University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Sign Three for 2019-20
11/15/2018 2:29:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Makayla Pahl, Sydney Shearen, and Madeline Wethington make up the newest class of Golden Gophers.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota women's hockey program and head coach Brad Frost are pleased to announce the addition of three student-athletes for the 2019-20 season. Makayla Pahl, Sydney Shearen, and Madeline Wethington make up the newest class of Golden Gophers.
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"We are thrilled to have Madeline, Sydney, and Makayla joining our Gopher program," Frost said. "Our goal is to always recruit great people first, and I believe we have done that. They are excellent in the classroom as well as on the ice. All three of these players have played with the USA's U18 team and won gold medals. They will be tremendous additions to Gopher women's hockey."
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Makayla Pahl, Goaltender, Rochester, Minn. (Rochester Mayo High School)
A left-handed goaltender, Makayla Pahl joins the Gophers from Rochester Mayo High School. After playing boys hockey for four years, including spending her junior season on the Rochester Mayo boys team, Pahl is spending her senior season playing for the Spartans girls team. Her USA Hockey experience includes winning gold with the U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team at the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship in Dmitrov, Russia and participating in the 2018 USA Hockey Women's National Festival. She is the daughter of Billy and April Pahl.
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Frost on Pahl: Makayla is a goaltender who has tremendous size. She covers a lot of net and competes well. Makayla has a great upside, and we look forward to helping her reach her full potential, both on and off the ice.
Pahl on Why Minnesota:Â I chose the University of Minnesota because I believe that wearing the "M" is a huge honor -- to play for my home state along with playing with a team that feels like family. I also believe I will receive the best education from a great university.Â
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Sydney Shearen, Forward, Hugo, Minn. (White Bear Lake High School)
A right-handed forward, Sydney Shearen joins the Gophers from White Bear Lake High School. She enters her senior year as an All-USA Preseason Girls Hockey Team selection. As a junior in 2017-18, Shearen led White Bear Lake with 49 points (21g-28a) in 23 games and received all-state honorable mention honors. She led the Bears to an overall record of 18-8-3 after the team fell to Hill-Murray in the Section 4AA championship game. Shearen was a member of the gold-medal winning U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team at the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship in Dmitrov, Russia. As a member of the U.S. Under-18 Women's Select Team, she also competed in the 2017 and 2018 Under-18 Series vs. Canada. Shearen participated in the 2017 and 2018 USA Hockey Women's National Festivals and attended the 2017 and 2018 U18 Girls Select Player Development Camps as well. She is the daughter of Heather and Sean Shearen.
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Frost on Shearen: Syd is a speedy forward that never seems to tire. She puts relentless pressure on the puck, causing turnovers and opportunities for herself and her teammates. Syd sees the ice well and has a knack for putting the puck in the net.
Shearen on Why Minnesota:Â I chose the University of Minnesota because of the incredible opportunities that come from both the hockey team and school. The team culture, coaching staff, and support system within the University were key components to my decision.
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Madeline Wethington, Defense, Edina, Minn. (Blake School)
A left-handed defense, Madeline Wethington joins the Gophers from the Blake School. She enters her senior year with the Bears as a two-time returning All-USA selection. As a junior in 2017-18, Wethington recorded 31 points (11g-20a) in 22 games played and helped Blake to the Section 6AA championship game where the team fell to eventual state champion Edina. Wethington and the Bears finished as back-to-back Minnesota Class A state champions in 2016-17 and 2015-16 and were state runners-up in 2014-15. Wethington was also a member of Blake's state championship team as a seventh grader in 2013-14. As a member of the U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team, Wethington has participated in three IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championships, winning gold in 2016, 2017, and 2018. She served as an alternate captain for the 2018 U.S. squad. Wethington has also skated for the Red, White, and Blue in three Under-18 Series vs. Canada (2015, 2016, and 2017) and one Under-22 Series vs. Canada (2018) as well. She has attended four USA Hockey Women's National Festivals, three Girls U18 Select Player Development Camps, and the 2018 U.S. Women's National Team Evaluation Camp. She is the daughter of Patrick and Kerry Wethington.
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Frost on Wethington: Madeline is a big, strong defenseman who plays with a great amount of intensity. She is the ultimate competitor, always wanting to improve and push the pace. Madeline has great vision, an excellent shot and has the ability to play at both ends of the rink.
Wethington on Why Minnesota: I chose the University of Minnesota because it has been a dream of mine since I could remember. Watching my aunts play here really inspired me and made me want to do the same thing as well. You cannot go wrong with all that the University of Minnesota has to offer. I was looking for an institution that not only had a great hockey program but more importantly a great education. I first and foremost value my education and the university has so many opportunities for me to develop my love of learning. Because it is a public flagship institution, it offers me a lot of resources and research opportunities. When the coaching staff offered me the chance to come, I knew it was the right fit. The culture that the coaching staff has established is something that I want to be a part of. Overall I know that by becoming a Gopher, I am going to become a stronger student, player, and person.
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"We are thrilled to have Madeline, Sydney, and Makayla joining our Gopher program," Frost said. "Our goal is to always recruit great people first, and I believe we have done that. They are excellent in the classroom as well as on the ice. All three of these players have played with the USA's U18 team and won gold medals. They will be tremendous additions to Gopher women's hockey."
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Makayla Pahl, Goaltender, Rochester, Minn. (Rochester Mayo High School)
A left-handed goaltender, Makayla Pahl joins the Gophers from Rochester Mayo High School. After playing boys hockey for four years, including spending her junior season on the Rochester Mayo boys team, Pahl is spending her senior season playing for the Spartans girls team. Her USA Hockey experience includes winning gold with the U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team at the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship in Dmitrov, Russia and participating in the 2018 USA Hockey Women's National Festival. She is the daughter of Billy and April Pahl.
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Frost on Pahl: Makayla is a goaltender who has tremendous size. She covers a lot of net and competes well. Makayla has a great upside, and we look forward to helping her reach her full potential, both on and off the ice.
Pahl on Why Minnesota:Â I chose the University of Minnesota because I believe that wearing the "M" is a huge honor -- to play for my home state along with playing with a team that feels like family. I also believe I will receive the best education from a great university.Â
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Sydney Shearen, Forward, Hugo, Minn. (White Bear Lake High School)
A right-handed forward, Sydney Shearen joins the Gophers from White Bear Lake High School. She enters her senior year as an All-USA Preseason Girls Hockey Team selection. As a junior in 2017-18, Shearen led White Bear Lake with 49 points (21g-28a) in 23 games and received all-state honorable mention honors. She led the Bears to an overall record of 18-8-3 after the team fell to Hill-Murray in the Section 4AA championship game. Shearen was a member of the gold-medal winning U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team at the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship in Dmitrov, Russia. As a member of the U.S. Under-18 Women's Select Team, she also competed in the 2017 and 2018 Under-18 Series vs. Canada. Shearen participated in the 2017 and 2018 USA Hockey Women's National Festivals and attended the 2017 and 2018 U18 Girls Select Player Development Camps as well. She is the daughter of Heather and Sean Shearen.
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Frost on Shearen: Syd is a speedy forward that never seems to tire. She puts relentless pressure on the puck, causing turnovers and opportunities for herself and her teammates. Syd sees the ice well and has a knack for putting the puck in the net.
Shearen on Why Minnesota:Â I chose the University of Minnesota because of the incredible opportunities that come from both the hockey team and school. The team culture, coaching staff, and support system within the University were key components to my decision.
Â
Madeline Wethington, Defense, Edina, Minn. (Blake School)
A left-handed defense, Madeline Wethington joins the Gophers from the Blake School. She enters her senior year with the Bears as a two-time returning All-USA selection. As a junior in 2017-18, Wethington recorded 31 points (11g-20a) in 22 games played and helped Blake to the Section 6AA championship game where the team fell to eventual state champion Edina. Wethington and the Bears finished as back-to-back Minnesota Class A state champions in 2016-17 and 2015-16 and were state runners-up in 2014-15. Wethington was also a member of Blake's state championship team as a seventh grader in 2013-14. As a member of the U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team, Wethington has participated in three IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championships, winning gold in 2016, 2017, and 2018. She served as an alternate captain for the 2018 U.S. squad. Wethington has also skated for the Red, White, and Blue in three Under-18 Series vs. Canada (2015, 2016, and 2017) and one Under-22 Series vs. Canada (2018) as well. She has attended four USA Hockey Women's National Festivals, three Girls U18 Select Player Development Camps, and the 2018 U.S. Women's National Team Evaluation Camp. She is the daughter of Patrick and Kerry Wethington.
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Frost on Wethington: Madeline is a big, strong defenseman who plays with a great amount of intensity. She is the ultimate competitor, always wanting to improve and push the pace. Madeline has great vision, an excellent shot and has the ability to play at both ends of the rink.
Wethington on Why Minnesota: I chose the University of Minnesota because it has been a dream of mine since I could remember. Watching my aunts play here really inspired me and made me want to do the same thing as well. You cannot go wrong with all that the University of Minnesota has to offer. I was looking for an institution that not only had a great hockey program but more importantly a great education. I first and foremost value my education and the university has so many opportunities for me to develop my love of learning. Because it is a public flagship institution, it offers me a lot of resources and research opportunities. When the coaching staff offered me the chance to come, I knew it was the right fit. The culture that the coaching staff has established is something that I want to be a part of. Overall I know that by becoming a Gopher, I am going to become a stronger student, player, and person.
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