University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Bemidji State
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Maroon & Gold Set for Field Trip Game, Hockey Day Minnesota
1/23/2025 5:14:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - The third-ranked Gopher women's hockey team (17-5-1, 11-4-1 WCHA) is set to take on the Bemidji State Beavers (4-20-1, 2-16-0 WCHA) at Ridder Arena on Friday, Jan. 24 at 12:00 p.m. CT, and then at Valleyfair Amusement Park in Shakopee, Minn. on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 11:30 a.m. CT.
Both games will be streamed live on B1G+. FanDuel Sports Network North is set to air Saturday's matchup as part of its Hockey Day Minnesota broadcast.
This weekend will mark the fourth and fifth matchups between Minnesota and Bemidji State this season. The Gophers have won all three games against the Beavers so far.
Field Trip Day
Friday's matchup will mark the first-ever Field Trip Day at Ridder Arena. Students (PreK-8th grade), faculty/staff, and chaperones throughout the state will join the Gophers as part of a sell-out crowd.
Hockey Day Minnesota 2025
Saturday's game will be featured as part of the 19th Annual Hockey Day Minnesota (HDM).Â
It will mark the third outdoor game in program history, taking place at Valleyfair Amusement Park in Shakopee, Minn. In the 2014 Hockey City Classic, Minnesota took down Minnesota State in a 4-0 game at Huntington Bank Stadium. Then, on Hockey Day Minnesota 2020, the Maroon and Gold notched a 2-1 victory over Ohio State at Parade Stadium in downtown Minneapolis.
Tickets for Saturday's HDM events can be purchased at this link.
Last Time Out
The Maroon and Gold are coming off a sweep of Minnesota State last weekend, taking down the Mavericks 8-3 on Friday at Ridder Arena, then 5-2 on Saturday in Mankato, Minn. Junior forward Josefin Bouveng co-led the Gophers with seven points (4g-3a) throughout the weekend, including her second-career hat trick. Freshman defender Chloe Primerano was named WCHA Rookie of the Week on Jan. 20 for her three point (1g-2a) performance and plus/minus of five during the series.
Scouting the Beavers
Head coach Amber Frykland and the Bemidji State Beavers sit at a 4-20-1 (2-16-0 WCHA) record. Their most recent win came in the form of an upset against Brown University at Ridder Arena on Jan. 4, during which the Beavers won 5-4. Bemidji State is 0-3-0 against Minnesota this season, with the two programs last matching up on Jan. 1 in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Face-Off Classic. The Gophers won the Classic 4-1.
Multiple Contributors
The Maroon and Gold have had various players make an impact through the first half of the season. Redshirt-senior Abbey Murphy leads the team with 46 points (20g-26a). Murphy has notched at least one point in 20 out of the Gophers' 25 games, including 15 multi-point games. Following Murphy is senior forward Ella Huber, who has recorded 30 points (7g-23a) this season, then both fifth-year forward Natalie Mlynkova and junior forward Josefin Bouveng, who have each tallied 27 points (13g-14a and 11g-16a, respectively). Junior Sydney Morrow leads Minnesota defenders with 19 points on the season (9g-10a). Additionally, Morrow has scored a team-leading five power play goals this season. Following Morrow is junior Nelli Laitinen with 16 points (3g-13a) on the season so far.
Freshman goaltender Hannah Clark holds a 15-3-1 record on the season with a .914 save percentage and a 1.93 goals-allowed average. Clark was named WCHA Goaltender of the Week on Nov. 18.
Milestones on the Horizon
The University of Minnesota women's hockey program sits at an all-time overall record of 796-181-64 and is on pace to reach the 800-win mark this season. Abbey Murphy has recorded 90 career goals and will be in pursuit of the century mark this season. Josefin Bouveng sits at 93 career points, and will seek to become the fifth active Gopher to reach 100. Ella Huber has tallied 44 career goals and is on pace to reach the 50 mark this season.Â
WCHA Honors
Five Gophers have earned WCHA Weekly Awards throughout the 2024-25 season so far: forward Abbey Murphy (Nov. 18, Dec. 9), goaltender Hannah Clark (Nov. 18), defender Chloe Primerano (Dec. 9, Jan. 20), defender Sydney Morrow (Jan. 6), and defender Gracie Graham (Jan. 13).
Both Murphy and Primerano were named WCHA Players of the Month in December.
HCA Goalie of the Year Watch List
Freshman goaltender Hannah Clark was one of 33 goaltenders across the nation named to the Goalie of the Year Watch List by the Hockey Commissioners Association.
Hockey Humanitarian Nomination
Fifth-year forward Audrey Wethington was nominated for the 2025 Hockey Humanitarian Award. Wethington is a first-time nominee and seeks to become the first Gopher to receive the honor since Sidney Peters in 2018.
Gophers in the Pros
Nine Gopher women's hockey alumnae are rostered (including reserves) across four PWHL squads: Hannah Brandt and Emily Brown (Boston Fleet); Taylor Heise, Lucy Morgan, Kelly Pannek, Lee Stecklein, and Grace Zumwinkle (Minnesota Frost); Abigail Boreen (Victoire de Montréal); Olivia Knowles (New York Sirens).
Minnesota Adds Six to the 2025-26 Freshman Class
Head coach Brad Frost and the Golden Gopher women's hockey program announced the addition of six incoming student-athletes to the 2025-26 signing class: defender Sydney Bailey (Rogers, Minn.), forward Sienna D'Alessandro (Pointe-Claire, Quebec), forward Bella Fanale (Webster, N.Y.), goaltender Layla Hemp (Chanhassen, Minn.), forward Avery Hovland (West Fargo, N.D.), and forward Tereza Plosova (Šimonovice, Czechia).
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 2024-25.