Western Collegiate Hockey Association

Minnesota's Anya Miller

Women's Ice Hockey Home

HEADLINES

Three WCHA Series on Schedule for Upcoming Weekend of Nov. 21-23, No. 1-Ranked UW to Take on No. 3 UNH in Florida

Gopher Women's Hockey Inks Four in Early Signing Period

Minnesota State Signs Two During Early Signing Period

• Email this to a friend

Golden Gophers Release 2008-09 Women's Hockey Schedule

The Golden Gophers will host 18 regular season games

July 30, 2008

Complete Release and Schedule in PDF Format

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The University of Minnesota women's hockey team has released its schedule for the upcoming 2008-09 season, announced today by head coach Brad Frost. The Golden Gophers will host 18 regular season games as well as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association tournament championship, the WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF, March 7-8 at Ridder Arena.

Of the nine opponents coming to Ridder Arena this season, three competed at the 2008 NCAA Frozen Four in Harvard, Minnesota Duluth and Wisconsin. Minnesota opens the home season with two exhibition games on Sept. 26 and Sept. 28 against Saskatchewan and the United States National Team.

The Maroon and Gold's regular season begins Oct. 3-4 when Robert Morris comes to town for a two-game tilt. Facing tough competition early in the season, Minnesota will then compete against the Bulldogs in Duluth, Minn. (Oct. 10-11), Ohio State at home (Oct. 17-18) and then head to Wisconsin during the Badgers' homecoming week (Oct. 24 & 26). A marquee match-up during Thanksgiving weekend, Harvard visits Ridder Arena for the first time since the 2002-03 season on Nov. 28-29. The Gophers finish the first semester in Grand Forks, N.D. as they face North Dakota.

Minnesota opens the second semester at Niagara (Jan. 3-4), at Ohio State (Jan. 9-10) and home against Bemidji State (Jan. 16-17). The Gophers will host UMD and Wisconsin during the second half with UMD on Jan. 23-24, while welcoming the Badgers to town, Feb. 7-8. The Gophers will then begin their second season Feb. 27-March 1 competing in the first round of the WCHA playoffs. If they advance, they will compete on their home ice for the tournament championship, March 7-8.

Although the Gophers lost five leaders from last year's squad, Minnesota returns 15 letterwinners this season. After earning first-team All-WCHA honors last season, Gigi Marvin and Rachael Drazan return to the Gopher lineup for their final season. Marvin, who was a 2008 All-American, led the Gopher scoring charge with 54 points, while Drazan ranked second among defensemen with 27 points.

Also returning for the Gophers is Kelli Blankenship, Brittany Francis, Melanie Gagnon, Kim Hanlon, Jaimie Horton, Jenny Lura, Michelle Maunu, Laura May, Terra Rasmussen, Jen Schoullis, Emily West, Dagney Willey and Alexandra Zebro. Minnesota will have several newcomers added to the roster in Sarah Erickson, Alyssa Grogan, Jocelyne Lamoureux, Monique Lamoureux, Nikki Ludwigson, Anne Schleper and Kelly Seeler. Also joining the Gopher program is Chelsey Jones, who transferred here from Northeastern.