Dogs win 3-0 @ SCSU

UMD did indeed win, 3-0 over St. Cloud State. Saara Tuominen took a penalty at the end of the first period, and then one 2 minutes into the 2nd period, and that seemed to throw an 'internal' switch and turn her game on. She scored the first goal of the game (that was allowed, SCSU had one disallowed for directing the puck off a skate), 1 minute and 1 second after getting out of the penalty box the 2nd time.

UMD took 13 penalties (26 minutes) with the 'rookie' Freshmen taking 8 of those 13. Most definitely weren't good penalties, not having much to do with the actual flow of the game.

I figured they'd need a feeling out period the first game, and the first two periods were just that, getting outshot 22-16, before outshooting the Huskies 18-10 in the third period.

I'll post the News Tribune story and link the day after games when there is one to post .. if there isn't one I'll get the Umdbulldogs.com recap instead.

News Tribune Season Preview

UMD women's hockey offense unleashed
Andy Greder Duluth News Tribune
Published Friday, October 05, 2007

Shannon Miller believes players possessing offensive creativity should enjoy a lot of freedom.

The Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey coach saw the goal-scoring ingenuity that warrants liberty in 2002-03, and her laissez faire coaching produced a 31-3-2 season and a third-straight national championship.

Miller sees a similar team this season.

“We are going to put in fewer [offensive] systems and let them freelance more,” said Miller, beginning her ninth season as coach. “We have enough talent to do that. Our forwards are creative and offensively gifted. The worst thing I can do at this point is get in the way.”

UMD’s top line includes three Europeans — freshman Iya Gavrilova of Russia and sophomores Saara Tuominen of Finland and Elin Holmlov of Sweden.

“Those three have been magical so far,” Miller said. “They have gelled fantastically.”

Tuominen, who had 12 goals and 28 assists last season, will be the catalyst and safety net.

“[Tuominen] isn’t a flashy player,” Miller said. “She is going to come out and set up [Gavrilova and Holmlov]. Defensively, Tuominen is very strong and will allow those other two to be very offensive and take risks.”

While UMD’s first line hasn’t played in a game together, the players are used to the European style that emphasizes puck movement.

“It’s really easy to communicate on ice because we play the same style,” Tuominen said. “We like to share the puck and all of us see the ice well.”

The Bulldogs will have to replace 46 percent of their goal scoring from last season with the departures of Noemie Marin, Jessica Koizumi and Michaela Lanzl. Marin and Koizumi graduated, while Lanzl ran out of eligibility.

The Bulldogs (24-11-4 in 2006-07) lost to Wisconsin 4-1 in the NCAA Division I national championship game. UMD’s lone senior is forward Karine Demeule

“We had a great team last year and we will have a great team this year,” said Holmlov, who had 26 points last season. “We’re younger, but we have more freedom.”

Miller will put the scorers in advantageous positions.

“We’re going to use four attackers a lot,” Miller said. “That is risky defensively because you can get 2-on-1 against you, but when we have strong goaltending, I’d like to take risks to score goals.”

Sophomore goalie Kim Martin is the top goalie for the Bulldogs, who are No. 5 in the USCHO.com poll and picked to finish second to Wisconsin in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

Last season, Martin had a 1.58 goals-against average while splitting time with Riita Schaublin. This year, Boston College transfer and Cloquet native Johanna Ellison will spell Martin in net.

Injury Trend remains

The Bulldogs dealt with multiple injuries last season and the trend has continued this year.

“Last year, we had a ton of injuries,” Miller said. “It was ridiculous. We were joking that after an injury-ridden season like that ‘it’s never going to happen like that again.’ Well, it has.”

The Bulldogs started practice Sept. 24 with 14 forwards. Now they have 11.

Second-line winger Emmanuelle Blais is out three-to-four weeks with a high ankle sprain and bone bruise.

Forward Samantha Hough has suffered a setback in her recovery from knee surgery, and freshman Chantal Larocque quit the team Sept. 28.

Season Preview continued

Click the title of this entry to view a very nice .PDF season preview that includes the SCSU stuff also.

UMDBulldogs.com SCSU Series Preview

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.

TO VIEW THE FULL PDF VERSON OF THIS RELEASE CLICK HERE:
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.

USCHO D-1 Poll

USCHO.COM released their first women's rankings poll of the season today(Oct-1st):

Team (1st Votes) Record Points Last Poll
1 Wisconsin (10) 36- 1-4 100 1
2 Mercyhurst 32- 2-3 77 2
3 St. Lawrence 29- 8-3 76 5
4 New Hampshire 28- 4-5 75 4
5 Minnesota-Duluth 24-11-4 58 8
6 Harvard 23- 8-2 53 6
7 Minnesota 23-12-1 38 9
8 Boston College 24-10-2 32 7
9 Dartmouth 27- 5-2 18 3
10 Ohio State 20-13-4 15 10
Others Receiving Votes: Connecticut 3, Colgate 2, Princeton 2, Providence 1

My Photo Blog

If you haven't yet checked it out, I have another blog, which I've called, 'The View Through My Lens,'
where I put sometimes random photos up, of just about anything... including food, fishing, and other outdoors pictures. It's great to live in Minnesota and be able to enjoy being outside most of the year.

Normally I can send people copies of a picture if they want, but I just got a new computer and literally forgot to make a backup cd of my blog photos.. oops :) You can though, click on any picture to see it in a larger size and even right click and save the photo small or large :)

Jessica Koizumi on UMD Coaching Staff

I was just browsing the UMD coaching staff on UMDBulldogs.com and:

After helping captain the Bulldogs all the way to the 2007 national title game last season, Jessica Koizumi begins her first year with the UMD coaching staff.

Koizumi ended her Bulldog career with a bang, scoring two goals and notching one assist to help lift UMD over Boston College in double-overtime at the 2007 Frozen Four. Her game-winning-goal secured the Bulldog’s fourth appearnace in a national championship game, and landed her on the 2007 Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.

A native of Simi Valley, Calf., Koizumi finished her career ranked No. 7 on the UMD career scoring list with 155 points (84-71=155). The 2006-07 All-WCHA Third team selection scored a team-high six game-winning goals as a senior, finding the net 22 times and passing the puck for 18 assists. In September 2007, Koizumi was chosen by Team USA to compete in the upcoming Four Nations Cup, which will be held in Leksand, Sweden November 4 through the 22. Koizumi was previously named to the U-22 national team the past three years (2006, 2005, 2004), and won a gold medal at the roller hockey world championships with Team USA in July, 2006.

Koizumi graduated in May of 2007 from UMD with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in coaching. She was awarded the NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship and is currently working on her Masters of Education degree at UMD.

UMD Beats Mn. Whitecaps 7-2

Visit the original article by clicking the blog title.

BULLDOG WOMEN OVERTURN WHITECAPS 7-2 IN EXHIBITION TUNE-UP

Last Updated: Saturday, September 29, 2007 6:17 PM

If exhibition games are meant to get rid of some off-season rust and preview the season to come, the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team is ready for next Saturday's Western Collegiate Hockey Assocationa opener.

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. Satuday afternoon. Sophomore forward Saara Tuominen and Freshmen 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.

"We played very well," said head coach Shannon Miller after the contest. "It was really more like a 4-2 game because we got a couple of soft goals, but it was a good early showing for us."

UMD got on the board first when Tuominen found the back of the net, courtsey of Irwin and Freshman Jocelyn Larocque. The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead into the end of the first period.

That molehill of an advantage was quickly made into a mountain, with UMD scoring three goals in the second stanza. Irwin, showing why she was second in voting for the WCHA preseason Rookie of the Year, scored off an assist from the Bulldogs lone senior Karin Demeule. Tuominen struck again unassisted to make it 3-0 for UMD, and Irwin netted her second of the game off a pass from fellow U-22 Team Canada member Laura Fridfinnson and junior Sara O'Toole. The Whitecaps finally got past the Bulldogs backstopper Kim Martin when former UMD alum Jenny Potter scored, with help from from former teammate and current assistant coach Caroline Ouellette and second UMD assistant Julie Chu to make the score 4-1 after two periods of play.

Gavrilova scored her first goal of the game on an assit from Tuominen and Larocque to start the third period, while Fridfinnson pushed the score to 6-1 off of passes from Tawnii Mattilla and Demeule. Gavrilova netted her second goal of the game from Demeule's third assist of the game, ending UMD's scoring spree at seven. Chu connected on a pass from Potter late in the third, to wrap the final score up at 7-2. Boston College transfer Johanna Ellison played between the pipes for UMD in the final twenty minutes.

The Bulldogs take their show on the road next weekend when they head to St. Cloud State to officially kick-off the 2007-08 season. Game-time is slated for 7:07 p.m.

First NEWS Tribune UMD Women's Article for Season

As always, click the title to visit the article...

The article is Dated for Tuesday 9/25 so I'm sharing it now as it's on the News Tribune Website b4 they put it in print:

Puck starts here
Andy Greder Duluth News Tribune
Published Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey coach Shannon Miller often used “talented, but young” to describe her 2007-08 team at its first practice Monday.

The Bulldogs have one senior and lost 46 percent of their goal scoring with the departures of Noemie Marin, Jessica Koizumi and Michaela Lanzl.

“There is no question that we’ll miss them,” Miller said.

Yet, UMD returns four standout sophomores in forwards Saara Tuominen, Emmanuelle Blais, Elin Homlov and goalie Kim Martin from a team that went 24-11-4 and advanced to the NCAA Division I national championship game.

Miller has compiled 200 career wins and three national championships at UMD, but the 11 losses last year were second-most next to 12 defeats in 2003-04.

“We had bad stretches with five scholarship players out with injuries at once,” said Miller, in her ninth season as coach. “But we showed that it doesn’t matter and the rest of us can do it.”

Miller expects freshmen forwards Haley Irwin, Laura Fridfinnson, Iya Gavrilova and defender Joss Larocque to contribute immediately.

“Again, we’re talented, but young,” Miller said. “They are experienced at the international level, but not with us.”

Julie Chu, who as a senior at Harvard won the 2007 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the top player in Division I, joined Miller’s coaching staff this season.

“[Chu] is a natural leader and when you’re a natural leader, you’re a natural coach,” Miller said. “She has a positive perspective and that, coupled with leadership ability, you have a good role model and coach.”

Wisconsin ended UMD’s season with a 4-1 win in the championship game, and Miller said she expects the Badgers, Bulldogs and Mercyhurst, in Erie, Penn., to be the top three teams in the nation this season.

UMD will play an exhibition game against the Minnesota Whitecaps at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Blaine, Minn., before opening the regular season at St. Cloud State on Oct. 5-6.

Online Roster Profiles

UMDBulldogs.com has updated player profiles, including photos OF incoming freshmen AND Johanna Ellison. Click the blog title to go to the online roster, then click on a player's name for their profile!

Below are the new players profiles in case you'd rather not go click around:

Johanna Ellison--

BEFORE UMD:Played in 5 games for 253:29 last season as a sophomore for Boston College..racked up 62 saves and a 1.18 GAA in four wins...Saw the ice in eight games for the Eagles as a freshman, averaging almost 60 minutes a game...Played six seasons of varsity hockey at Cloquet High School...named AP Player of the Year for Minnesota, Duluth News Tribune Player of the Year and Let's Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year with a 1.28 GAA and 887 saves...was an AP First Team All-State selection three times...Pioneer Press First Team All-State selection twice...two-time All-State MGHCA selection...three-time First Team All-Area/Duluth News Tribune and garned First Team Lake Superior Conference three years running...picked as one of Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd (March 21, 2005).

PERSONAL: Born Johanna Ellison on August 23, 1986...is the daughter of David and Terri Ellison...has one sibbling...is a history major at UMD.
--

Jocelyne Larocque

BEFORE UMD: Is a 2006 graduate of College Lorette Collegiate…played hockey and basketball (2002-04) as a prep…became first female to appear in the Winnipeg High School Boy’s League in 2003-04…skated for Team Manitoba from 2003-06…completed one year of junior college at the University of Calgary…participated in the Canadian National Team Fall Festival that ran from Aug. 31-Sept. 9, 2007…is a Team Canada U-22 member and was crowned as an Air Canada Cup Champion in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

PERSONAL: Born Jocelyne Dawn Marie Larocque on May 19, 1988, in Ste. Anne, Manitoba…goes by the name Joss…is the daughter of Andy and Nancy Larocque…Has one sister, Chantal, who also plays for the UMD hockey team…is undecided on a major at UMD.
--

Iya Gavrilova

BEFORE UMD: Ranked no. 5 in goals at the 2007 IIHF World Championships in Winnipeg, Canada after netting four goals in four games and adding one assist for Team Russia...Skated the 2006-07 season with the Moscow Torandoes, tallying 32 points (19-13=32), second-best in scoring for the club...was a member of Team Russia for the 2006 Olympics in Turin...Spent four years (2002-06) with the Moscow Skif...started playing with the Krasnoyarsk Lokomotive as an 11-year-old, staying with the club four seasons (1998-2002)...played for Russia in the 2005 IIHF World Championships in Linkoping, Sweden, and previously in the 2004 IIHF World Championships in Halifax, Canada.

PERSONAL: Born Iya Viktorovna Gavrilova on September 3, 1987 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia...is the daughter of Viktor and Ludmila Gavrilova...before attending UMD, studied athletic training at a special college for Olympic athletes in Shelkovo, Russia for three years (2004-07)...is majoring in exercise science at UMD.
--

Chantal Larocque

BEFORE UMD: Graduated from College Lorette Collegiate in 2004...also played basketball as a prep (2000-01)…Team Manitoba member from 2001-04 and won the Western Shield Championship in 2002-03...completed one year of junior college at the University of Manitoba…took part in the 2007 U-22 Canada-US series in Lake Placid, NY…is a Team Canada U-22 member.

PERSONAL: Born Chantal Lynn Larocque on December 22, 1986, in Ste. Anne, Manitoba…goes by the name Chanti…is the daughter of Andy and Nancy Larocque…has one sister, Jocelyne, who also plays for the UMD hockey team…is undecided on a major at UMD.
--

Haley Irwin

BEFORE UMD: Was a member of Team Ontario, the undefeated 2003 Canada Winter Games Gold Medalists and the 2005 Canadian National U18 Champions...played for the Mississauga Aeros in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL)...was captain of the Toronto Jr Aeros team that went undefeated in regular season in 2005-06, and finished with back-to-back Ontario Provincial Gold Medals and PWHL League championships in 2005 and 2006...won a national championship and NWHL Championship with the Senior Aeros in 2005...invited by Hockey Canada to attend National Team U-22 Camps in 2005 and 2006 and the Senior Camp in 2006...has also competed with Team Ontario, wining a national championship in February 2005 in Salmon Arm, British Columbia...participated in the Canadian National Team Fall Festival that ran from Aug. 31-Sept. 9, 2007 as well as the U-22 Canada-US series in Lake Placid, NY...is a Team Canada U-22 member.

PERSONAL: Born Haley Lyn Irwin on June 6, 1988 in Thunder Bay, Ontario...is the daughter of James and Kerry Irwin...has one older sister (Kirstyn) and an older brother (Brent)...is a pre-business major at UMD.
--

Tara Gray

BEFORE UMD: Suited up for the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) champion Toronto Aeros in 2006-07, finishing the season with 20 points (6-14=20), a +37 plus/minus ratio and 44 PIM…was a June 2007 Fitness Evaluation Camp and August 2007 Final Selection Camp invitee for Team Canada’s U-22 squad...skated with the Toronto Junior Aeros (Provincial Women’s Hockey League) in 2004-05 thru 2005-06, and, while doing so, won back-to-back PWHL titles…recorded 38 points (12-26=38) and was rated as a +113 during those two Junior Aero regular season campaigns...is a 2006 graduate of Earl Haig Secondary (Toronto) where she handled the hockey team captaincy role, participated in track and field (2002), was voted team MVP of the basketball team (2003) and also played field hockey (2005).

PERSONAL: Born Tara Sharron Gray on June 7, 1988, in Toronto, Ontario…is the daughter of Donald and Jodie Gray…has one older sister (Alexa) and one younger brother (Gordon)...is majoring in business at UMD.
--

Libby Guzzo

BEFORE UMD: Graduated from William M. Kelley (Minn.) High School in 2007…rotated between the center and right wing positions for the Silver Bay Mariners prep hockey team...was a five-year starter and five-time letter winner…was an all-area selection in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07…led team in scoring twice (2004-05, 2005-06)…named the team’s best offensive player for 2006-07…also participated in volleyball and softball as a prep…selected as an all-area volleyball performer in 2006-07 and was voted the team’s Most Valuable Player…garnered all-area honors in softball during 2006 and 2007, in addition to all-state and team MVP recognition in 2006...will also suit up for the Bulldogs fastpitch team in the spring.

PERSONAL: Born Libby Danielle Guzzo on September 20, 1988, in Duluth, Minnesota…is the daughter of Mike and Mary Guzzo…has three sisters (Sheena, Kenzie and Taylor)…is undecided on a major at UMD.
--

Laura Fridfinnson

BEFORE UMD: Is a 2006 graduate of Arborg Collegiate Institute…skated for Team Manitoba from 2003-05 and handled the captaincy duties during final season with club…also played volleyball (2002), badminton (2003) and track and field (2003) as a prep…completed one year of junior college at the University of Calgary…participated for a second straight year in the Canadian National Team Fall Festival that ran from Aug. 31-Sept. 9, 2007 as well as the U-22 Canada-US series in Lake Placid, NY, where she netted a goal in each of the first two contests ...is a Team Canada U-22 member, and participated and won the Air Canada Cup in 2007.

PERSONAL: Born Laura Beth Fridfinnson on February 2, 1988, in Arborg, Manitoba…is the daughter of Brian and Heather Fridfinnson…has one older brother (Joel)…is undecided on a major at UMD.
--

All credit of course goes to UMDBulldogs.com, all I did was copy/paste.

UMD Starts Practice

UMDBulldogs.com FINALLY has a Women's Hockey update, and it confirms the 12:30 MN Whitecaps game.

The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will open 2007-08 preseason practice on this Monday (Sept. 24) at the UMD Sports and Health Center arena on the UMD campus. The media is welcome to interview coaches and players from 3:45 p.m. until 4:15 p.m. A team photo will be taken at 3:45 p.m., followed by individual ice shots. The first official practice of the season will begin sharply at 4:15 p.m.

With 15 returners lacing up, the Bulldogs are skating off a 24-11-4 2006-07 season in which they earned their fourth trip to the NCAA Frozen Four in program history. UMD played in the Frozen championship game after knocking out Boston College in double-overtime 4-3.

The Bulldogs will play their first exhibition game of the year against the Minnesota Whitecaps for a second straight season. That contest will take place September 29 at the Schwan Super Rink, in Blaine, Minn. The puck will drop at 12:30 p.m.

UMD Women Playing Minnesota Whitecaps Again

UMD and the MN Whitecaps women's professional team played last year, with UMD coming out on the victorious side at the DECC.. the following came via email from Suzanne Boley:

I've heard that UMD is to play MN Whitecaps in an exhibition game -- while its not posted on the UMD site, it is posted on the MN Whitecaps site (don't have the URL handy..) I also heard this at last Friday's UMD Women's Volleyball game -- some of the players were there, as well as the assistant coaches -- supposedly the game is at 12:30pm at the Blaine National Sports Center - Schwans Super Rink.

While I knew the Whitecaps had UMD on their schedule again (it's on the Whitecaps website/schedule) UMDBulldogs.com has yet to make any mention of the game. Until UMDBulldogs.com makes it official I'd say the game is very likely to happen, although the Whitecaps website last year had a SECOND UMD game listed that didn't happen is why I hadn't made mention earlier. The game is scheduled to take place September 29th, and considering her source is players, pretty certain the game time would be correct as well. :)

WCHA,COM UMD Season Preview Article!

As always, click the blog title to go to the page the article came from!

Plenty of Incentive for UMD Bulldogs in 2007-08

UMD to Host both WCHA Championship and NCAA Women's Frozen Four

Sept. 17, 2007

DULUTH, Minn. - With no short cuts to be found, the University of Minnesota Duluth withstood an onslaught of regular season injuries last winter to position themselves for a brilliant post-season run. The late-healing Bulldogs earned their fourth appearance in an NCAA national title game after upending Boston College 4-3 in double-overtime fashion in the NCAA semifinals. Posting an overall record of 24-11-4 one year ago, UMD will no doubt take a cue from its storied past when all eyes set on the WCHA Final Four and NCAA Frozen Four, both of which will be held on the home ice of the Bulldogs this spring.

Returning 15 letterwinners from last year's team, including two members of the 2007 WCHA All-Rookie Team (Kim Martin and Saara Tuominen), the Bulldogs will also add instant impact players with the addition of seven newcomers. Boasting what could be one of the best recruiting classes in UMD program history, expectations will again be high for the three-time NCAA national champions, expectations traditionally assumed by those who wear the jersey.

Shannon Miller, now in her ninth season behind the Bulldog bench as the only head coach UMD has ever employed, will look to build on her 200 career-wins without the leadership of six seniors and one sophomore from last year's roster. Captain Noemie Marin, assistant captains Jessica Koizumi, Jill Sales and Ashly Waggoner, as well as Suvi Vacker and Riita Schaublin set sail after leading the Bulldogs to three NCAA Tournament appearances in four years. German forward Michaela Lanzl finished her NCAA eligibility, joining Marin and Koizumi in scoring almost half (59) of UMD's 128 goals. Marin and Koizumi were the Bulldogs top offensive threats last winter (Marin netting 24 goals and 29 assists, and Koizumi adding 22 goals and 18 dishes), while Schaublin leaves UMD as it's all-time winning goaltender (65-27-8).

Left to carry the maroon and gold mantle of success will be a strong youth movement, which will highlight the Bulldogs lone senior, Karine Demeule, and of wealth of underclass experience, including four 2006 Olympians and 10 players currently members of their respective national teams.





"Every year we are fortunate to get good student-athletes that represent our institution well and put us in the running for the NCAA tournament," head coach Shannon Miller said. "However, for the second time in the short eight-year history of our program, we have what I would call an exceptional recruiting class coming in. My prediction is that this will be one of the best recruiting classes UMD has ever showcased. They are freshmen, but they are very talented and experienced freshmen that will make an impact immediately. This 2007-08 team will be one of the strongest and most exciting teams we have ever had."

Up Front: At first glance, the Bulldogs offense seems to have taken a hit with the graduation of Koizumi, Marin and 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 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.

Home of the Championships: Drawing on past conclusions, the simple fact that Duluth will host the WCHA Playoff Championships for the first time and the NCAA Frozen Four for a second showing will make the 2007-08 stakes even higher for the Bulldogs. The only other time UMD has hosted a Frozen Four (2003), the Bulldogs skated away the national champions in front of a record crowd of 5,167, with a 4-3 double-overtime thriller over Harvard (and current Bulldog assistant Julie Chu). The 2007-08 squad will inevitably draw comparisons to the 2002-03 champions (which included UMD first assistant Caroline Ouellette). Both teams exhibit multiple Olympians, a streak of international flare, experience, and grit; the ingredients the Bulldogs are counting on to bring them home to the DECC ice on March 20, 2008.

USAhockey.com Interviews Julie Chu

As always, click the blog title to go visit the website the article came from, usahockey.com

Sept. 13, 2007

By Cameron Eickmeyer
www.usahockey.com

When it comes to hockey, there isn't much Julie Chu hasn't accomplished or at least attempted.

Harvard University's all-time leader in assists and the 2007 Patty Kazmaier Award winner has an impressive college resume to go along with multiple tours with the U.S. Women's National Team. She was part of the silver medal-winning 2002 Olympic team, notching four points in five games, and looks to have a bright future as a player on Team USA.

A new challenge Chu intends to meet head on will involve heading off the ice for the first time in her hockey career. Beginning this season, Chu will serve as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Coaching helps fulfill a longtime dream for Chu and will keep her busy as she simultaneously prepares for Women's National Team events.

We sat down with Chu on a recent visit to Colorado Springs to talk about her future as a coach and player.

USA Hockey.com: What are your feelings about taking on the sport from a coach's perspective for the first time?

Chu: I'm just excited to be on the other side of things. Having both perspectives will help me grow as a player.

USAH: What from your playing career will you transfer to your coaching style?

Chu: I've gone through the whole experience of playing college hockey. It can be difficult to enjoy college life in the 'normal' experience so I can help my players adapt.

USAH: What from your playing days will you try to avoid in your coaching style?

Chu: Sometimes you have to let (the players) make mistakes...It's OK to let them make mistakes. Seeing how they react to mistakes is what counts.

USAH: How will you adapt to coaching and still competing as a Team USA member?

Chu: It will be a challenge compared to being in college and just being a student athlete. It will be a lot harder to find ice time...but I'll have the opportunity to be in the college atmosphere and with the team so I'll still get some ice time and training.

USAH: The UMD roster has quite the mix of players from all across the world, what is your outlook on that aspect of the team?

Chu: Now you've got a lot of international flavor and the cultures are melded together. I'm excited to learn and I'm going to pick their brains about life in their country.

USAH: Along those lines, some of your players will end up across the ice from you on the international stage (Such as Team Russia forward Iya Gavrilova), will that affect how you approach playing them or coaching?

Chu: When I'm with the UMD team my whole focus is on the UMD team. Hopefully we'll (Chu and opponents/players) will be able to teach each other a lot.

USAH: Moving into the coach's bench came pretty quickly for you. Was it something you were aiming toward as your college playing career wound down?

Chu: It was something I wanted to do for a while. I like interacting with players that 'get it.' Hopefully it all goes well and it's something I can do for many years.

USAH: Looking on to your still thriving National Team career, what does the U.S. Women's team need to do to succeed in the near future on the international stage?

Chu: We had a lot of turnover since the last Olympics. We definitely want to develop the younger players. I'm excited to see how the team is going to grow.

23 days until HOCKEY!

Yep, it's 23 days until the drop of the puck now!

In this post I am I am copying/pasting the roster from UMDBulldogs.com minus the players previous teams (for space allotment.)

1 Johanna Ellison G 5-8 Jr Cloquet, MN
3 Jocelyne Larocque D 5-6 FrWinnipeg, Manitoba
7 Jessica Hawkins F 5-5 Jr Orange, CA
8 Iya Gavrilova F 5-7 Fr Krasnoyarsk, Russia
9 Tawni Mattila F5-6 Jr Duluth, MN
10 Chantal Larocque F 5-4 Fr Winnipeg, Manitoba
12 Haley Irwin F 5-7 Fr Thunder Bay, ONT
13 Tara Gray D 5-10 Fr Toronto, ONT
14 Libby Guzzo F 5-7 Fr Silver Bay, MN
15 Erin Olson F 5-9Jr Elk River, MN
17 Samantha Hough F 5-7 Jr Marine on St. Croix, MN
19 Laura Fridfinnson F 5-8 Fr Arborg, Manitoba
21 Sara O'Toole F 5-5 Jr Burton, NB
22 Sarah Murray D 5-3 So Faribault, MN
23 Saara Tuominen F 5-6 So Ylojarvi, FINLAND
24 Amie Meyer G 5-8 Jr Deerwood, MN
26 Heidi Pelttari D 5-5 So Tampere, FINLAND
30 Kim Martin G 5-5 So Stockholm, SWEDEN
47 Emmanuelle Blais F 5-4 SoLasalle, QUE
48 Karine Demeule F 5-9 Sr Montreal, QUE
72 Elin Holmlov F 5-9 So Knivsta, SWEDEN
81 Myriam Trepanier D 5-8 Jr St-Michel-de-Bellechasse, QUE
88 Jaime Rasmussen D 5-8 SoGarden Grove, CA

Incidently there are 23 players ON the roster, which doesn't mean that much really just thought it was interesting with 23 days left I counted 23 players.

Save *BIG* Money From GNC!!!

Occasionally I'll share great deals with people who happen to read this blog :)

The latest great deal is a Save 10% *AND* get Free Shipping from GNC.com!


Click that banner and take a look, the sale expires October 31st so check it out, especially if you can't get to, or don't have a GNC store near you!

OK, Back to the HOCKEY news, it's 31 days from the drop of the first puck!

Johanna Ellison Transfers to UMD!

This is a huge move for UMD, landing Johanna Ellison as a Junior transfer! Johanna gives UMD the SIZE in net that they've been used to in the past, even if she is 4 inches shorter than Riitta, with the same good side to side range. I hope she brings confidence with her after sorta getting the short end of the stick at BC (bringing in Schaus was might have worked out for BC but had obvious ramifications for Johanna.)

She brings a 7-3-2 career record for her 2 years at BC. This brings up an interesting Thanksgiving weekend series with Mankato if Paige Thunder cracks the starting lineup for the 'Mad Cows.'

Emmanuelle Blais Playing U22 For Canada

Emmanuelle Blais is taking part in the Canadian U22 (Under-22 yrs old) 3 game series against Team USA's U22 at Lake Placid Thursday Friday and Sunday. I can't find a Team USA roster yet, but probably will be able to find one online Thursday if not before the first game after it.

50 Days

Continuing my countdown to the UMD season opener in St. Cloud, it's 50 days until the drop of the puck on the 07-08 hockey season!

Gopher's Women's Coach Resigns

ESPN.COM Reports:

Minnesota women's hockey coach resigns with three titles

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota women's hockey coach Laura Halldorson is leaving after guiding the Golden Gophers to three national titles in 11 years.

Assistant Brad Frost will be the interim coach next season, with a search for a permanent coach coming after the season, athletic director Joel Maturi said Friday.

"Laura put Minnesota women's hockey on the map,'' Maturi said. "She started with a blank slate and built a national championship program.''

Halldorson was hired in 1996 and was the only coach of the Gophers' women's hockey team. The school said she had been considering this move for some time because of the demands.

"This job has been extremely time consuming, and now it will be nice to have more time to spend with family and friends,'' Halldorson said.

Minnesota won titles in 2000, 2004 and 2005. She was two years into a three-year contract extension awarded after the 2005 championship.

The Gophers lost to Wisconsin 3-0 in the NCAA women's championship in 2006. They finished last season 23-12-1.

Halldorson previously coached seven years at Colby College. Her overall record is 337-142-31. After 10 seasons at Minnesota -- the Gophers didn't play in 1996 -- she was 278-67-22.

-----
Gophersports.com article WITH a Halldorson statement.

07-08 Roster Released

The 07-08 roster has been released, I'm posting it without the hometowns because of space requirements in the blog... Click the blog title to go view it with their hometowns

1 Lana Steck G 5-6 Fr
3 Jocelyne Larocque D 5-6 Fr
7 Jessica Hawkins F 5-5 Jr
9 Tawni Mattila F 5-6 Jr
10 Chantal Larocque F 5-4 Fr
12 Haley Irwin F Fr
13 Tara Gray D Fr
14 Libby Guzzo F 5-7 Fr
15 Erin Olson F 5-9 Jr
17 Samantha Hough F 5-7 Jr
19 Laura Fridfinnson F 5-8 Fr
21 Sara O'Toole F 5-5 Jr
22 Sarah Murray D 5-3 So
23 Saara Tuominen F 5-6 So
24 Amie Meyer G 5-8 Jr
26 Heidi Pelttari D 5-5 So
30 Kim Martin G 5-5 So
47 Emmanuelle Blais F 5-4 So
48 Karine Demeule F 5-9 Sr
72 Elin Holmlov F 5-9 So
81 Myriam Trepanier D 5-8 Jr
88 Jaime Rasmussen D 5-8 So

58 Days Until Season Starts

Now that we're within 2 months of the first game of the season, I figured it's not too early to start a countdown to October 5/6 opening series in St. Cloud. Go Dogs!

07-08 schedule

Click the link for the UMDBulldogs.com website.

Oct 5 St. Cloud State* St. Cloud, MN 7:07 p.m.
Oct 6 St. Cloud State* St. Cloud, MN 7:07 p.m.
Oct 13 Bemidji State * Duluth, MN 3:37 p.m.
Oct 14 Bemidji State * Duluth, MN 3:07 p.m.
Oct 20 Mercyhurst Duluth, MN 3:37 p.m.
Oct 21 Mercyhurst Duluth, MN 3:07 p.m.
Oct 26 Minnesota* Minneapolis, MN 6:07 p.m.
Oct 27 Minnesota* Minneapolis, MN 3:07 p.m.
Nov 3 North Dakota* Grand Forks, ND 2:07 p.m.
Nov 4 North Dakota* Grand Forks, ND 2:07 p.m.
Nov 17 Minnesota* Duluth, MN 3:37 p.m.
Nov 18 Minnesota* Duluth, MN 3:07 p.m.
Nov 23 MSU-Mankato* Duluth, MN 7:07 p.m.
Nov 24 MSU-Mankato* Duluth, MN 7:07 p.m.
Nov 30 Wisconsin* Madison, WI 2:07 p.m.
Dec 1 Wisconsin* Madison, WI 2:07 p.m.
Dec 8 Ohio State* Duluth, MN 3:37 p.m.
Dec 9 Ohio State* Duluth, MN 3:07 p.m.
Dec 14 St. Lawrence Canton, NY 6:00 p.m.
Dec 15 St. Lawrence Canton, NY 6:00 p.m.
Jan 11 MSU-Mankato* Mankato, MN 7:07 p.m.
Jan 12 MSU-Mankato* Mankato, MN 7:07 p.m.
Jan 18 Bemidji State* Bemidji, MN 7:07 p.m.
Jan 19 Bemidji State* Bemidji, MN 2:07 p.m.
Jan 25 North Dakota* Duluth, MN 7:07 p.m.
Jan 26 North Dakota* Duluth, MN 7:07 p.m.
Feb 1 Ohio State* Columbus, OH 6:07 p.m.
Feb 2 Ohio State* Columbus, OH 3:07 p.m.
Feb 8 Wisconsin * Duluth, MN 7:07 p.m.
Feb 9 Wisconsin* Duluth, MN 7:07 p.m.
Feb 23 St. Cloud State* Duluth, MN 3:07 p.m.
Feb 24 St. Cloud State* (Senior Day) Duluth, MN 3:07 p.m.
Feb 29 WCHA Playoffs (First Round) TBA 3:07 p.m.
Mar 1 WCHA Playoffs (First Round) TBA 3:07 p.m.
Mar 2 WCHA Playoffs (First Round) TBA 3:07 p.m.
Mar 8 WCHA Playoff Championships Duluth, MN TBA
Mar 9 WCHA Playoff Championships Duluth, MN TBA
Mar 15 NCAA Regional TBA 3:07 p.m.
Mar 20 NCAA Frozen Four Duluth, MN TBA
Mar 22 NCAA Frozen Four Duluth, MN TBA

UMD Lands JULIE CHU as Assistant Coach

Kevin Pates Duluth News Tribune
Published Thursday, June 28, 2007
Julie Chu’s playing credentials are impeccable.

Now she’s going to add coaching to her resume.

The former Harvard hockey star and two-time Olympic medalist became an assistant coach with the Minnesota Duluth women’s program this week. She begins work Aug. 27.

Chu, 25, played four years at Harvard through 2006-07 and was named the 2007 Patty Kazmaier Award winner as the top player in Division I. She replaces Joakim Flygh, who, coincidentally, accepted an assistant coach position with Harvard.

“After graduating [June 7] I was looking at options and trying to decide what to do and where to go. Luckily the job at UMD opened up,’’ Chu said by phone Wednesday. “Coaching is something I’d like to get into and UMD fit the mold of what I’m looking for right now. It has a great hockey tradition.

“I will be able to get some great coaching experience and, at the same time, I’m going to continue to train to play at the national level. My goal is to play in the 2010 Winter Olympics.’’

Caroline Ouellette moves up to the No. 1 UMD assistant under head coach Shannon Miller, while Chu is No. 2.

Chu, a center from Fairfield, Conn., had 66 points in 30 games in 2006-07 as Harvard went 23-8-2 and lost to eventual Division I champion Wisconsin 1-0 in four overtimes in the NCAA quarterfinals in Madison. She finished third in school career scoring with 88 goals and 196 assists for 284 points in 129 games, and played on U.S. Olympic teams in 2002 (silver medal) and 2006 (bronze).

“Julie will be a fantastic role model for our players,’’ said Miller, working at a hockey camp this week in Steamboat Springs, Colo. “Like Caroline [Ouellette], she’s a high-performance athlete who knows how to be successful.’’

Miller said there were approximately 12 candidates for UMD’s assistant coaching job and Chu accepted the position Monday after a three-week search process.

Chu’s off-ice duties will include mentoring and team-building with UMD’s players, and assisting strength and conditioning coach Justin May, Miller said. On ice, she’ll provide individual player feedback. She earned a degree in psychology and was named Harvard’s 2007 woman athlete of the year.

In addition to coaching, Chu says she hopes to play part-time with the Minnesota Whitecaps of the Western Women’s Hockey League, and for the U.S. in the 2007 Four Nations Cup (Nov. 7-11 in Leksand, Sweden) and the 2008 World Championships (April 4-13 in Harbin, China.) She also plans to train with Ouellette, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a candidate for the 2010 Canadian Olympic team.

Notes

* Flygh, 29, assisted with the Bulldogs for three seasons and was hired at Harvard as an assistant under coach Katey Stone. Melanie Ruzzi, formerly an assistant at Amherst (Mass.) College, also was hired as a Harvard assistant this week.

The Bulldogs were 72-26-9 during Flygh’s tenure, including a 2007 Division I second-place finish. The native of Tyringe, Sweden, played four seasons as a defenseman at New England College.

Former Harvard assistant Claudia Asano was named head women’s coach at Union College of Schenectady, N.Y., in April. Former UMD player Michelle McAteer, a Harvard assistant in 2006-07, might join Asano at Union, Miller said.

--

Keeping Updated, Subscribe to blogs

If you want to find new posts made on this blog.. click on SUBSCRIBE under any post and it will create what is called a LIVE BOOKMARK. You put your mouse over the bookmark and it shows you recent blog entry titles. That way you don't have to actually LOAD the blog, or you can go backwards a bit and check something you might have missed also!

There's people checking out this blog every day so it definitely is something I'll keep up with, the past season was a start.

DECC Funding missed *AGAIN*

from Northland Newscenter website (click title to go there):

May 22, 2007 - Posted 8:52 a.m., DULUTH - For the second straight year, there is no funding for the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center expansion.

While lawmakers did finish all their must pass–bills, the House did not pass the bonding bill because time ran out thanks to long debates on other bills.

Lawmakers rushed through bills providing billions of dollars for public schools, nursing homes and state colleges, with the goal of passing an on–time budget.

But, House members did not override the governor's veto of an increase in the gas tax.

The Republican governor reserves the right to use his veto power to slim down the budget, since he did not have final approval.

If he decides to scuttle an entire bill, it would force a special session.

In the Senate, Democrats and Republicans offered each other compliments and stood in unison to applaud the end of session.

This is getting stupid.. people should already have figured out that Pawlenty doesn't know anything about the area north of Hinckley.

07-08 SCHEDULE RELEASED!

While fishing season only starts this Saturday

The 07-08 Women's Hockey SCHEDULE is out!

The schedule features Mercyhurst the 3rd week of the season IN DULUTH! and St. Lawrence AT St. Lawrence in the middle of December. I hate to see Harvard off the schedule but having Mercyhurst AND St. Lawrence on it is great for UMD hockey.

They'll get to see early how they look, then in December they'll know where they're at going into Winter Break.

The Gopher series are close together which is weird. The Ridder Arena series is October 26/27 while the DECC series is only 3 weeks later November 17th/18th.

The upcoming season will be a little different in that.. there are a *LOT* more Saturday doubleheaders than I can remember in the past. Just glimpsing at a copy of the men's schedule I have... I believe there are 5 Saturday doubleheaders this season.

Once again, by the way, the women's WCHA tourney starts the Feb 29th and if UMD has a home seed will probably end up at Mars again, the Men have North Dakota at home those nights. It should be the only series that will end up outside of the DECC this year.

You can go view the complete schedule by clicking on the blog title. I'm sure I'll post it on this blog in September when everyone's hockey blood is beginning to stir!

WOMEN'S HOCKEY INKS FOUR MORE RECRUITS FOR 2007-08 SEASON

UMDBulldogs.com:

University Minnesota Duluth head women’s hockey coach Shannon Miller announced today that four more student-athletes have signed letters of intent to play at UMD. Forwards Lara Fridfinnson (Arborg, Manitoba), Chantal Larocque (St. Anne, Manitoba), defenseman Jocelyne Larocque (St. Anne, Manitoba), and goalie Lana Steck (Winnipeg, Manitoba) will join the Bulldogs for the 2007-08 season. These four players join an incoming class of seven players total, three of which were inked last November.

Coach Miller is “extremely excited to add these four outstanding student-athletes" to the three previous signees: forwards Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, Ontario), Marie-Andreé Leclerc-Auger (Sherbrooke, Quebec), and defenseman Tara Gray (Toronto, Ontario).

"This class will add to our existing strong nucleus and they will have an immediate impact at UMD," Miller said. "We believe they will go down as one of our best recruiting classes ever.”

Forward Laura Fridfinnson comes from the powerhouse program Calgary Oval Extreme and Canada’s U-22 National Team. She will have an immediate impact due to her speed, vision and experience.

“Laura moved from Winnipeg to Calgary to train with the Olympic Oval Extreme high performance program," said Miller of Fridfinnson. "There, she gained playing and practice experience by competing with and against some of the best players in the world. Laura is a very smooth, skilled forward and will immediately bring offensive results.”

Forward Chantal Larocque also comes to UMD via the Calgary Oval Extreme with her younger sister, Jocelyne.

“Chantal is a tough, fast, no nonsense forward joining us from the Olympic Oval program in Calgary, Alberta,” Miller said. “Chantal’s competitive nature and fiery playing style stirs things up on the ice and makes good things happen. She is a player who knows how to compete and get things done.”

Jocelyne Larocque joins her sister, Chantal, from the Calgary Oval Extreme program and is member of the Canadian U-22 National Team.

“Jocelyn’s high level of experience, ability to skate, and ability to handle the puck will immediately make her one of our team’s top defensemen," Miller said of Larocque.

The Larocque siblings are the first-ever sister tandem to suit up for the Bulldogs.

Goalie Lana Steck rounds out the 2007 recruiting class. She, along with present Bulldog players Kim Martin and Amie Meyer, will make up the UMD goaltending unit.

“Lana Steck is believed to be a great ‘up and coming’ net minder. She recently backstopped Team Manitoba to a second place finish at the highly competitive Canada Winter Games,” Miller said.

*All signings are contingent upon admission to the University and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Clearinghouse

RIP Herb Carneal

Not a UMD Women's hockey note, but a lot of hockey fans are Twins fans also.

Twins broadcast legend Carneal dies
Club dedicates upcoming season to Hall of Fame radio voice
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- One of the signature voices in Twins baseball history is now gone.

Longtime Twins radio broadcaster Herb Carneal passed away on Sunday morning at his home in Minnetonka due to congestive heart failure. Carneal was 83.

"This is a sad day for the Minnesota Twins organization and millions of baseball fans across the Upper Midwest," Twins President Dave St. Peter said. "Herb Carneal's voice was the signature element of Twins baseball for multiple generations of fans. Clearly, he was one of the most beloved figures in Minnesota sports history."

Carneal joined the Twins' broadcast booth in 1962 after spending the first five years of his career as part of the play-by-play team for the Baltimore Orioles. He was behind the microphone for all but the first of the Twins' 46 seasons in Minnesota.

Carneal had spent six weeks in the hospital this past winter battling a variety of ailments. He had been scheduled to broadcast some home games this season, although it was announced last week that he would miss Opening Day.

Upon receiving word of Carneal's death, the Twins announced that they will dedicate the 2007 season in memory of the Hall of Fame broadcaster. Carneal received the Ford C. Frick Award in 1996, the highest honor for a baseball broadcaster. He was also inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2001.

Carneal is survived by his daughter Terri and grandson Matthew. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced when they become available.

Click the title to go to the story page

UMD drops National Championship game

Below is the News Tribune article from Wisconsin's 4-1 victory over UMD:

'Dogs derailed
Christa Lawler Duluth News Tribune
Published Monday, March 19, 2007

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — The Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team took an unusual route to the NCAA Frozen Four championship.

The Bulldogs had 10 losses, overcame nine injuries and finished with a U.S. College Hockey Online poll ranking of No. 8. But once in the playoffs, UMD rode its underdog role to the finals and received the matchup it would have received if the NCAA had asked the Bulldogs to name their opponent — Wisconsin.

In the end, the top-seeded, defending national champions proved that “dominant” was more than just a superfluous billing. The Badgers used a three-goal second period to beat the Bulldogs 4-1 in Sunday’s final at Herb Brooks Arena.

UMD coach Shannon Miller said she could feel — on the bench and in the locker room — that the team was missing a spark that had carried the Bulldogs to this point.

“It was obvious we had half a tank,” Miller said. “We didn’t go out with a full tank of gas. They did what we’ve asked for the last couple months, dig deeper and deeper and get it done. … They didn’t have that spark. … There was just something a little off, something not there.”

UMD (24-11-4) came into the game with a mental advantage that no other team in the country could claim — the Bulldogs earned a 2-0 win over the Badgers (36-1-4) earlier this season, the only hiccup in the Badgers’ near-perfect finish. UMD pushed both games of its most-recent series with Wisconsin to overtime — tying 1-1 and losing 2-1.

“I remember being frustrated playing against them,” Wisconsin senior Sara Bauer said. “They play us tough all the time.”

UMD can take one significant stat from the matchup. The Bulldogs found a way to score on Wisconsin sophomore goaltender Jessie Vetter, who hadn’t allowed a goal in NCAA play since last year’s quarterfinal win overMercyhurst. She closed the season with 10 shutouts and didn’t give up a goal since mid-February before UMD broke through in the second period with its only goal — ending a postseason shutout streak of 448 minutes, 32 seconds.

The Badgers outscored opponents 9-1 in their three NCAA tournament games.

Ultimately, a 1-0 quadruple-overtime win over Harvard in the quarterfinals proved to be the closest the Badgers came to being upended.

The Bulldogs opted for freshman goalie Kim Martin in the final, after playing senior Riitta Schaublin in their 3-2 overtime win over Mercyhurst last week in Erie, Pa., and Friday’s 4-3 double-overtime victory over Boston College in the semifinals.

Martin had 20 saves in Sunday’s loss.

Miller said the freshman has played sparingly this season because of a knee injury that has flared recently. Saturday the Swedish Olympian seemed ready to go, so they gave her the start.

“She made some great saves for us [Sunday],” Miller said.

Wisconsin’s power play had struggled coming into the playoffs, going 3-for-26 through the WCHA tournament and NCAA quarterfinals and semifinals. The Badgers improved on the stat to take a 1-0 lead in the first period.

Junior winger Jinelle Zaugg scored at 9:00 when she picked up the puck off a faceoff in the Bulldogs’ zone, skated in alone on Martin and laid the puck low to the goalies’ left side.

Erika Lawler worked through UMD’s defense and put the puck between Martin’s skates from the left faceoff circle for a 2-0 lead at 7:24 of the second.

Meaghan Mikkelson carried the puck into the Bulldogs’ zone, dished off to Sara Bauer, who put the puck high over Martin’s left shoulder and Wisconsin took a 3-0 lead at 11:56.

The Bulldogs finally broke Vetter’s playoff shutout streak with a power-play goal at 14:23. Noemie Marin wound up from the point, and freshman forward Emmanuelle Blais tipped it past Vetter. It was the first power-play goal the Badgers had given up in eight games.

Wisconsin responded off the following faceoff, going ahead 4-1 just 10 seconds later. Lawler got the shot off and Martin left the rebound near the crease. Jasmine Giles skated in and put it past her at 14:33.

The response was crucial, Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson said.

“That’s a sign of a team that responds to a little bit of adversity,” he said. “You tend to be a little comfortable. The fourth goal was one of the key components of the game because of the way they responded so quickly. Then instead of 3-1, it was 4-1.”

Both teams were held scoreless and to four shots on goal in a defensively-heavy third period.

“In the championship game, always try to find energy,” Marin said. “We have a lot of character and heart. There is so much you can do. We tried the best we can but we fell short.”

This was UMD’s first loss in the NCAA women’s hockey championship.

NOTES

A WCHA team has won the title since the NCAA sanctioned the event in 2000-01. UMD won the first three championships from 2001-03. Minnesota followed with back-to-back wins before Wisconsin took its first title in 2006.

* This is the third consecutive year that the Bulldogs’ season has ended with a loss on March 18.

* This is the second consecutive year that the Frozen Four has been an All-WCHA final. The Badgers topped Minnesota 3-0 at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis in 2006.

* UMD senior forward Jessica Koizumi was named to the all-tournament team along with Wisconsin’s forwards Bauer, who was named most outstanding player of the tournament, and Zaugg, defensemen Mikkelson and Bobbi-Jo Slussar and goaltender Vetter.

Video highlights UMD win over BC

For anyone who might be reading this from another country, or those who just didn't get to see the game (I didn't get to see it, had to listen to the radio), OR if you just want to relive Jessica Koizumi's game winner, the CSTV.com video highlights package is at http://www.cstv.com/cgi-bin/csvideo.cgi?schools=&sport=ICE+HOCKEY+-+WOMEN%27S

USCHO/CSTV UMD/BC Story

This is much better than anything UMDBulldogs.com really can do:

Koizumi Ends Boston College's Night
Minnesota-Duluth senior nets game-winning goal at 14:19 in double OT

March 17, 2007

By David De Remer

Special to CSTV.com from USCHO.com

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - Back in 2003, Boston College was off the women's college hockey radar. The Eagles were at the bottom of Hockey East. Their coach, Tom Babson, was better known for his acting career than his hockey career.

Meanwhile, Minnesota-Duluth was reloading with its first recruiting class since graduating the program's inaugural class that won three NCAA titles.

Both programs have done a lot of growing up since then, and the result was what was witnessed in Lake Placid Friday night--one of the most thrilling Frozen Four games ever played.

Senior Jessica Koizumi ended the 4-3 UMD win at 14:19 of double overtime, when she and her linemates cleanly executed a well-practiced play that gave her a clear lane to the net.

It was Koizumi's second straight overtime game-winner for UMD. She buried the puck as a BC defender backed into goalie Molly Schaus, who finished with 47 saves on 51 shots--her third multiple overtime game of the season.

The game was a microcosm of the career had by UMD's senior class. Three times on Friday night BC went ahead with a one-goal lead, and three times UMD came back to tie the game, the last coming with 4:20 left after BC had held the 3-2 lead for more than a period.

The UMD seniors had to overcome failure in their first seasons, just missing the Frozen Four each time. The fourth time has finally been the charm.

The word "comeback" has been deeply engrained in UMD's players this season. The Bulldogs were 1-7-1 in a nine-game stretch prior to winter break.

Shortly thereafter, Koizumi tore her MCL and her college career seemed to be over. But her teammates helped her believe she could come back, and she did.

"I was crying when I found out the news, and I didn't expect to come back, so this overwhelming," Koizumi said. "I'm the lucky one scoring the goal, but our whole team is playing amazing.'

The UMD senior class is full of redemption stories. Goalie Riitta Schaublin had been an All-American for two straight seasons, but she had been on the short end of UMD's postseason attempts, and this season she was losing marquee playing time to freshman Kim Martin, the star Swedish goalie who upset the U.S. in the 2006 Olympics.

But Schaublin worked through that challenge, and UMD coach Shannon Miller went with her in the NCAA Tournament one more time. So far this tournament, Schaublin has been perfect on 21 shots faced in overtime.

Another tale is Noemie Marin. Shannon Miller calls her the heart and soul of her team. In the final minute of overtime, UMD fans nearly had heart attacks when Marin slammed into the wall after faltering on an odd-man rush, and she could not stand on her right leg. The initial read from the doctor was that she was unfit to play, but Marin protested, and she was cleared after another look.

"She's the toughest kid on our team," Miller said. "Obviously, she could play and she finished the game strong."

For BC, the game was the culmination of a long period of growth in four seasons under Tom Mutch, the former assistant of the 1998 U.S. Olympic Team (Miller, on the opposite bench, was head coach of Team Canada at the time). The fruits of his recruits paid off one-by-one throughout the evening.

Juniors Deb Spillane, the star forward of his first class, scored first. Meghan Fardelmann and Becky Zavisza, his top-scoring sophomores, struck with the second and third goals, respectively. Then freshman goalie Molly Schaus kept the Eagles in the game from then on.

Schaus may be a freshman, but she has more experience in some sense than any goalie in the history of the game. No women's hockey goalie has ever played multi-overtime games three times in one season, but Schaus did it against Harvard in the Beanpot semifinals (triple overtime), Dartmouth in last week's NCAA quarterfinal (double overtime), and then this game against UMD. Losing these games was an unfamiliar feeling for her.

"I asked my coach, `What does it feel like to end a game in regulation,'" Schaus said. "It had been a while."

Schaus was just one of many players on BC who has grown up a lot this season. With only a handful of seniors on the roster, and Mutch still yet to bring in his fourth recruiting class, there's still plenty of room for his program to grow.

"Some of the kids will remember this game for a lifetime," Mutch said. "They're taking memories out of here that they will tell their kids. When they've graduated, and they're having tough days, they'll remember these moments handling pressure. That's what college athletics is all about. They're growing up right before our eyes."

The sport of women's hockey is growing up right before our eyes, too.

Five years ago, the NCAA women's tournament was still four teams. It would have been a pipe dream to say that in 2007, there would be an eight-team tournament with enough parity for four of the first six games to go into overtime and three of them into multiple overtimes--a grand total of 137 minutes of extra time. The fans of women's hockey could not be more excited to see this story of growth unfold.

Click the blog title to go to CSTV.com

UMD to National Championship game

Jessica Koizumi JUST won the game in double overtime.. UMD will play Sunday in the National Championship game.... story from umdbulldogs.com will be posted here when they post it there

News Tribune Final Four story

Christa Lawler Duluth News Tribune
Published Friday, March 16, 2007
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — It couldn’t have been scripted better.

The Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team goes into today’s NCAA Frozen Four semifinal against Boston College on the brink of a milestone. Eighth-year coach Shannon Miller, who started the program, is sitting at 199 career wins.

It’s not necessarily a tally that Miller etches into her office wall. The people around her are more cognizant of the celebratory numbers.

“I don’t follow that,” Miller said recently. “Someone told me I had 199. That’s fun. It would certainly be fun to get 200. Not because its 200, but because it would put us in the championship game.”

Miller has had a quick ascent up the wins list, stemming from a program that was immediately successful and immediately controversial. As soon as she was hired, Miller began recruiting European players, bringing in big names in Swedish and Finnish women’s hockey. This was unprecedented, as most other Division I teams limited their recruiting to North America.

“When they hired me they said, ‘Build a successful program,’ ” the former Canadian women’s national team coach said. “The first thing I did is figure out who my contacts are. Europe was part of the picture, like the U.S. and Canada. … When I moved to the U.S., no one said, ‘Okay, only recruit Americans.’ They said, ‘Hey, you’re from Canada. Look around and see what’s worked and build a successful program.’ ”

UMD (23-10-4) faces Boston College (24-9-2) at 7 p.m. today. The winner advances to the finals at noon Sunday. Bulldogs senior goalie Riitta Schaublin is expected to start. St. Lawrence (29-7-3) faces defending champion Wisconsin (34-1-4) in the other semifinal.

And aside from Jenny Potter, an Eagan, Minn., native, and Caroline Ouellette, of Canada, it is the European recruits who have led the team.

First came players like Maria Rooth and Erika Holst — Swedish national team players who, after graduation, helped their team upset the U.S. national team in the semifinals of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Other early European Olympians included Hanne Sikio, Nora Tallus and goaltender Tuula Puputti of Finland.

In eight seasons, UMD has had 15 European players from Sweden, Finland, Germany, Russia and Switzerland. There are seven on the current roster, including freshman goalie Kim Martin, who also was key in helping Sweden win the silver medal.

For Saara Tuominen, a freshman from Finland, the idea of playing college hockey in the United States was synonymous with playing at UMD.

The Olympian said this became an option when she was about 12 years old. Later she discussed her options with Sikio, a 2003 graduate, and by the time she viewed a video tape of the Bulldogs’ Frozen Four win in 2003, she was sold.

“I was interested right away,” Tuominen said. “UMD was the first college I knew of because of the Finnish girls who came here.”

Elin Holmlov, a freshman from Sweden, said she followed Sikio’s and Rooth’s examples and hopes to have similar success.

“I would like to be as good as them some day,” she said.

It was one of Miller’s top-five favorite wins that got the Bulldogs to today’s game. The underdog Bulldogs beat second-seeded Mercyhurst 3-2 in overtime last Friday in the regional quarterfinal. Senior forward Jessica Koizumi had two goals — including the game-tying and game-winning goals.

“[The seniors] have been chipping away and missed it [the Frozen Four] by inches,” Miller said of the recruiting class that began playing after three consecutive national titles. “I had tears after the game. It was for them.”

UMDBulldogs.com National Championship Weekend Preview

Already the owners of three NCAA Division I national championship trophies, the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team is sitting on the doorstep of its fourth national title as the Bulldogs will face Boston College this Friday (March 16) in an NCAA Frozen Four semifinal matchup in Lake Placid, N.Y. The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m. (CST) with the winner advancing to the Sunday's title game (12 p.m.) against either defending champion University of Wisconsin or St. Lawrence University.

The Bulldogs (23-10-4) enter the Frozen Four as one of the most storied Division I women’s hockey programs in the country. UMD skated off with inaugural NCAA I title in 2001 and preceded to capture the next two national championships, becoming, in the process, the first -- and only -- team to win three consecutive NCAA women's hockey titles.

During the 1999-2000 season, the first year of the intercollegiate program at UMD, the Bulldogs advanced to the American Women’s College Hockey Alliance Finals, finishing fourth. The championship that season was run by USA Hockey, which brought in only the four top teams in the country.

The following year, the NCAA took control of the championship tournament for Division I women’s hockey, naming the new event the Frozen Four.

The Bulldogs then rattled off three straight national titles before enduring what can only be described as a "down" year in 2003-04. UMD ended that campaign with a 20-12-2 record and ranked No. 5 nationally, while missing out on the Frozen Four for the first time.

Then, during the 2004-05 season, the NCAA expanded the playoff field to eight teams that would compete now first compete in regional play. UMD advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals and hosted St. Lawrence University, which ended up defeating the Bulldogs in overtime.

UMD's season came to a similar end one year ago ago as St. Lawrence once again defeated the Bulldogs in NCAA regional play to advance to the Frozen Four.

The Bulldogs immediately made a name for themselves after their three-year NCAA title run, but have fallen short of their ultimate goal -- namely a return to the Frozen Four -- in recent years. Eighth-year head coach Shannon Miller and her Bulldogs are understandably anxious and eager to once again be back in national championship spotlight this weekend.

“This team has so much heart, spirit and such a great worth ethic,” said Miller. “We have a tremendous amount of fun together and they [team] deserve all the good that is coming to them.”

UMD punched its ticket to the Frozen Four after knocking off No. 2-ranked Mercyhurst College 3-2 in overtime in its NCAA Regional game in Erie, Pa. last Friday night, snapping the Lakers' 24-game unbeaten streak.

Umdbulldogs.com game story

BULLDOGS SNEAK PAST MERCYHURST 3-2 IN OVERTIME TO ADVANCE TO THE NCAA FROZEN FOUR

Last Updated: Friday, March 9, 2007 9:25 PM


Thanks to an overtime goal by senior forward Jessica Koizumi, the University of Minnesota Duluth will be making its fourth trip to the NCAA Frozen Four as the Bulldogs dispatched No. 2 Mercyhurst College 3-2 in overtime in Erie, PA, on Friday night in an NCAA Quarterfinal tilt.

Minnesota Duluth (23-10-4) put an end to its NCAA Quarterfinal woes with the win over Mercyhurst as UMD has failed to advance from NCAA Quarterfinal action the previous two seasons.

With the victory, UMD snapped Mercyhurst’s 24-game unbeaten streak and sent the Lakers to their third-straight NCAA Quarterfinal overtime loss.

Late in the first period, Stephanie Jones put the Lakers on top with her 16th goal of the season on a power-play at the 18:32 mark with Melissa Dianoski and Angelica Lorsell assisting on the play.

Mercyhurst would strike again early in the second when freshman Meghan Agosta scored her team leading 38th goal of the season unassisted at the 2:21 mark.

Down by 2-0 goals and sensing an urgency to score if they had any hope of making a comeback, sophomore forward Michaela Lanzl rocketed the puck past the Lakers’ netminder at 15:53 in the second to bring UMD within one.

Senior forward Jessica Koizumi has always dreamed of an NCAA Frozen Four appearance and she was not about to let her career come to an end just yet as she notched her 19th goal of the season at 18:16 in the second to even things up at 2-2.

As the overtime session began, the Bulldogs faced their own demons of previous NCAA Quarterfinal let downs but this time the outcome was going to be much different as Koizumi fired a power-play shot into Mercyhurst’s net to cap of an amazing comeback for the No. 7-seeded Bulldogs to send her squad to the NCAA Frozen Four.

Despite giving up two goals, senior goaltender Riitta Schaublin had what was without a doubt one of the best performances of her career, as she came up with 44 saves to backstop the Bulldogs to victory. Schaublin even turned away the relentless pressure the Lakers’ put upon her in the overtime session, making nine saves. She is now 12-4-2 on the season.

Laura Hoiser, who entered the game with a 27-1-2 record, made 29 saves in the contest for the Lakers. Mercyhurst ends the season with a 32-2-3 record, with its only other loss coming back in November against St. Lawrence.

After all the celebrating is over, Minnesota Duluth will regroup and focus its attention on the 2007 NCAA Frozen Four which will take place from March 16-18 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, NY. The Bulldogs won three-straight NCAA Championships from 2001-2003.

UMD Wins in OVERTIME!

Jessica Koizumi tied the game in the 3rd period, and scores to WIN the quarterfinal game in Overtime, on the powerplay. I'll post the Umdbulldogs.com game story soon as they get it online (probably Saturday morning.)

LIVE GAME VIDEO FEED LINKS

For those who don't know where to find it, the VIDEO feed link is:
http://www.broadcastmonsters.com/USC...scho030907.asx

The audio link:
http://www.broadcastmonsters.com/USCHO/uscho030907.asx

These are also posted on the uscho women's front page:
http://www.uscho.com/women/

UMD/Mercyhurst game VIDEO available on USCHO.Com

USCHO.COM has announced video coverage of the UMD women's playoff game at Mercyhurst! Click the BLOG TITLE to keep up to date on this news and find the link when they give it.

UMD WOMEN MAKE TOURNAMENT!

The Dogs made the NCAA tournament, and will face Mercyhurst in the first round, 1 game takes all quarterfinal. This game will be Friday at 6 pm Central time, USCHO's David De Remer posted.

UMD loses 3-2 in WCHA tournament

Following is the UMDBulldogs.com recap:

Facing the possibility of its season coming to an end, the University of Minnesota Duluth rallied to even the score at 2-2 in the third period of its Western Collegiate Hockey Association semifinal against the University of Minnesota, but it just wasn’t to be for the Bulldogs as the Gophers struck first in the extra session, skating away with a 3-2 win.

Late in the first period, Andrea Nichols put Minnesota on top when she scored a power-play goal at 19:20 in the period. Anya Miller and Dagney Willey assisted on the play.

At 4:12 in the second, freshman forward Saara Tuominen would make it a 1-1 contest with the help of freshman forward Emmanuelle Blais and senior defenseman Jill Sales.

Melanie Gagnon would put the Gophers back on top at 12:39 in the second period with an unassisted goal.

Down 2-1 early in the third period, senior forward Jessica Koizumi wasn’t about to let her collegiate career come to an end just yet, as she fired her 18th goal of the season into the net at the 4:50 mark. Tuominen and Sales earned an assist on the goal.

Just over a minute into the overtime session, Minnesota’s Gigi Marvin scored a power-play goal to end the game and send her team to Sunday’s WCHA Championship to face the University of Wisconsin.

Freshman goalie Kim Martin made 16 saves in the contest for the Bulldogs while her counterpart, Kim Hanlon, backstopped Minnesota to the win with 21 saves.

With the loss, the Bulldogs are now 22-10-4 on the season and would have assured themselves an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament by winning tomorrow’s WCHA championship but now must wait until Sunday night to find out if they will make it in as an at-large selection.

Bulldog All-WCHA Team Members, season awards!

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced it’s women’s all-conference team today (March 1) and the University of Minnesota Duluth had five players earn WCHA accolades. The Bulldogs also had nine players named to the All-WCHA Academic Team for the 2006-07 season.

Senior captain Noemie Marin, a forward from Acton-Vale, Que., was named to the All-WCHA First Team for the first time in her career. She finished the regular season tied for 11th in the NCAA with 42 points in 32 games. She tied for 16th in the country with 21 goals, tied for 23rd with 21 assists and tied for 16th overall with 1.31 points per game. Marin was second in the WCHA with 41 points in 28 league games. She led the league with 21 goals and tied for fifth with 20 assists.

Kim Martin, a freshman goalie from Stockholm, Sweden, earned All-WCHA Second Team honors in her rookie season. Martin finished the regular season second in league play with a 1.10 goals against average and first in save percentage with a .960. She went 10-2-2 during regular season conference action.

Senior forward Jessica Koizumi earned her first All-WCHA Third Team selection, having previously been named to the All-WCHA Rookie Team her freshman campaign in 2003-04. Koizumi finished sixth in the WCHA in point scoring with 32 points in 25 games. Despite missing a few games due to injury she still managed to score 15 goals and 17 assists in league play this season.

Senior goaltender Riitta Schaublin has been named the WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. Schaublin, from Basel, Switzerland, ranked among the league goaltending leaders. She finished the regular season ranked third with a .938 save percentage and was fourth with a 1.59 goals against average. Schaublin was a Patty Kazmaier finalist last season and completed her undergraduate degree in mathematics with a 3.94 grade point average. This season marks her third straight-selection to the All-WCHA Academic Team.

She is pursuing her degree in the Minnesota Duluth Math Department's master's program during her final year of athletic eligibility and had a 4.0 GPA last semester while serving as a teacher’s assistant for calculus II class. She plans to finish graduate school in December, 2007 and eventually obtain a PhD in economics. Off the ice, she participates in numerous community outreach programs and also shares her talents as a coach to youth goalies in the Duluth area.

UMD landed two players on the All-WCHA Rookie Team this season, as forward Saara Tuominen and goaltender Kim Martin earned rookie honors. Tuominen, a Ylojarvi, Finland, native, scored 31 points in regular season league play to finish tied for seventh. She had eight goals and 23 assists in conference games. Her offensive talent placed her second in freshman scoring in league action.

The conference head coaches, assistant coaches and sports information directors vote for the WCHA award winners. The WCHA Defensive Player of the Year Award was chosen solely by the head coaches, while the WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year was selected by the institutional faculty representatives.

The Bulldogs also landed nine players on the 2006-07 All-WCHA Academic Team. The names of those players are listed after the first team, second team, and third team award recipients.

2007 Women’s Awards

All-WCHA First Team
Forwards: Sara Bauer, Wisconsin
Noemie Marin, Minnesota Duluth
Gigi Marvin, Minnesota

Defense: Meaghan Mikkelson, Wisconsin
Tessa Bonhomme, Ohio State

Goaltender: Jessie Vetter, Wisconsin

All-WCHA Second Team
Forwards: Meghan Duggan, Wisconsin
Erin Keys, Ohio State
Jinelle Zaugg, Wisconsin

Defense: Amber Bowman, Ohio State
Bobbi-Jo Slusar, Wisconsin

Goaltender: Kim Martin, Minnesota Duluth

All-WCHA Third Team
Forwards: Jessica Koizumi, Minnesota Duluth
Erika Lawler, Wisconsin
Bobbi Ross, Minnesota

Defense: Melanie Gagnon, Minnesota
Lisa Chesson, Ohio State

Goaltender: Christine Dufour, Wisconsin

All-WCHA Rookie Team
Forwards: Meghan Duggan, Wisconsin
Holly Roberts, St. Cloud State
Saara Tuominen, Minnesota Duluth

Defense: Holly Snyder, Minnesota State
Michelle Maunu, Minnesota and Ashley Lynch, North Dakota (tie)

Goaltender: Kim Martin, Minnesota Duluth

Player of the Year
Sara Bauer, Wisconsin

Rookie of the Year
Meghan Duggan, Wisconsin

Coach of the Year
Mark Johnson, Wisconsin

Defensive Player of the Year
Meghan Mikkelson, Wisconsin

Outstanding Student Athlete of the Year
Riitta Schaublin, Minnesota Duluth

Goaltending Champion
Christine Dufour, Wisconsin

Scoring Champion
Sara Bauer, Wisconsin

2006-07 All-WCHA Academic Team

UMD: Karine Demeule, Jr.; Kirsti Hakala, So.; Jessica Koizumi, Sr.; Michaela Lanzl, So.; Noemie Marin, Sr.; Tawni Mattila, So.; Riitta Schaublin, Sr.; Myriam Trepanier, So.; Suvi Vacker, Sr.

Bemidji State: Haley Balcom, Jr.; Emily Brookshaw, Jr.; Brooke Collins, So.; Tara Hiscock, Jr.; Lisa Kissick, So.; Jaime LeDuc, Jr.; Jessica Pullar, Jr.; Monica Rawlings, So.; Kate Robinson, Sr.; Helena Tageson, Sr.; Nina Zieganhals, Sr.

Minnesota: Lindsay Block, So.; Gigi Marvin, So.; Erica McKenzie, Jr.; Anya Miller, Jr.; Andrea Nichols, Sr.; Bobbi Ross, Jr.; Maggie Souba, Sr.; Dagney Willey, So.

Minnesota State: Kristina Bunker, Jr.; Jodi Helminen, Jr.; Jenna Hewitt, So.; Megan Jedinak, Sr.; Britni Kehler, Jr.; Lindsay Macy, Jr.; Samantha Miller, Sr.; Richelle St. Croix, Sr.; Amanda Stohr, Jr.; Andreanne Thibault, Jr.; Shera Vis, Sr.; Ashley Young, So.

North Dakota: Aynsley Allen, Sr.; Christey Allen, Jr.; Christine Carlson, So.; Alexia Gagnon-LaPlante, Sr.; Casie Hanson, So.; Alyssa Johnson, So.; Randi Motsko, So.

Ohio State: Olivia Antognoli, So.; Liana Bonanno, So.; Amber Bowman, Sr.; Jody Heywood, Jr.; Megan Hostasek, So.; Erin Keys, Jr.; Whitney Miller, So.; Mallory Peckels, Jr.; Lacey Schultz, Sr.; Krysta Skarda, Sr.; Erika Vanderveer, Sr.

St. Cloud State: Bobbie Anderson, Jr.; Hailey Clarkson, Sr.; Jacqueline Jensen, Sr.; Abby Krause, Jr.; Laura Fast, Jr.; Tricia Fast, Sr.; Marie-Michel Lemieux, Jr.; Denelle Maguet, Sr.; Michelle Moen, So.; Sammy Nixon, So.; Brita Schroeder, So.; Lauri St. Jacques, Sr.

Wisconsin: Sara Bauer, Sr.; Rachel Bible, So.; Angie Keseley, So.; Heidi Kletzien, Sr.; Meaghan Mikkelson, Sr.; Phoebe Monteleone, Sr.; Jessie Vetter, So.

Saturday Gopher preview Umdbulldogs.com

The University of Minnesota Duluth will travel to Minneapolis, Minn., this weekend to take part in the WCHA Championship tournament. The Bulldogs will face the University of Minnesota at Ridder Arena on Saturday (March 3) at 4:07 p.m. with the winner advancing to Sunday's championship game. UMD is the home team while the Gophers will be the visiting squad.

THE RECORDS: Minnesota Duluth takes a 22-9-4 record into its WCHA semifinal game against Minnesota on Saturday. The Bulldogs won two games of the best-of-three first round playoff series against St. Cloud State University to get to this point. UMD defeated SCSU 4-3 last Friday before falling to the Huskies 3-1 on Saturday and bouncing back for a commanding 5-1 win on Sunday to advance to the next round. The Gophers advanced to the semifinals with a 5-1 and 4-1 win over Bemidji State University in its first round match up last weekend.

BULLDOG NOTES: Senior captain Noemie Marin is tied for No. 1 in the WCHA in point scoring for this season's league playoffs. She has two goals and four assists for six points in three games. Marin has a team leading 48 points (23 goals and 25 assists) in 35 contests this season. Freshman forward Saara Tuominen is second on the team with 35 points, having scored 11 goals and 24 assists, the team lead for assists. Freshman forward Emmanuelle Blais has four points in the WCHA playoffs. The Bulldogs have six players with 22 or more points this season, and six players with 13 or more goals. Freshman goaltender Kim Martin has a 1.38 goals against average and .950 saves percentage heading into this Saturday's game. She is 11-5-2 on the season and earned her first playoff win in a Bulldog uniform in the all important game three of last weekend's series against St. Cloud State. Senior goalie Riitta Schaublin is 11-4-2 on the season with a 1.75 gaa. In four games against the Gophers this season, Marin has a total of three goals and five assists for eight points while freshman Elin Holmlov has two goals and four assists for six points in four games. Emmanuelle Blais has a team-leading four goals against Minnesota this season.

GOPHER NOTES: Sophomore forward Gigi Marvin enters Saturday's playoff game against UMD as the Gophers' leading point scorer with 37 points. She has 17 goals and 20 assists in 33 contests. Junior forward Bobbi Ross has 33 points on the season having scored 18 goals (team-leading) and 15 assists in 32 games. Sophomore defenseman Melanie Gagnon has a team-leading 22 assists while the Gophers have eight players in double-digits for assists. Minnesota also has nine players with 21 or more points on the season. In this season's WCHA playoffs, Ross is tied for No. 1 in the league in points scored with six in two games. She has three goals and three assists. Brittany Francis is No. 3 in the conference with five playoff points.

SERIES: Minnesota Duluth is 15-18-4 in the all-time series against the Gophers, representing the only series in which the Bulldogs trail in. Both teams have met four times this year with the Gophers sweeping the first series and UMD sweeping the second series.

PATTY KAZMAIER AWARD TOP 10 FINALIST: Senior captain Noemie Marin added to her already impressive career highlights when she was named a top 10 finalist for the 2007 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award by the USA Hockey Foundation. The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizes the accomplishments of the most outstanding player in Division I women’s hockey each season. The winner of the 2007 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award being named at a brunch ceremony on March 17, in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four, in Lake Placid, N.Y.

ON THE AIR: For the eighth year, you can hear all the action for the Bulldogs home and away games live. This weekend the games will be covered on AM 610 (KDAL). Tom Hansen will be handling the play-by-play duties for his seventh season, the longest of any women’s hockey play-by-play announcer in the country. The broadcast can be heard via the internet at: www.umdbulldogs.com. Click on the “Bulldogs on the Air” link. Follow the link to WARP radio and enter in the call letter “WDSM,” then hit “Go.” Finally, click the “Click Here to Listen” link.