2020–21 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season

The Minnesota Golden Gophers represented the University of Minnesota in WCHA women's ice hockey during the 2020-21 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season. The program did not qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007, snapping its streak of 12 consecutive tournament appearances. Among the season highlights, Grace Zumwinkle was recognized as a Second-Team All-America selection.

2020–21 Minnesota Golden Gophers
women's ice hockey season
ConferenceWCHA
Rankings
USCHO.com6
Record
Overall11-8-1
Conference11-7-1
Home4-5-1
Road7-3-0
Coaches and captains
Head coachBrad Frost (14th season)
Assistant coachesJoel Johnson
Bethany Brausen
Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey seasons
« 2019–20 2021–22 »

In the aftermath of the Frozen Four, it was announced that the Golden Gophers were invited to participate in the Smashville NCAA Women's Hockey Showcase this November at the Ford Ice Center, practice facility of the NHL's Nashville Predators. Also participating in the tournament will be Division I women's hockey programs Boston College, Colgate and Mercyhurst.[1]

Offseason

Recruiting
Player Position Nationality Notes
Anne CherkowskiForward CanadaCompeted with Canadian National Under-18 Team, serving as an alternate captain for the silver medal roster at the 2020 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship

Regular season

Standings
2020–21 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings
Conference Overall
GP W L T SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
#1 Wisconsin † *16123103662252117317933
#4 Minnesota-Duluth16115003450232312705533
#3 Ohio State16115003242322013705642
#6 Minnesota19117013662402011816545
Minnesota State20712102038562071213856
St. Cloud State196121018.532621961213262
Bemidji State202162112.524722021622472
Championship: March 8, 2021
† indicates conference regular season champion; * indicates conference tournament champion
Rankings: USCHO.com; updated March 25, 2021

Schedule

Source:[2]

DateOpponent#Rank#SiteDecisionResultRecord
Regular Season
November 21 Ohio State Buckeyes Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota Lauren Bench W 4-0  1-0-0 (1-0-0)
November 22 Ohio State Buckeyes Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, Minnesota Andrea Braendli (OSU) L 1-2  1-1-0 (1-1-0)
November 27 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Amsoil Arena • Duluth, MN W 4-2 
November 28 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Amsoil Arena • Duluth, MN W 2-1 
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll.

Roster

2020-21 Gophers

[3]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height DoB Hometown Previous team
1 Minnesota Olivia King Sophomore F 5' 6" (1.68 m) Garrison, Minnesota Brainerd HS
2 Minnesota Emily Brown Senior D 5' 8" (1.73 m) Blaine, Minnesota
3 Minnesota Catie Skaja Junior F 5' 7" (1.7 m) New Prague, Minnesota
4 Minnesota Audrey Wethington Freshman F 5' 7" (1.7 m) Edina, Minnesota Blake School
5 Minnesota Madeline Wethington Sophomore D 5' 10" (1.78 m) Edina, Minnesota Blake School
6 Minnesota Gracie Ostertag Junior D 5' 7" (1.7 m) Shakopee, Minnesota Shattuck-Saint Mary's
7 Minnesota Sydney Shearen Sophomore F 5' 4" (1.63 m) Hugo, Minnesota White Bear Lake HS
9 Minnesota Taylor Heise Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) Lake City, Minnesota Red Wing HS
11 British Columbia Anne Cherkowski Freshman F 5' 6" (1.68 m) Coldstream, British Columbia Canadian U18 National Team
Pursuit of Excellence
12 Minnesota Grace Zumwinkle Senior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) Excelsior, Minnesota Breck School
13 Minnesota Crystalyn Hengler Junior D 5' 8" (1.73 m) Eden Prairie, Minnesota Eden Prairie HS
14 Minnesota Maggie Nicholson Freshman D 5' 9" (1.75 m) Minnetonka, Minnesota Minnetonka HS
16 British Columbia Amy Potomak Junior F 5' 6" (1.68 m) Aldergrove, British Columbia Canadian National Team
17 Missouri Josey Dunne Freshman D 5' 10" (1.78 m) O'Fallon, Missouri Chicago Mission
18 Illinois Abbey Murphy Freshman F 5' 5" (1.65 m) Evergreen Park, Illinois Chicago Mission
19 Minnesota Tella Jungels Freshman F 5' 4" (1.63 m) Edina, Minnesota Edina HS
21 Minnesota Emily Oden F 5' 8" (1.73 m) Edina, Minnesota Edina HS
22 Wisconsin Abigail Boreen F 5' 6" (1.68 m) Somerset, Wisconsin Hill-Murray School
24 British Columbia Olivia Knowles Senior D 5' 9" (1.75 m) Campbell River, British Columbia Pursuit of Excellencee
26 Minnesota Addie Burton Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) Orono, Minnesota Blake School
28 Minnesota Taylor Wente Senior F 5' 6" (1.68 m) Plymouth, Minnesota
33 Minnesota Makayla Paul Sophomore G 5' 11" (1.8 m) Rochester, Minnesota Rochester Mayo HS
35 Minnesota Lauren Bench Senior G 5' 10" (1.78 m) Eagan, Minnesota Bemidji State Beavers (WCHA)

Awards and honors
  • Lauren Bench, Hockey Commissioners Association Women's Goaltender of the Month (November 2020) [4]
  • Grace Zumwinkle, 2020-21 CCM/AHCA Second Team All-American[5]

References
  1. Dani Pluchinsky (March 24, 2021). "Raiders to Compete in NCAA Women's Hockey Showcase: Colgate Joins Boston College, Mercyhurst and Minnesota". gocolgateraiders.com. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  2. "2020–21 Minnesota Golden Gophers Women's Ice Hockey Schedule". University of Minnesota. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  3. "2020–21 Minnesota Golden Gophers Women's Ice Hockey Roster". University of Minnesota. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  4. "MINNESOTA'S LAUREN BENCH HONORED AS NATIONAL GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH". wcha.com. December 3, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  5. "Five Hockey East Players Players Named CCM/AHCA Women's All-Americans - NCAA #1 seed Northeastern boasts four players on the two teams". hockeyeastonline.com. March 19, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
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