Minnesota hosts Ohio State in a WCHA series at Ridder Arena this weekend
This weekend, No. 1 Minnesota (19-1-0, 13-1-0 WCHA) hosts Ohio State (7-11-2, 2-10-2-0 WCHA) in its first series of 2014. The Gophers face off against the Buckeyes at 7:07 p.m. CT Friday and 6:07 p.m. CT Saturday.
Saturday’s game will air live on the Big Ten Network, and Friday’s game will be streamed live at GopherSports.com. Live audio and stats will be available at GopherSports.com as well.
Friday’s 7:07 p.m. game is Rock Ridder Night where all general admission tickets are $1, and Saturday’s 6:07 p.m. game will feature a Teddy Bear Toss.
ABOUT THE SERIES: GOPHERS VS. BUCKEYES
Minnesota owns a 57-8-1 all-time mark against Ohio State. The last series between the two teams was a Gopher sweep in Columbus, Ohio, Dec. 7-8, 2013. Minnesota skated to 9-2 and 5-1 victories over the Buckeyes. The Gophers have won the last 28 meetings. The first-ever match-up was a 3-0 Minnesota win at OSU on Nov. 12, 1999.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
Ohio State (7-11-2, 2-10-2-0 WCHA) enters this weekend’s series on a two-game winning streak after sweeping Penn State at home last weekend. The Buckeyes enter the series with the Gophers looking for their third conference win of the season, having topped St. Cloud State 4-2 (Oct. 12) and North Dakota 2-1 (Oct. 19) earlier this season. OSU is 4-2-0 in its last six games with the two losses coming against Minnesota (Dec. 7-8).
Ohio State finished the 2012-13 season with an overall mark of 19-15-3 while tying for fourth in the WCHA at 12-13-3-3. The Gophers defeated the Buckeyes 5-0 in the semifinal round of the WCHA Final Face-off to end OSU’s season. This season, Ohio State returned 18 letterwinners from last season and added five newcomers.
Junior defenseman Sara Schmitt leads OSU with 17 points (5g-12a) in 19 games. She is one of five Buckeyes with double-digit points this year as junior defenseman Kari Schmitt (6g-10a), junior forward Danielle Gagne (6g-9a), senior forward Ally Tarr (3g-12a) and junior forward Taylor Kuehl (5g-5a) round out OSU’s top five scoring leaders. Senior netminders Chelsea Knapp (10GP) and Lisa Steffes (11GP) have split time in goal, including one game each in the series with Minnesota. Knapp is 2-6-1 with a .877 save percentage and a 3.75 goals against average, while Steffes is 5-5-1 with a .942 save percentage and a 1.63 goals against average. Steffes has played the last three games.
WEEKEND REWIND: GOPHERS END FIRST HALF AT 19-1-0
In its last series, Minnesota concluded its first half with a road sweep at Ohio State Dec. 7-8, 2013, topping the Buckeyes 9-2 and 5-1 to wrap up 2013 at 19-1-0 overall – the team’s second-best start in program history.
Rachael Bona (3g-3a), Milica McMillen (2g-3a) and Sarah Davis (2g-3a) led the Gophers against the Buckeyes. Twelve Gophers had at least one point in the series with 11 players recording multiple points. Sophomore goaltender Amanda Leveille combined for 36 saves in the two games, improving to 22-1-0 for her career.
In Saturday’s 9-2 win, Bona recorded her first career hat trick. Eight Gophers had multiple points in the win led by Bona, who added an assist to her hat trick for four points. Maryanne Menefee and Dani Cameranesi each scored two goals, and Sarah Davis had three assists.
McMillen led the way with a career-high four points in Minnesota’s 5-1 win over Ohio State. Her four points included two goals and two assists. Davis added two goals, including a short-handed tally, and fellow senior Baylee Gillanders capped the scoring with her third goal of the season.
STREAKING GOPHERS
Sarah Davis enters this weekend’s series on a 12-game point streak (8g-15a). In addition, two Gophers are riding six-game point streaks: Hannah Brandt (5g-8a) and Milica McMillen (3g-7a).
QUICK DRAW
The Gophers have out-scored their opponents a combined 15-1 in the first period over their last six games.
GOPHERS ON THE POWER PLAY
Minnesota’s power-play unit leads the nation at 28.9 percent (22/76) led by Dani Cameranesi’s five power-play goals, which also is tied for the NCAA’s best.
TWO GOPHERS SURPASS 30-POINT MARK
Two Gophers cracked the 30-point mark over the first half of the season. Rachael Bona (11g-22a) and Hannah Brandt (10g-23a) lead Minnesota with 33 points each. Sarah Davis (12g-17a) is the Gophers’ third-leading scorer with 29 points in 20 games.
ROAD WINNING STREAK CONTINUES INTO 2014
Minnesota has not lost a road game since falling 4-2 to Minnesota Duluth in Duluth on Jan. 13, 2012. With their next road game not until Jan. 19, 2014, the Gophers’ NCAA-record road winning streak will surpass the two-year mark. The Gophers have won 39-straight road games, dating back to a 3-0 win over the Bulldogs on Jan. 14, 2012. Including neutral games, Minnesota has 42-consecutive victories when playing away from Ridder Arena spanning over the last two years.
ROOKIE SCORING LEADERS
Gopher freshmen combined for 43 points (17g-26a) in the first half of the season led by Dani Cameranesi (10g-7a) and Kate Schipper (2g-9a). Minnesota’s freshman class ranks fourth in the nation with 2.15 points per game.
GOPHERS RANK AMONG WCHA, NATIONAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rachael Bona (11g-22a) and Hannah Brandt (10g-23a) lead the Gophers with 33 points each. The duo leads the WCHA and is tied for second in the nation with 1.65 points per game. Bona leads the team with 11 multi-point games. Brandt leads the nation with 1.15 assists per game, and Bona ranks second in the league and third in the nation with 1.10 assists per game.
Sarah Davis and Kelly Terry are tied for the team lead with 12 goals apiece; they are tied for third in the WCHA and 11th in the nation with 0.60 goals per game.
Sophomore goaltender Amanda Leveille ranks third in the league and sixth in the nation with a 1.33 goals against average and fourth in the league and seventh in the nation with a .941 save percentage. She leads the WCHA with five shutouts.
The Gophers lead the nation with a +3.60 scoring margin, led by the NCAA’s top offense averaging 4.90 goals per game. Minnesota has the nation’s fifth-best defense, allowing 1.30 goals per game in 20 games.
MINNESOTA REMAINS NO. 1
The Golden Gophers remained the unanimous No. 1 in both the USCHO.com and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine national polls this week. Minnesota has been No. 1 in the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine national polls since the final poll of the 2011-12 season (March 19-20, 2012). This stretch includes 37-straight USCHO.com polls and 40-straight USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls.
ON THE HORIZON
The Gophers host Minnesota State in the 2014 Hockey City Classic next Friday, Jan. 17. The outdoor game at TCF Bank Stadium marks the first outdoor game in Gopher women’s hockey history. The Hockey City Classic begins with the women’s game at 4:30 p.m. CT followed by the Gopher men's hockey team hosting Ohio State at 8 p.m.
The teams conclude the home-and-home series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Minnesota State’s All Seasons Arena in Mankato.
Information Courtesy of Mandy Hansen-Golden Gopher Athletics
This weekend, No. 1 Minnesota (19-1-0, 13-1-0 WCHA) hosts Ohio State (7-11-2, 2-10-2-0 WCHA) in its first series of 2014. The Gophers face off against the Buckeyes at 7:07 p.m. CT Friday and 6:07 p.m. CT Saturday.
Saturday’s game will air live on the Big Ten Network, and Friday’s game will be streamed live at GopherSports.com. Live audio and stats will be available at GopherSports.com as well.
Friday’s 7:07 p.m. game is Rock Ridder Night where all general admission tickets are $1, and Saturday’s 6:07 p.m. game will feature a Teddy Bear Toss.
ABOUT THE SERIES: GOPHERS VS. BUCKEYES
Minnesota owns a 57-8-1 all-time mark against Ohio State. The last series between the two teams was a Gopher sweep in Columbus, Ohio, Dec. 7-8, 2013. Minnesota skated to 9-2 and 5-1 victories over the Buckeyes. The Gophers have won the last 28 meetings. The first-ever match-up was a 3-0 Minnesota win at OSU on Nov. 12, 1999.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
Ohio State (7-11-2, 2-10-2-0 WCHA) enters this weekend’s series on a two-game winning streak after sweeping Penn State at home last weekend. The Buckeyes enter the series with the Gophers looking for their third conference win of the season, having topped St. Cloud State 4-2 (Oct. 12) and North Dakota 2-1 (Oct. 19) earlier this season. OSU is 4-2-0 in its last six games with the two losses coming against Minnesota (Dec. 7-8).
Ohio State finished the 2012-13 season with an overall mark of 19-15-3 while tying for fourth in the WCHA at 12-13-3-3. The Gophers defeated the Buckeyes 5-0 in the semifinal round of the WCHA Final Face-off to end OSU’s season. This season, Ohio State returned 18 letterwinners from last season and added five newcomers.
Junior defenseman Sara Schmitt leads OSU with 17 points (5g-12a) in 19 games. She is one of five Buckeyes with double-digit points this year as junior defenseman Kari Schmitt (6g-10a), junior forward Danielle Gagne (6g-9a), senior forward Ally Tarr (3g-12a) and junior forward Taylor Kuehl (5g-5a) round out OSU’s top five scoring leaders. Senior netminders Chelsea Knapp (10GP) and Lisa Steffes (11GP) have split time in goal, including one game each in the series with Minnesota. Knapp is 2-6-1 with a .877 save percentage and a 3.75 goals against average, while Steffes is 5-5-1 with a .942 save percentage and a 1.63 goals against average. Steffes has played the last three games.
WEEKEND REWIND: GOPHERS END FIRST HALF AT 19-1-0
In its last series, Minnesota concluded its first half with a road sweep at Ohio State Dec. 7-8, 2013, topping the Buckeyes 9-2 and 5-1 to wrap up 2013 at 19-1-0 overall – the team’s second-best start in program history.
Rachael Bona (3g-3a), Milica McMillen (2g-3a) and Sarah Davis (2g-3a) led the Gophers against the Buckeyes. Twelve Gophers had at least one point in the series with 11 players recording multiple points. Sophomore goaltender Amanda Leveille combined for 36 saves in the two games, improving to 22-1-0 for her career.
In Saturday’s 9-2 win, Bona recorded her first career hat trick. Eight Gophers had multiple points in the win led by Bona, who added an assist to her hat trick for four points. Maryanne Menefee and Dani Cameranesi each scored two goals, and Sarah Davis had three assists.
McMillen led the way with a career-high four points in Minnesota’s 5-1 win over Ohio State. Her four points included two goals and two assists. Davis added two goals, including a short-handed tally, and fellow senior Baylee Gillanders capped the scoring with her third goal of the season.
STREAKING GOPHERS
Sarah Davis enters this weekend’s series on a 12-game point streak (8g-15a). In addition, two Gophers are riding six-game point streaks: Hannah Brandt (5g-8a) and Milica McMillen (3g-7a).
QUICK DRAW
The Gophers have out-scored their opponents a combined 15-1 in the first period over their last six games.
GOPHERS ON THE POWER PLAY
Minnesota’s power-play unit leads the nation at 28.9 percent (22/76) led by Dani Cameranesi’s five power-play goals, which also is tied for the NCAA’s best.
TWO GOPHERS SURPASS 30-POINT MARK
Two Gophers cracked the 30-point mark over the first half of the season. Rachael Bona (11g-22a) and Hannah Brandt (10g-23a) lead Minnesota with 33 points each. Sarah Davis (12g-17a) is the Gophers’ third-leading scorer with 29 points in 20 games.
ROAD WINNING STREAK CONTINUES INTO 2014
Minnesota has not lost a road game since falling 4-2 to Minnesota Duluth in Duluth on Jan. 13, 2012. With their next road game not until Jan. 19, 2014, the Gophers’ NCAA-record road winning streak will surpass the two-year mark. The Gophers have won 39-straight road games, dating back to a 3-0 win over the Bulldogs on Jan. 14, 2012. Including neutral games, Minnesota has 42-consecutive victories when playing away from Ridder Arena spanning over the last two years.
ROOKIE SCORING LEADERS
Gopher freshmen combined for 43 points (17g-26a) in the first half of the season led by Dani Cameranesi (10g-7a) and Kate Schipper (2g-9a). Minnesota’s freshman class ranks fourth in the nation with 2.15 points per game.
GOPHERS RANK AMONG WCHA, NATIONAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rachael Bona (11g-22a) and Hannah Brandt (10g-23a) lead the Gophers with 33 points each. The duo leads the WCHA and is tied for second in the nation with 1.65 points per game. Bona leads the team with 11 multi-point games. Brandt leads the nation with 1.15 assists per game, and Bona ranks second in the league and third in the nation with 1.10 assists per game.
Sarah Davis and Kelly Terry are tied for the team lead with 12 goals apiece; they are tied for third in the WCHA and 11th in the nation with 0.60 goals per game.
Sophomore goaltender Amanda Leveille ranks third in the league and sixth in the nation with a 1.33 goals against average and fourth in the league and seventh in the nation with a .941 save percentage. She leads the WCHA with five shutouts.
The Gophers lead the nation with a +3.60 scoring margin, led by the NCAA’s top offense averaging 4.90 goals per game. Minnesota has the nation’s fifth-best defense, allowing 1.30 goals per game in 20 games.
MINNESOTA REMAINS NO. 1
The Golden Gophers remained the unanimous No. 1 in both the USCHO.com and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine national polls this week. Minnesota has been No. 1 in the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine national polls since the final poll of the 2011-12 season (March 19-20, 2012). This stretch includes 37-straight USCHO.com polls and 40-straight USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls.
ON THE HORIZON
The Gophers host Minnesota State in the 2014 Hockey City Classic next Friday, Jan. 17. The outdoor game at TCF Bank Stadium marks the first outdoor game in Gopher women’s hockey history. The Hockey City Classic begins with the women’s game at 4:30 p.m. CT followed by the Gopher men's hockey team hosting Ohio State at 8 p.m.
The teams conclude the home-and-home series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Minnesota State’s All Seasons Arena in Mankato.
Information Courtesy of Mandy Hansen-Golden Gopher Athletics