UMD Women Pick Up Third Goaltender

Katie Gilderman, former Proctor-Hermantown-Marshall goaltender will be UMD's third goaltender, pending NCAA clearance, that hopefully comes before the Gopher series starts tonight so she can be at Ridder Arena as the backup to Jenny Harss. She only played in one game in 08-09 but obviously will be a better backup goaltender than other players UMD's tried who couldn't skate on the flat goaltender skate blades.

Per the Duluth News Tribune:

Gilderman, a former Proctor-Hermantown-Duluth Marshall girls goalie, played only one game last high school season following knee surgery, yet recovered to pitch in the spring softball season and during the summer.

“During softball, my knee had some swelling and I wore a brace, but it’s strong now. It’s strong enough to handle this, but I just haven’t been on the ice for a while,” said Gilderman, a bio-chemistry major, who earned college academic scholarships. “UMD is a team I watched growing up and I look at this as a huge opportunity. I was not expecting anything like this, but I’m excited about the chance.”

Katie Wilson Honored As WCHA Rookie of the Week

Click on the blog title to see all Players of the Week for this week!

Per the WCHA Release:

WCHA Rookie of the Week
Katherine Wilson Fr., F, Minnesota Duluth

Katherine Wilson scored two goals and added two assists to
help No. 6-ranked Minnesota Duluth sweep WCHA rival and
visiting St. Cloud State last weekend.

The NCAA’s leading rookie scorer, with an average of 1.50
points per game in her first four games, Wilson tallied her first goal
as a Bulldog in last Saturday’s (Oct. 11) 5-3 win over the Huskies. The
native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, had an assist on her team’s first
goal in the first period, scored the second tally of the contest at 6:52
of the opening stanza, and then picked up an assist on UMD’s third
goal in the third period.

Wilson then came back to score the game-winning score last
Sunday (Oct. 11) in the second period in Minnesota Duluth’s 2-0
triumph over St. Cloud State. The freshman Wilson is tied at
the top as the Bulldogs’ leading scorer so far this season with six
points (2g, 4a) in four games and has a four-game point-scoring
streak.

Also nominated for the award
this week were: Keirsten Visser, D,
BSU; and Lauren Smith, F, MSU.

UMD Women Shutout/Sweep St. Cloud, 2-0 Sunday

Click on the blog title to view all of the pictures!

UMD won the second game against SCSU 2-0, on a strong defensive team effort, especially in shutting down the first game star for the Huskies, Caitlin Hogan. Jenny Harss picked up the shutout stopping all 24 shots that came her way in her strongest effort in the short season. Katie Wilson scored the eventual game winner with the first goal of the game and Mariia Posa scored her first career goal.

Mariia Posa

Katie Wilson

UMD Beats St. Cloud 5-3

Click the blog title to view game photos

Despite a hat trick from Huskie Caitlin Hogan (which included a rare 5 on 3 shorthanded goal,) UMD defeated the St. Cloud State Huskies 5-3 at the DECC, Saturday October 10, 2009. Jennifer Harss stopped 20 of 23 shots for the UMD win, while Audrey Cournoyer and Katherine Wilson each scored their first collegiate goals. Laura Fridfinnson (2nd of the season), Jessica Wong (3rd), and Emmanuelle Blais (2nd) also scored for the Bulldogs.

Audrey Cournoyer scored her first UMD goal tonight vs the Huskies.

Laura Fridfinnson and two Huskies players take out Huskie goaltender Ashley Nixon

Jennifer Harss glove save late in the third period.

A Few More Freshmen Pictures

Here's a few more pictures from UMD's series split with Robert Morris University... a few of the freshmen who will contribute to the success of this year's Bulldogs.

German goaltender Jennifer Harss makes a save.

Katherine Wilson of Winnipeg, MB on the backhand.

Audrey Cournoyer from Montreal shoots from a tough angle.

Jessica Wong of Baddeck, Nova Scotia gets behind the defense

You can click a picture to see the larger version of it.

Robert Morris Beats UMD 4-1

Click the blog title to see more game pictures from the series.

UMD dropped game 2 to Robert Morris 4-1, despite outshooting the Colonials 46-23. Many of UMD's shots were from the blue line or wide on the end boards, and RMU packed it in tight on their own net the entire game, covering up for any rebounds that may have been left and not allowing UMD to get deep on net very often. Emmanuelle Blais scored her first of the season for UMD in the 2nd period, a shot that deflected off at least 2 RMU players before ending up in the net, but RMU scored in the third minute of the third period to put the game out of reach and then they went into full defensive mode.

This picture pretty much tells the story of the game.. more Robert Morris players at their own net than UMD players there to put the puck home.

Kacy Ambroz attempts to get a shot on net against RMU

UMD Beats Robert Morris University 5-2

Click the blog title to go see some game pictures....or check out UMDBULLDOGS.COM to check out UMD's recap!

UMD won it's home opener against RMU 5-2 at the DECC October 2nd


, 2009. Laura Fridfinnson had a goal (the game winner) and 3 assists, and Jessica Wong scored twice in the third period to seal the game for the Bulldogs. Jaime Rasmussen and Saara Tuominen also scored their first goals of the season and Jennifer Harss notched her first NCAA win stopping 14 of 16 shots put on her.

#47 Emmanuelle Blais eyes a pass to #9 Katherine Wilson during the first period.

Jamie Rasmussen lets a shot go!

Laura Fridfinnson goes 5-hole on the RMU goaltender!

Post game celebration.

Pos

Season Opens Tonight

Just a reminder, tonight and next Saturday nights' UMD games start at 6 pm instead of the usual 7 pm

News Tribune Article, UMD's Olympic "Losses"

Click the blog title to tread the entire article... It's a really good Kevin Pates, Season Preview type article focusing on UMD's players who've taken a season off to train full time for the upcoming Vancouver Olympics

“We know it’s going to be different, but we we’re not anticipating much of a change. We have a coach who expects hard work and excellence,” says senior defenseman Jamie Rasmussen of Garden Grove, Calif. “We have a smaller roster and we’ve been preparing to be in good shape because we’re all going to get a lot of ice time. We’ve got a lot of new players, but they’re great new players. And we have some great returning players.”

15 Days Until The Season Starts!

Being September 17th, we are 15 days from the UMD women's hockey team taking the ice! This preseason is full of questions, as we have two untested goaltenders and 9 freshmen slated to skate for the Bulldogs this year! Cloquet's Kirsti Hakala returns to the UMD roster after a year on the University of Wisconsin-Superior roster and taking last season off.

I hope to get get a bunch more posted on here before the season starts so stay tuned, it's been a busy few weeks with my website between high school and community college sports shooting but UMD hockey (both teams) always ends up a priority come game time! :)

3 Bulldogs In Pre-Season WCHA All-Star Game vs Team USA

Per the Duluth News Tribune:

Three Minnesota Duluth players have been named to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Women’s All-Star team that faces the U.S. Olympic team Sept. 25 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Bulldogs selected are junior defenseman Jaime Rasmussen of Garden Grove, Calif.; senior forward Emmanuelle Blais of LaSalle, Quebec; and junior forward Laura Fridfinnson of Arborg, Manitoba. The team is coached by St. Cloud State’s Jeff Giesen.

UMD's season starts October 2nd/3rd with Robert Morris University coming to the DECC

Dogs Drop Semi-Final Game to Wisconsin

UMD lost Elin Holmlov to a checking from behind penalty in the second period, and gave up four powerplay goals to Wisconsin, to drop the NCAA Semi-Final game in Boston 5-1.

Still a great season for UMD with another Frozen Four appearance! The final appearances in UMD uniforms for seniors Johanna Ellison, Tawni Mattila, Erin Olson, Sara O'Toole, and Myriam Trepanier. Thanks seniors!

Watch UMD's Playoff Game at New Hampshire Online

UMD's playoff game with New Hampshire will be broadcast LIVE on the net at 1 pm Eastern Saturday via New Hampshire's sports website CLICK HERE!!! Just click Watch Now about 5 minutes before game time! GO DOGS!

Bulldogs to Face New Hampshire in Quarterfinals

UMD will head out east Saturday March 14th, for a 1 PM (might be Noon Central time...) rematch of the Semi-Final teams from last season, in this season's quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.

I only see two big differences from last season's semi-final,

1. Johanna Ellison be in net for UMD, with Kim Martin most likely not ready to play, having only started skating in the last week or so again. It's not a big drop-off at all, but given Kim Martin's performance against UNH in that game, stopping 41 of 43 shots, with many being HUGE saves, it could be a mental win for UNH not facing Martin.

2. UMD played at home almost the entire second half of the season last year, with only one road series from January 25th through the entire playoff run. This year they've been on the road more the second half of the season and hopefully that helps them in their longest road trip of the season.

If/When I figure out if there will be live internet coverage other than the normal radio coverage I'll post it here.

UMD To Face Wisconsin Friday

With all of the hockey games this weekend I got too busy to put up a post from each game but all should be normal now.

With UMD's first round sweep, and Johanna Ellison's TWO SHUTOUTS of North Dakota this weekend, UMD advances to the WCHA Semifinals to take on Wisconsin Friday.

I believe that UMD needs to win the WCHA tournament, presumably beating Minnesota in the final (if they beat Mankato) to attain a HOME NCAA Quarterfinal game. All three teams have been in the top 4 in the 'Pairwise' rankings, but I cannot see the NCAA giving 3 first round home games to teams from the West when the Frozen Four is being held out East in Boston. Stranger things have happened but I believe that to be the scenario required for a home ice NCAA tourney game.

UMD Sweeps Sioux, Hosts Sioux in WCHA 1st Round

UMD sweeps North Dakota, and Mankato sweeps Ohio State, forcing UMD to now beat North Dakota twice more in the best of 3 first round playoff series at the DECC Friday/Saturday, and if necessary Sunday.

Johanna Ellison picked up both wins, including a 3-0 shutout on Saturday evening. UMD's six goals were scored by six different players on the weekend.

UMD Beats Ohio State 4-1

Sara O'Toole had a goal and an assist, as did Haley Irwin and Jamie Rasmussen, while Elin Holmlov scored a goal in the 4-1 victory over OSU. Joceleyne Larocque had two assists, and Johanna Ellison won another game, stopping 12 of 13 shots faced for UMD.

After it became a 4-1 UMD lead, they tried to let OSU back into the game, taking 4 straight penalties from the 10 minute mark of the third period.

Sara Murray, Myriam Trepanier, Tawni Mattila, and Johanna Ellison received WCHA Scholar Athlete Awards after the game.

Heidi Pelttari Named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week

Click the blog title to go read the full press release from WCHA.COM

WCHA Defensive Player of the Week • Heidi Pelttari, Jr., D, Minnesota Duluth
Junior Heidi Pelttari, who has played at forward for the University of Minnesota Duluth most of the season, took a step back into her previous role on the blueline last weekend in the Bulldogs’ two-game conference road series sweep of Bemidji State.
A native of Tampere, Finland, Pelttari had one assist in last Friday’s (Feb. 6) 3-2 win over the host Beavers, with her helper coming on teammate Laura Fridfinnson’s game-winning goal at 5:22 of the second period. Then in game two of the weekend series last Saturday (Feb. 7), Pelttari dished out four assists to help propel the Bulldogs to a 9-0 shutout victory over Bemidji State. Pelttari’s four assists in that game marks a career-high for the multi-positioned player, who played defenseman all weekend. In addition to her five-assist series, Pelttari also put three shots on goal and earned a +2 plus/minus rating as UMD blanked BSU on all 10 of their weekend power-play opportunities.
Through 30 games this season, Pelttari has two goals and 18 assists for 20 points, ranking her fourth in scoring overall among WCHA defensemen..
Also nominated were: Alyssa Grogan, G, UM; Paige Thunder, G, MSU; Shannon Reilly, D, OSU; and Rachel Bible, D, UW.

Dogs Beat Bemidji 3-2

I forgot it was a 2 pm game.. DOH! I went for a 2 hour walk along a bunch of snowmobile trails through the woods with the nice weather and spaced out the early game as it turns out did a lot of people who were at the men's game who would have normally listened. A win is a win at this point in the season, but the 1 for 8 powerplay is NOT a good thing.

Interesting to read the lines that Shannon Miller came up with with Rasmussen out...

First line of Tuominen centering Blais and Friddy, which drops Winberg to the third line with Olson and Mattila. I like Blais and Friddy on the same line with a good play-making center who likes to go get the puck in the corners. They usually only were on the ice together(all 3 of the) as the second powerplay previously.

Irwin's line with O'Toole and Holmlov paid off big with O'Toole and Irwin each scoring and assisting on the others goal.

Jamie Rasmussen Out For Series With Bemidji State

The News Tribune reports that Jamie Rasmussen is out for this weekend's BSU series with a concussion, and Heidi Pelttari will drop back to her defense spot to fill that hole.

Click the link to view the News Tribune series preview!