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Photo by: Brad Rempel
'U' Opens Postseason Play Against St. Thomas
2/24/2022 1:55:00 PM | Women's Hockey
No. 1 Minnesota enters the WCHA Tournament on a seven-game winning streak.
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 1 Golden Gopher Women's Hockey team will begin the postseason with a rematch against St. Thomas in the WCHA Quarterfinals. The winner of the best two-of-three series will advance to the WCHA Final Faceoff at Ridder Arena next weekend. Game one is slated for 6:00 pm on Friday, game two at 4:00 pm on Saturday, and game three at 2:00 pm on Sunday – if needed.
Last Time Out: Gophers Sweep Tommies to Win WCHA
The Gophers (26-7-1) closed out the regular season with a home-and-home sweep over St. Thomas to clinch the WCHA regular season title. Minnesota defeated the Tommies 7-1 in both games to move to 4-0 all-time against the WCHA newcomer. Taylor Heise and Abigail Boreen each recorded four points in a Thursday victory at St. Thomas Ice Arena. Freshman goaltender Skylar Vetter earned the victory after stopping 11 shots. On senior day, the 'U' saw big contributions from rookies Peyton Hemp and Ella Huber to secure the title-clinching victory. Huber's first-career multi-goal game and a pair of goals from Savannah Norcross were big factors in the win.
Scouting St. Thomas
St. Thomas (5-25-1) finished its first season in the WCHA in eight place with a 3-22-1 conference record. The Tommies have scored only four goals in four games against the Gophers this season, but will likely return their Swiss Olympians in defender Nicole Vallario and goaltender Saskia Maurer. Each of Minnesota's victories came without the two Olympians and St. Thomas head coach Joel Johnson behind the bench.
WCHA Champions
Minnesota finished the regular season with a 26-7-1 overall record and 21-6-1 conference record to finish at the top of the WCHA for the 11th time in program history. It's the Gophers' first regular season conference title since 2018-19. After a 1-3 start to conference play, the 'U' posted a 20-3-1 record to lift the Julianne Bye Trophy.
WCHA Playoffs
Minnesota will head into the postseason with a 51-17 record in the conference tournament. The Gophers are looking for their first WCHA Final Faceoff title since 2017-18. No. 1 seeded Minnesota, No. 2 seeded Ohio State, No. 3 seeded Wisconsin, and No. 4 seeded Minnesota Duluth are each hosting quarterfinal matchups this weekend.
First Period Emphasis
Through 34 regular season games, Minnesota has scored first in 27 of them. The Maroon and Gold are 21-5-1 in games where they find the back of the net first and 5-2-0 in games in which the opponent scores first. Senior forward Taylor Heise leads the team with seven opening goals this season, including two goals inside the opening 40 seconds. The first 20 minutes have proven pivotal to Minnesota's success this season. When leading after the first period, the Gophers are 19-0-1. When trailing or tied after the first period, the Gophers are 7-7-0.
Captains Climbing the Ranks
Co-captains Olivia Knowles and Emily Brown continue to climb the program record books for games played. Knowles currently sits one game behind the program record with 163, while Brown's 162 are good for fourth-most. Knowles is on pace to break the program record on Saturday at Ridder Arena.
Scoring Milestones on the Horizon
Senior Taylor Heise is Minnesota's active career scoring leader and surpassed the 150-point milestone with 154 career points (64g-90a) in 129 career games. Redshirt senior Amy Potomak (47g-59a) is the second active Gopher to surpass 100 points. Senior Emily Oden (25g-59a) and Fifth-year Emily Brown (19g-63a) are the next closest to the century mark. Fifth-year Olivia Knowles (17g-57a) and senior Abigail Boreen (34g-42a) are nearing 80 career points.
25th Season
The 2021-22 season marks the 25th season of Gopher women's hockey. To celebrate the first quarter-century of Gopher women's hockey, Minnesota will wear special '25 seasons' patches on their jerseys among other celebrations throughout the season.
Quest for Eighth National Title Continues
Minnesota has won seven national championships (2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016) and looks for a historic eighth title national crown in 2021-22.
Last Time Out: Gophers Sweep Tommies to Win WCHA
The Gophers (26-7-1) closed out the regular season with a home-and-home sweep over St. Thomas to clinch the WCHA regular season title. Minnesota defeated the Tommies 7-1 in both games to move to 4-0 all-time against the WCHA newcomer. Taylor Heise and Abigail Boreen each recorded four points in a Thursday victory at St. Thomas Ice Arena. Freshman goaltender Skylar Vetter earned the victory after stopping 11 shots. On senior day, the 'U' saw big contributions from rookies Peyton Hemp and Ella Huber to secure the title-clinching victory. Huber's first-career multi-goal game and a pair of goals from Savannah Norcross were big factors in the win.
Scouting St. Thomas
St. Thomas (5-25-1) finished its first season in the WCHA in eight place with a 3-22-1 conference record. The Tommies have scored only four goals in four games against the Gophers this season, but will likely return their Swiss Olympians in defender Nicole Vallario and goaltender Saskia Maurer. Each of Minnesota's victories came without the two Olympians and St. Thomas head coach Joel Johnson behind the bench.
WCHA Champions
Minnesota finished the regular season with a 26-7-1 overall record and 21-6-1 conference record to finish at the top of the WCHA for the 11th time in program history. It's the Gophers' first regular season conference title since 2018-19. After a 1-3 start to conference play, the 'U' posted a 20-3-1 record to lift the Julianne Bye Trophy.
WCHA Playoffs
Minnesota will head into the postseason with a 51-17 record in the conference tournament. The Gophers are looking for their first WCHA Final Faceoff title since 2017-18. No. 1 seeded Minnesota, No. 2 seeded Ohio State, No. 3 seeded Wisconsin, and No. 4 seeded Minnesota Duluth are each hosting quarterfinal matchups this weekend.
First Period Emphasis
Through 34 regular season games, Minnesota has scored first in 27 of them. The Maroon and Gold are 21-5-1 in games where they find the back of the net first and 5-2-0 in games in which the opponent scores first. Senior forward Taylor Heise leads the team with seven opening goals this season, including two goals inside the opening 40 seconds. The first 20 minutes have proven pivotal to Minnesota's success this season. When leading after the first period, the Gophers are 19-0-1. When trailing or tied after the first period, the Gophers are 7-7-0.
Captains Climbing the Ranks
Co-captains Olivia Knowles and Emily Brown continue to climb the program record books for games played. Knowles currently sits one game behind the program record with 163, while Brown's 162 are good for fourth-most. Knowles is on pace to break the program record on Saturday at Ridder Arena.
Scoring Milestones on the Horizon
Senior Taylor Heise is Minnesota's active career scoring leader and surpassed the 150-point milestone with 154 career points (64g-90a) in 129 career games. Redshirt senior Amy Potomak (47g-59a) is the second active Gopher to surpass 100 points. Senior Emily Oden (25g-59a) and Fifth-year Emily Brown (19g-63a) are the next closest to the century mark. Fifth-year Olivia Knowles (17g-57a) and senior Abigail Boreen (34g-42a) are nearing 80 career points.
25th Season
The 2021-22 season marks the 25th season of Gopher women's hockey. To celebrate the first quarter-century of Gopher women's hockey, Minnesota will wear special '25 seasons' patches on their jerseys among other celebrations throughout the season.
Quest for Eighth National Title Continues
Minnesota has won seven national championships (2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016) and looks for a historic eighth title national crown in 2021-22.
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