2015–16 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season

2015–16 Minnesota Golden Gophers
women's ice hockey season
NCAA Division I National Champions
Defeated Princeton in First Round 6–2 to advance to Frozen Four
Defeated Wisconsin 3–2 in overtime to advance to National Championship
Defeated Boston College 3–1 to claim National title, National Champions
Conference2nd WCHA
Home iceRidder Arena
Rankings
USCHO.com1st
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine1st
Record
Overall35–4–1
Home19–0–1
Road13–3–0
Neutral3–1–0
Coaches and captains
Head coachBrad Frost
Assistant coachesNadine Muzerall
Joel Johnson
Captain(s)Hannah Brandt
Lee Stecklein[1]
Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey seasons
« 2014–15 2016–17 »

The 2015–16 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season represented the University of Minnesota during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season. They were coached by Brad Frost in his ninth season. The Golden Gophers advanced to the Frozen Four championship game for the fifth consecutive year and defeated Boston College 3–1 in the title game.

Offseason

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Recruiting

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Player Position Nationality Notes
Anna Barlow Defense  United States Competed at South St. Paul Secondary
Tianna Gunderson Forward  United States From Roseau High School
Emma May Goaltender  United States Hails from Eagan, Minnesota
Sarah Potomak Forward  Canada Competed with Canada at IIHF U18 Women's Worlds
Sophie Skarzynski Defense  United States Hails from Lake Forest, Illinois
Sierra Smith Forward  United States Competed with Stillwater Area High School
Taylor Williamson Forward  United States Played with Edina High School

Exhibition

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  • Sarah Potomak made her debut for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a September 25, 2015 exhibition match against the Minnesota Whitecaps logging two assists on goals scored by Hannah Brandt as the squad prevailed by a 5–4 tally.[2]

Regular season

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News and notes

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  • Sarah Potomak's regular season debut took place on October 1, 2015 in a 2–0 win against Penn State. Potomak scored an empty net goal, for the first goal of her NCAA career.[3] In a two-game sweep of St. Cloud State on October 9–10, 2015, Potomak accumulated two goals and four assists. In the second game against St. Cloud, she logged the first multi-goal game of her NCAA career.[4]
  • An 11–1 win against the MSU-Mankato Mavericks in November 2015 saw Sarah Potomak tie the program record for most points in one game. She would register a seven-point output consisting two goals and five assists.[5] Potomak was featured in Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd segment for the week of December 14, 2015.[6]

Standings

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Conference Overall
GP W L T SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
#3 Wisconsin*† 28 24 3 1 1 74 100 22 40 35 4 1 154 29
#1 Minnesota 28 24 3 1 0 73 139 39 40 35 4 1 187 51
#10 Bemidji State 28 17 9 2 1 54 56 51 36 22 11 3 77 68
#8 North Dakota 28 13 10 5 2 46 54 49 35 18 12 5 79 62
St. Cloud State 28 9 15 4 3 34 44 88 35 13 18 4 63 115
Minnesota Duluth 28 10 17 1 0 31 67 84 37 15 21 1 90 109
Ohio State 28 6 21 1 1 20 58 110 36 10 25 1 80 134
Minnesota State 28 0 25 3 0 3 41 116 36 3 29 4 55 137
Championship: Wisconsin
indicates conference regular season champion
* indicates conference tournament champion
Current rankings: USCHO.com Division I women's poll

Schedule

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Source:[7]

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site Decision Result Attendance Record
Regular Season
October 1 6:00 at Penn State* #1 Pegula Ice ArenaUniversity Park, PA Amanda Leveille W 2–0  485 1–0–0
October 2 6:00 at Penn State* #1 Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, PA Sidney Peters W 5–0  507 2–0–0
October 9 7:07 St. Cloud State #1 Ridder ArenaMinneapolis, MN Leveille W 7–0  1,851 3–0–0 (1–0–0)
October 10 4:07 St. Cloud State #1 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Peters W 11–0  2,335 4–0–0 (2–0–0)
October 16 5:07 at Ohio State #1 Ohio State University Ice RinkColumbus, OH Leveille W 7–2  465 5–0–0 (3–0–0)
October 17 1:07 at Ohio State #1 Ohio State University Ice Rink • Columbus, OH Leveille W 11–2  575 6–0–0 (4–0–0)
October 23 6:07 Minnesota Duluth #1 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Leveille W 5–2  1,685 7–0–0 (5–0–0)
October 24 4:07 Minnesota Duluth #1 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Leveille W 6–1  1,965 8–0–0 (6–0–0)
October 29 7:07 at #7 North Dakota #1 Ralph Engelstad ArenaGrand Forks, ND Leveille W 5–1  1,066 9–0–0 (7–0–0)
October 30 7:07 at #7 North Dakota #1 Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, ND Leveille L 3–4  3,361 9–1–0 (7–1–0)
November 13 7:07 #5 Bemidji State #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Leveille W 4–0  1,957 10–1–0 (8–1–0)
November 14 4:07 #5 Bemidji State #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Leveille W 8–3  2,148 11–1–0 (9–1–0)
November 20 7:07 Yale* #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Leveille W 6–3  1,932 12–1–0
November 21 7:07 Yale* #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Peters W 4–1  1,682 13–1–0
November 27 2:07 at Minnesota State #3 Verizon Wireless CenterMankato, MN Leveille W 11–1  313 14–1–0 (10–1–0)
November 28 2:07 at Minnesota State #3 Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, MN Peters W 2–1  152 15–1–0 (11–1–0)
December 4 7:07 at #1 Wisconsin #3 LaBahn ArenaMadison, WI Leveille L 2–3 OT 2,273 15–2–0 (11–2–0)
December 5 3:07 at #1 Wisconsin #3 LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI Leveille L 1–3  2,273 15–3–0 (11–3–0)
December 11 6:37 vs. St. Cloud State* #3 John Rose OvalRoseville, MN (Hall of Fame Game) Leveille W 7–0  1,078 16–3–0
January 9, 2016 2:07 Ohio State #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Leveille W 3–1  2,431 17–3–0 (12–3–0)
January 10 2:07 Ohio State #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Leveille W 9–0  1,677 18–3–0 (13–3–0)
January 16 2:07 Minnesota State #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Leveille W 3–2  1,927 19–3–0 (14–3–0)
January 17 2:07 Minnesota State #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Peters W 2–1  1,740 20–3–0 (15–3–0)
January 22 3:07 at St. Cloud State #3 Herb Brooks National Hockey CenterSt. Cloud, MN Leveille W 7–0  212 21–3–0 (16–3–0)
January 23 3:07 at St. Cloud State #3 Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN Peters W 4–2  243 22–3–0 (17–3–0)
January 29 7:07 at #7 Bemidji State #3 Sanford CenterBemidji, MN Leveille W 2–1  672 23–3–0 (18–3–0)
January 30 4:07 at #7 Bemidji State #3 Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN Leveille W 2–1 OT 715 24–3–0 (19–3–0)
February 5 6:07 #8 North Dakota #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Leveille W 3–0  2,635 25–3–0 (20–3–0)
February 6 4:07 #8 North Dakota #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Leveille T 0–0 OT 2,678 25–3–1 (20–3–1)
February 12 7:07 at Minnesota Duluth #3 AMSOIL ArenaDuluth, MN Leveille W 7–3  1,301 26–3–1 (21–3–1)
February 13 4:07 at Minnesota Duluth #3 Amsoil Arena • Duluth, MN Leveille W 6–2  1,242 27–3–1 (22–3–1)
February 19 7:07 #2 Wisconsin #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Leveille W 4–0  3,288 28–3–1 (23–3–1)
February 20 3:03 #2 Wisconsin #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN Leveille W 4–3 OT 3,091 29–3–1 (24–3–1)
WCHA Tournament
February 26 7:07 Ohio State* #2 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (Quarterfinals, Game 1) Leveille W 5–2  1,335 30–3–1
February 27 4:07 Ohio State* #2 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (Quarterfinals, Game 2) Leveille W 5–0  1,443 31–3–1
March 5 5:07 #8 North Dakota* #2 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (Semifinal Game) Leveille W 2–0  2,233 32–3–1
March 6 2:07 #3 Wisconsin* #2 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (WCHA Championship Game) Leveille L 0–1  1,855 32–4–1
NCAA Tournament
March 12 4:00 #7 Princeton* #3 Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (Quarterfinal Game) Leveille W 6–2  2,468 33–4–1
March 18 6:00 vs. #2 Wisconsin* #3 Whittemore CenterDurham, NH (Frozen Four Semifinal Game) Leveille W 3–2 OT 2,167 34–4–1
March 20 1:00 vs. #1 Boston College* #3 Whittemore Center • Durham, NH (National Championship Game) Leveille W 3–1  3,211 35–4–1
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll.

Roster

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Source:[8]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height DoB Hometown Previous team
2 Minnesota Lee Stecklein (C) Junior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 1994-04-23 Roseville, Minnesota Roseville Area High School
3 Minnesota Anna Barlow Freshman D 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1996-09-02 South St. Paul, Minnesota South St. Paul Secondary
4 Minnesota Tianna Gunderson Freshman F 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1996-08-27 Roseau, Minnesota Roseau High School
5 Illinois Sophie Skarzynski Freshman D 5' 8" (1.73 m) 1997-09-18 Lake Forest, Illinois Loyola Academy
6 Minnesota Kate Schipper Junior F 5' 4" (1.63 m) 1995-06-28 Brooklyn Park, Minnesota Breck School
7 Minnesota Taylor Williamson Freshman F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 1996-08-20 Edina, Minnesota Edina High School
8 Wisconsin Amanda Kessel Senior F 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1991-08-28 Madison, Wisconsin Shattuck-Saint Mary's
9 Minnesota Sydney Baldwin Sophomore D 5' 7" (1.7 m) 1996-01-15 Minnetonka, Minnesota Minnetonka High School
10 Illinois Cara Piazza Sophomore F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 1995-10-09 Darien, Illinois Downers Grove South High School
11 Minnesota Kelsey Cline Junior D/F 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1995-02-28 Bloomington, Minnesota Bloomington Jefferson High School
12 Minnesota Megan Wolfe Junior D 5' 8" (1.73 m) 1995-06-08 Eagan, Minnesota Eagan High School
13 Minnesota Milica McMillen Senior D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 1993-07-13 Saint Paul, Minnesota Breck School
15 Minnesota Paige Haley Junior D/F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 1995-07-21 Red Wing, Minnesota Red Wing High School
17 Minnesota Sierra Smith Freshman F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 1996-09-02 Stillwater, Minnesota Stillwater Area High School
18 Oklahoma Brook Garzone Senior D/F 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1993-04-29 Sand Springs, Oklahoma Shattuck-Saint Mary's
19 Minnesota Kelly Pannek Sophomore F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 1995-12-29 Plymouth, Minnesota Benilde-St. Margaret's
20 Minnesota Nina Rodgers Sophomore F 5' 5" (1.65 m) 1996-04-08 Minnetonka, Minnesota Hopkins High School
21 Minnesota Dani Cameranesi Junior F 5' 5" (1.65 m) 1995-06-30 Plymouth, Minnesota Blake School
22 Minnesota Hannah Brandt (C) Senior F 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1993-11-27 Vadnais Heights, Minnesota Hill-Murray School
23 Minnesota Caitlin Reilly Sophomore F 5' 5" (1.65 m) 1995-09-05 Chanhassen, Minnesota Benilde-St. Margaret's
25 Minnesota Nicole Schammel Sophomore F 5' 5" (1.65 m) 1996-04-09 Red Wing, Minnesota Red Wing High School
26 British Columbia Sarah Potomak Freshman F 5' 5" (1.65 m) 1996-04-08 Aldergrove, British Columbia George Eliot Secondary
29 Ontario Amanda Leveille Senior G 5' 7" (1.7 m) 1994-06-10 Kingston, Ontario Frontenac Secondary School
31 Minnesota Emma May Freshman G 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1996-10-21 Eagan, Minnesota Eagan High School
37 Illinois Sidney Peters Sophomore (RS) G 5' 10" (1.78 m) 1995-02-26 Geneva, Illinois North American Hockey Academy

NCAA

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  • Sarah Potomak, 2015–16 WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year
  • Sarah Potomak, WCHA Rookie of the Week (Week of October 13, 2015)
  • Sarah Potomak, WCHA Player of the Week (Recognized for games of October 14–15, 2016) [9]
  • Sarah Potomak, WCHA Player of the Month (October 2016) [10]
  • Sarah Potomak, 2016 Women's Hockey Commissioners Association National Rookie of the Year Award[11]
  • Sarah Potomak, 2016 WCHA Rookie of the Year honors[12]
  • Sarah Potomak, Most Outstanding Player Award, 2016 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Tournament
  • Hannah Brandt, Forward, Patty Kazmaier Award Top 10 Finalist[13]
  • Dani Cameranesi, Forward, Patty Kazmaier Award Top 10 Finalist[13]
  • Dani Cameranesi, Forward, WCHA Scoring Leader[14]
  • Lee Stecklein, Defense, WCHA First Team All-Star[14]
  • Hannah Brandt, Forward, WCHA First Team All-Star[14]
  • Dani Cameranesi, Forward, WCHA First Team All-Star[14]
  • Milica McMillen, Defense, WCHA Second Team All-Star[14]
  • Sarah Potomak, Forward, WCHA Third Team All-Star[14]
  • Sarah Potomak, Forward, WCHA All-Rookie Team[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Brandt, Stecklein to Captain 2015–16 Gophers". University of Minnesota Athletics. May 27, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  2. ^ "Hockey Game Box Score (Final) : Minnesota Whitecaps vs #1 Minnesota (Sep 25, 2015 at Minneapolis, Minn.)" (PDF). Grfx.cstv.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  3. ^ "University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site – Women's Ice Hockey". Gophersports.com. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  4. ^ "Potomak Named WCHA Rookie of the Week – University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site". Gophersports.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  5. ^ "Potomak's seven points lead Gophers' women's hockey in rout over MSU Mankato". Star Tribune. November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  6. ^ "Faces in the Crowd: December 14, 2015, Edited by Alexandra Fenwick". Sports Illustrated. December 14, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  7. ^ "2015–16 Women's Ice Hockey Schedule". University of Minnesota. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  8. ^ "2015–16 Women's Hockey Roster". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  9. ^ "UMN'S POTOMAK, AND UND'S SHAW AND NUUTINEN NAMED WCHA WOMEN'S PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". WCHA.com. October 18, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  10. ^ "UMN'S POTOMAK, UND'S SHAW AND UW'S NORBY NAMED WCHA WOMEN'S PLAYERS OF THE MONTH". WCHA.com. November 3, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  11. ^ "Minnesota's Potomak Is Chosen Women's National Rookie of the Year". WCHA.com. March 17, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  12. ^ "WCHA ANNOUNCES 2015–16 POSTSEASON AWARDS". WCHA.com. March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Top-10 Finalists Named for 2016 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award". USA Hockey Foundation. February 25, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g "Five Gophers Earn WCHA Accolades". CBS Interactive. March 3, 2016. Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.