Western Collegiate Hockey Association
UND goaltender Brittany Kirkham is the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week |
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Minnesota Duluth Stays Unbeaten, Up to No. 1 Rank; St. Cloud State Snaps UW's Record Streak; Sioux Record First-Ever WCHA Sweep; Next WCHA Series have UMD at UM, BSU at UW, OSU at UND
Oct. 23, 2007
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MADISON, Wis. - Unbeaten Minnesota Duluth established itself as one of the early season powers in women's college hockey by tying No. 2-ranked Mercyhurst, 1-1 and then handing the Lakers their first loss, 3-1 in Duluth last weekend (Oct. 20-21).
"A win and a tie this weekend was huge for our program," said Minnesota Duluth Coach Shannon Miller after her No. 5-ranked team ran its record to 5-0-1 overall (4-0-0 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association). Bulldog sophomore Elin Holmlov had a goal and two assists in the victory last Sunday and the lone goal in last Saturday's series opener. Goaltender Kim Martin stopped 28 Mercyhurst shots in the victory and had a total of 62 saves on the weekend.
Minnesota Duluth now hits the road to take on arch-rival Minnesota in a Oct. 26-27 weekend series at Ridder Arena that will feature the 10th anniversary celebration of Golden Gopher women's hockey.
In addition to the UMD at UM series this weekend, the Minnesota State Mavericks travel to two-time defending WCHA champion Wisconsin for a pair of conference games on Oct. 26-27, and Ohio State visits North Dakota. In non-conference play, St. Cloud State travels to Robert Morris.
In other WCHA series contested this past weekend, St. Cloud State (2-3-1, 2-3-1 WCHA) handed two-time defending national champion Wisconsin its first loss in 11 months last Friday and split their series at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn. Felicia Nelson, a sophomore transfer from Minnesota State, scored her first goal with the game-winner last Friday, Oct. 19, and Kendall Newell made 35 saves between the pipes as St. Cloud State won, 2-1. The decision snapped No. 1-ranked Wisconsin's NCAA Division I record 32-game unbeaten streak, but the Badgers (6-1-1 overall, 2-1-1 WCHA) responded with their fifth shutout in eight games in the series finale, winning 5-0. The UW line of senior Jinelle Zaugg and freshmen Mallory Deluce and Hilary Knight combined for all five goals and six assists. Deluce led the way with three goals and an assist while Knight added four assists and Zaugg had two goals and an assist.
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North Dakota (2-2-2, 2-0-0 WCHA) got shutout goaltending from Brittany Kirkham and blanked Bemidji State (0-5-1, 0-3-1 WCHA) twice, 1-0 last Friday and 3-0 last Saturday in Grand Forks, N.D. Kirkham, a sophomore from Nepean, Ont., made 23 saves last Friday for her second career shutout and followed it up with 31 saves last Saturday as North Dakota (2-2-2, 2-0) recorded its first-ever WCHA sweep and first-ever back-to-back shutouts. The league victories were the first for new Sioux head coach Brian Idalski. North Dakota was winless in WCHA play last season.
For the fifth straight series between the Big Ten foes, Minnesota and Ohio State split a series at Columbus, Ohio. The Golden Gophers (3-2-1, 1-2-1 WCHA) scored three goals in the first seven minutes, five in the first period, and scored a 7-4 victory last Friday, overcoming three goals by Ohio State defenseman Tessa Bonhomme. The Buckeyes (2-3-1, 1-2-1 WCHA) then used a goal and an assist by Erin Keys to take a 4-1 victory in the final game of the series last Saturday.
Minnesota State (1-0-1, 1-2-1), meanwhile, took two exhibition game victories over the University of Regina. The Mavericks' Lindsay Macy had two goals in a 5-0 victory last Friday and Amanda Stohr scored twice in a 4-1 triumph last Saturday in Mankato, Minn.
Through the first four weeks of the 2007-08 season, WCHA member teams now own a combined 8-5-3 record against non-conference opponents, for a winning percentage of .594.
Looking ahead to next week, all eight Western Collegiate Hockey Association-member teams will be engaged in head-to-head conference competition. St. Cloud State and Minnesota State will play a home-and-home set on Nov. 1 & 3, Wisconsin hosts Minnesota on Nov. 2-3, Ohio State hosts Bemidji State on Nov. 2-3, and Minnesota Duluth travels to North Dakota on Nov. 3-4.
THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA
Games for Friday, October 26: Minnesota State at Wisconsin, 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota, 6:07 pm; Ohio State at North Dakota, 7:07 pm CT; St. Cloud State at Robert Morris, 3:05 pm ET (nc).
Games for Saturday, October 27: Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota, 3:07 pm CT; Minnesota State at Wisconsin, 4:07 pm CT; Ohio State at North Dakota, 4:07 pm CT; St. Cloud State at Robert Morris, 3:05 pm ET (nc).
LAST WEEK IN THE WCHA
Results of Friday, October 19
Minnesota 7 at Ohio State 4
Wisconsin 1 at St. Cloud State 2
Bemidji State 0 at North Dakota 1
Univ. of Regina 1 at Minnesota State 5 (x)
Results of Saturday, October 20
Minnesota 1 at Ohio State 4
Wisconsin 5 at St. Cloud State 0
Bemidji State 0 at North Dakota 3
Mercyhurst 1 at Minnesota Duluth 1 (ot) (nc)
Univ. of Regina 1 at Minnesota State 4 (x)
Sunday, October 21
Mercyhurst 1 at Minnesota Duluth 3 (nc)
WCHA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
WCHA Offensive player of the week
Elin Holmlov, So., F, Minnesota Duluth
Elin Holmlov, a sophomore forward from Knivista, Sweden, had two goals and two assists for four scoring points this past weekend to help the University of Minnesota Duluth knock off No. 2-ranked Mercyhurst College on Sunday (Oct. 21) and force a draw last Saturday (Oct. 20).
Both of Holmlov's goals pulled the No. 5-ranked Bulldogs even with the Lakers. She played a part in every goal the unbeaten Bulldogs had on the weekend.
So far this season, Holmlov is tied for fourth in overall scoring amon g WCHA players with nine points in six games, including three goals and six assists.
Also nominated this week were: Lindsay Macy, F, Minnesota State; Melissa Jacques, F, North Dakota; Erin Keys, F, Ohio State; Felicia Nelson, F, St. Cloud State; and Jinelle Zaugg, F, Wisconsin; and
WCHA Defensive Player of the Week
Brittany Kirkham, So., G, North Dakota
Brittany Kirkham, a sophomore goaltender from Nepean, Ontario, made 23 saves last Friday (Oct. 20) to shutout Bemidji State, 1-0, for her second career shutout and then followed it up with 31 saves last Saturday (Oct. 21) in another shutout of BSU, this time 3-0, to lead the University of North Dakota to its first-ever Western Collegiate Hockey Association two-game sweep and the Fighting Sioux's first-ever back-to-back shutouts.
On the 2007-08 season, Kirkham ranks third among WCHA goaltenders for all games in goals-against average (1.73) and saves percentage (.945, 172 saves). She has played a total of 347:43 minutes and owns a 2-2-2 record.
Also nominated this week were: Kim Martin, G, Minnesota Duluth; Holly Snyder, F, Minnesota State; Tessa Bonhomme, D, Ohio State; and Kendall Newell, G, St. Cloud State.
WCHA Rookie of the Week
Mallory Deluce, Fr., F, Wisconsin
Mallory Deluce, a freshman forward from London, Ontario, helped the University of Wisconsin Badgers respond to their first loss in nearly 11 months with a four-point performance against St. Cloud State last Saturday (Oct. 21).
After being held without a point last Friday, Deluce recorded her first career three-goal hat trick and added an assist on Saturday. Deluce scored her second game-winning goal of the season and her team-leading third power-play goal.
For the season, Deluce leads the nation in goals scored with eight and shares the national point lead at 11 points with two other players, including her linemate and fellow UW rookie Hilary Knight.
Also nominated this week were: Emily West, F, Minnesota; Haley Irwin, F, Minnesota Duluth; Nina Tikkinen, F, Minnesota State; and Shannon Reilly, D, Ohio State.
