2001-02 Team Preview: Minnesota Golden Gophers
With the loss of nine players off the Gopher women's hockey program to graduation, some may say the 2001-02 season is one of rebuilding.
However, when you ask head coach Laura Halldorson, the team may be young, but is ready to defend their Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season title won a year ago.
"Our team will be younger and less experienced than it has been the past couple of years," said Halldorson. "It reminds me of 1997-98 when we had so many first- and second-year players. The great thing about a young team is that the players are eager to learn and excited about the opportunity to play at Minnesota. We have excellent leadership in our juniors and seniors, too, so it will be a fun group for us to coach."
The Gophers add 10 rookies to the roster along with 11 returning players for 2001-02.
Goaltending
Goaltending is always a key to any team's success and the Gophers have three strong candidates at that position heading into the 2001-02 season in sophomore Stephanie Johnson and newcomers Jody Horak and Brenda Reinen. Johnson was 4-1-0 in six games last season and had her first shutout (vs MSU on 1/14/01). Horak comes from Blaine HS and was the 2001 recipient of the Let's Play Hockey Goalie of the Year while Reinen played on the Sun Prairie (WI) boys' team.
Defense
On the defensive side, Minnesota lost four key defenders from last year's squad, including 2001 Patty Kazmaier finalist and First Team All-American Courtney Kennedy. However, the Gophers bring back sophomore Melissa Coulombe, who was second in defensive scoring with 13 points.
Switching from forward to defense, sophomore Kelsey Bills saw action in 33 games and scored three goals as a newcomer last year. Sophomore Cecilia Retelle played in six games last season and will look for additional playing time.
The Gophers also add two newcomers to the mix of defenders in rookies Stacy Troumbly and Kate Swenson. Troumbly was a 2001 all-state selection.
"We will be quite inexperienced defensively this season due to several factors," said Halldorson. "We graduated four defenders, including Courtney Kennedy, last season's WCHA Player of the Year. We also lost Bethany Petersen due to an injury and Winny Brodt who is taking the year off, both of whom would have been big contributors. We will look to returners like Coulombe and Bills to log a lot of ice time in addition to giving a few forwards the chance to see some defensive action."
Forwards
Minnesota's strongest asset in 2001-02 will be its offensive punch. The Gophers are led by the conference's fifth-leading scorer, sophomore La Toya Clarke. Clarke produced 53 points as a first-year player, was a two-time WCHA Rookie of the Week and was named to the All-WCHA Second Team.
Seniors Tracy Engstrom and Laura Slominski will lead the Gophers as captains. Engstrom had 26 points a year ago and was named the WCHA Player of the Week after a 7-point series vs Bemidji State in December, 2000. Slominski had 35 points last season (11 multiple-point games) and had a hat trick in the second game of the season vs St. Cloud State and received WCHA Player of the Week honors.
Junior Ronda Curtin is also a returning veteran to the squad. In her two years as a Gopher, Curtin has 38 goals and 44 assists for 82 points.
Among the ten newcomers to the Gophers' lineup in 2001-02 are forwards Renee Curtin, last year's recipient of the Let's Play Hockey Ms. Hockey award, Kelly Stephens, and Kristy Oonincx. Curtin, younger sister of Ronda, led Roseville Area HS to two state titles, had 544 career points, and set the high school points record for a prep athlete, girl or boy. Stephens, who participated in the 2001 U.S. Festival and was a member of the U.S. Under-22 National Team, will look to add a fire to the Minnesota offense. Oonincx, meanwhile, will also look for ice time after a prosperous season last year as a member of the Notre Dame Hounds, where she produced 498 scoring points over her career.
by Michelle Traen, UM SID
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