2015–16 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season
College ice hockey team season
The 2015–16 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season represented the University of Minnesota during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season . They were coached by Brad Frost in his ninth season. The Golden Gophers advanced to the Frozen Four championship game for the fifth consecutive year and defeated Boston College 3–1 in the title game.
Offseason
Recruiting
Exhibition
Sarah Potomak made her debut for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a September 25, 2015 exhibition match against the Minnesota Whitecaps logging two assists on goals scored by Hannah Brandt as the squad prevailed by a 5–4 tally.[ 2]
Regular season
News and notes
Sarah Potomak's regular season debut took place on October 1, 2015 in a 2–0 win against Penn State. Potomak scored an empty net goal, for the first goal of her NCAA career.[ 3] In a two-game sweep of St. Cloud State on October 9–10, 2015, Potomak accumulated two goals and four assists. In the second game against St. Cloud, she logged the first multi-goal game of her NCAA career.[ 4]
An 11–1 win against the MSU-Mankato Mavericks in November 2015 saw Sarah Potomak tie the program record for most points in one game. She would register a seven-point output consisting two goals and five assists.[ 5] Potomak was featured in Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd segment for the week of December 14, 2015.[ 6]
Standings
Schedule
Source: [ 7]
Date
Time
Opponent#
Rank#
Site
Decision
Result
Attendance
Record
Regular Season
October 1
6:00
at Penn State *
#1
Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, PA
Amanda Leveille
W 2–0
485
1–0–0
October 2
6:00
at Penn State*
#1
Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, PA
Sidney Peters
W 5–0
507
2–0–0
October 9
7:07
St. Cloud State
#1
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
W 7–0
1,851
3–0–0 (1–0–0)
October 10
4:07
St. Cloud State
#1
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Peters
W 11–0
2,335
4–0–0 (2–0–0)
October 16
5:07
at Ohio State
#1
Ohio State University Ice Rink • Columbus, OH
Leveille
W 7–2
465
5–0–0 (3–0–0)
October 17
1:07
at Ohio State
#1
Ohio State University Ice Rink • Columbus, OH
Leveille
W 11–2
575
6–0–0 (4–0–0)
October 23
6:07
Minnesota Duluth
#1
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
W 5–2
1,685
7–0–0 (5–0–0)
October 24
4:07
Minnesota Duluth
#1
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
W 6–1
1,965
8–0–0 (6–0–0)
October 29
7:07
at #7 North Dakota
#1
Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, ND
Leveille
W 5–1
1,066
9–0–0 (7–0–0)
October 30
7:07
at #7 North Dakota
#1
Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, ND
Leveille
L 3–4
3,361
9–1–0 (7–1–0)
November 13
7:07
#5 Bemidji State
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
W 4–0
1,957
10–1–0 (8–1–0)
November 14
4:07
#5 Bemidji State
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
W 8–3
2,148
11–1–0 (9–1–0)
November 20
7:07
Yale *
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
W 6–3
1,932
12–1–0
November 21
7:07
Yale*
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Peters
W 4–1
1,682
13–1–0
November 27
2:07
at Minnesota State
#3
Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, MN
Leveille
W 11–1
313
14–1–0 (10–1–0)
November 28
2:07
at Minnesota State
#3
Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, MN
Peters
W 2–1
152
15–1–0 (11–1–0)
December 4
7:07
at #1 Wisconsin
#3
LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI
Leveille
L 2–3 OT
2,273
15–2–0 (11–2–0)
December 5
3:07
at #1 Wisconsin
#3
LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI
Leveille
L 1–3
2,273
15–3–0 (11–3–0)
December 11
6:37
vs. St. Cloud State*
#3
John Rose Oval • Roseville, MN (Hall of Fame Game)
Leveille
W 7–0
1,078
16–3–0
January 9, 2016
2:07
Ohio State
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
W 3–1
2,431
17–3–0 (12–3–0)
January 10
2:07
Ohio State
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
W 9–0
1,677
18–3–0 (13–3–0)
January 16
2:07
Minnesota State
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
W 3–2
1,927
19–3–0 (14–3–0)
January 17
2:07
Minnesota State
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Peters
W 2–1
1,740
20–3–0 (15–3–0)
January 22
3:07
at St. Cloud State
#3
Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN
Leveille
W 7–0
212
21–3–0 (16–3–0)
January 23
3:07
at St. Cloud State
#3
Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN
Peters
W 4–2
243
22–3–0 (17–3–0)
January 29
7:07
at #7 Bemidji State
#3
Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN
Leveille
W 2–1
672
23–3–0 (18–3–0)
January 30
4:07
at #7 Bemidji State
#3
Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN
Leveille
W 2–1 OT
715
24–3–0 (19–3–0)
February 5
6:07
#8 North Dakota
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
W 3–0
2,635
25–3–0 (20–3–0)
February 6
4:07
#8 North Dakota
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
T 0–0 OT
2,678
25–3–1 (20–3–1)
February 12
7:07
at Minnesota Duluth
#3
AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, MN
Leveille
W 7–3
1,301
26–3–1 (21–3–1)
February 13
4:07
at Minnesota Duluth
#3
Amsoil Arena • Duluth, MN
Leveille
W 6–2
1,242
27–3–1 (22–3–1)
February 19
7:07
#2 Wisconsin
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
W 4–0
3,288
28–3–1 (23–3–1)
February 20
3:03
#2 Wisconsin
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN
Leveille
W 4–3 OT
3,091
29–3–1 (24–3–1)
WCHA Tournament
February 26
7:07
Ohio State*
#2
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (Quarterfinals, Game 1)
Leveille
W 5–2
1,335
30–3–1
February 27
4:07
Ohio State*
#2
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (Quarterfinals, Game 2)
Leveille
W 5–0
1,443
31–3–1
March 5
5:07
#8 North Dakota*
#2
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (Semifinal Game)
Leveille
W 2–0
2,233
32–3–1
March 6
2:07
#3 Wisconsin*
#2
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (WCHA Championship Game)
Leveille
L 0–1
1,855
32–4–1
NCAA Tournament
March 12
4:00
#7 Princeton *
#3
Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (Quarterfinal Game)
Leveille
W 6–2
2,468
33–4–1
March 18
6:00
vs. #2 Wisconsin*
#3
Whittemore Center • Durham, NH (Frozen Four Semifinal Game)
Leveille
W 3–2 OT
2,167
34–4–1
March 20
1:00
vs. #1 Boston College *
#3
Whittemore Center • Durham, NH (National Championship Game )
Leveille
W 3–1
3,211
35–4–1
*Non-conference game. # Rankings from USCHO.com Poll.
Roster
Source:[ 8]
No.
S/P/C
Player
Class
Pos
Height
DoB
Hometown
Previous team
2
Lee Stecklein (C )
Junior
D
6' 0" (1.83 m)
1994-04-23
Roseville, Minnesota
Roseville Area High School
3
Anna Barlow
Freshman
D
5' 6" (1.68 m)
1996-09-02
South St. Paul, Minnesota
South St. Paul Secondary
4
Tianna Gunderson
Freshman
F
5' 6" (1.68 m)
1996-08-27
Roseau, Minnesota
Roseau High School
5
Sophie Skarzynski
Freshman
D
5' 8" (1.73 m)
1997-09-18
Lake Forest, Illinois
Loyola Academy
6
Kate Schipper
Junior
F
5' 4" (1.63 m)
1995-06-28
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Breck School
7
Taylor Williamson
Freshman
F
5' 7" (1.7 m)
1996-08-20
Edina, Minnesota
Edina High School
8
Amanda Kessel
Senior
F
5' 6" (1.68 m)
1991-08-28
Madison, Wisconsin
Shattuck-Saint Mary's
9
Sydney Baldwin
Sophomore
D
5' 7" (1.7 m)
1996-01-15
Minnetonka, Minnesota
Minnetonka High School
10
Cara Piazza
Sophomore
F
5' 7" (1.7 m)
1995-10-09
Darien, Illinois
Downers Grove South High School
11
Kelsey Cline
Junior
D /F
5' 6" (1.68 m)
1995-02-28
Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington Jefferson High School
12
Megan Wolfe
Junior
D
5' 8" (1.73 m)
1995-06-08
Eagan, Minnesota
Eagan High School
13
Milica McMillen
Senior
D
5' 10" (1.78 m)
1993-07-13
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Breck School
15
Paige Haley
Junior
D /F
5' 9" (1.75 m)
1995-07-21
Red Wing, Minnesota
Red Wing High School
17
Sierra Smith
Freshman
F
5' 8" (1.73 m)
1996-09-02
Stillwater, Minnesota
Stillwater Area High School
18
Brook Garzone
Senior
D /F
5' 6" (1.68 m)
1993-04-29
Sand Springs, Oklahoma
Shattuck-Saint Mary's
19
Kelly Pannek
Sophomore
F
5' 8" (1.73 m)
1995-12-29
Plymouth, Minnesota
Benilde-St. Margaret's
20
Nina Rodgers
Sophomore
F
5' 5" (1.65 m)
1996-04-08
Minnetonka, Minnesota
Hopkins High School
21
Dani Cameranesi
Junior
F
5' 5" (1.65 m)
1995-06-30
Plymouth, Minnesota
Blake School
22
Hannah Brandt (C )
Senior
F
5' 6" (1.68 m)
1993-11-27
Vadnais Heights, Minnesota
Hill-Murray School
23
Caitlin Reilly
Sophomore
F
5' 5" (1.65 m)
1995-09-05
Chanhassen, Minnesota
Benilde-St. Margaret's
25
Nicole Schammel
Sophomore
F
5' 5" (1.65 m)
1996-04-09
Red Wing, Minnesota
Red Wing High School
26
Sarah Potomak
Freshman
F
5' 5" (1.65 m)
1996-04-08
Aldergrove, British Columbia
George Eliot Secondary
29
Amanda Leveille
Senior
G
5' 7" (1.7 m)
1994-06-10
Kingston, Ontario
Frontenac Secondary School
31
Emma May
Freshman
G
5' 6" (1.68 m)
1996-10-21
Eagan, Minnesota
Eagan High School
37
Sidney Peters
Sophomore (RS )
G
5' 10" (1.78 m)
1995-02-26
Geneva, Illinois
North American Hockey Academy
NCAA
Sarah Potomak , 2015–16 WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year
Sarah Potomak, WCHA Rookie of the Week (Week of October 13, 2015)
Sarah Potomak, WCHA Player of the Week (Recognized for games of October 14–15, 2016) [ 9]
Sarah Potomak, WCHA Player of the Month (October 2016) [ 10]
Sarah Potomak, 2016 Women's Hockey Commissioners Association National Rookie of the Year Award[ 11]
Sarah Potomak, 2016 WCHA Rookie of the Year honors[ 12]
Sarah Potomak, Most Outstanding Player Award, 2016 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Tournament
Hannah Brandt, Forward, Patty Kazmaier Award Top 10 Finalist[ 13]
Dani Cameranesi, Forward, Patty Kazmaier Award Top 10 Finalist[ 13]
Dani Cameranesi, Forward, WCHA Scoring Leader[ 14]
Lee Stecklein, Defense, WCHA First Team All-Star[ 14]
Hannah Brandt, Forward, WCHA First Team All-Star[ 14]
Dani Cameranesi, Forward, WCHA First Team All-Star[ 14]
Milica McMillen, Defense, WCHA Second Team All-Star[ 14]
Sarah Potomak, Forward, WCHA Third Team All-Star[ 14]
Sarah Potomak, Forward, WCHA All-Rookie Team[ 14]
References
^ "Brandt, Stecklein to Captain 2015–16 Gophers" . University of Minnesota Athletics. May 27, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2024 .
^ "Hockey Game Box Score (Final) : Minnesota Whitecaps vs #1 Minnesota (Sep 25, 2015 at Minneapolis, Minn.)" (PDF) . Grfx.cstv.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2015 .
^ "University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site – Women's Ice Hockey" . Gophersports.com. Retrieved October 19, 2015 .
^ "Potomak Named WCHA Rookie of the Week – University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site" . Gophersports.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015 .
^ "Potomak's seven points lead Gophers' women's hockey in rout over MSU Mankato" . Star Tribune. November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2016 .
^ "Faces in the Crowd: December 14, 2015, Edited by Alexandra Fenwick" . Sports Illustrated. December 14, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2016 .
^ "2015–16 Women's Ice Hockey Schedule" . University of Minnesota. Retrieved December 31, 2023 .
^ "2015–16 Women's Hockey Roster" . University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved December 29, 2023 .
^ "UMN'S POTOMAK, AND UND'S SHAW AND NUUTINEN NAMED WCHA WOMEN'S PLAYERS OF THE WEEK" . WCHA.com. October 18, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016 .
^ "UMN'S POTOMAK, UND'S SHAW AND UW'S NORBY NAMED WCHA WOMEN'S PLAYERS OF THE MONTH" . WCHA.com. November 3, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016 .
^ "Minnesota's Potomak Is Chosen Women's National Rookie of the Year" . WCHA.com. March 17, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016 .
^ "WCHA ANNOUNCES 2015–16 POSTSEASON AWARDS" . WCHA.com. March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2016 .
^ a b "Top-10 Finalists Named for 2016 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award" . USA Hockey Foundation. February 25, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2017 .
^ a b c d e f g "Five Gophers Earn WCHA Accolades" . CBS Interactive. March 3, 2016. Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017 .
Playing venues Head coaches Seasons Conference affiliations Rivalries All-time leaders National championships Women's Frozen Four appearances Olympians
Lyndsay Wall (2002 , 2006 )
Courtney Kennedy (2002, 2006)
Natalie Darwitz (2002, 2006, 2010 )
Krissy Wendell (2002, 2006)
Kelly Stephens (2006)
Gigi Marvin (2010, 2014 , 2018 )
Noora Räty (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018)
Mira Jalosuo (2014, 2018)
Megan Bozek (2014, 2022 )
Amanda Kessel (2014, 2018, 2022)
Anne Schleper (2014)
Lee Stecklein (2014, 2018, 2022)
Hannah Brandt (2018, 2022)
Dani Cameranesi (2018, 2022)
Kelly Pannek (2018, 2022)
Josefin Bouveng (2022)
Nelli Laitinen (2022)
Abbey Murphy (2022)
Grace Zumwinkle (2022)
Patty Kazmaier winners