University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Set to Close Out 2010 Against OSU
12/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNESOTA CLOSES OUT 2010 WITH NO. 10 OHIO STATE
The University of Minnesota women’s hockey team will conclude the 2010 calendar year this weekend when it hosts No. 10 Ohio State University, Friday and Saturday. Friday’s game is set for a 6 p.m. start, while Saturday’s is a 2:07 p.m. tilt.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Both games will be available by audio broadcast on gophersports.com with Dan Hamann providing the play by play from Ridder Arena. Both games will feature a live in-game blog, also on gophersports.com.
The Big Ten Network will provide a three-camera production of the game as both of them will be streamed live on BigTenNetwork.com for a fee. Former Gopher Erica McKenzie will assist the BTN as she provides the color analysis.
ON THE DOCKET
The Golden Gophers are idle until Jan. 7-8 when it hosts Minnesota State University. The Jan. 7 game is set for a 6 p.m. start, followed by a 4 p.m. tilt on Jan. 8.
GOPHERS AT THE USA HOCKEY WINTER CAMP
USA Hockey has six players with Gopher ties participating at the 2010 Women’s Winter Training Camp, Dec. 26-31st at the National Sports Center's Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn. The camp will serve as a tryout and training session for the U.S. Women's National Team. Named to the USA Hockey camp roster is current Gophers Sarah Erickson, Amanda Kessel, Anne Schleper and Jen Schoullis. Also being named to the roster is former Gopher Gigi Marvin and in-coming signed recruit Rachel Ramsey. The six Gophers are a selected group of 40 from across the country. Of the 40, 15 currently play in the WCHA.
GOLD OUT FRIDAY/TEDDY BEAR TOSS
Fans who wear Minnesota Gold to Friday’s game receives a free giveaway. On Saturday, bring a teddy bear/stuffed animal to throw on the ice when the Gophers score and the team will donate them towards Toys for Tots.
SKATE WITH THE GOPHERS
The annual Skate with the Gophers is slated for Sunday, Dec. 12 from noon-2 p.m. For more information, contact the Gopher marketing department or purchase tickets online at gophersports.com
BREAKING A RECORD
The Golden Gophers earned a 6-2 win against Bemidji State last weekend. In the win, the Gophers scored three goals within a minute and five seconds in the first period. The Gophers scored at 13:34 with a goal from Sarah Davis. Amanda Kessel scored just a minute later at 14:34, while Kelly Terry scored off of the center faceoff just five seconds later. Although an impressive time, the school record for the fastest three goals is at a profound 29 seconds, dating back to 1999. The Gophers, however, did set a school for the two fastest goals at just five seconds. Prior to Kessel and Terry combining for the fastest goal, Tracy Engstrom and Ambria Thomas combined for a six-second goal against Wisconsin on Nov. 19, 1999.
TERRY NAMED WCHA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Kelly Terry has been named the WCHA's Rookie of the Week after a stellar performance last Saturday against Bemidji State. It is Terry's first weekly award as a Golden Gopher and the team's fifth of the season.
A right winger from Whitby, Ontario, Terry led the Gophers on Dec. 4 with a goal and three assists for a career-high, four-point performance and earned a +2 plus/minus rating. She started her scoring performance when she set up teammate Sarah Davis for the first goal of the game at 13:34. After Amanda Kessel tallied at 14:34, Terry scored the eventual game-winning goal just :05 seconds later at 14:39, giving Minnesota a 3-0 lead and three goals in just 1:05. Terry also set up Megan Bozek's goal at 5:34 in the second period and held a power-play assist on Anne Schleper's third period marker.
ABOUT THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State was idle last weekend and enter the Minnesota series with an 8-6-2 overall record and a 4-6-2 mark within league play. The Buckeyes have some of the league’s top scoring forwards in Laura McIntosh (8-22-30), Hokey Langan (9-16-25) and Natalie Spooner (15-6-21). On the national scene, Spooner leads the nation in goals per game, scoring 15 in just 12 contests for a 1.25 average. In 16 games played this season, OSU averages 3.38 goals per game and is the second-least penalized team in the league, averaging 9.1 penalty minutes per game. Freshman Lisa Steffes has seen all the action in net for OSU. She has started in all 16 contests and holds a 2.72 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.
THE SERIES
The Gophers are 40-8-1 all-time against the Buckeyes, dating back to 1999. Last year, the Gophers went 4-0-0 in the regular season and won 5-4 in double overtime for a trip to the championship game of the WCHA FINAL FACEOFF.
WCHA STRENGTH
Minnesota is one of five teams currently ranked in the top 10. Wisconsin, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota, North Dakota and Ohio State are all currently ranked, while Bemidji State is receiving votes. All WCHA teams being beaten at least twice already in conference competition. Wisconsin has lost twice, with UMD dropping four, UND with five and Minnesota and Ohio State with six conference losses.
LEADING THE CHARGE
Minnesota has relied on its freshmen class to put up points on the board. The rookies haven’t disappointed as three are the Gophers’ top scorers. Kelly Terry has scored 19 points, while Amanda Kessel has 16 and Sarah Davis follows with 15. Veteran leader Sarah Erickson has 13, while Anne Schleper has 12. Along with her points, Sarah Davis has done a great job in the faceoff circle for Minnesota. In 14 games played, Davis has won 230 draws in comparison to 115 losses this season and holds a win percentage of .667.
GOPHER SPECIAL TEAMS
Minnesota’s power-play has really clicked in the last couple weeks. On the season, Minnesota has scored 18 power-play goals in 74 chances for 24.3 percent. Minnesota has also killed off 78 of 85 penalties for a 91.8 penalty-kill percent. Along with leading the WCHA in both categories, Minnesota excels on the national stage as well. The Gophers hold the nation’s second-best power-play percentage, trailing only No. 1 Cornell at 25.9 percent. The Gophers’ penalty kill sits third nationally behind Cornell (95.8) and Boston University (95.1).
WCHA STANDINGS
With a sweep over North Dakota last weekend, Wisconsin currently stands all alone at the top of the WCHA standings with 30 points. With Minnesota Duluth tying St. Cloud State and losing the shootout point, they are in second (28), followed by North Dakota in third (23). Minnesota and Bemidji State are tied for fourth (18), while Ohio State will look to move up and catch some points against Minnesota this weekend. The Buckeyes are sixth with 16 points, followed by Minnesota State with 15 and SCSU with two.
AROUND THE HORN
A full weekend of conference action is ahead of us. Wisconsin travels to SCSU, while Minnesota State hosts Bemidji State. North Dakota will close out the DECC as it travels to UMD Friday and Saturday nights.
The University of Minnesota women’s hockey team will conclude the 2010 calendar year this weekend when it hosts No. 10 Ohio State University, Friday and Saturday. Friday’s game is set for a 6 p.m. start, while Saturday’s is a 2:07 p.m. tilt.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Both games will be available by audio broadcast on gophersports.com with Dan Hamann providing the play by play from Ridder Arena. Both games will feature a live in-game blog, also on gophersports.com.
The Big Ten Network will provide a three-camera production of the game as both of them will be streamed live on BigTenNetwork.com for a fee. Former Gopher Erica McKenzie will assist the BTN as she provides the color analysis.
ON THE DOCKET
The Golden Gophers are idle until Jan. 7-8 when it hosts Minnesota State University. The Jan. 7 game is set for a 6 p.m. start, followed by a 4 p.m. tilt on Jan. 8.
GOPHERS AT THE USA HOCKEY WINTER CAMP
USA Hockey has six players with Gopher ties participating at the 2010 Women’s Winter Training Camp, Dec. 26-31st at the National Sports Center's Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn. The camp will serve as a tryout and training session for the U.S. Women's National Team. Named to the USA Hockey camp roster is current Gophers Sarah Erickson, Amanda Kessel, Anne Schleper and Jen Schoullis. Also being named to the roster is former Gopher Gigi Marvin and in-coming signed recruit Rachel Ramsey. The six Gophers are a selected group of 40 from across the country. Of the 40, 15 currently play in the WCHA.
GOLD OUT FRIDAY/TEDDY BEAR TOSS
Fans who wear Minnesota Gold to Friday’s game receives a free giveaway. On Saturday, bring a teddy bear/stuffed animal to throw on the ice when the Gophers score and the team will donate them towards Toys for Tots.
SKATE WITH THE GOPHERS
The annual Skate with the Gophers is slated for Sunday, Dec. 12 from noon-2 p.m. For more information, contact the Gopher marketing department or purchase tickets online at gophersports.com
BREAKING A RECORD
The Golden Gophers earned a 6-2 win against Bemidji State last weekend. In the win, the Gophers scored three goals within a minute and five seconds in the first period. The Gophers scored at 13:34 with a goal from Sarah Davis. Amanda Kessel scored just a minute later at 14:34, while Kelly Terry scored off of the center faceoff just five seconds later. Although an impressive time, the school record for the fastest three goals is at a profound 29 seconds, dating back to 1999. The Gophers, however, did set a school for the two fastest goals at just five seconds. Prior to Kessel and Terry combining for the fastest goal, Tracy Engstrom and Ambria Thomas combined for a six-second goal against Wisconsin on Nov. 19, 1999.
TERRY NAMED WCHA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Kelly Terry has been named the WCHA's Rookie of the Week after a stellar performance last Saturday against Bemidji State. It is Terry's first weekly award as a Golden Gopher and the team's fifth of the season.
A right winger from Whitby, Ontario, Terry led the Gophers on Dec. 4 with a goal and three assists for a career-high, four-point performance and earned a +2 plus/minus rating. She started her scoring performance when she set up teammate Sarah Davis for the first goal of the game at 13:34. After Amanda Kessel tallied at 14:34, Terry scored the eventual game-winning goal just :05 seconds later at 14:39, giving Minnesota a 3-0 lead and three goals in just 1:05. Terry also set up Megan Bozek's goal at 5:34 in the second period and held a power-play assist on Anne Schleper's third period marker.
ABOUT THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State was idle last weekend and enter the Minnesota series with an 8-6-2 overall record and a 4-6-2 mark within league play. The Buckeyes have some of the league’s top scoring forwards in Laura McIntosh (8-22-30), Hokey Langan (9-16-25) and Natalie Spooner (15-6-21). On the national scene, Spooner leads the nation in goals per game, scoring 15 in just 12 contests for a 1.25 average. In 16 games played this season, OSU averages 3.38 goals per game and is the second-least penalized team in the league, averaging 9.1 penalty minutes per game. Freshman Lisa Steffes has seen all the action in net for OSU. She has started in all 16 contests and holds a 2.72 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.
THE SERIES
The Gophers are 40-8-1 all-time against the Buckeyes, dating back to 1999. Last year, the Gophers went 4-0-0 in the regular season and won 5-4 in double overtime for a trip to the championship game of the WCHA FINAL FACEOFF.
WCHA STRENGTH
Minnesota is one of five teams currently ranked in the top 10. Wisconsin, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota, North Dakota and Ohio State are all currently ranked, while Bemidji State is receiving votes. All WCHA teams being beaten at least twice already in conference competition. Wisconsin has lost twice, with UMD dropping four, UND with five and Minnesota and Ohio State with six conference losses.
LEADING THE CHARGE
Minnesota has relied on its freshmen class to put up points on the board. The rookies haven’t disappointed as three are the Gophers’ top scorers. Kelly Terry has scored 19 points, while Amanda Kessel has 16 and Sarah Davis follows with 15. Veteran leader Sarah Erickson has 13, while Anne Schleper has 12. Along with her points, Sarah Davis has done a great job in the faceoff circle for Minnesota. In 14 games played, Davis has won 230 draws in comparison to 115 losses this season and holds a win percentage of .667.
GOPHER SPECIAL TEAMS
Minnesota’s power-play has really clicked in the last couple weeks. On the season, Minnesota has scored 18 power-play goals in 74 chances for 24.3 percent. Minnesota has also killed off 78 of 85 penalties for a 91.8 penalty-kill percent. Along with leading the WCHA in both categories, Minnesota excels on the national stage as well. The Gophers hold the nation’s second-best power-play percentage, trailing only No. 1 Cornell at 25.9 percent. The Gophers’ penalty kill sits third nationally behind Cornell (95.8) and Boston University (95.1).
WCHA STANDINGS
With a sweep over North Dakota last weekend, Wisconsin currently stands all alone at the top of the WCHA standings with 30 points. With Minnesota Duluth tying St. Cloud State and losing the shootout point, they are in second (28), followed by North Dakota in third (23). Minnesota and Bemidji State are tied for fourth (18), while Ohio State will look to move up and catch some points against Minnesota this weekend. The Buckeyes are sixth with 16 points, followed by Minnesota State with 15 and SCSU with two.
AROUND THE HORN
A full weekend of conference action is ahead of us. Wisconsin travels to SCSU, while Minnesota State hosts Bemidji State. North Dakota will close out the DECC as it travels to UMD Friday and Saturday nights.
Players Mentioned
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