University of Minnesota Athletics
No. 2 Gophers to Host Beavers
11/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
| No. 2 Minnesota (11-1-2) vs. Bemidji State (5-8-1) | |
| Game 1 | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 2:07 p.m. |
| Game 2 | Sunday, Nov. 27 | 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 | Bemidji State |
| Social Media | @GopherWHockey | Facebook | Instagram |
Nov. 21, 2016
MINNEAPOLIS - The back-to-back defending national champion University of Minnesota women's hockey team returns home to Ridder Arena to host Bemidji State this Saturday and Sunday. The Gophers and Beavers face off at 2 p.m. CT both days.
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: Teddy Bear Toss, Food Drive
The Gophers will hold their annual Teddy Bear Toss this Sunday. Fans are invited to bring new stuffed animals to donate to the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital by throwing the stuffed animals on the ice when the first Gopher goal is scored. In the event that the team does not score a goal, fans will be instructed to throw the stuffed animals on the ice after the game or donate them in bins on the way out of the rink. Fans who bring a stuffed animal to donate will receive free admission.
This weekend, the Gophers are also holding a non-perishable food drive on Saturday. All donations collected will go to Gopher Athletics partner, Second Harvest Heartland. Fans are encouraged to bring canned or boxed food items to donate; fans will receive a Gopher gift in exchange for their donation. This weekend's series is Faculty & Staff Appreciation weekend for University of Minnesota employees as well.
About the Series: Minnesota vs. Bemidji State
Minnesota has an all-time mark of 65-7-7 against Bemidji State. This weekend's series marks the second of the season between the Gophers and Beavers. The teams split their WCHA-opening series in Bemidji, Minn., Oct. 7-8. Minnesota won 3-1 in a come-from-behind victory in game one before the Beavers sealed a 2-0 win with an empty-net goal in game two. Dani Cameranesi (2g) and Kelly Pannek (2a) led the Gophers against BSU, and Sidney Peters made what was then a career-high 34 saves while allowing just one goal in the series.
Scouting the Opponent: Bemidji State
Under the direction of third-year coach Jim Scanlan, Bemidji State (5-8-1, 3-8-1-0 WCHA) enters this weekend's series after splitting a series with St. Cloud State. The Beavers won 6-2 in game one before falling 3-0 in game two. BSU started the season with a record of 4-2-0 before going 1-6-1 over its last eight games.
Through 14 games this season, 19 different Beavers have recorded at least one point led by sophomore forward Emily Bergland (5g-5a). Senior defenseman Madison Hutchinson also has a team-high five assists and ranks second on the team with eight points. Senior Brittni Mowat has seen the majority of time in net, posting a record of 4-7-1 with a 2.34 goals against average and a .915 save percentage in 12 appearances. Junior goaltender Erin Deters has seen action in two games.
The Beavers finished the 2015-16 with an overall record of 22-11-3 (17-9-2 WCHA). BSU took third in the WCHA regular season standings but was upset by Minnesota Duluth in the WCHA quarterfinal round. The Beavers dropped 5-1 and 2-1 (OT) decisions to the Bulldogs in the best-of-three series and did not receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Last Time Out: Gophers Take 4-of-6 Points at UND
Most recently, Minnesota (11-1-2, 9-1-2-2 WCHA) recorded back-to-back 2-2 overtime ties with a pair of shootout victories on the road at No. 9 North Dakota. Kelly Pannek (3a), Sarah Potomak (1g-2a), and Dani Cameranesi (2g) led the Gophers, and Sidney Peters made a career-high 45 shots on 49 shots faced in the series. Against the Fighting Hawks, Cameranesi scored both goals in game one before Lee Stecklein scored the shootout-winner in the fourth round. Game two saw Megan Wolfe and Potomak net goals in regulation, and Nicole Schammel and Pannek score in the shootout; Peters made two saves for the 2-1 shootout win.
Home, Sweet Home
Including eight wins in 2016-17, the Gophers have compiled a record of 103-4-7 in home games at Ridder Arena dating back to the 2011-12 season. Since 2011-12, Minnesota has a .934 winning percentage at home.
Road Tripping
After this weekend's series, the Gophers will not return to Ridder Arena for a regular-season game until Friday, Jan. 20 - a stretch of 54 days. Minnesota hosts the Minnesota Whitecaps in an exhibition game on its home ice on Friday, Jan. 6, but does not resume WCHA action until hosting Ohio State on Friday, Jan. 20.
Up next for the Gophers are road trips to Wisconsin (Dec. 2-3), Boston University (Dec. 9-10), and Minnesota Duluth (Jan. 13-14). Minnesota also faces Minnesota State in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Faceoff Classic at Braemar Arena in Edina, Minn., on Sunday, Jan. 8.
Team-Best Point Streak
Junior Kelly Pannek enters this week's games on a team-best 10-game point streak. She has 20 points (5g-15a) in the last 10 games, including at least one assist in all 10 games.
Gophers Rank Among NCAA's Best
Junior Kelly Pannek (5g-20a), and sophomore Sarah Potomak (11g-14a) are tied for the NCAA lead with 25 points each, and senior Dani Cameranesi (14g-10a) is fourth with 24 points. Cameranesi's 14 goals are an NCAA-best, and Pannek leads the NCAA with 20 assists and 1.43 assists per game. Potomak's five game-winning goals are tied for the NCAA lead.
Redshirt junior Sidney Peters ranks second in the WCHA and fourth in the NCAA with a 1.25 goals against average and is one of four goalies in the country with 11 wins already this season.
Special Teams Play
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 22.7 percent (10-for-44). The Gophers' penalty kill is ninth in the nation at 37-for-41 (.902). Minnesota leads the NCAA in fewest penalty minutes per game, averaging three penalties per game at 6.0 minutes per game.
Cameranesi Leaving Scoring Mark
Senior forward Dani Cameranesi is Gophers' active career scoring leader with 193 career points (89g-104a) to rank ninth in Minnesota history. She trails eighth-ranked Gigi Marvin (87g-108a) by two points, and she is seven points away from becoming the eighth Gopher in program history to reach 200 career points. Cameranesi's 89 goals are tied for seventh in Gopher women's hockey history. Her 104 assists also rank ninth in Minnesota history, and her 31 power-play goals are tied for fourth 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 118 career points (42g-76a). Senior forward Kate Schipper is closing in on 100 career points, currently at 97 points (29g-68a).
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 304-46-24. 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.
Gopher Rookies See First Action
All six of Minnesota's freshmen have suited up for the Maroon & Gold this season. Freshman goaltender Serena D'Angelo made her third career appearance in the third period against Minnesota State (Nov. 6). Katie Robinson has played in seven games after seeing her first action on the road at Ohio State (Oct. 21). Lindsay Agnew (2g-2a), Patti Marshall (1g-6a), Alex Woken (1g-3a) have played in all 14 games this season, while Kippin Keller has been in the lineup for 12 games.
Six Gophers Medal at Four Nations Cup
All six Golden Gopher representatives took home medals at the 2016 Four Nations Cup. Lee Stecklein, Hannah Brandt, Megan Bozek, and Anne Schleper won gold with the U.S. Women's National Team while Sarah Davis took home silver with Canada's National Women's Team as the rivals met in the gold-medal game. Meanwhile, Noora Raty and Finland won 2-1 over Sweden for bronze in Vierumäki, 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.
Trio Set to Captain Minnesota
Senior Lee Stecklein continues her duties from last season as captain, while seniors Kate Schipper and Dani Cameranesi are serving as assistant captains.
Gopher Fans are Nation's Best
Season tickets, pick-your-packs, and single-game tickets for the 2016-17 chapter of Gopher women's hockey are available 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: Border Battle on the Road
Minnesota faces off against top-ranked Wisconsin for this year's first Border Battle series on the road in Madison, Wis., at 3:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Dec. 3 and 2 p.m. CT Sunday, Dec. 4.
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