University of Minnesota Athletics
In-State Battle Up Next for Gophers
10/31/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
| No. 2 Minnesota (9-1-0) vs. Minnesota State (2-7-1) | |
| Game 1 | Friday, Nov. 4 | 6:07 p.m. |
| Game 2 | Sunday, Nov. 6 | 2:07 p.m. |
| Location | Ridder Arena | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Tickets | MyGopherSports.com |
| Travel | Local Weather | Parking | Preferred Hotels |
| Game 1 | Game Day Live | BTN Plus Video | Free Audio | Live Stats |
| Game 2 | Game Day Live | BTN Plus Video | Free Audio | Live Stats |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Minnesota State |
| Social Media | @GopherWHockey | Facebook | Instagram |
Oct. 31, 2016
MINNEAPOLIS - The back-to-back defending national champion University of Minnesota women's hockey team remains at Ridder Arena to host Minnesota State in a Friday/Sunday series this week. Puck drop is set for 6:07 p.m. CT Friday and 2:07 p.m. CT Sunday.
Video is available at GopherSports.com via BTNPlus; free audio and live stats via GameTracker and StatBroadcast.com are also linked at GopherSports.com.
This Week's Promotions at Ridder Arena
This Friday is Social Media Night at Ridder Arena, and the Gophers will hold Military Appreciation Day on Sunday.
As part of Social Media Night, fans should use the #GWH hashtag with tweets and Instagram posts for a chance to appear on the video board at Ridder Arena. Watch for a Twitter poll to choose music at Ridder Arena, shared fan photos, behind-the-scenes access through the Gopher Sports Snapchat account (gophersports), and more on Friday.
All former and currently serving military members receive free admission to Sunday's game as part of Military Appreciation Day. Sign up now to watch the Gophers and Mavericks face off free of charge.
About the Series: No. 2 Minnesota vs. Minnesota State
The Gophers are 75-3-3 all-time against the Mavericks, and Minnesota enters this week's series riding a 41-game unbeaten streak (40-0-1) against Minnesota State that dates back to Dec. 7, 2007. Last season, Minnesota outscored Minnesota State by an 18-5 margin in four meetings. Dani Cameranesi (4g-4a), Sarah Potomak (2g-6a), and Megan Wolfe (2g-4a) led the Gophers to a season sweep against the Mavericks.
The last meeting between the Gophers and Mavericks saw Minnesota secure a series sweep 3-2 and 2-1 wins. Megan Wolfe led the Gophers in the series with three points on two goals and one assist, including both game-winners. Kelly Pannek also had three points (1g-2a). Amanda Leveille and Sidney Peters each picked up one win on the weekend.
Scouting the Opponent: Minnesota State
Under the direction of second-year head coach John Harrington, Minnesota State (2-7-1, 0-7-1-0 WCHA) enters this week's series looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Most recently, the Mavericks dropped a home series against Wisconsin with 3-0 and 3-1 losses. Minnesota State opened the season with a sweep over RIT but has struggled in WCHA play with its lone league point so far coming in a 2-2 overtime tie with St. Cloud State (shootout loss).
Through 10 games this season, forwards Emily Antony (2g-2a) and Hannah Davidson (1g-3a) lead the Mavericks with four points each. Sixteen Mavericks have recorded at least one point. Two goaltenders have seen action with senior Brianna Quade playing the majority of minutes. She is 1-6-1 with a .896 save percentage and a 3.19 goals against average, while sophomore Kathryn Bidulka going 1-1-0 in two appearances with .861 save percentage and a 2.43 goals against average.
The Mavericks ended the 2015-16 season in eighth place in the WCHA, finishing with an overall record of 3-29-4 (0-25-3 WCHA). The Mavericks' season ended when they were swept by Wisconsin in the first round of the WCHA postseason. Minnesota State was led by senior Katie Johnson, who posted 21 points (5g-16a) in 33 games. Quade played in 35 games for the Mavericks, posting a .899 save percentage and a 3.43 goals against average. Davidson, who posted 17 points (8g-9a) in 34 games as a sophomore during the 2015-16 season, is Minnesota State's top returner from a year ago.
Minnesota State returned 24 of 25 players for the 2015-16 season, including four seniors. The team has six newcomers, including defenseman McKenzie Sederberg (Andover, Minn.), forward Taylor Gulenchyn (Stillwater, Minn.), forward Demi Gardner (Warroad, Minn.), forward Sofia Poinar (Chaska, Minn.), defenseman Jordan Jackson (Maplewood, Minn.), and goaltender Chloe Crosby (Lakeville, Minn.).
Last Time Out: Gophers Sweep Huskies
Minnesota (9-1-0, 7-1-0 WCHA) earned a home sweep over St. Cloud State last weekend. The Gophers won 5-2 in game one before earning their second shutout of the season with a 3-0 victory in game two. Minnesota's line of Dani Cameranesi (3g-3a), Kelly Pannek (2g-2a), and Sarah Potomak (1g-5a) combined for 16 points against the Huskies. Sidney Peters did not allow a goal, making 15 saves on 15 shots and earning both wins in net. Serena D'Angelo also saw action in game one.
Frost Secures 300th Win
Head coach Brad Frost secured his 300th career coaching victory with the Gophers' road sweep at Ohio State (Oct. 21-22). He enters this week's series with an all-time mark of 302-46-22. This year marks Frost's 10th season at the helm of the Gophers. Last season Frost became the winningest coach in Gopher women's hockey history, surpassing Laura Halldorson (278-67-22) for career coaching wins.
Clutch Scoring from Potomak
Sophomore forward Sarah Potomak leads the NCAA with five game-winning goals in 10 games this season.
Point Streaks
Sophomore Sarah Potomak (9g-9a) and junior Kelly Pannek (3g-11a) both enter this week's games against Minnesota State riding six-game point streaks.
Gophers Rank Among NCAA's Best
Sophomore forward Sarah Potomak ranks second in the nation with a 1.80 points per game average. Her 18 points lead the NCAA. Potomak and senior forward Dani Cameranesi rank first and second in the WCHA with 1.80 and 1.50 points per game, respectively. Junior forward Kelly Pannek's 11 assists are tied for the NCAA lead this season. Redshirt junior goaltender Sidney Peters' 1.24 goals against average ranks fifth in the NCAA and second in the WCHA.
Special Teams Play Shows Improvement
After going 1-for-10 on the power play to open the season, Minnesota's power play now leads the WCHA and ranks second in the NCAA at 22.2 percent (6-for-27). On the penalty kill, the Gophers have not allowed a power-play goal in their last five games, holding opponents to 0-for-11.
Cameranesi Leaving Scoring Mark
Senior forward Dani Cameranesi is Gophers' active career scoring leader with 184 career points (82g-102a) to rank ninth in Minnesota history. She trails eighth-ranked Gigi Marvin (87g-108a) by 11 points. Cameranesi's 82 goals are tied for ninth in Gopher women's hockey history; her 102 assists also rank ninth in Minnesota history; and her 29 power-play goals are tied for fifth all-time.
Century Mark Scoring
Junior forward Kelly Pannek became the 32nd player in Gophers history to surpass 100 career points with two points (1g-1a) against Minnesota Duluth (Oct. 15). Pannek currently has 107 career points (40g-67a). Senior forward Kate Schipper is closing in on 100 career points, currently at 95 points (29g-66a).
Gopher Rookies See First Action
All six of Minnesota's freshmen have suited up for the Maroon & Gold this season. Most recently, freshman goaltender Serena D'Angelo made her second career appearance in the third period against St. Cloud State. Katie Robinson has played in four games after seeing her first action on the road at Ohio State. Lindsay Agnew (2g), Patti Marshall (1g-5a), Alex Woken (1g-2a) have played in all 10 games this season, while Kippin Keller has been in the lineup for eight games.
Six Gophers Headed to Four Nations Cup
The Gophers will be without the services of senior captain Lee Stecklein this week as she joins five Gopher alumnae in competing at the annual Four Nations Cup this week in Vierumäki, Finland. Alumni Megan Bozek ('13), Hannah Brandt ('16), and Anne Schleper ('12) will represent the United States with Stecklein while Sarah Davis ('14) skates for Canada and Noora Raty ('13) is in net for Finland.
Nine Alumni Continue Careers
Nine Gopher alumni are continuing their hockey careers by playing professional hockey in the NWHL and CWHL this season: Gigi Marvin (Boston Pride, NWHL), Megan Bozek (Buffalo Beauts, NWHL), Anne Schleper (Buffalo Beauts, NWHL), Jordyn Burns (Buffalo Beauts, NWHL), Amanda Leveille (Buffalo Beauts, NWHL), Amanda Kessel (New York Riveters, NWHL), Milica McMillen (New York Riveters, NWHL), Sarah Davis (Calgary Inferno, CWHL), and Kelly Terry (Toronto Furies, CWHL).
Gopher Women's Hockey Youth VIP Season Pass Returns
The Gopher Women's Hockey Youth VIP Season Pass is back for its fifth season. The pass provides girls and boys in eighth grade or under with free admission to all regular season Gopher women's hockey games at Ridder Arena. Registration is available at GopherSports.com now.
A Look at the 2016-17 Schedule
The Gophers began the back-to-back NCAA title defense with an unfamiliar opponent in Lindenwood as the teams met for the first time in program history on Friday, Sept. 30 at Ridder Arena. The Gophers then dove into the always-challenging WCHA schedule by traveling to Bemidji State (Oct. 7-8). The team's home-opening conference series set up a national top-four matchup with the then-No. 3 Gophers hosting then-No. 4 Minnesota Duluth (Oct. 14-15).
Minnesota's non-conference slate includes a road series at Boston University (Dec. 9-10) and a non-conference meeting with Minnesota State in this year's U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum game when the teams face off at Braemar Arena in Edina, Minn., Sunday, Jan. 8.
After the regular season concludes, the first round of the WCHA playoffs is set for Feb. 24-26 with the top four teams in the regular-season standings hosting four best-of-three series. The WCHA Final Face-off then returns to Ridder Arena March 4-5. The NCAA postseason begins with quarterfinal games March 10-11, and the 2017 NCAA Women's Frozen Four will be held in St. Louis, Mo., hosted by Lindenwood University March 17-19.
WCHA Tabs Minnesota to Finish Second
The Gophers were chosen to finish second in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's preseason poll of the league's eight head coaches. The Gophers collected two first-place votes and 44 points in the annual preseason poll. Wisconsin led the way with four first-place votes and 48 points, and North Dakota (36 points) and Minnesota Duluth (30 points) rounded out the top four teams in third and fourth place, respectively.
Home, Sweet Home
Including six wins in 2016-17, the Gophers have compiled a record of 101-4-7 in home games at Ridder Arena dating back to the 2011-12 season. In the last five seasons, Minnesota has a .933 winning percentage at home.
Gopher Fans are Nation's Best
Minnesota led the nation in attendance for the fourth straight year last season, averaging 1,671 fans per game. At home at Ridder Arena, the Gophers also led the NCAA with 2,125 fans per game.
Season tickets, pick-your-packs, and single-game tickets for the 2016-17 chapter of Gopher women's hockey are on sale now through MyGopherSports.com. Minnesota looks to lead the nation in attendance for the fifth-straight year on its quest for the program's eighth national championship.
Up Next: Trip to UND Follows Bye Week
Minnesota has a week off from competition before traveling to Grand Forks, N.D., for a WCHA series on the road. The Gophers and Fighting Hawks face off at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 and 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19.
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