happy that she has chosen Minnesota.”
“When I visited the U of M, I felt so comfortable there,” Bozek said. “The coaching staff is unbelievable and will improve my hockey sense and skills by 100 percent throughout my time there. My future teammates made me feel very welcomed and part of the team already. I can’t wait to be a Golden Gopher!”
Becky Kortum, a 5-7 forward, is in her senior season with Hopkins High School under head coach Vin Paolucci. As a junior, Kortum led the Hopkins Royals to a Classic Lake Conference title when she scored a team and league-high 37 goals and 59 points. As a sophomore, Kortum also led the Royals and the Classic Lake conference in goals with 28 and finished second overall in points (41). A member of the Hopkins varsity program since eighth grade, Kortum has accumulated over 160 points in her high school career. An all-conference selection since 2005, Kortum also garnered all-state honors her junior season. Becky, the daughter of Bob and Drew Kortum, is also a member of the National Honor Society and an academic letterwinner.
“Becky possesses qualities that all good forwards have,” Frost said. “She is an excellent skater, has a great shot, is strong on the puck and sees the ice well. She is well coached and comes from a great program in Minnesota. Becky is extremely intelligent and will be an excellent addition to our team.”
“I chose the University of Minnesota for a number of reasons,” Kortum said. “The coaching staff was awesome during the recruiting process and once they got me on campus I knew right away that I wanted to become a Gopher. The U also has a wonderful academic reputation and it is close to home so that my friends and family can come watch me play. I can't wait to become a part of such an outstanding program.”
Mira Jalosuo, is a standout defenseman for her national team in Finland. Jalosuo was a member of the Finnish National Team that competed two weeks ago at the Four Nation’s Cup. The six-foot blue liner scored a goal during the tournament and has played in over 30 games with the Finland. Jalusuo is also a two-year member of the Finland National Team that competed at the World Championships in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, the Finnish team finished fourth, while in 2008 they won the bronze medal as she played in all every games. With her club team, Jalosuo tallied 88 points, including 10 in playoff action. In back-to-back years, Jalosuo was a 2006-07 and a 2007-08 All-Star defender at the Finnish Championships.
“Mira is a big defenseman with a great shot,” Frost said. “She holds the women’s slap shot record in Finland. She has great international experience that will enable her to transition well into the college game. Mira is strong defensively and has a great reach. She has been a part of some big games for the Finnish National Team and we are happy that she will be part of our program.”
“I chose Minnesota because of its great academic reputation and the outstanding hockey program,” Jalosuo said. “The coaching staff is great. They know how to coach the team and players and develop national-level athletes. I feel that becoming a Golden Gopher will enable me to pursue my dreams of winning a national championship at the collegiate level and I believe that we can do it!”
Noora Rty, a 5-4 goaltender, has been Finland’s top goalie since she started with the national team. Playing in a total of 66 games for Finland, Rty has played in the Olympics and three world championships. The starting goalie for the Finnish Olympic Team, Rty was 15 at the time of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Last year, Rty helped Finland to a bronze medal at the 2008 World Championships. Her biggest win of the tournament came when she shut out Team USA, 1-0, and had 30 saves. She finished the championships with a 1.48 goals against average and a 3-1-0 record. In the last two years at the World Championships, Rty was named the tournament’s best goalie and earned the most valuable player award in 2008. In national league play, Rty played in a total of 52 games, 12 of which were shutouts. She held a 1.45 goals against average and a .950 save percentage. In playoff competition alone, Rty had eight shutouts in 22 games played with a 1.24 GAA.
“Noora is one of the best goalies in the world,” Frost said. “She is very sound fundamentally, is incredibly quick and she loves to compete. Noora brings great experiences from the 2006 Olympics when she was the starting goalie for Team Finland. She has played in many other IIHF tournaments over the last few years as Finland’s starting goalie. We are thrilled to have another Olympian joining our program.”
“Out of all the schools I visited, I felt Minnesota was definitely right for me,” Rty said. “I was very impressed with the coaching staff and hockey program, the players and all of the U of M facilities. It is an honor to be the first European hockey player in such a strong hockey tradition. My dream is to win the NCCA championship and I feel that becoming a Gopher will enable to pursue my dreams.”
Name Pos. Ht. DOB S/C Hometown/Recent Team
Megan Bozek D 5-9 3/27/91 R Buffalo Grove, Ill./Chicago Mission
Mira Jalosuo D 6-0 2/3/89 R Lieksa, Finland/Finnish National Team
Becky Kortum F 5-7 5/7/91 L Minnetonka, Minn/Hopkins HS
Noora Rty G 5-4 5/29/89 L Espoo, Finland/ Finnish National Team
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