University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
G
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
G
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Welcome Tommies to Ridder Arena
1/12/2023 12:51:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Minnesota looks to extend its perfect 10-0-0 home record this weekend (Jan. 13-14).
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 3/4 Golden Gopher women's hockey team (16-3-2) looks to remain perfect on home ice with St. Thomas (7-14-1). Friday's puck drop is slated for 6:00 pm with Saturday's set for 2:00 pm at Ridder Arena. Both games will be streamed on B1G+.
Last Time Out
Minnesota opened the second half of its season with two seven-goal victories in the 2023 East/West Showcase at Ridder Arena. On Friday, Minnesota scored six third-period goals to down Merrimack, 9-2. Taylor Heise scored a hat trick for the second-straight game as one of seven different Gophers to find the back of the net. Sophomore goaltender Skylar Vetter's shutout streak came to an end at 261:30 – the third-longest streak in program history. On Saturday, the Gophers downed New Hampshire, 8-1 behind a pair of goals from Grace Zumwinkle and Abbey Murphy. Zumwinkle's two goals made her the 6th player in program history to reach 100 career goals. The fifth-year captain also tallied a career-high six points and four assists in the non-conference contest. Senior goaltender Makayla Pahl earned her third victory of the season after stopping 15 shots.
Scouting the Opposition
St. Thomas (7-14-1) currently sits in seventh place in the WCHA with a 2-13-1 conference record. The Tommies are on a four-game win streak, their longest since joining the WCHA last season. UST closed out 2022 with a sweep over Bemidji State before opening 2023 with a sweep over RIT. The Tommies are led in scoring by fifth-year forward Gabby Billing and sophomore defender Maddy Clough. Minnesota won all six meetings last season and outscored St. Thomas 39-5.
High-Octane Offense
After scoring 17 goals last weekend, Minnesota now ranks first in the nation in scoring offense as the only team to average over five goals-per-game (5.10). The Gophers have scored 107 goals in 21 games this season with six or more goals in 8 different games this season. Fifth-year forwards Taylor Heise (17) and Grace Zumwinkle (16) are first and second in the nation in goals respectively.
Race for the WCHA
Minnesota currently sits in a tie for first place in the WCHA regular season standings with a 13-1-2 record (41 points in 16 conference games). The 'U' is even with Ohio State (41 points in 16 games) in the race for the Julianne Bye Cup. Wisconsin (37 points in 16 conference games) and Minnesota Duluth (27 points in 16 conference games) sit in third and fourth, respectively as the only other WCHA teams with a conference record above .500.
Scoring Milestones on the Horizon
Fifth-year forward Taylor Heise continues to climb the program ranks as she moved into 9th place in program history in points with 198 (84g-114a) in 155 career games. Heise trails Dani Cameranesi and Ambria Thomas by three points for seventh place all-time and is only two points away from becoming the ninth Gopher to reach 200 career points. Catie Skaja (40g-59a) is the closest active skater to the century mark after Abigail Boreen and Emily Oden reached the 100-career-point milestone in December.
Behind the Bench
Head coach Brad Frost is back for his 16th season as the bench boss of Gopher Women's Hockey. Under Frost's guidance, the program has posted a 458-96-37 record with four national titles and seven conference titles. Associate head coach Natalie Darwitz is back behind the bench for her fourth season and is joined by assistant coach Jessica Scott, who served as the program's Director of Operations for the last three seasons.
Quest for Eighth National Title
Minnesota has won seven national championships (2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016) and looks for a historic eighth title national crown in 2022-23.
Last Time Out
Minnesota opened the second half of its season with two seven-goal victories in the 2023 East/West Showcase at Ridder Arena. On Friday, Minnesota scored six third-period goals to down Merrimack, 9-2. Taylor Heise scored a hat trick for the second-straight game as one of seven different Gophers to find the back of the net. Sophomore goaltender Skylar Vetter's shutout streak came to an end at 261:30 – the third-longest streak in program history. On Saturday, the Gophers downed New Hampshire, 8-1 behind a pair of goals from Grace Zumwinkle and Abbey Murphy. Zumwinkle's two goals made her the 6th player in program history to reach 100 career goals. The fifth-year captain also tallied a career-high six points and four assists in the non-conference contest. Senior goaltender Makayla Pahl earned her third victory of the season after stopping 15 shots.
Scouting the Opposition
St. Thomas (7-14-1) currently sits in seventh place in the WCHA with a 2-13-1 conference record. The Tommies are on a four-game win streak, their longest since joining the WCHA last season. UST closed out 2022 with a sweep over Bemidji State before opening 2023 with a sweep over RIT. The Tommies are led in scoring by fifth-year forward Gabby Billing and sophomore defender Maddy Clough. Minnesota won all six meetings last season and outscored St. Thomas 39-5.
High-Octane Offense
After scoring 17 goals last weekend, Minnesota now ranks first in the nation in scoring offense as the only team to average over five goals-per-game (5.10). The Gophers have scored 107 goals in 21 games this season with six or more goals in 8 different games this season. Fifth-year forwards Taylor Heise (17) and Grace Zumwinkle (16) are first and second in the nation in goals respectively.
Race for the WCHA
Minnesota currently sits in a tie for first place in the WCHA regular season standings with a 13-1-2 record (41 points in 16 conference games). The 'U' is even with Ohio State (41 points in 16 games) in the race for the Julianne Bye Cup. Wisconsin (37 points in 16 conference games) and Minnesota Duluth (27 points in 16 conference games) sit in third and fourth, respectively as the only other WCHA teams with a conference record above .500.
Scoring Milestones on the Horizon
Fifth-year forward Taylor Heise continues to climb the program ranks as she moved into 9th place in program history in points with 198 (84g-114a) in 155 career games. Heise trails Dani Cameranesi and Ambria Thomas by three points for seventh place all-time and is only two points away from becoming the ninth Gopher to reach 200 career points. Catie Skaja (40g-59a) is the closest active skater to the century mark after Abigail Boreen and Emily Oden reached the 100-career-point milestone in December.
Behind the Bench
Head coach Brad Frost is back for his 16th season as the bench boss of Gopher Women's Hockey. Under Frost's guidance, the program has posted a 458-96-37 record with four national titles and seven conference titles. Associate head coach Natalie Darwitz is back behind the bench for her fourth season and is joined by assistant coach Jessica Scott, who served as the program's Director of Operations for the last three seasons.
Quest for Eighth National Title
Minnesota has won seven national championships (2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016) and looks for a historic eighth title national crown in 2022-23.
WCHA Postseason Hype
Monday, March 02
Highlights: Gophers 6, St. Cloud State 1
Sunday, March 01
Highlights: Gophers 4, St. Cloud State 1
Saturday, February 28
Abbey Murphy Breaks Goals Record
Saturday, February 28