University of Minnesota Athletics
New Hampshire to Visit Ridder Arena this Weekend
11/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Nov. 15, 2011
The Golden Gopher women's hockey team plays a nonconference series against New Hampshire Friday and Saturday. Friday's game is scheduled for 7 p.m. while Saturday's game will start at 4 p.m.
This weekend, fans will have a chance to meet the team at the Skate with the Gophers event following Saturday's game. Admission to Skate with the Gophers is free for fans attending the game, and $5 for those who can't attend the game but wish to participate in the postgame skating event.
Minnesota is listed at No. 2 in the USCHO.com national poll this week. Minnesota moved up one spot, sneaking past Cornell who went 1-1 last weekend with a loss to Dartmouth and a win against Harvard. In the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, the Gophers remain at No. 3 this week, coming in with 160 points in the poll, just one point shy of Cornell who remains at No. 2 with 161 points.
The Gophers are sixth in the nation in scoring margin, winning by an average of 3.25 goals. Minnesota has outscored its opponents 51-12 in 12 games this season, including a 41-11 margin against WCHA opponents.
One of the Gophers' strengths this season has been the penalty kill. Minnesota is third in the nation on the penalty kill, and is currently 46-50 (92.0 percent) this season. Minnesota has successfully killed every penalty in eight of 12 games so far this season.
Minnesota has the fewest number of goals allowed in WCHA play, with just 11 goals allowed in WCHA games and 12 goals allowed overall. The next closest team is Wisconsin, with 17 goals allowed, 16 coming in WCHA games. Minnesota ranks first in the nation and first in the WCHA in scoring defense, allowing an average of 1.0 goals per game.
Minnesota's scoring leader is sophomore Amanda Kessel, with 26 points (10-16-26). She ranks fourth in the WCHA in scoring. Senior forward Jen Schoullis has also reached the 20-point mark with nine goals and 11 assists.
Junior defenseman Megan Bozek is tied for first nationally, and tops the WCHA in scoring by defensemen with 1.25 points per game. Bozek has six goals on the season, including three gamewinners. In 12 games this season, she has matched her season totals fo goals from her freshman and sophomore seasons, as she scored six goals in each of her first two seasons with the Gophers. Bozek has 62 career points to rank ninth on the Minnesota all-time scoring list for defensemen.
Junior goalie Noora Räty has started 11 of 12 games for the Gophers this season. She has 182 saves on the season, with 12 goals allowed in the first 12 games. Räty leads the WCHA and ranks fourth nationally in goals against average at 1.13. She's also second in the WCHA (fourth nationally) in save percentage at .945. She has three shutouts so far this season (ranks first in the conference and second nationally).
This week's opponent, New Hampshire, is 4-6-2 this season, and 0-4-1 in Hockey East games. Last Saturday, the Wildcats played at Boston University and lost 5-2. On Sunday, UNH lost at Providence 6-2.
Junior Kristine Horn and sophomore Nicole Gifford are leading the Wildcats in points, each with 10 on the season. Freshman Jenn Gilligan has started in goal in nine of 12 games this season and has a goals against average of 2.52.
Brian McCloskey is the head coach of the UNH program, and is assisted by Jamie Wood and Stephanie Jones. Wood was an assistant coach at Minnesota from 2008-10.
Minnesota holds a 6-5-3 record all-time against UNH. The Wildcats won the last meeting between the teams, a 5-4 game in Ridder Arena on Oct. 7, 2006. In home games, the Gophers are 3-2-2 against New Hampshire.
Minnesota and New Hampsire have faced each other in the national championship three times (1998, 1999 and 2005), with UNH winning the playoff games in 1998 and 1999, while the Gophers earned a 5-4 win against the Wildcats in the 2006 NCAA Frozen Four semifinal game.
