Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Minnesota Golden Gophers
women's ice hockey
Current season
Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey athletic logo
UniversityUniversity of Minnesota
ConferenceWCHA
Head coachBrad Frost
15th season, 413–84–35[1]
ArenaRidder Arena
Capacity: 3,400
LocationMinneapolis, Minnesota
ColorsMaroon and gold[2]
   
Fight songMinnesota Rouser
NCAA Tournament championships
2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
NCAA Tournament Runner-up
2006, 2014
NCAA Tournament Frozen Four
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
NCAA Tournament appearances
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
Conference Tournament championships
2002, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018
Conference regular season championships
2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2022
Current uniform
Golden gophers hockey unif.png

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 the final American Women's College Hockey Alliance Championship. In the WCHA, they have also been regular season champions 11 times[3] and tournament champions 7 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's collegiate 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 the Patty Kazmaier Award twice (Krissy Wendell [2005] and Amanda Kessel [2013]), as well as having all three finalists in 2013.[8]

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.[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 & 2013, which were encompassed in their 62-game winning streak.[10] 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.[11]

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.[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. 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). Räty played on national championship teams in 2011–12 and 2012–13. 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 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 , 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]

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.[15]

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
2021-22 Brad Frost 29 9 1 WCHA 21 6 1 1st WCHA 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)
2020-21 Brad Frost 11 8 1 WCHA 11 7 1 4th WCHA Lost Semifinals vs. Wisconsin (3-5) Did not qualify
2019-20 Brad Frost 27 6 3 WCHA 17 5 2 2nd WCHA Won Quarterfinals vs. St Cloud State (4-2, 7-3)

Lost Semifinals vs Ohio State (4-3 OT)

2020 TOURNAMENT CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19 pandemic
2018–19 Brad Frost 32 6 1 WCHA 19 4 1 1st WCHA Won Semifinals vs. Minnesota-Duluth (4–1)
Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (1–3)		 Won First Round vs. Princeton (5–2)
Won Frozen Four vs. Cornell (2-0)
Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (0-2)
2017–18 Brad Frost 24 11 3 WCHA 13 8 3 3rd WCHA Won 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)
2016–17 Brad Frost 26 8 5 WCHA 19 4 5 2nd WCHA Won 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)
2015–16 Brad Frost 33 4 1 WCHA 24 3 1 2nd WCHA Won 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)
2014–15 Brad Frost 34 3 4 WCHA 22 2 4 1st WCHA Won 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)
2013–14 Brad Frost 38 2 1 WCHA 26 1 1 1st WCHA Won 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)
2012–13 Brad Frost 41 0 0 WCHA 28 0 0 1st WCHA Won 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)
2011–12 Brad Frost 34 5 2 WCHA 21 5 2 2nd WCHA Won 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)
2010–11 Brad Frost 26 10 2 WCHA 18 8 2 2nd WCHA Won 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)
2009–10 Brad Frost 26 9 5 WCHA 18 6 4 2nd WCHA Won 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)
2008–09 Brad Frost 32 5 3 WCHA 23 2 3 1st WCHA Won 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)
2007–08 Brad Frost 27 7 4 WCHA 21 5 2 2nd WCHA Won Quarterfinals vs. North Dakota (3–1, 9–1)
Lost Semifinals vs. Wisconsin (3–4)		 Lost First Round vs. Wisconsin (2–3 OT)
2006–07 Laura Halldorson 23 12 1 WCHA 17 10 1 3rd WCHA Won 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
2005–06 Laura Halldorson 29 11 1 WCHA 19 8 1 2nd WCHA Won 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)
2004–05 Laura Halldorson 36 2 2 WCHA 25 1 2 1st WCHA Won 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)
2003–04 Laura Halldorson 30 4 2 WCHA 19 3 2 1st WCHA Won 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)
2002–03 Laura Halldorson 27 8 1 WCHA 19 4 1 2nd WCHA Won Semifinals vs. Wisconsin (3–1)
Lost Championship vs. Minnesota-Duluth (3–5)		 Lost First Round vs. Harvard (1–6)
2001–02 Laura Halldorson 28 4 6 WCHA 19 2 3 1st WCHA Won Semifinals vs. Ohio State (4–1)
Won Championship vs. Wisconsin (3–2)		 Lost First Round vs. Brown (1–2)
2000–01 Laura Halldorson 23 9 2 WCHA 18 4 2 1st WCHA Lost Semifinals vs. Ohio State (0–4) Did not qualify
1999–00 Laura Halldorson 32 6 1 WCHA 21 2 1 2nd WCHA Won 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)
1998–99 Laura Halldorson 18 3 3 WCHA

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[16]

Most Goals in a Season: 49
Nadine Muzerall 1999–2000[17]

Most Assists in a Season: 72
Natalie Darwitz 2004–2005[17]

Most Points in a Season: 114
Natalie Darwitz 2004–2005[17]

Scoring leaders[]

Name Years Games Goals Assists Points
Hannah Brandt[18] 2012–16 158 115 170 285
Amanda Kessel[19] 2010–13, 2016 127 108 140 248
Natalie Darwitz 2002–05 99 102 144 246
Krissy Wendell 2002–05 101 106 131 237
Nadine Muzerall 1997-01 129 139 96 235
Kelly Stephens 2001–05 148 97 121 218
Ambria Thomas 1997-01 134 89 112 201
Dani Cameranesi 2013–17 143 93 108 201
Gigi Marvin 2005–09 152 87 108 195
Kelly Pannek 2014–17, 2018–19 157 72 114 186

NCAA record holders[]

  • Natalie Darwitz, NCAA leader, 2004–05 season, Points per game, 2.85[13]
  • 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
1997–98 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

Olympians[]

  • The following Gophers players have participated in the women's ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympic Games.

2002 Winter Olympics[]

Main article: Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament

United States national team

2006 Winter Olympics[]

Main article: Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament

Finland national team

United States national team

2010 Winter Olympics[]

Main article: Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament

Finland national team

United States national team

2014 Winter Olympics[]

Main article: Ice hockey at the 2014 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament

Finland national team

United States national team

2018 Winter Olympics[]

Main article: Ice hockey at the 2018 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament

Finland national team

United States national team

2022 Winter Olympics[]

Main article: Ice hockey at the 2022 Winter Olympics – Women's tournament

United States national team

[21]

Awards and honors[]

All Americans[]

Year Player Team
1998 Nadine Muzerall 2nd team, Women's Hockey News
Brittny Ralph 2nd team, Women's Hockey News
1999 Courtney Kennedy 2nd team, AWCHA
Nadine Muzerall 2nd team, AWCHA
Jenny Schmidgall 2nd team, AWCHA
2001 Courtney Kennedy 1st team, JOFA
2002 Ronda Curtin 1st team, JOFA
2003 Ronda Curtin 1st team, JOFA
Natalie Darwitz 1st team, JOFA
Krissy Wendell 2nd team, JOFA
2004 Krissy Wendell 1st team, JOFA
Natalie Darwitz 2nd team, JOFA
2005 Natalie Darwitz 1st team, CCM
Lyndsay Wall 1st team, CCM
Krissy Wendell 1st team, CCM
Jody Horak 2nd team, CCM
2008 Gigi Marvin 2nd team, RBK HOCKEY/AHCA
2009 Melanie Gagnon 2nd team, RBK HOCKEY/AHCA
Monique Lamoureux 2nd team, RBK HOCKEY/AHCA
2010 Noora Räty 1st team, RBK HOCKEY/AHCA
Anne Schleper[22] 1st team, RBK HOCKEY/AHCA
2011 Noora Räty[23] 2nd team, RBK HOCKEY/AHCA
2012 Megan Bozek[24] 1st team, CCM/AHCA
2013 Megan Bozek[24] 1st team, CCM/AHCA
Amanda Kessel[25] 1st team, CCM/AHCA
Noora Räty[25] 1st team, CCM/AHCA
2014 Hannah Brandt[25] 1st team, CCM/AHCA
Rachel Ramsey[25] 1st team, CCM/AHCA
Milica McMillen[25] 2nd team, CCM/AHCA
2015 Hannah Brandt[25] 1st team, CCM/AHCA
Rachel Ramsey[25] 1st team, CCM/AHCA
Dani Cameranesi[25] 2nd team, CCM/AHCA
Lee Stecklein[25] 1st team, CCM/AHCA
2017 Lee Stecklein[26] 1st team, CCM/AHCA
Kelly Pannek 1st team, CCM/AHCA
2018 Sydney Baldwin[27] 1st team, CCM/AHCA
2021 Grace Zumwinkle[28] 2nd team, CCM/AHCA

All-WCHA teams[]

Year Player Team
2000 Winny Brodt-Brown First-Team All-WCHA
Nadine Muzerall First-Team All-WCHA
Courtney Kennedy Second-Team All-WCHA
Crystal Nicholas Second-Team All-WCHA
Laura Slominski Second-Team All-WCHA
Ambria Thomas Second-Team All-WCHA
2001 Courtney Kennedy First-Team All-WCHA
Erica Killewald First-Team All-WCHA
Ambria Thomas Second-Team All-WCHA
LaToya Clarke Second-Team All-WCHA
2002 Ronda Curtin First-Team All-WCHA
Jody Horak First-Team All-WCHA
Kelly Stephens Second-Team All-WCHA
2003 Ronda Curtin First-Team All-WCHA
Natalie Darwitz First-Team All-WCHA
Jody Horak First-Team All-WCHA
Krissy Wendell Second-Team All-WCHA
2004 Natalie Darwitz First-Team All-WCHA
Krissy Wendell First-Team All-WCHA
2005 Natalie Darwitz First-Team All-WCHA
Lyndsay Wall First-Team All-WCHA
Krissy Wendell First-Team All-WCHA
Kelly Stephens Second-Team All-WCHA
Jody Horak Second-Team All-WCHA
2006 Erica McKenzie First-Team All-WCHA
Gigi Marvin Third-Team All-WCHA
2007 Gigi Marvin First-Team All-WCHA
Bobbi Ross Third-Team All-WCHA
Melanie Gagnon Third-Team All-WCHA
2008 Gigi Marvin First-Team All-WCHA
Rachael Drazan First-Team All-WCHA
Erica McKenzie Second-Team All-WCHA
Anya Miller Second-Team All-WCHA
Bobbi Ross Third-Team All-WCHA
Melanie Gagnon Third-Team All-WCHA
2009 Melanie Gagnon First-Team All-WCHA
Jocelyne Lamoureux First-Team All-WCHA
Monique Lamoureux First-Team All-WCHA
Rachel Drazan Third-Team All-WCHA
Gigi Marvin Third-Team All-WCHA
Anne Schleper Third-Team All-WCHA
2010 Noora Raty First-Team All-WCHA
Anne Schleper First-Team All-WCHA
Emily West First-Team All-WCHA
2011 Noora Raty First-Team All-WCHA
Anne Schleper First-Team All-WCHA
Megan Bozek Third-Team All-WCHA
Amanda Kessel Third-Team All-WCHA
2012 Megan Bozek First-Team All-WCHA
Anne Schleper First-Team All-WCHA
Amanda Kessel Second-Team All-WCHA
Jen Schoullis Second-Team All-WCHA
Noora Raty Third-Team All-WCHA
2013 Megan Bozek First-Team All-WCHA
Hannah Brandt First-Team All-WCHA
Amanda Kessel First-Team All-WCHA
Noora Raty First-Team All-WCHA
Mira Jalosuo Third-Team All-WCHA
Kelly Terry Third-Team All-WCHA
Rachel Ramsey Third-Team All-WCHA
2014 Hannah Brandt First-Team All-WCHA
Milica McMillen First-Team All-WCHA
Rachel Ramsey First-Team All-WCHA
Kelly Terry First-Team All-WCHA
Rachael Bona Second-Team All-WCHA
Sarah Davis Second-Team All-WCHA
Amanda Leveille Second-Team All-WCHA
2015 Hannah Brandt First-Team All-WCHA
Dani Cameranesi First-Team All-WCHA
Rachel Ramsey First-Team All-WCHA
Lee Stecklein First-Team All-WCHA
Milica McMillen Second-Team All-WCHA
Rachael Bona Third-Team All-WCHA
2016 Hannah Brandt First-Team All-WCHA
Dani Cameranesi First-Team All-WCHA
Milica McMillen Second-Team All-WCHA
Sarah Potomak Third-Team All-WCHA
Lee Stecklein First-Team All-WCHA
2017 Dani Cameranesi Third-Team All-WCHA
Kelly Pannek First-Team All-WCHA
Sarah Potomak Second-Team All-WCHA
Lee Stecklein First-Team All-WCHA
Megan Wolfe Third-Team All-WCHA
2018 Sydney Baldwin First-Team All-WCHA
Caitlin Reilly Second-Team All-WCHA
Grace Zumwinkle First-Team All-WCHA
2019 Emily Brown Second-Team All-WCHA
Patti Marshall Third-Team All-WCHA
Kelly Pannek Third-Team All-WCHA
Nicole Schammel Second-Team All-WCHA
Grace Zumwinkle First-Team All-WCHA
2020 Emily Brown Second-Team All-WCHA
Taylor Heise Third-Team All-WCHA
Sarah Potomak Third-Team All-WCHA
Sydney Scobee First-Team All-WCHA
Grace Zumwinkle Second-Team All-WCHA
2021 Emily Brown Second-Team All-WCHA
Madeline Wethington Third-Team All-WCHA
Grace Zumwinkle First-Team All-WCHA

WCHA Defensive Player of the Year[]

Year Player
2000 Winny Brodt
2001 Courtney Kennedy
2002 Ronda Curtin
2003 Ronda Curtin
2009 Melanie Gagnon
2010 Anne Schleper
2013 Megan Bozek
2014 Rachel Ramsey
2015 Rachel Ramsey
2018 Sydney Baldwin

WCHA All-Rookie Team[]

Year Player
2003 Natalie Darwitz
Krissy Wendell
2005 Bobbi Ross
2006 Gigi Marvin
Melanie Gagnon
Kim Hanlon
2007 Michelle Maunu
2008 Jenny Lura
2009 Jocelyne Lamoureux
Monique Lamoureux
Anne Schleper
2010 Noora Raty
2011 Baylee Gillanders
Amanda Kessel
Kelly Terry[29]
2012 Rachel Ramsey
2013 Hannah Brandt
Milica McMillen
Maryanne Menefee
2014 Dani Cameranesi
2015 Sydney Baldwin
Kelly Pannek
2016 Sarah Potomak
2018 Olivia Knowles
Grace Zumwinkle
2019 Taylor Heise
2020 Madeline Wethington
2021 Josey Dunne
Abbey Murphy

Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award finalists[]

As of February 22, 2022, the following players have been named as Finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, presented annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey.[30]

  - Winner   - Top Three   - Top Ten (or Eleven)

Year Player
1998 Nadine Muzerall[a]
2000 Winny Brodt
2001 Courtney Kennedy
Nadine Muzerall
2002 Ronda Curtin
Laura Slominski
2003 Natalie Darwitz
Krissy Wendell
2004 Natalie Darwitz
Krissy Wendell
2005 Krissy Wendell
Natalie Darwitz
2008 Gigi Marvin
2009 Gigi Marvin
Monique Lamoureux
2010 Noora Räty
2011 Noora Räty
2012 Amanda Kessel
2013 Amanda Kessel
Megan Bozek
Noora Räty
Hannah Brandt
2014 Hannah Brandt
Rachael Bona
2015 Hannah Brandt
Dani Cameranesi
Rachel Ramsey
2016 Hannah Brandt
Dani Cameranesi
2017 Kelly Pannek
Sarah Potomak
2018 Sydney Baldwin
2019 Nicole Schammel
2021 Grace Zumwinkle
  1. ^ In 1998, 11 finalists were named instead of 10

USCHO honors[]

  • All USCHO.com First Team
    • 2005: Natalie Darwitz
    • 2005: Krissy Wendell
  • All USCHO.com Third Team
    • 2005: Lyndsay Wall
    • 2005: Jody Horak[31]
    • 2006: Erica McKenzie

WCHA honors[]

Other[]

  • Lauren Bench, Hockey Commissioners Association Women's Goaltender of the Month (November 2020) [33]
  • Megan Bozek, 2011–12 Minnesota Golden Gophers Female Athlete of the Year[34]
  • Laura Halldorson, National Coach of the Year, 2002
  • Laura Halldorson, National Coach of the Year, 2004[35]
  • 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.[36]
  • Amanda Kessel, 2010 WCHA Pre-Season Rookie of the Year[37]
  • Sarah Potomak, 2016 WCHA Rookie of the Year honors[32]
  • Anne Schleper, 2012 Big Ten Medal of Honor[38]

Notable alumni and 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[]

= CWHL All-Star = NWHL All-Star = Clarkson Cup Champion = Isobel Cup Champion
Retrieved from ""