University of Minnesota Athletics
Defending NCAA Champion Gophers Address Media
9/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Sept. 23, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS - Head coach Brad Frost and team captains Hannah Brandt and Lee Stecklein spoke to the media during the Golden Gopher women's hockey team's annual preseason press conference on Tuesday.
Frost discussed the team's expanded roster and increased depth, the schedule and opponents, and the strength of the team's leadership. Brandt and Stecklein weighed in on high expectations and welcoming the team's nine newcomers. Watch the full press conference above.
Gophers Begin Season with Exhibition
The defending national champion Gophers begin the 2015-16 season with an exhibition game against the Minnesota Whitecaps this Friday. Game time is set for 7 p.m. CT at Ridder Arena, and admission is free.
A Look Back at 2014-15
Minnesota capped its 2014-15 season by winning the program's third NCAA title in the last four years and its sixth overall national crown. The Gophers finished the season with an overall record of 34-3-4. Last season's Gophers also captured the program's ninth WCHA regular-season title and made the program's 11th NCAA Frozen Four appearance.
Gophers Collect Preseason Honors
Minnesota is the nation's unanimous No. 1 team according to the USCHO.com preseason national poll. The Gophers received all 15 first-place votes. The Gophers were also selected as the WCHA's preseason favorite, collecting six first-place votes and 48 total points in the annual preseason poll of the league's eight head coaches.
Gopher senior Hannah Brandt was named the WCHA Preseason Player of the Year for the third-straight season, and Minnesota rookie Sarah Potomak took home WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year honors.
2015-16 Minnesota Roster
The 2015-16 season marks Brad Frost's ninth season as the head coach of the Gophers. Frost enters his ninth year at the helm with an overall record of 258-41-21 (.839). He has not had a team finish lower than second in the WCHA.
Minnesota returns seven of its top 10 scorers from a year ago, led by senior Hannah Brandt and junior Dani Cameranesi. Brandt led the Gophers and ranked second in the nation with 74 points (34 goals, 40 assists), while Cameranesi posted her career-best 65 points (23 goals, 42 assists) as a sophomore in 2014-15.
The Gophers also return All-American defensemen Lee Stecklein and Milica McMillen to strengthen the blue line. The team will look to Megan Wolfe and Sydney Baldwin along with the addition of freshman Sophie Skarzynski to further bolster the defensive corps.
Senior goaltender Amanda Leveille suits up for her final season in Maroon & Gold, following a junior season with a 1.18 GAA and a .946 save percentage. Leveille's goals against average ranked third in the national rankings, while her save percentage ranked second in the NCAA in 2014-15.
In total, Minnesota returns 16 players from its 2015 national championship team, while welcoming nine new players - seven freshmen and two sophomore transfers. The newcomers include Anna Barlow, Tianna Gunderson, Emma May, Sarah Potomak, Sophie Skarzynski, Sierra Smith and Taylor Williamson. Sophomores Caitlin Reilly and Nicole Schammel also join the team.
Looking Ahead
After this weekend's exhibition game, the Gophers officially open the 2015-16 season on the road at Penn State next week. The series marks a rematch of last year's season-opener, which the Gophers won, 8-0.
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