Gophers Women's Hockey 2024-25 Season

[GopherMarroon]

The talent-packed Gophers season starts with a bang. The Gophers open the season at the defending Hockey East champions UConn.

That is followed by a series hosting Boston University.

Then the Gophers hit the road to play the defending NCAA champs Ohio State. Boom!

If that weren't enough, boom, the Gophers host Wisconsin loaded with snipers.

Not to be missed!



The Gophers are loaded with talent, including intenationally famous (infamous) Abbey Murphy.

'There is truly no one like her': Abbey Murphy is hockey's next great pest

Team USA's Murphy plays a hard-nosed game, loves to talk trash, and isn’t afraid to mix it up or defend her teammates on the ice.

www.nytimes.com

'U' Announces 2024-25 Schedule - University of Minnesota Athletics

The 28th season in program history will officially begin on Sept. 27.

gophersports.com

The incoming Gophers recruiting class is exceptional.

WCHA announces 2024-25 league schedule

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) has unveiled its composite league schedule for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The schedule features a total of 112 conference games and this will mark the 26th season of women’s hockey competition in the WCHA.

wcha.com

 

[GopherMarroon]

Tickets at:

Gopher Women's Hockey Tickets - Official Minnesota Golden Gopher Tickets - University of Minnesota Athletics

Minnesota Gopher Women's Hockey Tickets SINGLE GAME TICKETS Single game tickets for the 2024-25 season will go on-sale in Fall 2024. GROUP TICKETS Group tick...

gophersports.com

Social media:

Minnesota Women's Hockey | Minneapolis MN

Minnesota Women's Hockey, Minneapolis, MN. 23,240 likes · 155 talking about this. The official Facebook page of Golden Gopher Women’s Hockey.

www.facebook.com

x.com

x.com

 

[GopherMarroon]

2025 NCAA Women's Hockey Frozen Four

The University of Minnesota will host its seventh NCAA Women's Frozen Four in school history and fifth at Ridder Arena.

www.mnsportsandevents.org

2025 NCAA Women's Hockey Frozen Four

The University of Minnesota will host its seventh NCAA Women's Frozen Four in school history and its fifth at Ridder Arena.

Previous years include the inaugural 2001 and 2006 championships at Mariucci, followed by the 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2018 championships at Ridder Arena. No other city has hosted the event more than three times.


“We are excited to welcome fans, visitors, student-athletes and coaches back to our wonderful region to celebrate collegiate sports,” said Melvin Tennant, Chief Executive Officer of Meet Minneapolis and Executive Board member of Minnesota Sports and Events. “The NCAA has complete confidence in the University of Minnesota as the host institution for these collegiate championships, and the procurement of these events further cements the region’s national status as a proven championship-caliber host community."

Minneapolis-Saint Paul-Bloomington Will Host NCAA Championship Events in 2023-2025

The Minneapolis-Saint Paul-Bloomington region will host NCAA Division I championships in men's swimming & diving, men’s ice hockey and women’s ice hockey in 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively.

www.minneapolis.org

 

[GopherMarroon]

Women's hockey has been around a long time at University of Minnesota.


25+ Years of Minnesota Golden Gophers WCHA Women's Hockey

1997 was the first season for University of Minnesota Women's Hockey, the current team.

Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Over 100 Years Since the First Gophers Women's Hockey

MN Womens Hockey

history.vintagemnhockey.com

"In 1918, according to University of Minnesota “Gopher” yearbooks, some 30 women tried out for the first-ever Gopher Women’s hockey team. Oftentimes playing to large crowds, the women played through the 1920’s at the skating rink on Northrop Field (near the Armory on the UofM campus)."

 

[GopherMarroon]

The Abbey Murphy Effect

The American Hockey Player the Rest of the World Loves to Hate​

https://www.wsj.com/articles/abbey-murphy-team-usa-womens-hockey-11644573679

The increased physicality of women's hockey can be traced back to trendsetter Abbey Murphy, I can't say exactly how much. As someone who's seen her play many times, teams definitely respond to her with increased trash talk, shoves, knock downs, and trips that never get called. The refs let it go because it seems the agitator is getting ice justice back.

Catch the action this season. Friday nights or Saturday afternoons are times for Gophers Women's Hockey, so tune in.

Murphy led the NCAA in goals last season (33 tied with Kirsten Simms of Wisconsin). Murphy for awhile was leading in goals-per-game until #1 overall draft pick Sarah Fillier passed Murphy in goals per game. Congrats to Fillier to achieve that! She's a star.

Murphy Named Top-10 Finalist for Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award - University of Minnesota Athletics

Murphy is the only player in the nation with more than 30 goals and 25 assists

gophersports.com

Murphy was a Patty Kazmeier top-10 finalist. Will she make it to the top 3? Kristen Simms of Wisconsin won the WCHA Forward of the Year award and should have won the Patty Kaz except the final 3 candidates included two Badgers who split the vote and gave the award to an East Coast player who wasn't drafted until the last pick of the 3rd round, Izzy Daniel.

You do not want to miss Wisconsin when they come to town. Get your tickets to Gophers-Badgers.


Gophers Team Hockey

The Gophers play team hockey. Stay tuned this season as players reach for dreams, the story unfolds.







The incoming rookie class is amazing. i will post about them in a future post.

Many young talented returning players too.


Tickets are cheap. You can turn back tickets you don't use for a credit towards next season. (That was the policy last season and assume the same this next season). Attend some games and roll the credits forward to next season.


Game audio streams free online. The free audio/radio broadcast is really good.

Access that at the schedule link.

2024-25 Women's Hockey Schedule - University of Minnesota Athletics

The official 2024-25 Women's Hockey schedule for the University of Minnesota Gophers

gophersports.com

BIG+ for live game video is low in cost compared to others sports packages.

When the season approaches, watch for the WCHA, school, or hockey pass subscriptions, typically $40-$60.

Home

Home

www.bigtenplus.com

Get into the habit of tuning in. I use all three: live games, live video, and live audio. Tune in


Tickets at:

Gopher Women's Hockey Tickets - Official Minnesota Golden Gopher Tickets - University of Minnesota Athletics

Minnesota Gopher Women's Hockey Tickets SINGLE GAME TICKETS Single game tickets for the 2024-25 season will go on-sale in Fall 2024. GROUP TICKETS Group tick...

gophersports.com

 

[GopherMarroon]

The American Hockey Player the Rest of the World Loves to Hate​

https://www.wsj.com/articles/abbey-murphy-team-usa-womens-hockey-11644573679

If Abbey Murphy is the player others love to hate....

Then Ohio State coach Nadine Muzerall is the coach I love to hate. With humor, nothing mean-spirited intended.

She is the best coach in college hockey.

But I really dislike Ohio State.

That machine -- by that women.

Ohio State repeatedly cheats with rough, cheap physical hockey. They get away with it. Refs don't call it.

I was at a Gophers game against another team not Ohio State. I sat next to a parent of a player for the other team. I started talking about how bad Ohio State was with their cheating trash. That triggered an animated retelling by the parent about all the cheap, thug penalties Ohio State gets away with. Not called. Not called. Not called.

They are mean in a sneaky way. But it's even worse.

It's the way they skate.

The way they pass.

A machine.

The Muzerall machine.

She won two NCAA Frozen Four championships in the last three years. The third was a loss to a loaded underdog Wisconsin team.

Wisconsin has an amazing collection of snipers. Just look at the roster. Simms, O'Brien, Harvey, Edwards, Murphy...

With Ohio State it's a machine, the Muzerall machine.

Like a swarm of killer bees taking formation.

I dislike Ohio State! Even if I agree the coach is the best.


Nadine Muzerall is a former Gophers great player. She's a former Gophers assistant coach.


So now it makes complete sense.

2024-25 Women's Hockey Schedule - University of Minnesota Athletics

The official 2024-25 Women's Hockey schedule for the University of Minnesota Gophers

gophersports.com

Minnesota Gophers play at Ohio State October 11 and 12.


Ohio State plays at Minnesota January 31 and February 1.


If you're around, you probably should get tickets to the game.

 

[GopherMarroon]

Gophers land defender Sydney Bailey from Rogers.

Gophers land multi-faceted defender Sydney Bailey from Rogers

Also a state champion on the softball diamond, Sydney Bailey announced her commitment to play hockey at Minnesota after a visit to the school this week.

www.therinklive.com

She scored 18 points last season, third on her team, including 7 goals (26 games). (Gathered from MNGirlsHockeyHub)

 

[GopherMarroon]

With compliments out of the way to the Coach of the Year (forced to play in a shabby ice arena not up to OSU's standards), Minnesota Gophers coach Brad Frost is one of the best too.




Frost twice was named national coach of the year. He was a finalist for AHCA Coach of the Year nine times. He was WCHA Coach of the Year four times.

Astoundingly, Brad Frost even coached the Gophers to a perfect 41-0 season.

25 Seasons of Excellence: Minnesota's Perfect Season

For all the achievements in its first 25 seasons of women’s collegiate ice hockey, whether it be the 20 national titles, the nine Patty Kazmaier Award winners or the 121 all-American players that the Western Collegiate Hockey Association has produced, the single greatest accomplishment is unanimous.

wcha.com

Frost has won four NCAA championships. Recently he built a title-caliber team in 2022-23 that by far led the NCAA in scoring, with players like Taylor Heise and Grace Zumwinkle, but upset in OT by a Wisconsin team that would also upset Ohio State. Minnesota convincingly beat both those Ohio State and Wisconsin teams in the WCHA tournament that season, I was there, before heading to the NCAA tournament.

It's a Minnesota curse, being upset in the postseason. Just ask the Minnesota Wild and North Stars (no Stanley Cups), Vikings (four Super Bowl losses), and now the T-wolves too (argh). We will take the many national titles won by Gophers hockey women and men.

WCHA competition is INTENSE.




Right now Wisconsin's coach Mark Johnson owns the most wins of any coach (629). Brad Frost at Minnesota should eventually surpass Johnson.

Frost ended the 2023-24 season with a career record of 499-109-41 (.805).

There is a little heat on Frost because expectations at Minnesota are high. Last season he "only" advanced to the NCAA tournament. Frost will come through, 100% certain.

The incoming recruiting class is astounding. More about them in a future post.

Brad Frost - Women's Hockey Coach - University of Minnesota Athletics

The 2023-24 season marked head coach Brad Frost's 17th season at the helm of Gopher women's hockey. In his time as head coach, Frost has brought the program ...

gophersports.com

 

[GopherMarroon]

I don't think people fully realize the incredible load of talent in the WCHA this upcoming season.

Do not sleep on Wisconsin. If there are a few things you have to know about college hockey, one is the astounding talent on the Wisconsin roster, a slaughter roster.

Ohio State just had the most top players drafted into the pro draft. A domination.

WCHA makes big impact on 2024 PWHL Draft

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association made a big impact on the 2024 Professional Women's Hockey League draft, which was held on Monday, June 10 in St. Paul, Minn.

wcha.com

Less obvious are those younger Wisconsin players too young to go pro. Some don't realize they could beat an all-star team of ECAC and HockeyEast combined, no joke. Look at the Wisconsin roster. Look. It's a slaughter roster. (provocative hook)

And now Minnesota just reloaded again with a roster that includes a phenom from Canada (a high-scoring defender), Minnesota Ms Hockey, multiple star Minnesota players defense and offense, the best Canadian U18 defender not the phenom, and the U18 goaltender from Canada, the best.

That is adding to a Gophers team that already made the NCAA tournament including Abbey Murphy.


Before that, Minnesota had Taylor Heise (playoffs MVP as a rookie) and Grace Zumwinkle (Rookie of the Year)


MVP Natalie Spooner came from the WCHA too, Ohio State.

Former Ohio State standout Natalie Spooner receives PWHL's MVP award

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association has established itself as the nation’s premier conference in NCAA women’s hockey and the excellence of the league’s player development was on display at the 2024 Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) award ceremony that took place on June 11 in St. Paul.

wcha.com

The WCHA is a tough league of the best. Gophers will compete for #1.


WCHA just celebrated 25 years with 25 top players.

WCHA names its final five to the 25th Anniversary Top 25 Team

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) is celebrating its 25th season of women’s hockey competition in 2023-24 and as part of this year-long salute to the rich history of the league, the WCHA announced its fifth, and final, group of five members of the conference’s 25th Anniversary Top...

wcha.com

WCHA announces five more names to 25th Anniversary Top 25 Team

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) is celebrating its 25th season of women’s hockey competition in 2023-24 and as part of this year-long salute to the rich history of the league, the WCHA announced its second group of five members of the conference’s 25th Anniversary Top 25 Team on...

wcha.com

 

[GopherMarroon]

Murphy was a Patty Kazmeier top-10 finalist. Will she make it to the top 3? Kristen Simms of Wisconsin won the WCHA Forward of the Year award and should have won the Patty Kaz except the final 3 candidates included two Badgers who split the vote and gave the award to an East Coast player who wasn't drafted until the last pick of the 3rd round, Izzy Daniel.

Kristen Simms was WCHA Player of the Year. The Patty Kazmeier Award should have her name on it.

Wisconsin's Kirsten Simms wins WCHA Player of the Year

Simms earns the top honor from the WCHA while the conference also announced the winners of Coach of the Year and Scholar Athlete of the Year as well.

www.therinklive.com

Simms led the NCAA in points and points per game. She tied for most goals with Minnesota's Abbey Murphy.



WCHA Kirsten Simms points: 75

ECAC Izzy Daniels points: 59



WCHA Kirsten Simms goals: 33

ECAC Izzy Daniels goals: 21


That's East Coast hockey. Can't earn the hardware.



If Simms didn't win it, then Wisconsin's Casey O'Brien should have won it.

Simms and O'Brien were #1 and #2 in scoring that season, boom boom.

O'Brien was named USCHO Player of the Year.

Women’s Division I College Hockey: Wisconsin's Casey O'Brien named USCHO Player of the Year - College Hockey | USCHO.com

Wisconsin forward Casey O'Brien came into this season as a two-time National Champion, Patty Kazmaier Award Top-Ten Finalist and having led the Badgers in

www.uscho.com

WCHA Casey O'Brien points: 73

ECAC Izzy Daniels points: 59


O'Brien earned a whopping 50 assists, breaking the school record. She scored more goals than Daniels too.


Wisconsin advanced to the Frozen Four championship and lost to an Ohio State team 0-1 that is the best team I've ever seen. Just before the NCAA tournament, Wisconsin did beat tOSU to win the WCHA Final Faceoff tournament. Simms had a goal and an assist.


And how did Izzy Daniel's ECAC Colgate team fare? They lost 1-3 to Wisconsin in the Frozen Four. Simms scored a goal. O'Brien made two assists. Nothing from Daniels.

Women’s Hockey: No. 2 Wisconsin Takes Down No. 3 Colgate, returns to championship matchup

The University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team will have a chance to defend their national championship. Friday, Wisconsin faced Colgate University in the Frozen Four. With nine minutes remaining in the first period, forward Casey O’Brien found forward Kirsten Simms with space in front of the...

badgerherald.com

The season before, Colgate lost to Wisconsin 2-4 in the NCAA tournament, two years in a row lost to Wisconsin.

Colgate Falls to No. 6 Wisconsin in Regional Final - Colgate University Athletics

HAMILTON – Allyson Simpson's goal early in the second period wasn't enough for No. 3 Colgate to overcome three unanswered goals by No. 6 Wisconsin in a 4-2 loss

colgateathletics.com

 

[GopherMarroon]

Speaking of WCHA coaches, salutations to coach Maura Crowell of UMD. She has accepted the coaching job at Dartmouth closer to family. She leaves behind a very good record at UMD.

She took the Bulldogs to the NCAA championship game but lost 2-3 to Ohio State. Numerous top players played for her.

The WCHA is brutally competitive. UMD over the years has been able to hang with a four-team power group including Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio State -- although lately #4.

UMD hasn't won the WCHA championship or WCHA tournament championship since 2009-10 despite nationally ranked top-10 year after year. The WCHA is tough.

 

[GopherMarroon]

UMD will host the WCHA Final Faceoff tournament for the 2024-25 season.

UMD and AMSOIL Arena will host 2025 WCHA Final Faceoff - UMD Athletics

The University of Minnesota Duluth will host the 2025 Western Collegiate Hockey Association's FInal Face-Off in 2025 at AMSOIL Arena, the league announced Saturday.

umdbulldogs.com

"The Western Collegiate Hockey Association officially announced Saturday that the 2025 Kwik Trip Final Faceoff will be hosted by the University of Minnesota Duluth and held at Amsoil Arena in Duluth, Minn. on March 7-8, 2025.


The WCHA's final four team postseason tournament returns to AMSOIL for the first time since 2012, and follows the 2023 NCAA Women's Hockey Frozen Four, which was held at AMSOIL just last season.


"The WCHA Final Faceoff is an annual showcase for women's hockey," said UMD Director of Athletics Forrest Karr. "We look forward to hosting and intend to ensure that participating teams and fans have a quality experience in every way during their time in Duluth."


2025 will mark the third time in WCHA history the postseason tournament has been in Duluth – in addition to the 2012 tournament, UMD hosted its first WCHA's Final Faceoff in 2008 at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. Annually pitting the nation's top programs and players, the WCHA Postseason Tournament is capped by the four-team, two-day Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff, the premier conference tournament in women's collegiate ice hockey.


The winner of the WCHA Final Faceoff receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Championship."

 

[GopherMarroon]

Minnesota will contend for #1.


Canada MVP Chloe Primerano – phenom scoring leader from the blue line. The first female drafted by a men's pro team:




Minnesota Ms Hockey Ayla Puppe leads a stellar group of Minnesota players:




Center Ella Huber is Abbey Murphy's line partner. They grew up playing hockey together in Chicago:




The one and only Abbey Murphy:





Last season, the top four scorers in the NCAA came from the WCHA.





The WCHA on Instagram at this link:

WCHA Hockey (@wcha_whockey) • Instagram photos and videos

6,687 Followers, 204 Following, 2,081 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from WCHA Hockey (@wcha_whockey)

www.instagram.com

Gophers will contend for #1!