University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, October 6
Rochester, NY
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
RIT
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Maroon and Gold Set for Season Opener Against RIT
10/5/2023 8:14:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 4 seeded University of Minnesota women's hockey team drops the puck on the 2023-24 season, the 27th in program history, against the RIT Tigers (2-0-2) on Friday and Saturday at Gene Polisseni Center in Rochester, N.Y. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CT on both Friday and Saturday.
Scouting the Tigers
The Tigers host the Gophers with four games already under their belt, starting their 2023-24 campaign with two ties and two victories. Their two wins came against Assumption University, winning 3-2 on Sept. 29 and 5-1 on Sept. 30. Senior forward Emma Roland has scored two goals this season for the Tigers, recording four shots in RIT's tie vs. Rensselaer on Sept. 24 and one shot on Sept. 29 vs Assumption. RIT finished the 2022-23 season with a record of 4-26-2, and is off to a strong start this season.
2023-24 Roster Preview
Minnesota returns 17 players from last year's roster, including 2022 Olympian Abbey Murphy, who scored the second-most goals (29) in the nation in 2022-23. Peyton Hemp, the Gophers' team captain this season, returns for her third season donning the Maroon and Gold after playing in all 39 games and scoring 16 goals last season. Ella Huber and Madeline Wethington were named assistant captains -- as was Murphy -- as Wethington will wear a letter for the first time in her fifth and final season. Olympians Josefin Bouveng (Sweden) and Nelli Laitinen (Finland) return to the lineup for their sophomore seasons. Skylar Vetter returns in net, having received votes for Preseason All-WCHA Team. Nine newcomers join the team in 2023-24, including three transfers and six freshmen.
National Recognition
The Gophers enter the 2023-24 season ranked fourth in both national polls. Minnesota was ranked second entering last season before climbing to the top spot in the month of October. In September, Abbey Murphy was named a member of the Preseason All-WCHA Team by the WCHA coaches with Skylar Vetter and Madeline Wethington also receiving votes.
Murphy Magic
Junior forward Abbey Murphy has been on a goal-scoring tear throughout her two seasons with the Gophers. Murphy scored one goal in each of her last eight games in 2022-23, finishing with 29 goals scored to finish second in the nation.
Between the Pipes
2022-23 HCA National Goaltender of the Year Semifinalist Skylar Vetter returns for her third season in the Maroon and Gold in 2023-24 after posting a 27-6-3 record with a 1.84 GAA and .926 SV% last season. Graduate transfer Lucy Morgan joins the team after playing four seasons at St. Lawrence, which includes All-American honors in 2021-22.
Fresh Faces
After Taylor Heise, Abigail Boreen, Grace Zumwinkle and others graduated from the program, the Gophers welcome nine newcomers in 2023-24. Ava Lindsay, Isa Goettl, Emma Kreisz and Lauren O'Hara combine for a freshman group looking to contribute from the forward position in their first year with the Maroon and Gold. Minnesota also welcomes graduate transfers Solveig Neunzert and Taylor Stewart to bolster the defense in their fifth and final seasons on NCAA ice. The freshmen entering the fold on defense include Elly Klepinger and Josie Hemp, two Minnetonka High School graduates.
Home Grown
The 2023-24 Gopher Women's Hockey roster includes 18 players who hail from Minnesota. Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota, Finland, Sweden, Hungary and Germany are also represented on this year's roster. The Minnetonka area has plenty of representation on this year's squad, with Josie Hemp, Sadie Lindsay, Ava Lindsay, Emily Zumwinkle, Maggie Nicholson, Elly Klepinger and Sophia Johnson all hailing from Minnetonka or Excelsior, Minn.
Behind the Bench
Head coach Brad Frost is back for his 17th season as the bench boss of Gopher Women's Hockey. Under Frost's guidance, the program has posted a 472-99-39 record with four national titles and seven conference titles. Associate head coach Greg May begins his first season after serving as the head coach of the Augsburg men's hockey team for two seasons. Also joining the staff this season is Mitch Baker, who coached the girls' U19 squad at Shattuck-St. Mary's since 2021. Jessica Scott leaves behind her hockey operations role and will serve as an assistant coach in 2023-24.
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 2023-24.
Scouting the Tigers
The Tigers host the Gophers with four games already under their belt, starting their 2023-24 campaign with two ties and two victories. Their two wins came against Assumption University, winning 3-2 on Sept. 29 and 5-1 on Sept. 30. Senior forward Emma Roland has scored two goals this season for the Tigers, recording four shots in RIT's tie vs. Rensselaer on Sept. 24 and one shot on Sept. 29 vs Assumption. RIT finished the 2022-23 season with a record of 4-26-2, and is off to a strong start this season.
2023-24 Roster Preview
Minnesota returns 17 players from last year's roster, including 2022 Olympian Abbey Murphy, who scored the second-most goals (29) in the nation in 2022-23. Peyton Hemp, the Gophers' team captain this season, returns for her third season donning the Maroon and Gold after playing in all 39 games and scoring 16 goals last season. Ella Huber and Madeline Wethington were named assistant captains -- as was Murphy -- as Wethington will wear a letter for the first time in her fifth and final season. Olympians Josefin Bouveng (Sweden) and Nelli Laitinen (Finland) return to the lineup for their sophomore seasons. Skylar Vetter returns in net, having received votes for Preseason All-WCHA Team. Nine newcomers join the team in 2023-24, including three transfers and six freshmen.
National Recognition
The Gophers enter the 2023-24 season ranked fourth in both national polls. Minnesota was ranked second entering last season before climbing to the top spot in the month of October. In September, Abbey Murphy was named a member of the Preseason All-WCHA Team by the WCHA coaches with Skylar Vetter and Madeline Wethington also receiving votes.
Murphy Magic
Junior forward Abbey Murphy has been on a goal-scoring tear throughout her two seasons with the Gophers. Murphy scored one goal in each of her last eight games in 2022-23, finishing with 29 goals scored to finish second in the nation.
Between the Pipes
2022-23 HCA National Goaltender of the Year Semifinalist Skylar Vetter returns for her third season in the Maroon and Gold in 2023-24 after posting a 27-6-3 record with a 1.84 GAA and .926 SV% last season. Graduate transfer Lucy Morgan joins the team after playing four seasons at St. Lawrence, which includes All-American honors in 2021-22.
Fresh Faces
After Taylor Heise, Abigail Boreen, Grace Zumwinkle and others graduated from the program, the Gophers welcome nine newcomers in 2023-24. Ava Lindsay, Isa Goettl, Emma Kreisz and Lauren O'Hara combine for a freshman group looking to contribute from the forward position in their first year with the Maroon and Gold. Minnesota also welcomes graduate transfers Solveig Neunzert and Taylor Stewart to bolster the defense in their fifth and final seasons on NCAA ice. The freshmen entering the fold on defense include Elly Klepinger and Josie Hemp, two Minnetonka High School graduates.
Home Grown
The 2023-24 Gopher Women's Hockey roster includes 18 players who hail from Minnesota. Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota, Finland, Sweden, Hungary and Germany are also represented on this year's roster. The Minnetonka area has plenty of representation on this year's squad, with Josie Hemp, Sadie Lindsay, Ava Lindsay, Emily Zumwinkle, Maggie Nicholson, Elly Klepinger and Sophia Johnson all hailing from Minnetonka or Excelsior, Minn.
Behind the Bench
Head coach Brad Frost is back for his 17th season as the bench boss of Gopher Women's Hockey. Under Frost's guidance, the program has posted a 472-99-39 record with four national titles and seven conference titles. Associate head coach Greg May begins his first season after serving as the head coach of the Augsburg men's hockey team for two seasons. Also joining the staff this season is Mitch Baker, who coached the girls' U19 squad at Shattuck-St. Mary's since 2021. Jessica Scott leaves behind her hockey operations role and will serve as an assistant coach in 2023-24.
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 2023-24.
Behind the Scenes: Media Day
Tuesday, September 16
Ella Huber Drafted by Boston
Wednesday, June 25
Natalie Mlynkova Drafted by Montreal
Tuesday, June 24
Peyton Hemp Drafted by Ottawa
Tuesday, June 24