University of Minnesota Athletics
Voting Starts for Frozen Four Skills Challenge
2/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The NCAA announced that voting for players in the 2009 Frozen Four Skills Challenge begins today, online at www.NCAA.com and will run until February 18. The University of Minnesota men's and women's hockey teams are each represented in the skills challenge voting in men's forward Justin Bostrom (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) and women's hockey forward Gigi Marvin (Warroad, Minn.), defenseman Melanie Gagnon (St. Adolphe, Man.) and goaltender Kim Hanlon (Blaine, Minn.).
The Frozen Four Skills Challenge will be held April 10 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. and will highlight the “Friday Night at the Frozen Four”. The night will also include the presentation of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, the Hockey Humanitarian Award and the announcement of the American Hockey Coaches Association All-American teams. The Gopher players have a chance to compete in the four skills challenge categories: hardest shot, fastest skater, penalty shot and accuracy.
Bostrom enters this weekend’s series against Wisconsin with four goals and two assists for six points in 24 games played. Along with his on-ice abilities, Bostrom also brings several intangibles to the Gopher squad. He is one of the team’s best penalty killers, best defensive forwards and overall skaters. Head coach Don Lucia considers Bostrom one of the hardest workers he’s ever coached. Bostrom also serves as the team’s assistant captain for the 2008-09 campaign.
On the women’s side, Marvin, Gagnon and Hanlon have all contributed to Minnesota’s 23-3-2 record and the team’s No. 2 rank. Marvin and Gagnon serve as the team’s co-captains, both their first honor. Marvin ranks second on the team in scoring with 39 points and has 177 in her career, ranking sixth in school history. A 2008 All-American, Marvin ranks second on the team in goals scored in 26 games played. Gagnon is one of the team’s best defensemen, leading the blue liner scoring with 21 points. In 137 games played for the Gophers, Gagnon has 73 points, ranking fifth all-time by Minnesota defensemen. A member of the Gophers’ power-play and penalty kill units, Gagnon has a plus/minus rating of +21. Hanlon has seen action in six games this season. During her Gopher tenure, Hanlon holds a goals against average of 1.91 with a 43-14-2 overall record. Since joining the Gopher program, Hanlon has had 13 shutouts in 59 games started.
The Frozen Four Skills Challenge will be held April 10 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. and will highlight the “Friday Night at the Frozen Four”. The night will also include the presentation of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, the Hockey Humanitarian Award and the announcement of the American Hockey Coaches Association All-American teams. The Gopher players have a chance to compete in the four skills challenge categories: hardest shot, fastest skater, penalty shot and accuracy.
Bostrom enters this weekend’s series against Wisconsin with four goals and two assists for six points in 24 games played. Along with his on-ice abilities, Bostrom also brings several intangibles to the Gopher squad. He is one of the team’s best penalty killers, best defensive forwards and overall skaters. Head coach Don Lucia considers Bostrom one of the hardest workers he’s ever coached. Bostrom also serves as the team’s assistant captain for the 2008-09 campaign.
On the women’s side, Marvin, Gagnon and Hanlon have all contributed to Minnesota’s 23-3-2 record and the team’s No. 2 rank. Marvin and Gagnon serve as the team’s co-captains, both their first honor. Marvin ranks second on the team in scoring with 39 points and has 177 in her career, ranking sixth in school history. A 2008 All-American, Marvin ranks second on the team in goals scored in 26 games played. Gagnon is one of the team’s best defensemen, leading the blue liner scoring with 21 points. In 137 games played for the Gophers, Gagnon has 73 points, ranking fifth all-time by Minnesota defensemen. A member of the Gophers’ power-play and penalty kill units, Gagnon has a plus/minus rating of +21. Hanlon has seen action in six games this season. During her Gopher tenure, Hanlon holds a goals against average of 1.91 with a 43-14-2 overall record. Since joining the Gopher program, Hanlon has had 13 shutouts in 59 games started.
Players Mentioned
Highlights: Gophers 2, UMD 3
Friday, February 20
Highlights: Gophers 2, Ohio State 4
Friday, February 13
Highlights: Gophers 1, Ohio State 2
Saturday, February 07
Highlights: Gophers 1, St. Thomas 1
Saturday, February 07