Minnesota reigns atop D-I women’s poll – again

With an unblemished 12-0-0 record so far, Minnesota is again the top-ranked team in the USCHO.com Division I Women’s Poll. The Gophers received all 15 first-places again this week and have accomplished that feat in every poll this year. Wisconsin, Cornell, North Dakota and Boston College remain in spots two through five, respectively. Harvard jumps … Read more

Minnesota women retain No. 1 spot in D-I rankings

The undefeated Minnesota women’s team is again the top-ranked team in this week’s USCHO.com Division I Women’s Poll. Minnesota (8-0-0) earned all 15 first-place votes as it has all season long. Wisconsin stays second, while Cornell is again in the No. 3 slot. North Dakota moves up two spots to No. 4, Clarkson retains the … Read more

New players like Stalder trying to return winning ways at Minnesota-Duluth

Over the first decade of NCAA tournaments, Minnesota-Duluth won half of them. In the three years since that fifth NCAA championship in 2010, coach Shannon Miller’s Bulldogs have not won an NCAA tournament game, including missing out on the national tournament altogether in consecutive years for the first time. In 2013, Minnesota-Duluth did not even … Read more

Minnesota State Season Preview

Minnesota State kicked off its season by hosting Mercyhurst in a nonconference series, taking the first contest, 4-2, before falling by a 3-2 score in the second game. While that split should be encouraging, the Mavericks also split with the Lakers two years ago in the season’s second weekend, and then went on to finish … Read more

Minnesota-Duluth Season Preview

Minnesota-Duluth missed out on the NCAA tournament for a second consecutive year and only the third time in its history. Even worse, for the first time the Bulldogs failed to advance to the conference semifinals after being swept at home in the quarters by Ohio State. A big reason why is that the team’s goal … Read more

Bemidji State Season Preview

  After enjoying one of its best seasons two years ago, Bemidji State struggled mightily in 2012-13. The Beavers allowed the most goals in conference play, and only St. Cloud State scored fewer. The top two scorers graduated, so BSU will need to rebuild around younger players like sophomore Kaitlyn Tougas and transfers Kristine Grenier … Read more

Wisconsin Season Preview

After scoring 212 goals during its last NCAA Championship season in 2010-11, Wisconsin’s offensive output dropped to 103 goals a year ago. Brianna Decker, who tallied a point on more than half of those, is now gone. That doesn’t bode well for a return to potency this season. “The thing that helps us, especially in … Read more

Ohio State Season Preview

Ohio State continued its renaissance under Nate Handrahan, getting back to the conference semifinals for the first time in three years and being ranked as high as sixth. But for a slump after the new year, the Buckeyes could even have made their way into their first NCAA tournament. “You look at them last year … Read more

Minnesota favored in competitive WCHA

This promises to be a transitional year in the WCHA, as players like Brianna Decker, Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux, and Noora Räty that have formed the identity of the conference have completed their eligibility. Their former schools all bring in strong recruiting classes, so while the personnel losses leave the door open a crack for … Read more

St. Cloud State Season Preview

While many contending teams view the Olympic year as an additional challenge that results in the absence of key players, for St. Cloud State an Olympic year represents opportunity. The Huskies parlayed a talented senior class and depleted rosters of some conference foes to finish a program-best third in the WCHA in 2009-10, the previous … Read more

Minnesota Season Preview

A wide variance exists in how the coming season might unfold for Minnesota. Teams often struggle after saying goodbye to a franchise goaltender, and the Gophers graduated the winningest goalie in NCAA history in Noora Räty. “As of right now, Amanda Leveille is going to get the start for us,” coach Brad Frost said. “She’s … Read more

Minnesota starts year No. 1 in women’s D-I poll

Defending national champion Minnesota starts the 2013-14 season where it ended 2012-13 – ranked in the top spot of the USCHO.com Division I Women’s Poll. The Gophers earned 14 of 15 first-place votes, with No. 2 Boston College getting the other No. 1 nod. Clarkson comes in at No. 3, followed by Cornell at No. … Read more

Minnesota standout Kessel up for Sportswoman of the Year honors

Minnesota forward Amanda Kessel has been named a finalist for the 2013 Sportswoman of the Year Award in the Team Sport Category by the Women’s Sports Foundation. Currently training with the United States women’s national team that will play in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Kessel, who will be a senior in 2014-15, … Read more