University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, January 5
Ridder Arena
4:07 PM
University of Minnesota
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Minnesota Duluth
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/ Women's HockeyPhoto by: Brad Rempel
Gophers to Open 2019 with Minnesota Cup
1/2/2019 2:48:00 PM | Women's Hockey
No. 2 Minnesota hosts the inaugural Minnesota Cup with Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, and St. Cloud State this weekend.
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 2 University of Minnesota women's hockey team (17-2-1, 9-2-1-0 WCHA) returns to action by hosting the Minnesota Cup this Saturday and Sunday. The Maroon & Gold welcomes Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, and Minnesota Duluth to Ridder Arena for the inaugural four-team tournament.
Fans can follow along by watching all four games online on BTN Plus or FloHockey, and live stats are available at GopherSports.com. Free audio is available for the Gopher games at GopherSports.com as well.
About the Minnesota Cup
Saturday's Minnesota Cup semifinals pit St. Cloud State against Minnesota State in game one at 1:07 p.m. CT before the host Gophers take on Minnesota Duluth at 4:07 p.m. CT. The winning teams and losing teams will meet on Sunday with the Bulldogs playing the early game at 1:07 p.m. and the Gophers playing the second game at 4:07 p.m.
Last Time Out: Minnesota Sweeps Robert Morris
The Gophers wrapped up the first half of the regular season on a 10-game winning streak, capped off by a non-conference series sweep over Robert Morris at Ridder Arena before the holiday break. The Gophers skated to 6-1 and 5-0 wins over the Colonials. Amy Potomak (4a), Taylor Wente (1g-3a), Taylor Heise (2g-1a), Emily Brown (1g-2a), Taylor Williamson (1g-2a), Grace Zumwinkle (1g-2a), Kelly Pannek (2g), Alex Woken (2g), and Nicole Schammel (1g-1a) all recorded multiple points in the series, and Alex Gulstene and Sydney Scobee each picked up one win in net. Gulstene made 20 saves in game one while Wente (1g-2a) and Zumwinkle (1g-2a) led the team with three points each, and game two saw Scobee earn a 30-save shutout and Heise score two goals.
Spreading the Wealth
Eleven Gopher forwards have scored at least four goals this season and, in total, 18 different skaters have scored goals. Eleven different Gophers are in double figures for points, and 21 different players have at least one point on the year. Eleven different players have scored game-winning goals for Minnesota led by Emily Brown and Taylor Heise with three apiece.
Pick Up Where You Left Off
Minnesota returns to action in 2019 riding a 10-game winning streak, during which the Gophers have outscored their opponents, 54-16. The Maroon & Gold average 5.40 goals per game while allowing just 1.60 goals per game over the team's last 10 games.
Special Teams Show Improvement
The Gophers rank second in the WCHA with a .286 power play percentage since Nov. 1, going 6-for-21 on the power play in the team's last 10 games. During the same stretch, Minnesota is 24-for-26 for the league's best penalty kill at .923.
Scoring Leaders
Through 20 games this season, Nicole Schammel (6g-19a), Grace Zumwinkle (13g-11a), and Kelly Pannek (11g-8a) lead the Gophers in scoring. Schammel is tied for the WCHA lead with 0.95 points per game while Zumwinkle ranks second in the league with 0.65 goals per game. Emily Brown (4g-12a) leads WCHA defense with four goals and ranks second with 16 points while Patti Marshall (1g-11a) ranks fourth in scoring among WCHA blue-liners with 12 points. Meanwhile, Taylor Heise (7g-9a) and Amy Potomak (4g-12a) are tied for second in points among WCHA rookies as well.
Coaching Milestone
The Gophers' 1-0 win over Wisconsin (Oct. 27) marked the 350th career win for head coach Brad Frost, whose all-time coaching record now stands at 360-66-31. Frost is in his 12th season at the helm of the program.
Scoring Milestones
Kelly Pannek is Minnesota's active career scoring leader as she ranks 10th among all-time Gophers with 174 points (67g-107a). She is chasing Gigi Marvin in ninth place (87g-108a). Pannek's 107 career assists are tied for ninth in program history as well. She recorded her 100th career assist in Minnesota's season-opener. Meanwhile, Sarah Potomak is 31st in program history with 115 career points (39g-76a), trailing 30th-ranked Milica McMillen with 120 career points (44g-76a).
First-Career Goals
Five Gopher rookies have scored their first collegiate goals as Amy Potomak (Sept. 28) and Taylor Heise (Sept. 29) scored in Minnesota's season-opening weekend while Catie Skaja found the back of the net against Minnesota Duluth (Oct. 5), and Emily Oden scored her first two career goals against St. Cloud State (Oct. 13). Most recently, Abigail Boreen netted her first collegiate goal against St. Cloud State (Nov. 17).
Immediate Impact
All seven of Minnesota's rookies have seen significant ice time already as Amy Potomak (4g-12a), Taylor Heise (7g-9a), Emily Oden (5g-5a), Catie Skaja (4g-6a), and Gracie Ostertag (4a) have all appeared in all 20 games while Abigail Boreen (2g-2a) and Crystalyn Hengler (3a) have each appeared in 17 games.
Up Next: Minnesota State
Minnesota returns to WCHA action next weekend, traveling to Mankato, Minn., for a conference series with the Mavericks. The Gophers and Minnesota State face off at 7:07 p.m. CT Friday, Jan. 11 and 3:07 p.m. CT Saturday, Jan. 12.
Twenty Years of WCHA Women's Hockey
The 2018-19 season marks the league's 20th anniversary season. Throughout the season, the WCHA will celebrate the past, present, and future of college hockey's premier conference.
Nationwide Gophers
After Minnesota played in the Windjammer Classic (Nov. 23-24), Vermont is now the 14th state where the Gophers have competed in program history: Connecticut, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Gophers Medal at Four Nations Cup
Kelly Pannek joined Gopher alums Megan Bozek, Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, Amanda Kessel, and Gigi Marvin in winning gold with the U.S. Women's National Team at the 2018 Four Nations Cup. Fellow Gophers alumna Noora Raty won bronze with Finland in the tournament, while redshirt junior Sarah Potomak was named to Canada's National Women's Team for the tournament but was unable to participate due to injury.
Home, Sweet Home
The 2018-19 season marks the 17th season of Ridder Arena serving as the home of Gopher women's hockey. Minnesota enters the season with a record of 268-42-21 in home games at Ridder Arena, dating back to the 2002-03 season.
Pannek Serving as Captain
Senior Kelly Pannek is Minnesota's captain this year. Pannek returns to Minnesota for her redshirt senior season as an Olympic gold medalist after helping Team USA to gold at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
Gophers Tabbed as League Favorite
Minnesota and Wisconsin tied for the top spot in the 2018-19 WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 33 points apiece. Defending WCHA Final Faceoff champion Minnesota and defending WCHA regular season champion Wisconsin collected all seven first-place votes in the poll as the Badgers had four votes and the Gophers received three. Ohio State earned 24 points to edge Minnesota Duluth by one point and secure the third spot in the poll while Bemidji State (16), St. Cloud State (12), and Minnesota State (6) rounded out this year's poll.
WCHA Final Faceoff Returns to Ridder Arena
Minnesota will serve as host of the WCHA Final Faceoff in each of the next four seasons. The 2019 WCHA Final Faceoff is set for March 9-10, and the league awarded the 2020 through 2022 tournaments to Ridder Arena prior to the start of the 2018-19 season. The decision for the host site for the next three-year championship cycle was made following a vetting process by the league's Postseason Tournament Committee of submitted bids, the committee's subsequent recommendation, and a unanimous vote of approval by the WCHA Women's League Board of Directors. The league's postseason tournament has been held at Ridder Arena 11 times, most recently in 2017-18. Ridder Arena has also hosted the NCAA Women's Frozen Four in 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2018.
Goldy's Kids Club Returns in 2018-19
Youth in 8th grade or under can receive exclusive access to sporting events and Gopher gear. Goldy's Kids Club annual memberships run from July to May and allows members to have exclusive access to select ticket deals and special events. New Goldy's Kids Club memberships are $25 for each child and renewals are $20 for each child. All Goldy's Kids Club members receive free admission to all regular-season Gopher women's hockey home games at Ridder Arena.
Quest for Eighth National Title in 2018-19
Minnesota has won four of the last seven national championships and has seven national titles overall (2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016). The program looks for a historic eighth title national crown in 2018-19.
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Fans can follow along by watching all four games online on BTN Plus or FloHockey, and live stats are available at GopherSports.com. Free audio is available for the Gopher games at GopherSports.com as well.
About the Minnesota Cup
Saturday's Minnesota Cup semifinals pit St. Cloud State against Minnesota State in game one at 1:07 p.m. CT before the host Gophers take on Minnesota Duluth at 4:07 p.m. CT. The winning teams and losing teams will meet on Sunday with the Bulldogs playing the early game at 1:07 p.m. and the Gophers playing the second game at 4:07 p.m.
Last Time Out: Minnesota Sweeps Robert Morris
The Gophers wrapped up the first half of the regular season on a 10-game winning streak, capped off by a non-conference series sweep over Robert Morris at Ridder Arena before the holiday break. The Gophers skated to 6-1 and 5-0 wins over the Colonials. Amy Potomak (4a), Taylor Wente (1g-3a), Taylor Heise (2g-1a), Emily Brown (1g-2a), Taylor Williamson (1g-2a), Grace Zumwinkle (1g-2a), Kelly Pannek (2g), Alex Woken (2g), and Nicole Schammel (1g-1a) all recorded multiple points in the series, and Alex Gulstene and Sydney Scobee each picked up one win in net. Gulstene made 20 saves in game one while Wente (1g-2a) and Zumwinkle (1g-2a) led the team with three points each, and game two saw Scobee earn a 30-save shutout and Heise score two goals.
Spreading the Wealth
Eleven Gopher forwards have scored at least four goals this season and, in total, 18 different skaters have scored goals. Eleven different Gophers are in double figures for points, and 21 different players have at least one point on the year. Eleven different players have scored game-winning goals for Minnesota led by Emily Brown and Taylor Heise with three apiece.
Pick Up Where You Left Off
Minnesota returns to action in 2019 riding a 10-game winning streak, during which the Gophers have outscored their opponents, 54-16. The Maroon & Gold average 5.40 goals per game while allowing just 1.60 goals per game over the team's last 10 games.
Special Teams Show Improvement
The Gophers rank second in the WCHA with a .286 power play percentage since Nov. 1, going 6-for-21 on the power play in the team's last 10 games. During the same stretch, Minnesota is 24-for-26 for the league's best penalty kill at .923.
Scoring Leaders
Through 20 games this season, Nicole Schammel (6g-19a), Grace Zumwinkle (13g-11a), and Kelly Pannek (11g-8a) lead the Gophers in scoring. Schammel is tied for the WCHA lead with 0.95 points per game while Zumwinkle ranks second in the league with 0.65 goals per game. Emily Brown (4g-12a) leads WCHA defense with four goals and ranks second with 16 points while Patti Marshall (1g-11a) ranks fourth in scoring among WCHA blue-liners with 12 points. Meanwhile, Taylor Heise (7g-9a) and Amy Potomak (4g-12a) are tied for second in points among WCHA rookies as well.
Coaching Milestone
The Gophers' 1-0 win over Wisconsin (Oct. 27) marked the 350th career win for head coach Brad Frost, whose all-time coaching record now stands at 360-66-31. Frost is in his 12th season at the helm of the program.
Scoring Milestones
Kelly Pannek is Minnesota's active career scoring leader as she ranks 10th among all-time Gophers with 174 points (67g-107a). She is chasing Gigi Marvin in ninth place (87g-108a). Pannek's 107 career assists are tied for ninth in program history as well. She recorded her 100th career assist in Minnesota's season-opener. Meanwhile, Sarah Potomak is 31st in program history with 115 career points (39g-76a), trailing 30th-ranked Milica McMillen with 120 career points (44g-76a).
First-Career Goals
Five Gopher rookies have scored their first collegiate goals as Amy Potomak (Sept. 28) and Taylor Heise (Sept. 29) scored in Minnesota's season-opening weekend while Catie Skaja found the back of the net against Minnesota Duluth (Oct. 5), and Emily Oden scored her first two career goals against St. Cloud State (Oct. 13). Most recently, Abigail Boreen netted her first collegiate goal against St. Cloud State (Nov. 17).
Immediate Impact
All seven of Minnesota's rookies have seen significant ice time already as Amy Potomak (4g-12a), Taylor Heise (7g-9a), Emily Oden (5g-5a), Catie Skaja (4g-6a), and Gracie Ostertag (4a) have all appeared in all 20 games while Abigail Boreen (2g-2a) and Crystalyn Hengler (3a) have each appeared in 17 games.
Up Next: Minnesota State
Minnesota returns to WCHA action next weekend, traveling to Mankato, Minn., for a conference series with the Mavericks. The Gophers and Minnesota State face off at 7:07 p.m. CT Friday, Jan. 11 and 3:07 p.m. CT Saturday, Jan. 12.
Twenty Years of WCHA Women's Hockey
The 2018-19 season marks the league's 20th anniversary season. Throughout the season, the WCHA will celebrate the past, present, and future of college hockey's premier conference.
Nationwide Gophers
After Minnesota played in the Windjammer Classic (Nov. 23-24), Vermont is now the 14th state where the Gophers have competed in program history: Connecticut, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Gophers Medal at Four Nations Cup
Kelly Pannek joined Gopher alums Megan Bozek, Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, Amanda Kessel, and Gigi Marvin in winning gold with the U.S. Women's National Team at the 2018 Four Nations Cup. Fellow Gophers alumna Noora Raty won bronze with Finland in the tournament, while redshirt junior Sarah Potomak was named to Canada's National Women's Team for the tournament but was unable to participate due to injury.
Home, Sweet Home
The 2018-19 season marks the 17th season of Ridder Arena serving as the home of Gopher women's hockey. Minnesota enters the season with a record of 268-42-21 in home games at Ridder Arena, dating back to the 2002-03 season.
Pannek Serving as Captain
Senior Kelly Pannek is Minnesota's captain this year. Pannek returns to Minnesota for her redshirt senior season as an Olympic gold medalist after helping Team USA to gold at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
Gophers Tabbed as League Favorite
Minnesota and Wisconsin tied for the top spot in the 2018-19 WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 33 points apiece. Defending WCHA Final Faceoff champion Minnesota and defending WCHA regular season champion Wisconsin collected all seven first-place votes in the poll as the Badgers had four votes and the Gophers received three. Ohio State earned 24 points to edge Minnesota Duluth by one point and secure the third spot in the poll while Bemidji State (16), St. Cloud State (12), and Minnesota State (6) rounded out this year's poll.
WCHA Final Faceoff Returns to Ridder Arena
Minnesota will serve as host of the WCHA Final Faceoff in each of the next four seasons. The 2019 WCHA Final Faceoff is set for March 9-10, and the league awarded the 2020 through 2022 tournaments to Ridder Arena prior to the start of the 2018-19 season. The decision for the host site for the next three-year championship cycle was made following a vetting process by the league's Postseason Tournament Committee of submitted bids, the committee's subsequent recommendation, and a unanimous vote of approval by the WCHA Women's League Board of Directors. The league's postseason tournament has been held at Ridder Arena 11 times, most recently in 2017-18. Ridder Arena has also hosted the NCAA Women's Frozen Four in 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2018.
Goldy's Kids Club Returns in 2018-19
Youth in 8th grade or under can receive exclusive access to sporting events and Gopher gear. Goldy's Kids Club annual memberships run from July to May and allows members to have exclusive access to select ticket deals and special events. New Goldy's Kids Club memberships are $25 for each child and renewals are $20 for each child. All Goldy's Kids Club members receive free admission to all regular-season Gopher women's hockey home games at Ridder Arena.
Quest for Eighth National Title in 2018-19
Minnesota has won four of the last seven national championships and has seven national titles overall (2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016). The program looks for a historic eighth title national crown in 2018-19.
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