WCHA Weekly Roundup: Nov. 22-23

Minnesota State split with second-ranked Ohio State while St. Cloud State earned a long-awaited win against Minnesota on home ice. Two UMD Bulldogs earn weekly honors, plus a look at all the milestones from this weekend.

The WCHA action this weekend was exhilarating to watch. With so many exciting moments and two incredible wins things are going to work a little differently in this roundup.

Minnesota State provided, what is so far, the upset of the season in the conference while St. Cloud State bounced back for a commanding win with one of their most talented goalies back in the crease. Plus, weekly awards, awesome tournament selections, and some record-setting moments.

Series of the Week #1: Ohio State vs. Minnesota State

After the Buckeyes’ nail-biting win to hand Wisconsin their first loss of the season, they made their way to Mankato to face an unranked Mavericks team who had split the weekend prior with St. Cloud State. Friday’s game was very quiet in the first two periods as the defense put in the work along with the goaltenders to keep the game locked at 0. That lasted until Jocelyn Amos scored less than three minutes into the third period for a 1-0 Buckeyes lead. With less than a minute left, Alexis Paddington found the back of the net for the Mavericks to tie the game and force overtime. 

Minnesota State almost had the game-winning goal when Madison Mashuga found Taylor Otremba out front with the perfect opening to score, but Otremba shot the puck over the net and missed.

Joy Dunne scored midway through overtime for Ohio State’s 2-1 win. It’s Dunne’s third game-winning goal of the season helping extend her point streak to 10 games.

The teams finished the series on Saturday afternoon with Minnesota State coming out hungry after the heartbreaking loss on Friday. The Mavericks got on the board three minutes into the game with a goal from Claire Vekich. The second period was quiet with no change in the score and once again the game opened up in the third. After missing the net in overtime on Friday, Otremba scored five minutes into the third to extend the lead for Minnesota. But, three minutes later Maddi Wheeler ended goaltender Hailey Hansen’s bid for a shutout.

The Mavericks answered back with Otremba scoring her second goal of the night to help seal the dominating 4-1 win over second-ranked Ohio State. Hansen delivered another incredible performance stopping 30 of 31 shots faced in the game.

Series of the Week #2: Minnesota vs. St. Cloud State

A home-and-home series between the two teams began with a dominating 5-2 win for the Gophers off Abbey Murphy’s hat trick. The game began with Ella Huber finding the back of the net just 23 seconds in. The Huskies answered with a goal from Abby Promersberger on the power play to tie the game at 1. But Minnesota’s Ava Lindsay scored off a Peyton Hemp assist, her 100th career point, to end the period with a 2-1 lead for the Gophers. Murphy added her first goal of the night in the second period before St. Cloud made it close again with a tally from Ally Qualley but it wasn’t enough as Murphy scored the next two goals for her hat trick and the Gophers’ win. Murphy scored her second career hatty and extended her point streak to seven games.

On Saturday, the Huskies looked to bounce back at home and end Minnesota’s seven game win streak. Goaltender Sanni Ahola made her return in net and helped lead the Huskies to a 3-1 win over the third-ranked Gophers. Ahola made her first appearance in net since early November against Wisconsin when she entered the game in relief of Emilia Kyrkkö. She was greeted with 23 shots on goal by Minnesota in the first period and managed to make all 23 saves. In the second period Promersberger scored in her second straight game for the Huskies’ 1-0 lead. In the third period, St. Cloud extended their lead with a pair of goals from Brieja Parent and Avery Farrell. Minnesota did manage to get on the board late in the game but it wasn’t enough. St. Cloud State earned their first win against Minnesota on home ice since 2010 helping end the Gophers’ seven-game win streak.

Milestone Weekend:

Many milestones were reached this weekend around the WCHA so here is a roundup of those you may have missed!

In the Badger’s series against St. Thomas Casey O’Brien broke the school record for assists notching her 139th on Saturday.

Fellow Badger Caroline Harvey recorded her 100th career point in her 90th game. She is the fifth and the fastest blueliner to reach that milestone.

Minnesota Duluth’s Olivia Wallin scored her first hat trick as a Bulldog on Friday which helped her reach 100 career points. She is the 28th UMD player to reach that mark.

Minnesota’s Peyton Hemp also joined the 100 point club with her second assist in Friday’s game.

Weekly Awards:

WCHA Forward of the Week: Olivia Wallin - Minnesota Duluth

Fresh off notching her 100th career point, Wallin earned her first WCHA honor. She collected a total of five points in the Bulldogs’ sweep of Bemidji State.

WCHA Defender of the Week: Tova Henderson - Minnesota Duluth

Henderson joins teammate Wallin in also collecting her first WCHA honor of the season. She helped the Bulldogs secure the sweep by scoring the game-winning goal in each game of the series.

WCHA Goaltender of the Week: Hailey Hansen - Minnesota State

After a strong performance against second-ranked Ohio State, it is no surprise Hansen was named Goaltender of the Week. The sophomore goalie stopped 66 of 69 shots faced and earned a .957 save percentage over the weekend.

WCHA Rookie of the Week: Chloe Boreen - St. Thomas

Boreen earned her second Rookie of the Week honor after she recorded two assists and three blocked shots in the series against Wisconsin.

Six Nations Tournament Selections:

A huge congratulations to all the WCHA players who have been selected to the rosters for the Six Nations Tournament in December. Wisconsin’s Laila Edwards and Caroline Harvey, St. Cloud State’s Emma Gentry, Minnesota’ Abbey Murphy, Ohio State’s Joy Dunne and Jenna Buglioni, Minnesota Duluth’s Caitlin Kraemer, and goalie Ève Gascon are some of the notable names on the rosters for the tournament which runs from Dec. 11-15 in Tampere, Finland.

Looking Forward:

Almost every WCHA team will be playing in non-conference matchups this weekend. St. Thomas will be taking part in the Smashville Showcase in Nashville, TN. The Tommies will face sixth-ranked Clarkson to start things off. While Minnesota Duluth hosts the University of Vermont. Ohio State is off this weekend but play Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania next Monday night.

Lastly,

Another huge congratulations this time to all the WCHA alumni who will be playing in the PWHL this season. Year two kicks off this Saturday! Stay tuned for full coverage here on The Ice Garden!

Weekly Scoreboard:

Friday:

Bemidji State 1, Minnesota Duluth 8

Ohio State 2, Minnesota State 1 (OT)

St. Cloud State 2, Minnesota 5

St. Thomas 1, Wisconsin 6

Saturday:

Bemidji State 0, Minnesota Duluth 2

Ohio State 1, Minnesota State 4

Minnesota 1, St. Cloud State 3

St. Thomas 2, Wisconsin 5

Full schedule here