Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey

Minnesota Golden Gophers
women's ice hockey
Current season
University Minnesota
Conference WCHA
Head coach Brad Frost
10th season, 319–53–27
Arena Ridder Arena
Capacity: 3,400
Location Minneapolis, Minnesota
Colors Maroon and Gold[1]
         
Fight song Minnesota Rouser
NCAA Tournament championships
2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
NCAA Tournament Frozen Four
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
NCAA Tournament appearances
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Conference Tournament championships
2002, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018
Conference regular season championships
2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015

The Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s ice hockey team plays for the University of Minnesota at the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis. The team is one of the members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in Division I. The Golden Gophers have won six NCAA Championships as well as an American Women's College Hockey Alliance Championship. In the WCHA, they have also been regular season champions 8 times and tournament champions five times.[2] In addition to their overall success as a competitive team, the Gophers have also been ranked in the nation's top two teams for attendance since becoming a varsity sport, and the team holds the second largest single-game attendance record for women’s collegiate hockey, drawing 6,854 fans for the first Minnesota women's hockey game on November 2, 1997.[3] The team also holds the distinction of having the longest winning streak in women's or men's college hockey at 62 games from February 17, 2012 to November 17, 2013, winning back-to-back NCAA titles during the stretch.[4]

In 2004–2005, Minnesota also won back-to-back NCAA Championships. Natalie Darwitz was a three-time All American, and three-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier award. Darwitz left the program with the career scoring mark at Minnesota in three years and set two NCAA single-season record with 114 points (42 Goals, 72 Assists) and most assists in 40 games in her final season.[5] Minnesota Gophers women's hockey players have won the Patty Kazmaier Award twice (Krissy Wendell [2005] and Amanda Kessel [2013]), as well as having all three finalists in 2013.[6]

Coaches

The Gophers have had two head coaches to date: Laura Halldorson and Brad Frost. Halldorson was the head coach for eleven years, from the 1997–1998 season to the 2006–2007 season. Her overall coaching record was 278–67–22 with the Gophers, a winning percentage of .787. During that time, the Gophers won four of their five WCHA championships and three of their national championships. They averaged 28 wins per season and appeared in eight out of ten national tournaments, reaching seven finals. In addition, the Gophers experienced their best season in 2004–2005 with a 36–2–2 record.[7] In the 2007–08 season, Brad Frost became the temporary head coach. He had previously been an assistant coach. In his first year as head coach, Frost led the Gophers to a 21-game winning streak, with the season's record ending with 27 wins, 7 losses, and 4 ties but also ended with a conference record of 21–5–2, which ranked second in the WCHA. The Gophers made another NCAA regional appearance and post-season Frost was awarded WCHA Coach of the Year. In the 2008–2009 season, his temporary coaching status was lifted and he was named permanent head coach of the Gophers. That same season he led the Gophers to a record of 32–5–3 and to another WCHA championship. Frost then coached the Gophers into back-to-back NCAA Frozen Four championships in 2012 & 2013, which were encompassed in their 62-game winning streak.[8] The Golden Gophers have had a cross state rivalry with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. The Gophers handed the Bulldogs their first ever conference loss 4–3 in a sold out game at Pioneer Hall on February 11, 2000.[9]

Team history

Minnesota put its first women's team on the ice in 1997–98. Nadine Muzerall, a Canadian who graduated from Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire, was among its initial recruits.[10]

During the 2004–05 season, Krissy Wendell set an NCAA record (since tied) for most shorthanded goals in one season with 7.[11] After graduating from Minnesota, she had the career record for most shorthanded goals in a career with 16. Ironically, both marks were tied by Meghan Agosta.

In 2009–10, Noora Räty was just the second freshman to be a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. Räty led the NCAA in several goaltending categories. She led the NCAA in goals-against average (1.24), save percentage (.951) and shutouts (7), while ranking third in winning percentage (.792). Her won loss record for the year was 17–3–4. In addition, Raty was the WCHA goaltending champion and earned numerous honours including All-WCHA First Team and All-WCHA Rookie Team. During the season, she was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week four times and WCHA Rookie of the Week on two occasions. She set a school record for most assists in one season by a goaltender (3).

Minnesota Duluth rivalry

Minnesota-Duluth, had been a traditional rival to the Gophers in men's hockey. In 1998, Minnesota Duluth announced that it was going to assemble a women's team for the 1999–2000 season. Duluth gave a three-year, $210,000 contract to Shannon Miller, who coached Canada to the 1998 Olympic final in Nagano. Miller recruited players from Canada, Finland and Sweden, including four Olympians. The rivalry was fuelled when Miller took two players from Minnesota: star forward Jenny Schmidgall, whose 93 points led the nation, and defenseman Brittny Ralph, who would serve as the Bulldogs' captain. In the 1999–2000 season, Duluth would lose just once to the Gophers in their first five meetings, which included a 2–0 Bulldogs victory in the final of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association tournament.[10]

Arenas

The Golden Gophers have called two ice rinks home. From their 1997–1998 season to their 2001–2002 season the Golden Gophers shared their home ice with the men’s team at Mariucci Arena. The Golden Gophers moved into Ridder Arena in the 2002–2003 season, a facility dedicated solely to a women’s hockey team, and named for team benefactors Robert Ridder and Kathleen Ridder.[12]

Year to Year

Won Championship Lost Championship Conference Champions League Leader
Year Coach W L T Conference Conf. W Conf. L Conf. T Finish Conference Tournament NCAA Tournament
2017–18Brad Frost24113WCHA13833rd WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. St. Cloud State (5–1, 4–1)
Won Semifinals vs. Ohio State (2–0)
Won Championship vs. Wisconsin (3–1)		Lost First Round vs. Wisconsin (0–4)
2016–17Brad Frost2685WCHA19452nd WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Bemidji State (3–1, 1–2, 3-2)
Lost Semifinals vs. Minnesota Duluth (1–2 2OT)		Won First Round vs. Minnesota Duluth (1–0)
Lost Frozen Four vs. Clarkson (3–4)
2015–16Brad Frost3341WCHA24312nd WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Ohio State (5–2, 5–0)
Won Semifinals vs. North Dakota (2–0)
Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (0–1)		Won First Round vs. Princeton (6–2)
Won Frozen Four vs. Wisconsin (3–2 OT)
Won Championship vs. Boston College (3–1)
2014–15Brad Frost3434WCHA22241st WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota State (10–0, 5–1)
Lost Semifinals vs. Bemidji State (0–1)		Won First Round vs. RIT (6–2)
Won Frozen Four vs. Wisconsin (3–1)
Won Championship vs. Harvard (4–1)
2013–14Brad Frost3821WCHA26111st WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. St. Cloud State (4–1, 7–1)
Won Semifinals vs. Minnesota-Duluth (4–1)
Won Championship vs. North Dakota (3–1)		Won First Round vs. Boston University (5–1)
Won Frozen Four vs. Wisconsin (5–3)
Lost Championship vs. Clarkson (4–5)
2012–13Brad Frost4100WCHA28001st WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Bemidji State (5–0, 8–0)
Won Semifinals vs. Ohio State (5–0)
Won Championship vs. North Dakota (2–0)		Won First Round vs. North Dakota (3–2 3OT)
Won Frozen Four vs. Boston College (3–2 OT)
Won Championship vs. Boston University (6–3)
2011–12Brad Frost3452WCHA21522nd WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. St. Cloud State (6–1, 6–0)
Won Semifinals vs. North Dakota (6–0)
Won Championship vs. Minnesota-Duluth (2–0)		Won First Round vs. North Dakota (5–1)
Won Frozen Four vs. Cornell (3–1)
Won Championship vs. Wisconsin (4–2)
2010–11Brad Frost26102WCHA18822nd WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Ohio State (3–2, 4–2)
Won Semifinals vs. Minnesota-Duluth (4–2)
Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (4–5 OT)		Lost First Round vs. Boston College (1–4)
2009–10Brad Frost2695WCHA18642nd WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota State (8–5, 4–3)
Won Semifinals vs. Ohio State (5–4 2OT)
Lost Championship vs. Minnesota-Duluth (2–3)		Won First Round vs. Clarkson (3–2 OT)
Lost Frozen Four vs. Minnesota-Duluth (2–3)
2008–09Brad Frost3253WCHA23231st WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Bemidji State (4–1, 5–1)
Won Semifinals vs. Minnesota State (7–2)
Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (3–5)		Won First Round vs. Boston College (4–3)
Lost Frozen Four vs. Mercyhurst (4–5)
2007–08Brad Frost2774WCHA21522nd WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. North Dakota (3–1, 9–1)
Lost Semifinals vs. Wisconsin (3–4)		Lost First Round vs. Wisconsin (2–3 OT)
2006–07Laura Halldorson23121WCHA171013rd WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Bemidji State (5–1, 4–1)
Won Semifinals vs. Minnesota-Duluth (3–2 OT)
Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (1–3)		Did not qualify
2005–06Laura Halldorson29111WCHA19812nd WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota State (5–1, 6–0)
Won Semifinals vs. Minnesota-Duluth (2–1)
Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (1–4)		Won First Round vs. Princeton (4–0)
Won Frozen Four vs. New Hampshire (5–4)
Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (0–3)
2004–05Laura Halldorson3622WCHA25121st WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Bemidji State (6–3)
Won Semifinals vs. Ohio State (7–1)
Won Championship vs. Wisconsin (3–2 OT)		Won First Round vs. Providence (6–1)
Won Frozen Four vs. Dartmouth (7–2)
Won Championship vs. Harvard (4–3)
2003–04Laura Halldorson3042WCHA19321st WCHAWon Semifinals vs. Ohio State (5–1)
Won Championship vs. Minnesota-Duluth (4–2)		Won Frozen Four vs. Dartmouth (5–1)
Won Championship vs. Harvard (6–2)
2002–03Laura Halldorson2781WCHA19412nd WCHAWon Semifinals vs. Wisconsin (3–1)
Lost Championship vs. Minnesota-Duluth (3–5)		Lost First Round vs. Harvard (1–6)
2001–02Laura Halldorson2846WCHA19231st WCHAWon Semifinals vs. Ohio State (4–1)
Won Championship vs. Wisconsin (3–2)		Lost First Round vs. Brown (1–2)
2000–01Laura Halldorson2392WCHA18421st WCHALost Semifinals vs. Ohio State (0–4)Lost First Round vs. Wisconsin (3–4)
1999–00Laura Halldorson3261WCHA21212nd WCHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota State (10–0)
Won Semifinals vs. Wisconsin (5–0)
Lost Championship vs. Minnesota-Duluth (0–2)		Won Frozen Four vs. Minnesota-Duluth (3–2)
Won Championship vs. Brown (4–2)
1998–99Laura Halldorson1833WCHA

Championships

National

Conference

Western Collegiate Hockey Association Women's Regular Season Champions

  • 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015

Western Collegiate Hockey Association Women's Tournament Champions

  • 2002, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018

Individual seasonal records

Best Plus/Minus Record in a Season: +77
Hannah Brandt 2012–2013[13]

Most Goals in a Season: 49
Nadine Muzerall 1999–2000[14]

Most Assists in a Season: 72
Natalie Darwitz 2004–2005[14]

Most Points in a Season: 114
Natalie Darwitz 2004–2005[14]

Scoring leaders

Name Years Games Goals Assists Points
Natalie Darwitz2002–0599102144246
Krissy Wendell2002–05101106131237
Nadine Muzerall1997-0112913996235
Amanda Kessel[15]2010–13, 2016127108140248
Hannah Brandt[16]2012–16158115170285
Kelly Stephens2001–0514897121218
Ambria Thomas1997-0113489112201
Gigi Marvin2005–0915287108195
Ronda Curtin1999-0314760107167
Laura Slominski1998-021466596161

NCAA record holders

  • Natalie Darwitz, NCAA leader, 2004–05 season, Points per game, 2.85[11]
  • Natalie Darwitz, NCAA leader, 2004–05 season, Assists per game, 1.80
  • Jody Horak, NCAA leader, 2004–05 season, Goalie winning percentage, .893
  • Noora Räty, NCAA leader, Career Wins, 114

Captains

Season Captains
1997–98Julie Otto, Kris Scholz
1998–99Amber Hegland, Kris Scholz
1999-00Shannon Kennedy, Kris Scholz
2000–01Tracy Engstrom, Kris Scholz
2001–02Tracy Engstrom, Laura Slominski
2002–03Ronda Curtin, Kelsey Bills, Winny Brodt
2003–04Kelsey Bills, La Toya Clarke
2004–05Kelly Stephens, Krissy Wendell
2005–06Andrea Nichols, Chelsey Brodt, Bobbi Ross
2006–07Andrea Nichols, Bobbi Ross
2007–08Bobbi Ross, Whitney Graft
2008–09Melanie Gagnon, Gigi Marvin
2009–10Michelle Maunu, Brittany Francis, Emily West, Terra Rasmussen
2010–11Emily West, Terra Rasmussen, Sarah Erickson, Jen Schoullis, Anne Schleper
2011–12Sarah Erickson, Jen Schoullis
2012–13Megan Bozek, Bethany Brausen
2013–14Bethany Brausen, Sarah Davis, Baylee Gillanders, Kelly Terry
2014–15Rachel Ramsey, Rachael Bona, Meghan Lorence, Lee Stecklein
2015–16Hannah Brandt, Lee Stecklein
2016–17Lee Stecklein, Dani Cameranesi, Kate Schipper

Olympians

  • The following Gophers players have participated in Olympic Women's hockey.

2002 U.S. Olympic Team

2006 U.S. Olympic Team

  • Natalie Darwitz
  • Courtney Kennedy
  • Kelly Stephens
  • Lyndsay Wall
  • Krissy Wendell (2006 Team U.S.A. Captain)[17]

2010 U.S. Olympic Team

2014 U.S. Olympic Team

2018 U.S. Olympic Team

2006 Finnish Olympic Team

2010 Finnish Olympic Team

2014 Finnish Olympic Team

2018 Finnish Olympic Team

Awards and honors

All Americans

Year Player Team
1998Nadine Muzerall(2nd team, Women’s Hockey News)
1998Brittny Ralph(2nd team, Women’s Hockey News)
1999Courtney Kennedy(2nd team, AWCHA)
1999Nadine Muzerall(2nd team, AWCHA)
1999Jenny Schmidgall(2nd team, AWCHA)
2001Courtney Kennedy(1st team, JOFA)
2002Ronda Curtin(1st team, JOFA)
2003Ronda Curtin(1st team, JOFA)
2003Natalie Darwitz(1st team, JOFA)
2003Krissy Wendell(2nd team, JOFA)
2004Krissy Wendell(1st team, JOFA)
2004Natalie Darwitz(2nd team, JOFA)
2005Natalie Darwitz(1st team CCM)
2005Lyndsay Wall(1st team CCM)
2005Krissy Wendell(1st team CCM)
2005Jody Horak(2nd team CCM)
2008Gigi Marvin(2nd team, RBK HOCKEY/AHCA)
2009Melanie Gagnon(2nd team, RBK HOCKEY/AHCA))
2009Monique Lamoureux(2nd team, RBK HOCKEY/AHCA)
2010Noora Raty(1st team, RBK HOCKEY/AHCA)
2010Anne Schleper[18](1st team, RBK HOCKEY/AHCA)
2011Noora Raty[19](2nd team, RBK HOCKEY/AHCA)
2012Megan Bozek[20](1st team, CCM/AHCA)
2013Megan Bozek[20](1st team, CCM/AHCA)
2013Amanda Kessel[21](1st team, CCM/AHCA)
2013Noora Räty[21](1st team, CCM/AHCA)
2014Hannah Brandt[21](1st team, CCM/AHCA)
2014Rachel Ramsey[21](1st team, CCM/AHCA)
2014Milica McMillen[21](2nd team, CCM/AHCA)
2015Hannah Brandt[21](1st team, CCM/AHCA)
2015Rachel Ramsey[21](1st team, CCM/AHCA)
2015Dani Cameranesi[21](2nd team, CCM/AHCA)
2015Lee Stecklein[21](2nd team, CCM/AHCA)
2018Sydney Baldwin[22](1st team, CCM/AHCA)

All-WCHA teams

Year Player Team
2000Winny BrodtFirst-Team All-WCHA
2000Nadine MuzerallFirst-Team All-WCHA
2000Nadine MuzerallFirst-Team All-WCHA
2000Courtney KennedySecond-Team All-WCHA
2000Crystal NicholasSecond-Team All-WCHA
2000Laura SlominskiSecond-Team All-WCHA
2000Ambria ThomasSecond-Team All-WCHA
2001Courtney KennedyFirst-Team All-WCHA
2001Erica KillewaldFirst-Team All-WCHA
2001Ambria ThomasSecond-Team All-WCHA
2001LaToya ClarkeSecond-Team All-WCHA
2002Ronda CurtinFirst-Team All-WCHA
2002Jody HorakFirst-Team All-WCHA
2002Kelly StephensSecond-Team All-WCHA
2003Ronda CurtinFirst-Team All-WCHA
2003Natalie DarwitzFirst-Team All-WCHA
2003Jody HorakFirst-Team All-WCHA
2003Krissy WendellSecond-Team All-WCHA
2004Natalie DarwitzFirst-Team All-WCHA
2004Krissy WendellFirst-Team All-WCHA
2005Natalie DarwitzFirst-Team All-WCHA
2005Lyndsay WallFirst-Team All-WCHA
2005Krissy WendellFirst-Team All-WCHA
2005Kelly StephensSecond-Team All-WCHA
2005Jody HorakSecond-Team All-WCHA
2006Erica McKenzieFirst-Team All-WCHA
2006Gigi MarvinThird-Team All-WCHA
2007Gigi MarvinFirst-Team All-WCHA
2007Bobbi RossThird-Team All-WCHA
2007Melanie GagnonThird-Team All-WCHA
2008Gigi MarvinFirst-Team All-WCHA
2008Rachael DrazanFirst-Team All-WCHA
2008Erica McKenzieSecond-Team All-WCHA
2008Anya MIllerSecond-Team All-WCHA
2008Bobbi RossThird-Team All-WCHA
2008Melanie GagnonThird-Team All-WCHA
2009Melanie GagnonFirst-Team All-WCHA
2009Jocelyne LamoureuxFirst-Team All-WCHA
2009Monique LamoureuxFirst-Team All-WCHA
2009Rachel DrazanThird-Team All-WCHA
2009Gigi MarvinThird-Team All-WCHA
2009Anne SchleperThird-Team All-WCHA
2010Noora RatyFirst-Team All-WCHA
2010Anne SchleperFirst-Team All-WCHA
2010Emily WestFirst-Team All-WCHA
2011Noora RatyFirst-Team All-WCHA
2011Anne SchleperFirst-Team All-WCHA
2011Megan BozekThird-Team All-WCHA
2011Amanda KesselThird-Team All-WCHA
2012Megan BozekFirst-Team All-WCHA
2012Anne SchleperFirst-Team All-WCHA
2012Amanda KesselSecond-Team All-WCHA
2012Jen SchoullisSecond-Team All-WCHA
2012Noora RatyThird-Team All-WCHA
2013Megan BozekFirst-Team All-WCHA
2013Hannah BrandtFirst-Team All-WCHA
2013Amanda KesselFirst-Team All-WCHA
2013Noora RatyFirst-Team All-WCHA
2013Mira JalosuoThird-Team All-WCHA
2013Kelly TerryThird-Team All-WCHA
2013Rachel RamseyThird-Team All-WCHA
2014Hannah BrandtFirst-Team All-WCHA
2014Milica McMillenFirst-Team All-WCHA
2014Rachel RamseyFirst-Team All-WCHA
2014Kelly TerryFirst-Team All-WCHA
2014Rachael BonaSecond-Team All-WCHA
2014Sarah DavisSecond-Team All-WCHA
2014Amanda LeveilleSecond-Team All-WCHA
2015Hannah BrandtFirst-Team All-WCHA
2015Dani CameranesiFirst-Team All-WCHA
2015Rachel RamseyFirst-Team All-WCHA
2015Lee SteckleinFirst-Team All-WCHA
2015Milica McMillenSecond-Team All-WCHA
2015Rachael BonaThird-Team All-WCHA

WCHA Defensive Player of the Year

Year Player
2000Winny Brodt
2001Courtney Kennedy
2002Ronda Curtin
2003Ronda Curtin
2009Melanie Gagnon
2010Anne Schleper
2013Megan Bozek
2014Rachel Ramsey
2015Rachel Ramsey

WCHA All-Rookie Team

Year Player
2003Natalie Darwitz
2003Krissy Wendell
2005Bobbi Ross
2006Gigi Marvin
2006Melanie Gagnon
2006Kim Hanlon
2007Michelle Maunu
2008Jenny Lura
2009Jocelyne Lamoureux
2009Monique Lamoureux
2009Anne Schleper
2010Noora Raty
2011Baylee Gillanders
2011Amanda Kessel
2011Kelly Terry[23]
2012Rachel Ramsey
2013Hannah Brandt
2013Milica McMillen
Maryanne Menefee
2014Dani Cameranesi
2015Sydney Baldwin
2015Kelly Pannek

Kazmaier Award

  • Krissy Wendell, 2005[24]
  • Amanda Kessel, 2013[25]

Kazmaier Award finalists

Year Player Rank
1998Nadine Muzerall(Top 11)
2000Winny Brodt(Top Ten)
2001Courtney Kennedy(Top Three)
2001Nadine Muzerall(Top Ten)
2002Ronda Curtin(Top Three)
2002Laura Slominski(Top Ten)
2003Natalie Darwitz(Top Ten)
2003Krissy Wendell(Top Ten)
2004Natalie Darwitz(Top Ten)
2004Krissy Wendell(Top Ten)
2005Natalie Darwitz(Top Ten)
2005Krissy Wendell(Top Ten)
2008Gigi Marvin(Top Ten)
2009Gigi Marvin(Top Ten)
2009Monique Lamoureux(Top Ten)
2010Noora Raty(Top Three)
2013Megan Bozek(Top Three)
2013Amanda Kessel
2013Noora Raty(Top Three)
2013Hannah Brandt(Top Ten)
2014Hannah Brandt(Top Three)
2014Rachael Bona(Top Ten)
2015Hannah Brandt(Top Three)
2015Dani Cameranesii(Top Ten)
2015Rachel Ramsey(Top Ten)

Nominees

  • Anne Schleper, 2010 Patty Kazmaier Award nominee[26]
  • Emily West, 2010 Patty Kazmaier Award nominee

USCHO honors

  • All USCHO.com First Team
    • 2005: Natalie Darwitz
    • 2005: Krissy Wendell
  • All USCHO.com Third Team
    • 2005: Lyndsay Wall
    • 2005: Jody Horak[27]
    • 2006: Erica McKenzie

WCHA honors

Other

  • Kelli Blankenship, 2010 Frozen Four Skills Competition participant[29]
  • Megan Bozek, 2011–12 Minnesota Golden Gophers Female Athlete of the Year[30]
  • Laura Halldorson, National Coach of the Year, 2002
  • Laura Halldorson, National Coach of the Year, 2004[31]
  • On September 27, 2007, Erica Killewald and Nadine Muzerall were the first women’s hockey players to be inducted into the University of Minnesota’s M Club Hall of Fame.[32]
  • Amanda Kessel, 2010 WCHA Pre-Season Rookie of the Year[33]
  • Sarah Potomak, 2016 WCHA Rookie of the Year honors[28]
  • Anne Schleper, 2012 Big Ten Medal of Honor[34]

Notable players

Erica Killewald

Erica Killewald ranks second in career saves (2,385) and shutouts (22), third in wins (73), and sixth in goals-against average (1.88). She also owns four of the top seven winningest seasons for a goaltender. Killewald will be remembered as the winning goaltender for the first ever women’s hockey game at Minnesota. She led Minnesota to an 8–0 win over Augsburg in front of a record crowd at Mariucci Arena on Nov. 2, 1997.

After an 18-win freshman season that saw her finish tied for second in the nation with five shutouts, Killewald led the Golden Gophers to a third-place finish at the 1999 AWCHA National Championship. During that sophomore season, Killewald held opponents to two or fewer goals in 23 of 26 starts and led nation in goals against average (1.24) and save percentage (.947). She would be named the Golden Gophers most improved and most valuable player.

At the 2000 AWCHA National Championship, Killewald stopped 74 of 78 shots in the tournament, and earned most valuable player honors. On the season, she posted a 17–6–1 record, including an 8–0–1 mark in 10 games during the tram’s 21-game unbeaten streak. In a 2–2 tie at archrival Minnesota Duluth, Killewald made 51 saves to set a school record.

Killewald wrapped up her collegiate career in 2000–01 as part of the Golden Gophers first ever WCHA Regular Season Championship. On the season, Kilewald accumulated a 19–8–2 record. She would lead the WCHA in goals-against average (2.12) and save percentage (.914) to earn First Team All-WCHA honors.

During her overall career at Minnesota, Killewald compiled a 73–23–9 career record. Kilewald was also a member of the WCHA All-Academic Team. She graduated with a degree in kinesiology and is currently a radiologic technologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

Nadine Muzerall

Nadine Muzerall is Minnesota’s all-time leader with 139 career goals, including a record 40 power-play goals. She was a member of the inaugural team of University of Minnesota women’s hockey. In her freshman season, she had a 32-goal, 32-assist performance to earn Women’s Hockey News Second Team All-American, Patty Kazmaier Award Finalist and team most valuable player accolades.

During her 1998–99 sophomore season, Muzerall was named a Second Team AWCHA All-American, and was part of the third-place finish at the 1999 AWCHA National Championship. She compiled totals of 30 goals, 18 assists and 48 points. Her numbers ranked in the top 20 nationally in seven offensive categories.

Muzerall scored the game-winning goal in the 2000 national championship win over Brown (Minnesota would win 4–2) and earned all-tournament honors with three goals and an assist in two games. For the season, Muzerall scored 49 goals, 28 assists and 77 points. Her 49 goals led the nation, power-play goals (16), power-play points (27) and game-winning goals (9). Her 49 goals sit atop the Minnesota season record book. In a 10–0 win over Bemidji State, Muzerall set school records with five goals and seven points. During the season, Muzerall went on a 20-game point streak, earned First Team All-WCHA and Minnesota team most valuable player honors.

Muzerall finished her collegiate career in 2000–01. She was part of the first ever WCHA Regular Season Championship, with contributions of 28 goals and 18 assists. For her efforts, she was named a Patty Kazmaier Award Finalist for the second time in her career. In the Minnesota career record book, Muzerall finished her career first in goals (139), goals-per-game (1.08), power-play goals (40) and shots (726), and third in points (235). She graduated with a degree in family social science. In 2003, she became head coach of the Northfield Mount Hermon School girls’ hockey team in Gill, Massachusetts. Muzerall served as assistant coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's hockey team from 2010–2016 and then became head coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes women's hockey team starting with the 2016–17 season.

Golden Gophers in professional hockey

Player Team League
Winny BrodtMinnesota WhitecapsWWHL
Andrea NicholsMinnesota WhitecapsWWHL
Allie SanchezMinnesota WhitecapsWWHL
Noora RätyKiekko-VantaaMestis

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Colors and Type | University Relations | University of Minnesota, Twin Cities". Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ By Naila-Jean Meyers (2013-03-25). "Minnesota Women's Hockey Wins 49 in a Row to Win Title - The New York Times". Thequad.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ Christensen, Joe (2013-03-07). "All three finalists for hockey's Patty Kazmaier Award are Gophers". StarTribune.com. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-04-14. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
  9. ↑
  10. 1 2 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1018813/2/index.htm
  11. 1 2 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_icehockey_rb/2011/DI.pdf
  12. ↑ "Minnesota Mourns Loss of Kathleen Ridder". University of Minnesota Athletics. 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  13. ↑ "University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site :: Women's Ice Hockey". Gophersports.Com. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  14. 1 2 3
  15. ↑ "Player Stats | Year by Year | Amanda Kessel :: Statistics :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  16. ↑ "University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site :: Women's Ice Hockey". Gophersports.Com. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ 2009–10 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season#All-America honors
  19. ↑ "American Hockey Coaches Association". Ahcahockey.com. 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  20. 1 2 1 second ago. "Natalie Spooner Earns All-America Honors :: The Ohio State University Official Athletic Site The Ohio State University Official Athletic Site :: Women's Ice Hockey". Ohiostatebuckeyes.com. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site :: Women's Ice Hockey". Gophersports.Com. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  22. ↑ Press Release (15 March 2018). "Four Women's Hockey East Players Named CCM/AHCA All-Americans". Hockey East. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  23. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  24. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-07. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
  25. ↑ "WCHA Press Releases". WCHA.com. 2013-03-23. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  26. ↑ http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/021810aaa.html. Retrieved 2010-02-19. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. ↑ "USCHO.com's 2004-05 D-I Women's Year-End Honors :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online". USCHO.com. 2005-03-22. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  28. 1 2 "WCHA ANNOUNCES 2015–16 POSTSEASON AWARDS". WCHA.com. 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  29. ↑ https://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/031010aaa.html. Retrieved 2010-03-16. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. ↑ "Women's Hockey and Wrestling Big Winners at 2012 Golden Goldys :: University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site". Gophersports.com. 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  31. ↑ "Minnesota Hockey". Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  32. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-04-14. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  33. ↑ "WCHA.com - WCHA Press Releases". www.wcha.com. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  34. ↑ "Pachuta and Schleper Earn Big Ten Medal of Honor". Retrieved 25 June 2017.

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