| Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey | |
|---|---|
 Current season | |
 | |
| University | University of Minnesota |
| Conference | WCHA |
| Head coach | Brad Frost 18th season, 494–102–41[1] |
| Arena | Ridder Arena Minneapolis |
| Colors | Maroon and gold[2] |
| Fight song | Minnesota Rouser |
| AWCHA tournament champions | |
| 2000 | |
| NCAA tournament champions | |
| 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 | |
| NCAA tournament runner-up | |
| 2006, 2014, 2019 | |
| NCAA tournament Frozen Four | |
| 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2025 | |
| NCAA tournament appearances | |
| 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | |
| Conference tournament champions | |
| 2002, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2023 | |
| Conference regular season champions | |
| 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2022 | |
| Current uniform | |
 | |
TheMinnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey team plays for theUniversity of Minnesota at theTwin Cities campus in Minneapolis. The team is one of the members of theWestern Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and competes in theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) inDivision I. The Golden Gophers have won sixNCAA Championships as well as the finalAmerican Women's College Hockey Alliance Championship. In the WCHA, they have also been regular season champions 11 times[3] and tournament champions 8 times.[4] 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'scollegiate hockey, drawing 6,854 fans for the first Minnesota women's hockey game on November 2, 1997.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7] Minnesota Gophers women's hockey players have won thePatty Kazmaier Award three times (Krissy Wendell [2005],Amanda Kessel [2013], andTaylor Heise [2022]), as well as having all three finalists in 2013.[8]
The Gophers have had two head coaches to date:Laura Halldorson andBrad 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 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. The Gophers' experienced their best season under Halldorson in 2004–2005 with a 36–2–2 record.[9]
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 and 2013, which were encompassed in their 62-game winning streak, including a 41–0–0 record in 2012–13.[10] The Golden Gophers have had a cross-state rivalry with theMinnesota 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.[11]
Minnesota put its first women's team on the ice in 1997–98.Nadine Muzerall, a Canadian who graduated fromKimball Union Academy inMeriden, New Hampshire, was among its initial recruits.[12]
During the 2004–05 season, Krissy Wendell set an NCAA record (since tied) for most shorthanded goals in one season with 7.[13] After graduating from Minnesota, she had the career record for most shorthanded goals in a career with 16. Both marks have since been tied byMeghan 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, Räty 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). Räty played on national championship teams in2011–12 and2012–13. The 2012–13 team finished 41–0–0, and the team won the last 49 games of Räty's career. Räty finished with both the career and single-season record for shutouts.[14]
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 toShannon 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 forwardJenny Schmidgall, whose 93 points led the nation, and defensemanBrittny 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.[12]
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 atMariucci Arena. The Golden Gophers moved intoRidder Arena in the 2002–2003 season, a facility dedicated solely to a women's hockey team, and named for team benefactorsRobert Ridder andKathleen Ridder.[15]
This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Gophers. For the full season-by-season history, seeList of Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey seasons.
| Color/symbol | Explanation |
|---|---|
| † | National champions |
| ‡ | Conference tournament champions |
| ↑ | Conferenceregular season champions |
| Term or abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| W | Number of wins |
| L | Number of losses |
| T | Number of ties |
| OT | Number of losses in overtime (since the 1999–2000 season) |
| Finish | Final position in conference standings |
| Tournament | Results in conference tournament |
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Season Result | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | W | L | T | Finish | Tournament | |||||
| 2020–21[a] | Brad Frost | 11 | 8 | 1 | WCHA | 11 | 7 | 1 | 4th | Lost Semifinals vs. Wisconsin (3–5) | Did not qualify | [16] |
| 2021–22 | Brad Frost | 29 | 9 | 1 | WCHA | 21 | 6 | 1 | 1st↑ | Won Quarterfinals vs. St. Thomas(4–0, 5–1) Won Semifinals vs. Minnesota-Duluth(5–1) Lost Championship vs. Ohio State(2–3 OT) | Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota-Duluth(1–2) | [17] |
| 2022–23 | Brad Frost | 30 | 6 | 3 | WCHA‡ | 22 | 3 | 3 | 2nd | Won Quarterfinals vs. St. Thomas(7–0, 6–2) Won Semifinals vs. Wisconsin(4–2) Won Championship vs. Ohio State(3–1)‡ | Won Semifinals vs. Minnesota-Duluth(3–0) Lost Frozen Four vs. Wisconsin(3–2OT) | [18] |
| 2023–24 | Brad Frost | 27 | 10 | 2 | WCHA | 19 | 7 | 2 | 3rd | Won Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota State(4–5, 7–1, 3–0) Lost Semifinals vs. Wisconsin(4–3OT) | Lost Quarterfinals vs. Clarkson(2–34OT) | [19] |
| 2024–25 | Brad Frost | 29 | 12 | 1 | WCHA | 19 | 8 | 1 | 3rd | Won quarterfinals vs.Minnesota State(6–1, 4–5(2OT), 6–2) Won semifinals vs.Ohio State(6–2) Lost Championship vs.Wisconsin(3—4) | Won quarterfinals vs.Clarkson(3–2) LostFrozen Four vs. Wisconsin(2–6) | [20] |
Western Collegiate Hockey Association Women's Regular Season Champions
Western Collegiate Hockey Association Women's Tournament Champions
As of July 29, 2024.[21]
| No. | Nat. | Player | Class | Pos | Height | DoB | Hometown | Previous team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Audrey Wethington | Graduate | F | 5' 7" (1.7 m) | 2002-04-01 | Edina, Minnesota | Blake School | |
| 5 | Kate Kosobud | Freshman | D | 5' 8" (1.73 m) | 2006-06-12 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Moorhead High School | |
| 6 | Ayla Puppe | Freshman | F | 5' 8" (1.73 m) | 2006-03-29 | Northfield, Minnesota | Northfield High School | |
| 7 | Nelli Laitinen (C) | Junior | D | 5' 7" (1.7 m) | 2002-04-29 | Lohja, Finland | Kiekko-Espoo | |
| 8 | Chloe Primerano | Freshman | D | 5' 8" (1.73 m) | 2007-01-02 | North Vancouver, British Columbia | RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna | |
| 9 | Ava Lindsay | Sophomore | F | 5' 6" (1.68 m) | 2005-02-20 | Minnetonka, Minnesota | Minnetonka High School | |
| 11 | Josefin Bouveng | Junior | F | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 2001-05-15 | Vassunda, Sweden | Brynäs IF | |
| 13 | Emma Kreisz | Sophomore | F | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 2003-09-02 | Budapest, Hungary | Stanstead College | |
| 14 | Maggie Nicholson | Graduate | D | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 2002-03-21 | Minnetonka, Minnesota | Minnetonka High School | |
| 15 | Peyton Hemp (C) | Senior | F | 5' 5" (1.65 m) | 2003-05-15 | Andover, Minnesota | Andover High School | |
| 16 | Allie Franco | Junior | D | 5' 7" (1.7 m) | 2004-01-27 | Oakdale, Minnesota | Hill-Murray School | |
| 17 | Kendra Distad | Freshman | F | 5' 6" (1.68 m) | 2006-02-25 | Burnsville, Minnesota | Minnetonka High School | |
| 18 | Abbey Murphy (C) | Senior (RS) | F | 5' 5" (1.65 m) | 2002-04-14 | Evergreen Park, Illinois | Chicago Mission | |
| 20 | Emma Conner | Junior (RS) | F | 5' 8" (1.73 m) | 2002-10-01 | Edina, Minnesota | Edina High School | |
| 21 | Lauren O'Hara | Sophomore | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 2005-03-02 | Blaine, Minnesota | Centennial High School | |
| 22 | Elly Klepinger | Sophomore | D | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 2005-02-08 | Corcoran, Minnesota | Minnetonka High School | |
| 24 | Carly Humphrey | Freshman | D | 5' 7" (1.7 m) | 2006-03-03 | Elk River, Minnesota | Elk River High School | |
| 26 | Ella Huber (C) | Senior | F | 5' 6" (1.68 m) | 2002-12-18 | Northfield, Illinois | Chicago Mission | |
| 29 | Madison Kaiser | Junior | F | 5' 7" (1.7 m) | 2004-07-10 | Andover, Minnesota | Holy Family Catholic High School | |
| 31 | Skylar Vetter | Senior | G | 5' 8" (1.73 m) | 2003-05-14 | Lakeville, Minnesota | Lakeville North High School | |
| 32 | Sydney Morrow | Junior | D | 5' 7" (1.7 m) | 2004-02-12 | Darien, Connecticut | Colgate University | |
| 35 | Sophia Johnson | Junior | G | 5' 8" (1.73 m) | 2004-04-16 | Minnetonka, Minnesota | Minnetonka High School | |
| 47 | Gracie Graham | Freshman | D | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 2006-01-09 | Kelowna, British Columbia | RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna | |
| 56 | Hannah Clark | Freshman | G | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 2006-05-12 | Oshawa, Ontario | Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins | |
| 64 | Krista Parkkonen | Junior | D | 5' 6" (1.68 m) | 2002-06-25 | Lappeenranta, Finland | University of Vermont | |
| 96 | Natálie Mlýnková | Graduate | F | 5' 3" (1.6 m) | 2001-05-24 | Zlín, Czech Republic | University of Vermont |
| Season | Captains |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | Julie Otto, Kris Scholz |
| 1998–99 | Amber Hegland, Kris Scholz |
| 1999–00 | Shannon Kennedy, Kris Scholz |
| 2000–01 | Tracy Engstrom, Kris Scholz |
| 2001–02 | Tracy Engstrom, Laura Slominski |
| 2002–03 | Ronda Curtin, Kelsey Bills,Winny Brodt |
| 2003–04 | Kelsey Bills, La Toya Clarke |
| 2004–05 | Kelly Stephens,Krissy Wendell |
| 2005–06 | Andrea Nichols,Chelsey Brodt, Bobbi Ross |
| 2006–07 | Andrea Nichols, Bobbi Ross |
| 2007–08 | Bobbi Ross, Whitney Graft |
| 2008–09 | Melanie Gagnon,Gigi Marvin |
| 2009–10 | Michelle Maunu, Brittany Francis, Emily West, Terra Rasmussen |
| 2010–11 | Emily West, Terra Rasmussen, Sarah Erickson,Jen Schoullis,Anne Schleper |
| 2011–12 | Sarah Erickson, Jen Schoullis |
| 2012–13 | Megan Bozek, Bethany Brausen |
| 2013–14 | Bethany Brausen,Sarah Davis, Baylee Gillanders,Kelly Terry |
| 2014–15 | Rachel Ramsey, Rachael Bona,Meghan Lorence,Lee Stecklein |
| 2015–16 | Hannah Brandt, Lee Stecklein |
| 2016–17 | Lee Stecklein,Dani Cameranesi,Kate Schipper |
| 2017–18 | Sydney Baldwin, Cara Piazza |
| 2018–19 | Kelly Pannek |
| 2019–20 | Patti Marshall |
| 2020–21 | Emily Brown,Grace Zumwinkle |
| 2021–22 | Emily Brown,Olivia Knowles |
| 2022–23 | Abigail Boreen,Taylor Heise, Gracie Ostertag, Grace Zumwinkle |
| 2023–24 | Peyton Hemp |
| 2024–25 | Peyton Hemp,Abbey Murphy,Ella Huber,Nelli Laitinen[22] |
| Year | Country | Player | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | United States | Natalie Darwitz |  Silver |
| Courtney Kennedy | |||
| Lyndsay Wall | |||
| Krissy Wendell | |||
| 2006 | United States | Natalie Darwitz |  Bronze |
| Courtney Kennedy | |||
| Kelly Stephens | |||
| Lyndsay Wall | |||
| Krissy Wendell (Captain) | |||
| Finland | Noora Räty | 4th | |
| 2010 | United States | Natalie Darwitz | Silver |
| Gigi Marvin | |||
| Finland | Noora Räty | Bronze | |
| 2014 | United States | Megan Bozek | Silver |
| Amanda Kessel | |||
| Gigi Marvin | |||
| Anne Schleper | |||
| Lee Stecklein | |||
| Finland | Mira Jalosuo | 5th | |
| Noora Räty | |||
| 2018 | United States | Hannah Brandt |  Gold |
| Dani Cameranesi | |||
| Amanda Kessel | |||
| Gigi Marvin | |||
| Kelly Pannek | |||
| Lee Stecklein | |||
| Finland | Mira Jalosuo | Bronze | |
| Noora Räty | |||
| 2022 | United States | Megan Bozek | Silver |
| Hannah Brandt | |||
| Dani Cameranesi | |||
| Amanda Kessel | |||
| Abbey Murphy | |||
| Kelly Pannek | |||
| Lee Stecklein | |||
| Grace Zumwinkle | |||
| Finland | Nelli Laitinen | Bronze | |
| Sweden | Josefin Bouveng | – |
Source:[23]
| = CWHL All-Star | = NWHL All-Star | =Clarkson Cup Champion | =Isobel Cup Champion | =Walter Cup Champion |
| Player | Pos. | Team(s) | League(s) | Clarkson Cup | Isobel Cup | Walter Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Baldwin | D | EHV Sabres Wien Minnesota Whitecaps | EWHL PHF | |||
| Lauren Bench | G | PWHL Minnesota | PWHL | 1 (2024) | ||
| Abigail Boreen | F | PWHL Minnesota Montreal Victoire | PWHL | 1 (2024) | ||
| Megan Bozek | D | Toronto Furies Buffalo Beauts Markham Thunder Dream Gap Tour KRS Vanke Rays | CWHL PHF CWHL PWHPA ZhHL | 1 (2018) | 1 (2017) | |
| Hannah Brandt | F | Minnesota Whitecaps Dream Gap Tour PWHL Boston | PHF PWHPA PWHL | 1 (2019) | ||
| Winny Brodt-Brown | D | Minnesota Whitecaps | WWHL, PHF | 1 (2010) | 1 (2019) | |
| Chelsey Brodt-Rosenthal | D | Minnesota Whitecaps | WWHL, PHF | 1 (2010) | 1 (2019) | |
| Emily Brown | D | PWHL Boston | PWHL | |||
| Jordyn Burns | D | Buffalo Beauts | PHF | 1 (2017) | ||
| Dani Cameranesi | F | Buffalo Beauts Dream Gap Tour | PHF PWHPA | |||
| Kelsey Cline | F/D | Minnesota Whitecaps | PHF | |||
| Sarah Davis | F | Calgary Inferno | CWHL | 1 (2016) | ||
| Taylor Heise | F | PWHL Minnesota | PWHL | 2 (2024,2025) | ||
| Amanda Kessel | F | Metropolitan Riveters Dream Gap Tour | PHF PWHPA | |||
| Olivia Knowles | D | Minnesota Whitecaps PWHL Toronto New York Sirens | PHF PWHL PWHL | |||
| Monique Lamoureux | F | Boston Blades Dream Gap Tour | CWHL PWHPA | 1 (2015) | ||
| Amanda Leveille | G | Buffalo Beauts Minnesota Whitecaps PWHL Minnesota | PHF PHF PWHL | 2 (2017, 2019) | 1 (2024) | |
| Meghan Lorence | F | Minnesota Whitecaps | PHF | |||
| Patti Marshall | D | Brynäs IF Minnesota Whitecaps | SDHL PHF | |||
| Gigi Marvin | D | Boston Blades Boston Pride Dream Gap Tour PWHL Boston | CWHL PHF PWHPA PWHL | 2 (2013, 2015) | 1 (2016) | |
| Milica McMillen | D | Metropolitan Riveters | PHF | |||
| Andrea Nichols | F | Minnesota Whitecaps | WWHL | |||
| Savannah Norcross | F | PWHL New York | PWHL | |||
| Kelly Pannek | F | Dream Gap Tour PWHL Minnesota | PWHPA PWHL | 2 (2024,2025) | ||
| Sarah Potomak | F | Dream Gap Tour | PWHPA | |||
| Noora Räty | G | Kiekko-Vantaa Kunlun Red Star WIH KRS Vanke Rays | Mestis CWHL CWHL, ZhHL | |||
| Caitlin Reilly | F | EHV Sabres Wien | EWHL | |||
| Katie Robinson | F | TPS | Liiga | |||
| Allie Sanchez | F | Minnesota Whitecaps | WWHL | |||
| Nicole Schammel | F | Minnesota Whitecaps Dream Gap Tour | PHF PWHPA | |||
| Kate Schipper | F | Minnesota Whitecaps | PHF | 1 (2019) | ||
| Anne Schleper | D | Buffalo Beauts | PHF | 1 (2017) | ||
| Sydney Scobee | G | Dream Gap Tour | PWHPA | |||
| Lee Stecklein | D | Minnesota Whitecaps Dream Gap Tour PWHL Minnesota | PHF PWHPA PWHL | 1 (2019) | 2 (2024,2025) | |
| Kelly Terry | F | Toronto Furies | CWHL | |||
| Alex Woken | F | Mad Dogs Mannheim Minnesota Whitecaps | Bundesliga PHF | |||
| Grace Zumwinkle | F | PWHL Minnesota | PWHL | 2 (2024,2025) |
Minnesota defeats St. Thomas, 7-1 to clinch the program's 11th regular-season conference title.
Media related toMinnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by | LastNCAA team to finish the year undefeated or unbeaten in any sport March 24,2013 | Succeeded by |
