The Gophers women’s hockey team kicked off the season Friday night against Bemidji State at the Ridder Arena with 20 returning players from last season, four players who qualified for the Beijing Olympics earlier this year, and eight “supers”. Display the list of players.Senpai.
“We are deeper than ever,” said Brad Frost, who is in his 16th season as Gophers coach.
The Gophers, who won their 11th WCHA regular season title last season with a 29-9-1 record, were the top picks in WCHA preseason voting. Ranked #2 Nationally in U.S. College Hockey Online Preseason Poll.
“Everybody knows they have a special chance this season,” Frost said. “The Olympian is back and has his fifth grade senior like everyone else in the WCHA.We have some pretty deep teams in our league.”
Three other WCHA teams — Ohio (1st), Wisconsin (4th) and Minnesota Duluth (5th) — are ranked in the top five.
The Gophers are led by WCHA Player of the Year and fifth-year senior Taylor Heise. Patti Kazmeier Award Winner last season. His Heise, who had 29 goals and 37 assists in 39 games last season, was named the WCHA’s Preseason Player of the Year.
Heise, who was named MVP last month after helping the US team win the IIHF Women’s World Championship in Denmark with seven goals, said:
Grace Zumwinkle returned to the Gophers after redshirting while playing for the US Olympic team last season. Zumwinkle has scored 17 goals in his 20 appearances for the Gophers in the 2020-21 season.
“I’m happy to be back. The Olympics was a chance to learn from the best athletes in the world, and I want to use that experience,” she said.
While the Gophers are making their official season debut (they defeated the University of Manitoba and the Minnesota Whitecaps in an exhibition game), Bemidji State are playing their third series of the season.
The Beavers started the season with two wins at home against Lindenwood before losing 5-0 to No. 10 Clarkson last weekend and drawing 2-2.
“They put Clarkson on the road, a very good team,” said Frost. “They’re a physical team, and they’re dangerous.”
Senior forward Reece Hunt is among Bemidji State’s 20 returning letterwinners. He led the team in scoring last season with seven goals and 13 assists.
