MHM 2018 Oct-digital

TALKING NORTHERN HOCKEY
UMD-GOPHERS MEN’S AND WOMEN’S DOUBLEHEADER COULD BE ANNUAL HIGHLIGHT
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things might improve. Especially if UMD can rise
to its previous level and compete with the likes of
Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The caliber of play between the two has been
irregular in recent years, since UMD began hockey
20 years ago and won the first year of WCHA
women’s hockey. The Bulldogs went on, under
Shannon Miller, to capture the first three NCAA
women’s tournament championships, and later
added two more.
The Saturday game on the league’s opening
weekend showed promise for both teams, although
it was overshadowed by constant stories about the
two roommates from the Olympics going head-tohead.
Freshman Gabbie Hughes from Centennial again
scored the game’s first goal, on a second-period
power play, and this time Anna Klein added another
power play goal for a 2-0 UMD lead. Minnesota
came back in the third, when Nicole Schammell
knocked a rebound past Rooney at 6:09 of the third,
and two minutes later, when the Gophers got a
5-minute major power play, Pannek seemed to mishit
a shot from the right circle that found its way
through congestion and into the left edge, tying
the game 2-2.
It stayed 2-2 through the end of the third period,
and through a scoreless 5-minute overtime. Next
up, each team selected three players for a shootout
to decide the game. UMD coach Maura Crowell, a
quick-learner herself, sent Hughes out first and the
freshman scored on Gopher goalie Sydney Scobee.
Minnesota coach Brad Frost sent out Amy Potomak,
the freshman half of the British Columbia first-line
sisters with junior Sarah Potomak. Amy rushed in
and was just about to make her move when Rooney,
cat-quick, dived out and poke-checked the puck
away from Potomak’s stick.
Next up was UMD’s Ryleigh Houston, and she
also scored. That meant the Gophers No. 2 shooter
would have to score or the shootout would be over
and give UMD the extra point after the tie. The
second Gopher shooter was none other than Kelly
Pannek.
If they were still roommates, this one could
have been for who would have to do the dishes or
something. Instead, it was for that important WCHA
point -- and bragging rights between the two
forever more.
Pannek skated in swiftly, made her move, and ‚ as
recollections of Rooney’s gold-medal-winning save
against Canada were regenerated — Rooney came
up with the save. The game is officially a tie in NCAA
records, but UMD owns a 3-2 “unofficial” victory in
WCHA points.
“The Saturday
game on
the league’s
opening
weekend
showed
promise for
both teams...”
— John Gilbert
“Oh yeah, we had a little joust at the end,” said
Rooney, flashing her trademark smile because she
knows she’ll be running into her old roomie again
this season.
After a quick dinner break, the AMSOIL Arena ice
was set up for the men’s game, which was preceded
by the raising of the NCAA championship banner.
It was also the first game as Gophers coach for Bob
Motzko, who left after building St. Cloud State into
an NCHC powerhouse to take the Minnesota job.
It was a fast, tense game, with scoring chances at a
premium.
Sampo Ranta, a Gophers freshman from Finland,
scored with a quick shot off a pass to the slot by
Tommy Novak at 12:07 of the first period. The
Gophers held the Bulldogs off the scoreboard
through the second period, and early in the third,
Kobe Roth shot off a great pass across the slot from
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