University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Face Bulldogs in Pivotal WCHA Series
2/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
GOPHERS HIT THE ROAD TO ARCH-RIVAL UMD
The No. 1/2 University of Minnesota women’s hockey team travels to Duluth, Minn., to take on the No. 5 University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, Friday and Saturday night at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). Both games are set for 7:07 p.m. starts.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Fans can follow the Gophers through an audio stream from the Gold Zone on gophersports.com on Friday and Saturday night. An in-game blog will also be featured on gophersports.com, while live statistics can be found on umdbulldogs.com as well as linked to the Gopher site.
ON THE DOCKET
Minnesota’s next home action is on Feb. 12 against St. Cloud State in the first game of a home-and-home series with the Huskies. Friday’s game is set for a 7:07 p.m. start, while Saturday’s tilt is at 2:07 p.m. at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Since the Gophers have faced the Bulldogs in October, UMD has gone 16-4-2. They gave No. 1 Mercyhurst its first loss of the season (10/30) and have swept five conference opponents this year. The Bulldogs have gone undefeated in the second half with a six-game win streak and earned three straight sweeps against Wisconsin (1/16-17), Minnesota State (1/22-23) and North Dakota (1/30-31). Although UMD is missing some fire power this year due to the Olympics, they still have six players with double digit points competing this weekend. Emmanuelle Blais leads the team with 36 points, while Laura Fridfinnson is second with 34. Re-joining the team after the first semester is defenseman Jocelyne Larocque, who spent the first part of the year with the Canadian National Team. Jennifer Harss has seen the majority of action in the net for UMD, playing in 26 games this season. She holds a 17-7-2 overall record, a .931 save percentage and ranks third in the conference in goals against average (2.14).
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
Earlier this season, Minnesota earned 3-1 and 3-0 wins over Minnesota Duluth back on Oct. 16-17. The Gophers scored a goal in the first, second and third to UMD’s one in the third for a 3-1 final. Anne Schleper, Terra Rasmussen and Sarah Erickson each scored a goal in the win as the Gophers put on 38 shots on goal. In the second game, Minnesota’s Emily West and Chelsey Jones scored two short-handed goals, while Kelli Blankenship added a goal for the 3-0 final. Noora Räty was in goal for the Gophers and established both wins to become the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week after her performance.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the 13 years that the University of Minnesota has had women’s hockey as a varsity sport, it has established 20-win seasons every year. Dating back to 1997-98 when the program started, Minnesota held a 21-7-3 overall record in its first year and the tradition has continued ever since. The most wins in a season came in the Gophers’ 2004-05 championship run when they held an impressive 36-2-2 record and a 25-1-2 mark in the WCHA. WIth the sweep over Minnesota State last weekend, the Gophers established their 20th and 21st wins of the season.
SCORING CHANCES
In what some thought the offensive fire power could have been lacking this year, the Gophers have outscored their opponents, 93-34 this season. Minnesota has outscored its opponents in every period, but has really put the clamp on in the second. The Gophers have only allowed nine goals to their 33 in the second stanza. Most allowed goals have come in the third with 13, while the first period has been 12. Along with scoring 93 goals this season, Minnesota has rattled off 958 shots on goal, compared to the 683 allowed this season. The only period when Minnesota has been outshot comes in overtime with a slight 9-3 opponent advantage.
WHERE THEY RANK
As a team, the Gophers rank high in the national rankings in various categories. Minnesota holds the nation’s third-best scoring offense (3.32 goals per game), first in scoring defense (1.21 gpg), third in the power play (22.1 percent), second in penalty kill (93.8 percent) and second in winning percentage (82.1). Individually, Emily West has the 15th-best points per game ranking (1.25), while she leads the nation in game-winning goals (8) and tied for second in short-handed goals (3). Anne Schleper ranks eighth in defensemen scoring (0.79) and Megan Bozek is 13th (0.68). Noora Räty ranks first in goals against (0.80), save percentage (.967) and third in winning percentage (.800).
The No. 1/2 University of Minnesota women’s hockey team travels to Duluth, Minn., to take on the No. 5 University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, Friday and Saturday night at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). Both games are set for 7:07 p.m. starts.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Fans can follow the Gophers through an audio stream from the Gold Zone on gophersports.com on Friday and Saturday night. An in-game blog will also be featured on gophersports.com, while live statistics can be found on umdbulldogs.com as well as linked to the Gopher site.
ON THE DOCKET
Minnesota’s next home action is on Feb. 12 against St. Cloud State in the first game of a home-and-home series with the Huskies. Friday’s game is set for a 7:07 p.m. start, while Saturday’s tilt is at 2:07 p.m. at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Since the Gophers have faced the Bulldogs in October, UMD has gone 16-4-2. They gave No. 1 Mercyhurst its first loss of the season (10/30) and have swept five conference opponents this year. The Bulldogs have gone undefeated in the second half with a six-game win streak and earned three straight sweeps against Wisconsin (1/16-17), Minnesota State (1/22-23) and North Dakota (1/30-31). Although UMD is missing some fire power this year due to the Olympics, they still have six players with double digit points competing this weekend. Emmanuelle Blais leads the team with 36 points, while Laura Fridfinnson is second with 34. Re-joining the team after the first semester is defenseman Jocelyne Larocque, who spent the first part of the year with the Canadian National Team. Jennifer Harss has seen the majority of action in the net for UMD, playing in 26 games this season. She holds a 17-7-2 overall record, a .931 save percentage and ranks third in the conference in goals against average (2.14).
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
Earlier this season, Minnesota earned 3-1 and 3-0 wins over Minnesota Duluth back on Oct. 16-17. The Gophers scored a goal in the first, second and third to UMD’s one in the third for a 3-1 final. Anne Schleper, Terra Rasmussen and Sarah Erickson each scored a goal in the win as the Gophers put on 38 shots on goal. In the second game, Minnesota’s Emily West and Chelsey Jones scored two short-handed goals, while Kelli Blankenship added a goal for the 3-0 final. Noora Räty was in goal for the Gophers and established both wins to become the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week after her performance.
DID YOU KNOW?
In the 13 years that the University of Minnesota has had women’s hockey as a varsity sport, it has established 20-win seasons every year. Dating back to 1997-98 when the program started, Minnesota held a 21-7-3 overall record in its first year and the tradition has continued ever since. The most wins in a season came in the Gophers’ 2004-05 championship run when they held an impressive 36-2-2 record and a 25-1-2 mark in the WCHA. WIth the sweep over Minnesota State last weekend, the Gophers established their 20th and 21st wins of the season.
SCORING CHANCES
In what some thought the offensive fire power could have been lacking this year, the Gophers have outscored their opponents, 93-34 this season. Minnesota has outscored its opponents in every period, but has really put the clamp on in the second. The Gophers have only allowed nine goals to their 33 in the second stanza. Most allowed goals have come in the third with 13, while the first period has been 12. Along with scoring 93 goals this season, Minnesota has rattled off 958 shots on goal, compared to the 683 allowed this season. The only period when Minnesota has been outshot comes in overtime with a slight 9-3 opponent advantage.
WHERE THEY RANK
As a team, the Gophers rank high in the national rankings in various categories. Minnesota holds the nation’s third-best scoring offense (3.32 goals per game), first in scoring defense (1.21 gpg), third in the power play (22.1 percent), second in penalty kill (93.8 percent) and second in winning percentage (82.1). Individually, Emily West has the 15th-best points per game ranking (1.25), while she leads the nation in game-winning goals (8) and tied for second in short-handed goals (3). Anne Schleper ranks eighth in defensemen scoring (0.79) and Megan Bozek is 13th (0.68). Noora Räty ranks first in goals against (0.80), save percentage (.967) and third in winning percentage (.800).
Players Mentioned
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