2017–18 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season

The Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey program represent the University of Minnesota during the 2017-18 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season.

2017–18 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season
WCHA Final Face-Off Champions
Conference	WCHA
Home ice	Ridder Arena
Record
Overall	1-2-1
Home	1-2-1
Road	0-0-0
Coaches and Captains
Head Coach	Brad Frost
Assistant Coaches	Joel Johnson Bethany Brausen
Captain(s)	Sydney Baldwin[1] Cara Piazza
Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey seasons « 2016–17 2018–19 »

Following a Frozen Four appearance in March, the Golden Gophers were well represented in both international play and Olympic preparations. The April IIHF World Championships featured an impressive 10 alumni and current players from the team. Six players represented the US team including Lee Stecklein and 5 alumni.[2][3] Of the two Canadians, current player Sarah Potomak made her country's team. Two alumni represented Finland to round out the ten. All of the Golden Gophers left the tournament with a medal, with the US taking gold, Canada silver, and Finland bronze.[4]

In May, Countries began the 2018 Olympic selections. The 2017-18 US Team includes six Minnesota alumni, and Lee Stecklein. This will be Stecklein's second Olympic Games.[5][6] A week after the US announced their team, Team Canada completed their Centralization roster, choosing Sarah Potomak, and her sister Amy Potomak. Of the 28 selected, 23 will be chosen to represent Canada at the Olympics[7]

Recruiting

[8]

Player	Position	Nationality	Notes
Emily Brown	Defense	United States	Member of Team USA U18
Alex Gulstene	Goaltender	Canada	Attended Okanagan Hockey Academy
Olivia Knowles	Defense	Canada	Played for Team Canada U18
Amy Potomak	Forward	Canada	Named Team Canada's Centralization roster
Taylor Wente	Forward	United States	Member of Team USA U18
Grace Zumwinkle	Forward	United States	One of 3 recruits from Team USA U18

Roster

2017–18 Golden Gophers

[9]

No.	S/P/C	Player	Class	Pos	Height	DoB	Hometown	Previous team
2		Emily Brown	Freshman	D	5' 7" (1.7 m)		Blaine, Minnesota	Team USA U18
4		Tianna Gunderson	Junior	F	5' 6" (1.68 m)		Roseau, Minnesota	Minnesota Selects North
5		Sophie Skarzynski	Junior	D	5' 8" (1.73 m)		Lake Forest, Illinois	Team USA U18
7		Taylor Williamson	Junior	F	5' 7" (1.7 m)		Edina, Minnesota	Team USA U18
8		Kippin Keller	Sophomore	F	5' 4" (1.63 m)		Minnetonka, Minnesota	Minnetonka HS
9		Sydney Baldwin (C)	Senior	D	5' 7" (1.7 m)		Minnetonka, Minnesota	Minnetonka HS
10		Cara Piazza (C)	Senior	F	5' 7" (1.7 m)		Darien, Illinois	Downers Grove South HS
12		Grace Zumwinkle	Freshman	F	5' 8" (1.73 m)		Excelsior, Minnesota	Team USA U18
14		Lindsay Agnew	Sophomore	F	5' 7.5" (1.71 m)		Oakville, Ontario	Team Canada U18
15		Jackie Pieper	Junior (RS)	F	5' 6" (1.68 m)		Edina, Minnesota	Merrimack College
17		Sierra Smith	Junior	F	5' 8" (1.73 m)		Stillwater, Minnesota	Minnesota Blades
18		Katie Robinson	Sophomore	D	5' 10" (1.78 m)		Kasson, Minnesota	Minnesota Jr. Whitecaps
19		Kelly Pannek	Senior	F	5' 8" (1.73 m)		Plymouth, Minnesota	Benilde-St. Margaret's HS
20		Alex Woken	Sophomore	F	5' 8" (1.73 m)		Fargo, North Dakota	Shattuck-St. Mary's
23		Caitlin Reilly	Senior	F	5' 5" (1.65 m)		Chanhassen, Minnesota	Penn State
24		Olivia Knowles	Freshman	D	5' 9" (1.75 m)		Campbell River, British Columbia	Team Canada U18
25		Nicole Schammel	Junior (RS)	F	5' 5" (1.65 m)		Red Wing, Minnesota	Minnesota State
26		Sarah Potomak	Junior	F	5' 5" (1.65 m)		Aldergrove, British Columbia	Team Canada U18
27		Patti Marshall	Sophomore	D	5' 7" (1.7 m)		Thief River Falls, MN	Shattuck-St. Mary's
28		Taylor Wente	Freshman	F	5' 8" (1.73 m)		Plymouth, Minnesota	Team USA U18
29		Alex Gulstene	Freshman	G	5' 8" (1.73 m)		Vancouver, British Columbia	Okanagan Hockey Academy
30		Serena D'Angelo	Sophomore	G	5' 4" (1.63 m)		Stoney Creek, Ontario	Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres
31		Emma May	Junior	G	5' 6" (1.68 m)		Eagan, Minnesota	Minnesota Jr. Whitecaps
37		Sydney Peters	Senior (RS)	G	5' 10" (1.78 m)		Geneva, Illinois	North American Hockey Academy

Standings

2017–18 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings
	Conference									Overall
	GP	W	L	T	SW	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
#2 Wisconsin†	24	20	2	2	2	64	81	29		37	31	4	2	123	44
#6 Ohio State	24	14	6	4	3	49	63	51		38	24	10	4	112	76
#5 Minnesota*	24	13	8	3	0	42	74	54		38	24	11	3	119	79
Minnesota-Duluth	24	10	11	3	2	35	49	62		35	15	16	4	71	82
Bemidji State	24	9	13	2	1	30	60	68		38	16	19	3	90	96
St. Cloud State	24	6	14	4	1	23	41	59		33	8	20	5	52	82
Minnesota State	24	3	21	0	0	9	37	82		34	5	28	1	57	123
Championship: March 4, 2018 indicates conference regular season champion; * indicates conference tournament champion Rankings: USCHO.com

2017-18 Schedule

[10]

Date	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	Decision	Result	Record
Regular Season
September 29	Merrimack*	#3	Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN	Sidney Peters	L 3–4	0–1–0
October 1	Merrimack*	#3	Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN	Alex Gulstene	W 4–1	1–1–0
October 6	Ohio State	#4	Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN	Alex Gulstene	L 2–3	1–2–0 (0–1–0)
October 7	Ohio State	#4	Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN	Alex Gulstene	T 5–5 ^OT	1–2–1 (0–1–1)
October 13	at Bemidji State	#9	Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN	Sidney Peters	W 3–1	2–2–1 (1–1–1)
October 14	at Bemidji State	#9	Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN	Sidney Peters	W 4-3 ^OT	3–2–1 (2–1–1)
October 20	at Minnesota-Duluth		Amsoil Arena • Duluth, MN
October 21	at Minnesota-Duluth		Amsoil Arena • Duluth, MN
October 28	Wisconsin		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
October 29	Wisconsin		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
November 3	at Minnesota State		Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, MN
November 4	at Minnesota State		Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, MN
November 10	at Mercyhurst*		Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, PA
November 11	at Mercyhurst*		Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, PA
November 17	St. Cloud State		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
November 18	St. Cloud State		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
November 25	at Lindenwood*		Lindenwood Ice Arena • Wentzville, MO
November 26	at Lindenwood*		Lindenwood Ice Arena • Wentzville, MO
December 1	Bemidji State		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
December 2	Bemidji State		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
December 8	Minnesota-Duluth		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
December 9	Minnesota-Duluth		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
January 9, 2018	St. Cloud State		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
January 12	Vermont*		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
January 13	Vermont*		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
January 19	at Ohio State		OSU Ice Rink • Columbus, OH
January 20	at Ohio State		OSU Ice Rink • Columbus, OH
January 26	Minnesota State		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
January 27	Minnesota State		Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
February 2	St. Cloud State		Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN
February 3	St. Cloud State		Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN
February 16	Wisconsin		LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI
February 17	Wisconsin		LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI
WCHA Tournament
February 23	TBD*		TBD •  (Quarterfinals, Game 1)
February 24	TBD*		TBD •  (Quarterfinals, Game 2)
*Non-conference game. ^#Rankings from USCHO.com Poll.

References

1. "Gophers Name 2017-18 Captains". CBS Interactive. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
2. "World Championship to Begin Friday". CBS Interactive. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
3. "Five Minnesotans Named to U.S. Women's World Championship Roster". State of Hockey. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
4. "IIHF Women's Worlds: Day Six". CBS Interactive. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
5. "Seven Gophers Named to U.S. Women's National Team". CBS Interactive. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
6. "Lee Stecklein profile". USA Hockey. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
7. "Potomak Duo Named to Canada's Centralization Roster". CBS Interactive. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
8. "Future Gophers Earn Multiple Accolades". CBS Interactive. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
9. "2017-18 Roster". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
10. "2017-18 Schedule". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 14 October 2017.