2020–21 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season

The Minnesota Golden Gophers represented the University of Minnesota in WCHA women's ice hockey during the 2020-21 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season. The program did not qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007, snapping its streak of 12 consecutive tournament appearances. Among the season highlights, Grace Zumwinkle was recognized as a Second-Team All-America selection.

In the aftermath of the Frozen Four, it was announced that the Golden Gophers were invited to participate in the Smashville NCAA Women's Hockey Showcase this November at the Ford Ice Center, practice facility of the NHL's Nashville Predators. Also participating in the tournament will be Division I women's hockey programs Boston College, Colgate and Mercyhurst.^[1]

Offseason[]

Recruiting[]

Player	Position	Nationality	Notes
Anne Cherkowski	Forward	Canada	Competed with Canadian National Under-18 Team, serving as an alternate captain for the silver medal roster at the 2020 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship

Regular season[]

Standings[]

2020–21 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings v t
	Conference									Overall
	GP	W	L	T	SW	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
#1 Wisconsin *	16	12	3	1	0	36	62	25		21	17	3	1	79	33
#4 Minnesota-Duluth	16	11	5	0	0	34	50	23		23	12	7	0	55	33
#3 Ohio State	16	11	5	0	0	32	42	32		20	13	7	0	56	42
#6 Minnesota	19	11	7	0	1	36	62	40		20	11	8	1	65	45
Minnesota State	20	7	12	1	0	20	38	56		20	7	12	1	38	56
St. Cloud State	19	6	12	1	0	18.5	32	62		19	6	12	1	32	62
Bemidji State	20	2	16	2	1	12.5	24	72		20	2	16	2	24	72
: March 8, 2021 indicates conference regular season champion; * indicates conference tournament champion Rankings: USCHO.com; updated March 25, 2021

Schedule[]

Source:^[2]

Roster[]

2020-21 Gophers[]

^[3]

No.	S/P/C	Player	Class	Pos	Height	DoB	Hometown	Previous team
1		Olivia King	Sophomore	F	5' 6" (1.68 m)		Garrison, Minnesota	Brainerd HS
2		Emily Brown	Senior	D	5' 8" (1.73 m)		Blaine, Minnesota
3		Catie Skaja	Junior	F	5' 7" (1.7 m)		New Prague, Minnesota
4		Audrey Wethington	Freshman	F	5' 7" (1.7 m)		Edina, Minnesota	Blake School
5		Madeline Wethington	Sophomore	D	5' 10" (1.78 m)		Edina, Minnesota	Blake School
6		Gracie Ostertag	Junior	D	5' 7" (1.7 m)		Shakopee, Minnesota	Shattuck-Saint Mary's
7		Sydney Shearen	Sophomore	F	5' 4" (1.63 m)		Hugo, Minnesota	White Bear Lake HS
9		Taylor Heise	Sophomore	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)		Lake City, Minnesota	Red Wing HS
11		Anne Cherkowski	Freshman	F	5' 6" (1.68 m)		Coldstream, British Columbia	Canadian U18 National Team Pursuit of Excellence
12		Grace Zumwinkle	Senior	F	5' 9" (1.75 m)		Excelsior, Minnesota	Breck School
13		Crystalyn Hengler	Junior	D	5' 8" (1.73 m)		Eden Prairie, Minnesota	Eden Prairie HS
14		Maggie Nicholson	Freshman	D	5' 9" (1.75 m)		Minnetonka, Minnesota	Minnetonka HS
16		Amy Potomak	Junior	F	5' 6" (1.68 m)		Aldergrove, British Columbia	Canadian National Team
17		Josey Dunne	Freshman	D	5' 10" (1.78 m)		O'Fallon, Missouri	Chicago Mission
18		Abbey Murphy	Freshman	F	5' 5" (1.65 m)		Evergreen Park, Illinois	Chicago Mission
19		Tella Jungels	Freshman	F	5' 4" (1.63 m)		Edina, Minnesota	Edina HS
21		Emily Oden		F	5' 8" (1.73 m)		Edina, Minnesota	Edina HS
22		Abigail Boreen		F	5' 6" (1.68 m)		Somerset, Wisconsin	Hill-Murray School
24		Olivia Knowles	Senior	D	5' 9" (1.75 m)		Campbell River, British Columbia	Pursuit of Excellencee
26		Addie Burton	Freshman	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)		Orono, Minnesota	Blake School
28		Taylor Wente	Senior	F	5' 6" (1.68 m)		Plymouth, Minnesota
33		Makayla Paul	Sophomore	G	5' 11" (1.8 m)		Rochester, Minnesota	Rochester Mayo HS
35		Lauren Bench	Senior	G	5' 10" (1.78 m)		Eagan, Minnesota	Bemidji State Beavers (WCHA)

Awards and honors[]

• Lauren Bench, Hockey Commissioners Association Women's Goaltender of the Month (November 2020) ^[4]
• Grace Zumwinkle, 2020-21 CCM/AHCA Second Team All-American^[5]

References[]