The series preview is up, and contains SOME information already given but here's the entire preview anyway:
The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team starts its 2007-08 season Friday in St. Cloud, Minn. when it visits St. Cloud State University for the Bulldogs first WCHA series of the year. Game-time for both contests is slated for 7:07 p.m.
THE SERIES: UMD, currently ranked No. 5 in the latest USCHO national poll, will take a dominant 30-6-1 advantage into this weekend's series, including a 12-4 record in the confines of the National Hockey Center. The Bulldogs swept the Huskies last season in St. Cloud, and held them winless in regular season WCHA play.
St. Cloud visited UMD at Mars Lakeview Arena last February for the first round of the WCHA Playoffs. The Bulldogs held on to a 4-3 win in the first outing (Feb. 23), after two third-period goals in the final five minutes by the Huskies erased UMD's three-goal lead.
The Bulldogs were less fortunate in the second game, (Feb. 24) after two first-period goals put UMD into debt for the rest of the contest. St. Cloud forced a third and final game by dropping the Bulldogs 3-1 for the Huskies first win over the Maroon and Gold since Jan. 28, 2006.
UMD responded unkindly to St. Cloud's series extension, exploding for five goals and routing the Huskies 5-1(Feb. 25) behind two goals and two assists from then senior forward Noemie Marin. Freshman netminder Kim Martin made 21 saves to end the Huskies season.
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UMD-St. Cloud State Notes
LAST WEEK: The Bulldogs swamped the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Western Women's Hockey League 7-2 on the ice of the Schwan's Super Rink, in Blaine, Minn., Saturday afternoon. Sophomore forward Saara Tuominen and freshmen forwards Haley Irwin and Iya Gavrilova led UMD with two goals each, while Irwin added an assist for good measure. Eight Bulldogs got in the scoring column overall.
THE COACHES: Shannon Miller, who currently is the only coach in the WCHA to have racked-up 200 wins and is 30-6-1 against St. Cloud in her career, will begin her ninth season this weekend behind the Bulldog bench.
As the only head coach UMD has ever employed, Miller has amassed an impressive overall record of 200-57-24 and has led the Bulldogs to six NCAA playoff appearances and three straight NCAA Championship titles (2001, 2002 and 2003). She has led UMD into four NCAA Frozen Four berths, including the 2007 NCAA Championship game. No other hockey program in the country has won three consecutive NCAA titles.
For her efforts, Miller was named the 2000 and 2003 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year and the 2003 American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Women’s Division I Coach of the Year. Along with the incredible NCAA runs, her Bulldogs have captured two WCHA regular season titles (2000 and 2003) and three WCHA playoff titles (2000, 2001 and 2003).
During Miller’s time at the Bulldog helm, UMD has produced eight first-team All-Americans, 11 Patty Kazmaier Award Finalists, two WCHA Players of the Year, three WCHA Student-Athletes of the year and one CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Jeff Giesen begins his second season as the head coach of the Huskies after guiding them to a 12-18-7 mark overall last year, and a seventh place finish in the WCHA with a 7-16-5 record. Giesen is 1-6 against the Bulldogs all-time.
TAMING THE HUSKIES: Junior forward Sara O'Toole enjoyed her first collegiate hat trick and then some last season against St. Cloud (Oct. 28. 2006), leashing the Huskies for a career-high four goals in the contest.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT: The Bulldogs will be without the services of sophomore Emmanuelle Blais this weekend, who sustained an injury in Saturday's clash with the Whitecaps.
BULLDOG BITS: Four of UMD's all-time team records have been set against St. Cloud, including largest margin of victory (15-0, Nov. 6, 1999), fastest two goals (0:06, Oct. 15, 2005) and most shots on goal in a game (72, Dec. 17, 1999).
SEASON OUTLOOK--UP FRONT: At first glance, the Bulldogs offense seems to have taken a hit with the graduation of Jessica Koizumi, Noemie Marin and Michaela Lanzl, who combined for 48 percent of UMD’s goals last season. But a closer look reveals a crop of offensive talents that may instantly turn the Bulldogs into a perennial firepower. Sophomore forwards Saara Tuominen and Emmanuelle Blais, two of seven currently rostered UMD players to skate in all 39 games last winter, will suit up for their second season of collegiate play as the Bulldogs top returning offensive fixtures. Tuominen, a strong defensive forward with a knack of placing the puck, handed out 28 assists last year while adding 12 goals. Her 40 points during the 2006-07 campaign ranks first among returnees, and her ability to win face-offs will unquestionably make her one of the nation’s most dominant centers.
Blais steps into her second season after proving she could carry some of the offensive load as a rookie. Blais, who will reign as the second highest returning point grabber with 35 (14-21=35), will be expected to be a key offensive contributor with her uncanny mix of speed, hands and toughness. Another key sophomore, Elin Holmlov, who suffered through a nagging injury last season, is looking to build on her 26-point (6-20=26) freshman performance. Junior Sara O’Toole, one of several Bulldogs bitten by the injury bug in 2006-07, will set her sights on leading an offensive charge, and attempt to top her 21 points (7-14=21) in 29 games one year ago.
Injecting some instant offense into the Bulldog ranks will be freshmen Haley Irwin, Laura Fridfinnson, members of the U-22 Canadian National Team, and Russian Olympian Iya Gavrilova. Irwin, a talented forward with the ability to set-up teammates and score big goals, is expected to be an impact player right away. Fridfinnson, a 5-8 forward with speed and vision will immediately yield offensive results, while the addition Gavrilova adds international experience and another threat to the Bulldogs arsenal as a strong skater with great hands and a talent for netting goals in important games.
ON DEFENSE: Despite losing three key defensemen to graduation, UMD will reload the blueline with a mixture of experience and the excitement of youth. The Bulldogs retain the services of junior Myriam Trepanier, the top point-getting defenseman last season (5-12=17), and one of two returning blueliners to skate in all 39 games in 2006-07. Heidi Pelttari, who only played the second half of the 2006-07 campaign, will anchor the ice as one of the Bulldogs strongest and most experienced players on the backline. Pelttari, who infuses a wealth of international experience courtesy of Team Finland, will also be joined on the blueline by freshman Jocelyn Laroque. Larocque, a member of the U-22 Canadian National team, possess the ability to skate and handle the puck that will instantly make her one of UMD’s top defensemen. Tara Gray, another one of the Bulldogs five players invited to Team Canada’s U-22 camp, will enhance UMD’s depth on the blueline with a great shot from the point and ability to play all three zones.
IN GOAL: After splitting time between the pipes last season with Riitta Schaublin, sophomore Kim Martin, one of the premier netminders in all of women’s hockey, will look to handle the brunt of UMD’s puck-stopping duties. Martin complied an 11-7-2 record in 21 games as a freshman, and was cited as an All-WCHA Rookie Team and All-WCHA Second Team honoree. Following a debut season laced with injuries, a healthy Martin will be pivotal in a Bulldog run down championship lane. Joining UMD to assist Martin in goaltending duties will be Boston College transfer Johanna Ellison. Ellison, who was a Cloquet High School (Minn.) standout will be familiar with the confines of the Bulldogs home DECC ice, and will provide experience and some quality depth to the internationally renown Martin. Rounding out the trio of capable backstoppers, is Junior Amie Meyer, who finished the 2006-07 season with a perfect save percentage in four relief outings.
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