University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers in the Pros: Oct. 13
10/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - Several Golden Gopher alumni were in action as the professional women's hockey season officially began last weekend. The National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) embarked on its second season, and the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) kicked off its 10th season with two games.
Seven University of Minnesota alumni were among the players on the ice in the first three NWHL games of the season while Sarah Davis skated in her first two games of the year in the CWHL. The nine Golden Gophers are among 36 WCHA alumni playing in either the NWHL or CWHL this season.
NWHL Update
Gopher alumni took the ice in all three NWHL games over the weekend. Gigi Marvin and the Boston Pride picked up two wins. The Buffalo Beauts, including Megan Bozek, Anne Schleper, Jordyn Burns, and Amanda Leveille, went 1-1-0, and Amanda Kessel and Milica McMillen made their professional debuts for the New York Riveters.
Boston Pride 4, Buffalo Beauts 1
To open up the weekend, the Pride topped the Beauts by a score of 4-1 on Friday. The first period resulted in no score, but the Pride erupted with four goals in the middle frame. Marvin picked up an assist on the Pride's second goal of the game. In the third period, Leveille replaced Brianne McLaughlin in net for the Beauts and recorded 11 saves on 11 shots. Burns and Schleper also saw ice time for the Beauts with each registering a shot on goal.
Boston Pride 6, New York Riveters 3
Marvin and the Pride continued their winning ways when they topped the New York Riveters by a score of 6-3 on Saturday. Marvin recorded her second assist of the season, and Kessel (2a) and McMillen (1g) picked up points in their NWHL debuts for the Riveters. The duo teamed up during the second period when Kessel set up McMillen's power-play goal.
Buffalo Beauts 5, Connecticut Whale 4
Leveille made her first professional start in net in Sunday's Buffalo win over the Connecticut Whale. She made 18 saves on 22 shots in the first two periods, and Bozek (1g-1a) and Schleper (1a) picked up points for the Beauts as well.
CWHL Update
Sarah Davis and the Calgary Inferno, reigning Clarkson Cup champions, recorded two wins over the Brampton Thunder during the CWHL's opening weekend. Meanwhile, Kelly Terry and the Toronto Furies host the Boston Blades in their first games of the season this Saturday and Sunday.
The Inferno won the first game over the Thunder by a score of 3-2 in a shootout. Davis picked up an assist on the game-tying goal to send it to overtime before the Inferno earned a 1-0 shootout victory. Calgary then swept the weekend with another 3-2 win in game two. Davis and the Inferno are back at it on the road at the Boston Blades on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Other Gophers in the Pros
At least 22 former WCHA players are skating for the Minnesota Whitecaps this year, including Gophers Becky Kortum, Hannah Brandt, Winny Brown, Rachael Bona, Katie Frischmann, Sarah Erickson, Mira Jalosuo, Meghan Lorence, Kelly Seeler, Kim Hanlon, and Chelsey Rosenthal listed as active players. The Whitecaps are an elite, post-collegiate team based in Minneapolis.
Noora Raty remains with the Finnish men's professioinal team KJT this season; she also recently competed with the Finnish national team in a three-game series with Sweden.
Gophers in the Pros Roster Breakdown
NWHL (7)
Boston Pride: Gigi Marvin
Buffalo Beauts: Megan Bozek, Anne Schleper, Jordyn Burns, Amanda Leveille
New York Riveters: Amanda Kessel, Milica McMillen
CWHL (2)
Calgary: Sarah Davis
Toronto: Kelly Terry
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