University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Women's Hockey
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/ Women's Hockey
Photo by: © Luke Schmidt/National Hockey League
Heise Selected No. 1 Overall in PWHL Draft, Five Other Former Gophers Selected
9/18/2023 12:52:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – Former Golden Gopher women's hockey star Taylor Heise has been selected No. 1 overall by Minnesota's Professional Women's Hockey League franchise, adding another member with Maroon and Gold ties to the recently-created professional team. Grace Zumwinkle and Amanda Leveille will also join Minnesota, while Emily Brown and Hannah Brandt were both drafted by Boston's PWHL franchise and Olivia Knowles was selected by Toronto.
After Gopher alumni Kelly Pannek and Lee Stecklein signed with Minnesota's franchise in early September, Heise and Zumwinkle now join the team to form a formidable quartet that has extensive international and collegiate success.
Also remaining in the state of hockey will be Leveille, who played goaltender for the Maroon and Gold from 2012 to 2016. She ranks second in program history in goaltender wins with 98.
Brown and Brandt were each selected by the Boston PWHL franchise, and the former Gophers will head east to continue their hockey careers. Brandt sits atop the Gopher women's hockey points leaderboard, having amassed 286 during her tenure with the Maroon and Gold. She also holds the second-most goals scored in program history with 115.
Brown was a staple of the Gophers' defense from 2017-2022, having played in 167 games across her five seasons. The Blaine, Minn., native was named to the WCHA Second Team three times during her collegiate career.
Knowles, a Campbell River, British Colombia native, will return to her home country after being drafted by Toronto's PWHL franchise. Knowles recorded 76 blocked shots during her fifth-year season in 2021-22 in which she was named a co-captain. She also ranks fourth in total games played in program history with 168.
Former Golden Gopher player and assistant coach Natalie Darwitz, and now-General Manager of Minnesota's PWHL franchise, played a part in the decision to select the 2021-22 Patty Kazmaier Award winner with the first overall selection.
Joining Heise on Minnesota is her former Gopher teammate Zumwinkle, who was selected with the No. 13 overall pick. The two formed a dynamic duo in Minneapolis in 2023, with each of the then-fifth-year seniors being named Patty Kazmaier Top Ten finalists in a season the Gophers reached the NCAA Frozen Four. Both of the recent-graduates are among the program leaders in points, with Heise ranking No. 6 with 227 points and Zumwinkle ranking No. 8 with 209.After Gopher alumni Kelly Pannek and Lee Stecklein signed with Minnesota's franchise in early September, Heise and Zumwinkle now join the team to form a formidable quartet that has extensive international and collegiate success.
Also remaining in the state of hockey will be Leveille, who played goaltender for the Maroon and Gold from 2012 to 2016. She ranks second in program history in goaltender wins with 98.
Brown and Brandt were each selected by the Boston PWHL franchise, and the former Gophers will head east to continue their hockey careers. Brandt sits atop the Gopher women's hockey points leaderboard, having amassed 286 during her tenure with the Maroon and Gold. She also holds the second-most goals scored in program history with 115.
Brown was a staple of the Gophers' defense from 2017-2022, having played in 167 games across her five seasons. The Blaine, Minn., native was named to the WCHA Second Team three times during her collegiate career.
Knowles, a Campbell River, British Colombia native, will return to her home country after being drafted by Toronto's PWHL franchise. Knowles recorded 76 blocked shots during her fifth-year season in 2021-22 in which she was named a co-captain. She also ranks fourth in total games played in program history with 168.
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