UMDBulldogs.com Mid-Season Report

It's hard to believe the season's nearly 2/3 over (20 of 32 games played).. but below, find the UMDBulldogs.com mid-season report.

20 games down, 12 left to play.

The No. 2 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will be off the practice ice until the end of December, but with 12 regular season games remaining before the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center hosts the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Face-Off and 2008 NCAA Frozen Four, all eyes are on the Bulldogs.

UMD has posted a 16-3-1 record overall, including 13-3-0 in the WCHA, to remain in sole possession of the league through the first half of the 2007-08 season. The Bulldogs, who rounded out 2007 play with a sweep over St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., have notched nine WHCA Player of the Week honors in just ten weeks of play, a feat no other conference team has been able to match.

Winners of an NCAA-leading eight straight games, UMD is led by freshman forward Iya Gavrilova, who is currently in the midst of an eight game scoring streak. Gavrilova, who along with sophomore forward Saara Tuominen leads the Bulldogs with 30 points through the first 20 games, has notched 15 points (6g, 9a) since collecting two assists against Minnesota State on Nov. 23. No other rookie in the country has reached 21 points, nine shy of Gavriloca's impressive 30 (12g, 18a).

The Bulldogs are tops in the WCHA with a result-grabbing 3.80 goals a game scoring average, courtesy of seven UMD players who have registered double-digits points, including three who have posted more than 21 in 20 games. 17 of the Bulldogs rostered 22 players have appeared in the scoring column, with 16 of the 22 tallying at least four points. UMD has also boasts the most effective power play in the conference, after scoring five goals in its last four games with the man advantage.

The Maroon and Gold has also bolstered its defense, showcasing a NCAA-leading in saves percentage (.958) Kim Martin between the pipes. Martin is 10-3-1 on the season, and has backstopped the Bulldogs to four shutouts, adding to her career total of seven. UMD is allowing only 1.20 goals a game, ranking them fifth in the country and second in the WCHA.

UMD will return to action after the new year for a two-game series (Jan. 11-12) in Mankato against Minnesota State. The Bulldogs swept the Mavericks at the DECC just four weeks ago to start its current winning streak.


BULLDOG NOTES: UMD will have four players skating for Canada's National Women's Under-22 Team at the European Air Canada Cup (Jan. 2-6) in Ravensburg, Germany.

Merry Christmas (happy holidays? nah.. I don't really do politically correct ;)) to anyone who reads this :) and may the four players going to Germany come back healthy and ready to continue the march to the National Title.