The Gophers women’s hockey hosts rival Minnesota Duluth

The Gophers women’s hockey team opened this season with just one win in the first four games.

“We started slowly,” coach Brad Frost said, “with new staff [two new assistant coaches] and seven freshmen. “

Planned for this weekend’s series at the Ridder Arena in Minnesota against Duluth, Frost said the Gophers are “really where we want to be. We’re doing really well.”

Ever since the Gophers started the season by losing twice at home to Ohio State and winning one of two matches in Duluth, Minnesota, the Gophers – ranked 4th in the USCHO.com poll – have gone 12-1-1 to improve 13-4-. 1 in the overall competition and 8-3-1 in the WCHA.

Last weekend in Wisconsin, the No. 1 Gophers won the opening 3-2 before the teams played 2-2 overtime. The Gophers won the penalty shootout and earned an extra point on the WCHA table.

“It was a very fun weekend,” Frost said. – We played really well. We scored [from Taylor Heise] right from the gates on Friday, and we got the second at the end of the first batch [from Emily Oden] and it really sped us up. “

Heise’s goal, 27 seconds after the game, was his 14th season goal. He is second from Lake City, Min., In second division goals in Division I and is fifth with 1.72 points per game – 14 goals and 17 assists in 18 games.

“I haven’t seen anyone better on our team or any team we’ve played on this season,” Frost said of Heise.

Minnesota Duluth, who is ranked 9th, has won six of his last eight matches. The Bulldogs (8-6 Overall, 7-5-0 WCHA) resigned with Ohio Staten 2 last weekend in Duluth. The Bulldogs won 5-2 on Friday, before the Buckeyes won 6-2 on Saturday.

The Bulldogs have a trio of seniors – Gabbie Hughes, Elizabeth Giguere and Anna Klein – who are DI scoring leaders.

Playing at Centennial High School, Hughes leads the DI with 1.93 points per game – nine goals and 18 assists in 14 games.

Giguere is fourth with 1.86 points per game (8 goals and 18 assists in 14 games).

Klein from Edina have scored 11 goals and 11 assists in 14 games, finishing second with 0.79 goals per game in DI points.

“[The Bulldogs] are playing well, “Frost said.

After this weekend, the Gophers will be idle until Jan. 8, except for the show against Minnesota Whitecaps 4. January at the Ridder Arena.