University of Minnesota Athletics
No. 2 Gophers to Host No. 3 Badgers
1/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
| No. 2 Minnesota (18-1-2) vs. No. 3 Wisconsin (17-2-1) | |
| Game 1 | Saturday, Jan. 10 | 4:30 p.m. |
| Game 2 | Sunday, Jan. 11 | 2 p.m. |
| Location | Ridder Arena | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Tickets | MyGopherSports.com |
| Travel | Local Weather | Parking | Preferred Hotels |
| Game 1 | Game Day Live | Big Ten Network | BTN Plus | 105 FM | |
| Game 2 | Game Day Live | BTN Plus | Free Audio | |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Wisconsin |
| Social Media | @GopherWHockey | Facebook | Instagram |
Jan. 8, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS - A top-three battle pits No. 2 Minnesota (18-1-2, 11-1-2-0 WCHA) against No. 3 Wisconsin (17-2-1, 13-2-1-0 WCHA) as the Gophers host their border rival at Ridder Arena this weekend. The Gophers and Badgers face off at 4:30 p.m. CT Saturday and 2 p.m. CT Sunday.
Saturday's game will air live on the Big Ten Network and be broadcast on 105 FM Sports Radio The Ticket in Minneapolis. Free audio and live stats will be available at GopherSports.com for both games, and Sunday's game will be streamed online via BTN Plus (subscription required).
ABOUT THE SERIES: MINNESOTA VS. WISCONSIN
Minnesota enters this weekend's series with a 42-26-8 all-time mark against Wisconsin. The Gophers have won the last 13-straight meetings between the two teams, including most recently a road sweep in Madison in October 2014. The Gophers won the first game by a score of 4-1 before coming from behind in a 2-1 overtime win in game two of the series. Minnesota's senior class is 14-1-1 against Wisconsin, and the juniors, sophomores and freshmen have never lost to the Badgers.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: WISCONSIN BADGERS
This weekend, No. 3 Wisconsin (17-2-1, 13-2-1-0 WCHA) resumes competition after a five-week break from action. The Badgers closed out 2014 on a nine-game winning streak and a 12-game unbeaten streak, most recently sweeping North Dakota with 2-1 and 2-0 wins at home Dec. 5-7, 2014.
During UW's current unbeaten streak, senior Brittany Ammerman has 15 points (5g-10a), while freshman Annie Pankowski has 13 points (8g-5a). On the season, Karley Sylvester leads the Badgers with 25 points (8g-17a) and ranks fourth in the WCHA with 1.32 points per game. The Badgers rank third in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 4.05 goals per game. UW is also third in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 1.10 goals per contest.
Goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens ended the first half of the season with a 14-2-1 record and a .853 winning percentage. She has a career record of 25-3-1, with her three losses coming at the hands of ranked opponents. Her 1.22 goals against average is sixth in the nation, and her .936 save percentage ranks eighth in the NCAA.
GOPHER QUICK HITS
- Kelly Pannek has 18 points (7g-11a) during a career-best seven-game point streak.
- Dani Cameranesi is tied for the national lead with five game-winning goals.
- Hannah Brandt leads the WCHA and ranks second in the nation with 41 points (18g-23a).
- Milica McMillen leads the nation with seven power-play goals.
LAST TIME OUT: GOPHERS EARN NONCONFERENCE SWEEP
Minnesota finished its regular-season non-conference slate with a sweep over St. Lawrence in its first series of 2015. The Gophers won 10-0 last Sunday before earning a 5-1 win on Tuesday night. Rachael Bona (5g-1a), Kelly Pannek (4g-2a) and Dani Cameranesi (6a) led the way with six points each in the series.
Behind a pair of hat tricks from Bona and Pannek, Minnesota started 2015 with a 10-0 win over St. Lawrence. Pannek led all players with five points, and Maryanne Menefee and Cameranesi each had four points. Along with Bona's three-goal effort, Hannah Brandt also had a goal and two assists. Amanda Leveille recorded 15 saves in her fifth shutout of the season.
On Tuesday night, Minnesota broke open a one-goal game with three third-period goals to earn a 5-1 win and secure the sweep over the Saints. Bona led the way with two goals and one assist. Meghan Lorence, Lee Stecklein and Cameranesi each had two assists in the win as well. Leveille made 21 saves on 22 shots as the Gophers outshot St. Lawrence, 43-22.
HOME, SWEET HOME
Minnesota continues a seven-game home stand this weekend as the Gophers play their first five games of 2015 at home at Ridder Arena. The Gophers are 53-2-2 in their last 57 home games, dating back to Feb. 18, 2012.
2015 FROZEN FOUR TICKETS NOW ON SALE
The 2015 NCAA Women's Frozen Four will take place March 20 and 22 at Ridder Arena, and tickets are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased online at MyGopherSports.com, in person at the Mariucci Arena Box Office, or by calling 1-800-U-GOPHER.
OFFENSIVE DEFENSE
The Gophers' defensemen lead the NCAA's blue-liners in scoring, averaging 3.86 points per game. McMillen (10g-9a) ranks fifth in the nation and leads the WCHA defensemen with 19 points in 21 games for a 0.90 points per game average this year. Fellow Gopher blue-liners Rachel Ramsey (5g-13a) and Lee Stecklein (14a) are among the nation's top 15 defensive scorers as well.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Ten Gophers are in double-figures for scoring, led by Hannah Brandt (18g-23a), Dani Cameranesi (15g-21a) and Rachael Bona (11g-18a). All 18 skaters have at least one point, and 14 players have scored at least one goal. Brandt and Cameranesi lead the WCHA and rank third and fourth in the NCAA with 2.05 points per game and 1.80 points per game, respectively. Brandt's 18 goals lead the WCHA and are tied for second in the nation.
With 101 goals in 21 games, the Gophers' offense leads the WCHA and ranks second in the nation, averaging 4.81 goals per game behind Boston College (5.84). Likewise, Minnesota's 1.05 goals against average is second in the NCAA and the best in the WCHA.
LEVEILLE LEADS WCHA GOALTENDERS
Goaltender Amanda Leveille leads the WCHA and ranks fifth in the nation with a 1.19 goals against average. She also lands second in the league and fourth in the NCAA with a .945 save percentage. Leveille leads the WCHA and ranks second in the nation with a .912 winning percentage (15-1-1) as well.
SPECIAL TEAMS LEADERS
Milica McMillen leads the NCAA with seven power-play goals each this season, and the Gophers have the nation's top power-play unit, converting on 27 of 80 opportunities for a .338 percentage.
SENIOR CLASS BOASTS IMPRESSIVE WINNING PERCENTAGE
Minnesota's senior class of Rachael Bona, Meghan Lorence, Rachel Ramsey, Shyler Sletta owns a 131-8-5 overall record for a .927 winning percentage during their time in Maroon & Gold, including a 18-1-2 mark this season.
WINNING WAYS
Minnesota is 113-4-4 in the team's last 121 games, a stretch that includes an NCAA-record 62-game winning streak (Feb. 28, 2012 through Nov. 17, 2013).
FROST MILESTONE ON THE HORIZON
Brad Frost is closing in on his 250th career win as the Gophers' head coach. Entering this weekend's series against Wisconsin, Frost owns a career mark of 242-39-19 for a .838 winning percentage.
SCORING MILESTONES
Hannah Brandt is closing in on 200 career points, entering this weekend's series with 188 career points on 74 goals and 114 assists. Brandt is 12 points away from becoming the seventh Gopher all-time to reach the 200-point mark. In addition, Maryanne Menefee (43g-50a), Meghan Lorence (43g-45a) and Milica McMillen (34g-50a) are all getting close to the 100-career point mark as well.
Five Gophers have scored their first career goals this season in Cara Piazza (Oct. 3), Kelly Pannek (Oct. 31), Paige Haley (Dec. 5), Nina Rodgers (Dec. 5) and Sydney Baldwin (Dec. 6).
GOPHERS SIGN THREE FOR 2015-16
The Gophers have signed Sarah Potomak (Aldergrove, British Columbia), Sophie Skarzynski (Lake Forest, Ill.) and Taylor Williamson (Edina, Minn.) to attend the University of Minnesota and join the team for the 2015-16 academic year.
NATIONAL TEAM ACTION
Associate head coach Joel Johnson is currently serving as the head coach of the U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team at the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Women's World Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., Jan. 5-12. Two future Gophers are representing their home countries in the tournament as forward Sarah Potomak is an alternate captain for Canada and forward Sophie Skarzynski is skating for the U.S.
Gopher alumni Sarah Davis and Kelly Terry won gold with while representing their home country and playing with Canada's National Women's Development Team at the 2015 Nations Cup Jan. 3-6 at the BLZ Arena in Füssen, Germany. Terry served as team captain at the tournament.
Earlier this season, Minnesota had representatives on three of the four teams participating in the 2014 Four Nations Cup as current Gophers Hannah Brandt (2a), Dani Cameranesi (2g-2a) and Lee Stecklein (1a) joined alum Megan Bozek in taking home silver with the U.S. Women's National Team. Terry played in all four games and earned gold with Canada, and fellow alum Mira Jalosuo played in three games for Finland. Cameranesi finished the tournament tied for the scoring lead with four points.
Brandt, Cameranesi, Milica McMillen and Stecklein along with alumni Bozek and Anne Schleper trained at the U.S. Women's National Team Winter Training Camp in Blaine, Minn., Dec. 27-31 as well.
SECOND HALF SCHEDULE
Seven of Minnesota's first 10 games to open 2015 are at home. The Gophers opened 2015 at home against St. Lawrence (Jan. 4/6). The Gophers host Wisconsin (Jan. 10-11), Minnesota State (Jan. 16) and Ohio State (Jan. 30-31). The team's second half road trips include Minnesota State (Jan. 17), St. Cloud State (Jan. 23-24), North Dakota (Feb. 6-7) and Bemidji State (Feb. 20-21); the Gophers also host Minnesota Duluth Feb. 13-14.
The postseason kicks off with the WCHA First Round Feb. 27 through March 1 before the 2015 WCHA FINAL FACEOFF hosted by North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D., March 7-8. The NCAA quarterfinal round is set for March 13-15, and the 2015 NCAA Women's Frozen Four returns to Ridder Arena March 20 and 22.
ROOKIES FINDING THEIR WAY
All four Gopher freshmen have recorded their first collegiate points. Kelly Pannek (8g-18a) leads the nation's rookies in scoring with 26 points, and Cara Piazza (4g-3a), Sydney Baldwin (2g-4a) and Nina Rodgers (2g-1a) have made their way onto the score sheet as well.
UP NEXT: GOPHERS TO FACE MAVERICKS
Minnesota and Minnesota State meet in another home-and-home series next weekend. The Gophers host the Mavericks at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16 before traveling to Mankato, Minn., to conclude the series at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Free audio and live stats will be available at GopherSports.com for both games. Friday's game will be streamed online via BTN Plus (subscription required), and free video will be available at MSUMavericks.com on Saturday.
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