University of Minnesota Athletics
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Minnesota Duluth
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No. 4 Gophers to Face No. 6 Bulldogs for Senior Weekend
2/20/2025 3:45:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - This weekend, the fourth-ranked Golden Gopher women's hockey team (23-9-1, 17-8-1 WCHA) is set to take on the sixth-ranked Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (19-11-2, 14-10-2 WCHA) in the final series of the regular season.
Puck drop at Ridder Arena is set for Friday, Feb. 21 at 6:00 p.m. CT, then Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2:00 p.m. CT.
Both games also will be streamed live on B1G+.
Parking Advisory
The University of Minnesota has several Gopher Athletic events on campus on Saturday, February 22 including men's basketball (1 p.m.), women's hockey (2 p.m.), gymnastics (4 p.m.) and men's hockey (5 p.m.). Fans are encouraged to plan ahead and allocate extra time navigating traffic on campus and entering/exiting parking facilities.Â
Fans have the option to purchase parking in advance. To purchase in advance, please click HERE. Fans who arrive on campus without a parking pass should park in the 4th Street Ramp west of Ridder Arena, the Gold Lot east of Huntington Bank Stadium or the Washington Avenue Ramp south of Ridder Arena. Please note, event rate parking will be $12 all day Saturday.Â
Celebrating Our Seniors
This weekend's games mark the final regular-season home games for the senior class. The 'U' will be honoring nine seniors: Emma Conner, Peyton Hemp, Ella Huber, Olivia King, Natalie Mlynkova, Abbey Murphy, Maggie Nicholson, Skylar Vetter, and Audrey Wethington.
Last Time Out
The Maroon and Gold are coming off a split home-and-home series against St. Cloud State last weekend. After a comeback attempt fell short last Friday, with the Huskies winning 4-3 at Ridder Arena, the Gophers bounced back with a 2-1 road victory on Saturday. Emma Conner scored her third game-winning goal of the season to secure the Minnesota win.
With Saturday's victory, the Gophers became the first-ever WCHA program to reach the 800 all-time win mark.
Home, Sweet Home
Minnesota secured home ice for the first round of the WCHA Playoffs. The best-of-three series at Ridder Arena is set for Feb. 28 at 6:00 p.m. CT, March 1 at 2 p.m., and, if necessary, March 2 at 3 p.m. CT.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Head coach Laura Schuler and the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs are on a four-game win streak, sweeping Bemidji State, then Minnesota State in back-to-back weekends. The Bulldogs have held the sixth spot in the national rankings throughout the month, and officially clinched home ice for the WCHA Quarterfinals.
This weekend will mark the second series between the Gophers and the Bulldogs in the 2024-25 season. The two teams previously faced off on Nov. 15-16, a weekend which saw Minnesota get a 4-1, 3-2 sweep over Minnesota Duluth at AMSOIL Arena.
Multiple Contributors
The Maroon and Gold have had various players make an impact throughout the season. Redshirt-senior Abbey Murphy leads the team with 51 points (24g-27a). Murphy has notched at least one point in 24 out of the Gophers' 33 games, including 16 multi-point games. Following Murphy is senior forward Ella Huber, who has recorded 38 points (11g-27a) this season, then fifth-year forward Natalie Mlynkova with 28 points (13g-15a). Junior Sydney Morrow leads Minnesota defenders with 28 points on the season (10g-18a), with five of her goals coming on the power play, tied for most on the team this season. Following Morrow is freshman defender Chloe Primerano with 20 points (4g-16a), then junior defender Nelli Laitinen with 17 points (3g-14a) on the season so far.
Freshman goaltender Hannah Clark holds an 19-7-1 record on the season with a .901 save percentage.
Milestones on the Horizon
Abbey Murphy has recorded 94 career goals, ninth all-time in program history, and is in pursuit of the century mark. Josefin Bouveng is also in pursuit of a triple digit milestone, sitting at 93 career points. Ella Huber has tallied 48 career goals and is on pace to reach the 50 mark this season. Ava Lindsay has recorded 43 career points, nearing the half-century mark as a sophomore.
Success on the Ice, Success in the Classroom
Fifteen Gopher student-athletes were named to the 2024-25 WCHA All-Academic Team: Josefin Bouveng, Emma Conner, Allie Franco, Peyton Hemp, Ella Huber, Sophia Johnson, Madison Kaiser, Elly Klepinger, Nelli Laitinen, Ava Lindsay, Abbey Murphy, Maggie Nicholson, Lauren O'Hara, Skylar Vetter, and Audrey Wethington.
Nine Gophers were named as 2024-25 WCHA Scholar-Athletes: Allie Franco, Peyton Hemp, Elly Klepinger, Nelli Laitinen, Ava Lindsay, Maggie Nicholson, Lauren O'Hara, Skylar Vetter, and Audrey Wethington.
WCHA Honors
Five Gophers have earned WCHA Weekly Awards throughout the 2024-25 season so far: Abbey Murphy (Nov. 18, Dec. 9), Hannah Clark (Nov. 18), Chloe Primerano (Dec. 9, Jan. 20), Sydney Morrow (Jan. 6), and Gracie Graham (Jan. 13).
Additionally, three Minnesota student-athletes have been named WCHA Players of the Month throughout the season: Abbey Murphy (December, January), Chloe Primerano (December), and Sydney Morrow (January).
National Honors
Abbey Murphy was named National Player of the Month by the Hockey Commissioners Association in back-to-back months (December, January). She became the first Gopher to earn multiple National Player of the Month honors in one season since Taylor Heise during the 2022-23 season.
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.