University of Minnesota Athletics
Strong WCHA Slate Awaits Gophers
9/18/2019 9:59:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Break down Minnesota's 2019-20 conference match-ups.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota women's hockey team's 2019-20 schedule includes 24 conference games. Break down the Gophers' WCHA opponents and mark your calendars for these exciting match-ups.
Minnesota State
Friday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 5 in Mankato, Minn.
Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22 at Ridder Arena
About the Mavericks: Minnesota State ended the 2018-19 season with a 9-19-7 record, finishing sixth in the WCHA. The 2019-20 Mavericks are led by seniors Emily Antony and McKenzie Sederberg as the team returns 15 skaters who combined to score 64 goals and tally 109 assists a year ago. Minnesota State also adds six newcomers to the roster as the program begins its 21st season in the WCHA under the direction of fifth-year head coach John Harrington.
Frost on Minnesota State: Minnesota State is a team that has been on the rise for the last few years, and I expect that to continue. They've got an all-conference goalie in Abigail Levy back in their net, and they have added some pieces up front to make them even more dangerous. They're an opponent who plays extremely hard against us, and we're looking forward to that.
St. Cloud State
Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20 at Ridder Arena
Friday, Jan. 10 and Saturday, Jan. 11 in St. Cloud, Minn.
About the Huskies: St. Cloud State wrapped up the 2018-19 season in the WCHA First Round after posting a 10-25-2 overall record and going 5-21-0 in conference play. The Huskies return to the ice with 20 veterans from last year's squad while adding six freshmen to the mix. Steve Macdonald will begin his first season in as SCSU's head coach after serving as an assistant coach for five seasons.
Frost on St. Cloud State: St. Cloud State just had a coaching change with Steve Macdonald as head coach and adding Molly Engstrom as an assistant. They're a team that might fly under the radar a little bit, but it will be a competitive match-up. It starts with their two goaltenders, Janine Alder and Emma Polusny. St. Cloud defends well, they skate hard, and they are a very fast team. They're a team that we will have to be at our best to have success against.
Ohio State
Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26 in Columbus, Ohio
Friday, Jan. 17 at Ridder Arena
Saturday, Jan. 18 in Minneapolis (Hockey Day Minnesota outdoor game)
About the Buckeyes: Ohio State celebrates its 20th anniversary of women's hockey this season after closing out the 2018-19 season with a 20-13-2 overall record and a 12-10-2 conference mark. The Buckeyes ranked third in the WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 24 points, following Minnesota and Wisconsin. Ohio State adds eight freshman to its roster with 16 skaters returning from last year's team. Head Coach Nadine Muzerall begins her fourth season at the helm of the Buckeyes.
Frost on Ohio State: Ohio State is a team that now has three former Gophers behind their bench with coaches Nadine Muzerall, Milica McMillen, and Emily West. The players at Ohio State continually play very hard for their coaches. They're bringing in a very good class, and their goaltending is very strong. They have Emma Maltais up front, who was an all-conference player last year, and Jincy Dunne, who's one of the best defense in the league. They will provide a great challenge and a great opportunity for our team.
Wisconsin
Saturday, Nov. 2 and Sunday, Nov. 3 at Ridder Arena
Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25 in Madison, Wis.
About the Badgers: The defending national champions begin the 2019-20 season coming off a 35-4-2 overall record last season. The Badgers took first place in the WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 36 points and six first-place votes. In addition, skater Abby Roque was named Preseason WCHA Player of the Year. The 2019-20 team is comprised of 21 returning players and five rookies. The Badgers are led by senior captain Mekenzie Steffen, and Mark Johnson enters his 17th season as head coach of Wisconsin.
Frost on Wisconsin: We have an incredible rivalry with Wisconsin. They are extremely skilled up front and have Kristin Campbell in the net, which was a huge difference-maker for them last year. They also defend well. I feel like our two teams are pretty similar in how we approach things as well as in our play on the ice, so any time our two teams play, it's a fantastic game. We can't wait to get on the ice with them again.
Bemidji State
Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16 at Ridder Arena
Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8 in Bemidji, Minn.
About the Beavers: Bemidji State begins the 2019-20 season after recording a 13-21-2 overall record last season. The Beavers went 10-12-2-0 in the WCHA a year ago and saw their season end in the WCHA First Round best-of-three series with Minnesota Duluth. Head coach Jim Scanlan enters his sixth season with the Beavers, holding a career record of 84-88-12. The Beavers' roster returns 20 players from last year while adding seven first-year student-athletes.
Frost on Bemidji State: They're a very well-coached team. They have difference-makers with Mak Langei on the blue line and Claire DeGeorge up front. They've historically given us a really hard time because of how they defend, so it should be another great series against them.
Minnesota Duluth
Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23 in Duluth, Minn.
Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1 at Ridder Arena
About the Bulldogs: Minnesota Duluth comes back to the ice for the 2019-20 season after finishing fourth in the WCHA and posting a 15-16-4 overall record last season. The Bulldogs retain 100% of their goal scorers this year led by sophomore forward Gabbie Hughes as well as U.S. Olympic gold medalist goaltender Maddie Rooney. UMD has three players entering their rookie season, and Maura Crowell returns to the bench for her fifth season as head coach.
Frost on UMD: For Duluth, it starts with Maddie Rooney, who's a senior now, and same with Sydney Brodt, who are both on the U.S. National Team. Gabbie Hughes is coming off of an incredible freshman year and will continue to play well, I'm sure. We have a great rivalry with Duluth as our teams bring out the best in one another. They're always very exciting games.
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Minnesota State
Friday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 5 in Mankato, Minn.
Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22 at Ridder Arena
About the Mavericks: Minnesota State ended the 2018-19 season with a 9-19-7 record, finishing sixth in the WCHA. The 2019-20 Mavericks are led by seniors Emily Antony and McKenzie Sederberg as the team returns 15 skaters who combined to score 64 goals and tally 109 assists a year ago. Minnesota State also adds six newcomers to the roster as the program begins its 21st season in the WCHA under the direction of fifth-year head coach John Harrington.
Frost on Minnesota State: Minnesota State is a team that has been on the rise for the last few years, and I expect that to continue. They've got an all-conference goalie in Abigail Levy back in their net, and they have added some pieces up front to make them even more dangerous. They're an opponent who plays extremely hard against us, and we're looking forward to that.
St. Cloud State
Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20 at Ridder Arena
Friday, Jan. 10 and Saturday, Jan. 11 in St. Cloud, Minn.
About the Huskies: St. Cloud State wrapped up the 2018-19 season in the WCHA First Round after posting a 10-25-2 overall record and going 5-21-0 in conference play. The Huskies return to the ice with 20 veterans from last year's squad while adding six freshmen to the mix. Steve Macdonald will begin his first season in as SCSU's head coach after serving as an assistant coach for five seasons.
Frost on St. Cloud State: St. Cloud State just had a coaching change with Steve Macdonald as head coach and adding Molly Engstrom as an assistant. They're a team that might fly under the radar a little bit, but it will be a competitive match-up. It starts with their two goaltenders, Janine Alder and Emma Polusny. St. Cloud defends well, they skate hard, and they are a very fast team. They're a team that we will have to be at our best to have success against.
Ohio State
Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26 in Columbus, Ohio
Friday, Jan. 17 at Ridder Arena
Saturday, Jan. 18 in Minneapolis (Hockey Day Minnesota outdoor game)
About the Buckeyes: Ohio State celebrates its 20th anniversary of women's hockey this season after closing out the 2018-19 season with a 20-13-2 overall record and a 12-10-2 conference mark. The Buckeyes ranked third in the WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 24 points, following Minnesota and Wisconsin. Ohio State adds eight freshman to its roster with 16 skaters returning from last year's team. Head Coach Nadine Muzerall begins her fourth season at the helm of the Buckeyes.
Frost on Ohio State: Ohio State is a team that now has three former Gophers behind their bench with coaches Nadine Muzerall, Milica McMillen, and Emily West. The players at Ohio State continually play very hard for their coaches. They're bringing in a very good class, and their goaltending is very strong. They have Emma Maltais up front, who was an all-conference player last year, and Jincy Dunne, who's one of the best defense in the league. They will provide a great challenge and a great opportunity for our team.
Wisconsin
Saturday, Nov. 2 and Sunday, Nov. 3 at Ridder Arena
Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25 in Madison, Wis.
About the Badgers: The defending national champions begin the 2019-20 season coming off a 35-4-2 overall record last season. The Badgers took first place in the WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 36 points and six first-place votes. In addition, skater Abby Roque was named Preseason WCHA Player of the Year. The 2019-20 team is comprised of 21 returning players and five rookies. The Badgers are led by senior captain Mekenzie Steffen, and Mark Johnson enters his 17th season as head coach of Wisconsin.
Frost on Wisconsin: We have an incredible rivalry with Wisconsin. They are extremely skilled up front and have Kristin Campbell in the net, which was a huge difference-maker for them last year. They also defend well. I feel like our two teams are pretty similar in how we approach things as well as in our play on the ice, so any time our two teams play, it's a fantastic game. We can't wait to get on the ice with them again.
Bemidji State
Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16 at Ridder Arena
Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8 in Bemidji, Minn.
About the Beavers: Bemidji State begins the 2019-20 season after recording a 13-21-2 overall record last season. The Beavers went 10-12-2-0 in the WCHA a year ago and saw their season end in the WCHA First Round best-of-three series with Minnesota Duluth. Head coach Jim Scanlan enters his sixth season with the Beavers, holding a career record of 84-88-12. The Beavers' roster returns 20 players from last year while adding seven first-year student-athletes.
Frost on Bemidji State: They're a very well-coached team. They have difference-makers with Mak Langei on the blue line and Claire DeGeorge up front. They've historically given us a really hard time because of how they defend, so it should be another great series against them.
Minnesota Duluth
Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23 in Duluth, Minn.
Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1 at Ridder Arena
About the Bulldogs: Minnesota Duluth comes back to the ice for the 2019-20 season after finishing fourth in the WCHA and posting a 15-16-4 overall record last season. The Bulldogs retain 100% of their goal scorers this year led by sophomore forward Gabbie Hughes as well as U.S. Olympic gold medalist goaltender Maddie Rooney. UMD has three players entering their rookie season, and Maura Crowell returns to the bench for her fifth season as head coach.
Frost on UMD: For Duluth, it starts with Maddie Rooney, who's a senior now, and same with Sydney Brodt, who are both on the U.S. National Team. Gabbie Hughes is coming off of an incredible freshman year and will continue to play well, I'm sure. We have a great rivalry with Duluth as our teams bring out the best in one another. They're always very exciting games.
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