University of Minnesota Athletics
No. 1 Gophers to Open Season at Penn State
9/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
| No. 1 Minnesota (0-0-0) at Penn State (0-0-0) | |
| Game 1 | Thursday, Oct. 1 | 6 p.m. CT |
| Game 2 | Friday, Oct. 2 | 6 p.m. CT |
| Location | Pegula Ice Arena | University Park, Pa. |
| Tickets | Penn State Ticket Center |
| Game 1 | Game Day Live | Free Video | Free Audio | |
| Game 2 | Game Day Live | Free Video | Free Audio | |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Penn State |
| Social Media | @GopherWHockey | Facebook | Instagram |
Sept. 28, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 1 University of Minnesota women's hockey team begins the 2015-16 season and its national title defense on the road at Penn State in a Thursday-Friday series this week. Both games are scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at the Nittany Lions' Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pa.
Minnesota enters the 2015-16 season as the WCHA preseason favorite and ranks at the top of both the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine preseason national polls.
About the Series: Minnesota vs. Penn State
Thursday's game marks the second-ever meeting between Minnesota and Penn State in women's hockey. It is also a rematch of the Gophers' season-opener a year ago when the Maroon & Gold defeated the Nittany Lions, 8-0, at Ridder Arena. Hannah Brandt had three points, and Dani Cameranesi and Milica McMillen each scored twice to lead the Gophers offensively, while Sidney Peters made 15 saves in her first career start.
Scouting the Opponent: Penn State
The 2014-15 season marks the fourth year of Penn State women's hockey at the varsity level. The Nittany Lions (0-0-0) posted a 17-16-4 overall record and went 9-9-2 in CHA play last season. PSU returns 23 letterwinners and nine of its top-10 scorers from last season. Under fourth-year head coach Josh Brandwene, the Nittany Lions have added four newcomers and are captained by Jordin Pardoski (C), Shannon Yoxheimer (C), Laura Bowman (A) and Sarah Wilkie (A).
Last season's winning record for Penn State marked the program's first as an NCAA Division I program. The Nittany Lions' fourth-place finish in the CHA regular-season standings marked their highest conference regular-season finish in program history as well. Last year, Penn State was the most-improved NCAA team with four times as many wins as the 2013-14 season. The Nittany Lions swept Lindenwood (1-0, 3-1) to advance to the CHA semifinal but fell to No. 2 seed Syracuse, 2-0, to end the 2014-15 season.
Gophers Tune Up with 5-4 Exhibition Win
The Gophers defeated the Minnesota Whitecaps, 5-4, in an exhibition game at Ridder Arena last Friday. Hannah Brandt (2g-1a), Kelly Pannek (2g-1a) and Kate Schipper (1g-2a) each recorded three points, and Amanda Leveille and Sidney Peters split time in net.
Maroon & Gold Roster Breakdown
Minnesota returns 16 players from its 2015 national championship team, including 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 freshmen Sophie Skarzynski and Anna Barlow 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.
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). Frost needs just 21 wins to surpass Laura Halldorson (278-67-22) as the winningest coach in Gopher women's hockey history.
Brandt Poised to Make History
Hannah Brandt enters her senior season as the NCAA's active career scoring leader with 221 career points (90 goals, 131 assists). She ranks fifth in Minnesota history and 16th in NCAA history. Brandt needs just 26 points to surpass Natalie Darwitz (246 points) as the Gophers' all-time career scoring leader.
Gophers Add Nine Newcomers
Minnesota has added nine newcomers for 2015-16, made up of seven true freshmen and two transfers. The newest Gophers are Anna Barlow (South St. Paul, Minn.), Tianna Gunderson (Roseau, Minn.), Emma May (Eagan, Minn.), Sarah Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C.), Caitlin Reilly (Chanhassen, Minn.), Sophie Skarzynski (Lake Forest, Ill.), Nicole Schammel (Red Wing, Minn.), Sierra Smith (Stillwater, Minn.), and Taylor Williamson (Edina, Minn.).
Reilly, a transfer from Penn State, and Schammel, a transfer from Minnesota State, join the Maroon & Gold as sophomores. Schammel will sit out the 2015-16 season due to WCHA in-league transfer rules.
A Look at the 2015-16 Schedule
Minnesota's 2015-16 schedule features two exhibition games against the Minnesota Whitecaps, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game, an always-challenging WCHA slate, and the return of the WCHA FINAL FACEOFF to Ridder Arena. In addition to Penn State, the Gophers' non-conference schedule also includes a series against Yale at Ridder Arena Nov. 20-21.
Duo Set to Captain Minnesota
Senior Hannah Brandt and junior Lee Stecklein have been named Minnesota's captains this season. Brandt enters her first season as a team captain, and Stecklein was an assistant captain last year.
Brandt, Potomak Collect WCHA Preseason Honors
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. In addition, the Gophers were selected as the league's preseason favorite, collecting six first-place votes and 48 total points in the annual preseason poll of the WCHA's eight head coaches.
Looking Back at Minnesota's Sixth National Title
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.
Top-seeded Minnesota defeated No. 3 seed Harvard by a score of 4-1 in the 2015 NCAA Women's Frozen Four national championship game at Ridder Arena. Minnesota advanced to its fourth-straight NCAA title game with a 3-1 win over fourth-seeded Wisconsin in front of a sold-out crowd at Ridder Arena in the Frozen Four semifinal round.
Minnesota in Season-Openers
The Gophers are 17-1-0 in season-openers, including a 6-0-0 mark in season-opening games on the road. Most recently, Minnesota defeated Colgate, 3-1, to open the 2013-14 season.
Home, Sweet Home
The Gophers ended the 2014-15 season on a 17-game home unbeaten streak (15-0-2). The Gophers are 63-2-4 in their last 69 home games, dating back to Feb. 18, 2012. In 2014-15, Minnesota was 19-1-3 at home and led the nation in attendance, averaging 1,634 fans per game and 2,037 fans per home game.
Minnesota is 130-6-5 in the team's last 141 games, a stretch that includes an NCAA-record 62-game winning streak (Feb. 28, 2012 through Nov. 17, 2013).
Up Next: Gophers Host St. Cloud State
Minnesota opens WCHA play at home by hosting St. Cloud State at Ridder Arena next weekend. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT Friday, Oct. 9 and 4 p.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 10.
Fans can take advantage of a Break the Ice BOGO ticket special, enjoying the start of the season with buy one, get one free tickets for the series. Buy one ticket to the Oct. 9 game and get one free for Oct. 10.
Prior to Friday's game, join the team in celebrating the 2015 NCAA title with a banner-raising ceremony during pre-game festivities at Ridder Arena. Fans will receive a free replica mini-banner while supplies last. The Gophers' home-opener will also feature a free giveaway of the official 2015-16 Gopher women's hockey team poster while supplies last.
Saturday's game is University of Minnesota Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day. All University of Minnesota faculty and staff members are invited to enjoy free admission using the online promotional code. Tickets must be ordered online in advance at MyGopherSports.com. In addition, faculty and staff members will receive a free Golden Gopher USB drive while supplies last.
###
