Game Information:
Date: Tuesday, November 3
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Superior, Wis. | Siinto S. Wessman Arena
Live Coverage: Video| Stats
SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College women’s hockey team will open its 2015-16 season on Tuesday evening when it travels to Superior, Wisconsin for a non-conference contest with UW-Superior at Siinto S. Wessman Arena. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m.
After earning the regular season Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Championship last season and posting an overall record of 19-5-2, the Gusties earned the No. 8 ranking in the USCHO.com preseason poll and No. 9 ranking in the D3hockey.com preseason poll. Gustavus earned the No. 1 seed in the MIAC Playoffs in 2014-15, but were upset by Bethel University in the semifinals. However, despite its early exit from the conference playoffs, the Gusties are one of just two MIAC teams to be ranked in the USCHO.com poll and the only MIAC team ranked in the D3hockey.com poll.
Who’s Back?
Gustavus returns 13 players from its 2014-15 roster. Forwards Allison Eder-Zdechlik (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.), Erica Power (So., Lakeville, Minn.), and goalie Lindsey Hibbard (Sr., Princeton, Minn.) will be counted on to lead this season’s squad as Gustauvs’ returning All-Conference performers from a year ago. Power was the team’s leading scorer last season with 27 points off nine goals and 18 assists. Eder-Zdechlik tied for second on the team with 20 points off nine goals and 11 assists, while Hibbard compiled a record of 17-4-2 in 1405:35 minutes played, while recording seven shutouts between the pipes. Rachel Skoglund (So., Forest Lake, Minn.) also returns after being named to the 2014-15 MIAC All-Rookie Team and ranking second on the team in defender scoring with eight points off two goals and six assists.
Re-joining Eder-Zdechlik and Power up front will be Emily Reibert (Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) (8G, 2A), Emily Gustafson (Jr., Esko, Minn.) (2A), Allie Lewis (Jr., Kearney, Neb.) (1G, 3A), Diana Draayer (So., Deephaven, Minn.) (4G, 10A), Katy Fuller (So., Minneapolis, Minn.) (2G, 4A), and Kaitlyn Klein (So., Plymouth, Minn.) (6G, 6A).
Returning to join Skoglund on the blue line will be Courtney Bethune (Jr., Fort Frances, Ontario), Laura Johnson (So., Chanhassen, Minn.) (5A), and Courtney Potter (Jr., Dayton, Minn.) (1G), each who bring valuable experience to the Gustie defense.
Who’s New?
Gustavus will welcome 11 first-year players to this season’s squad. Kalley Spreiter (Litchfield, Minn.), Georgia Eger (Stillwater, Minn.), Madison Bergren (Mahtomedi, Minn.), Allie Stanger (Paynesville, Minn.), and Brooke Pahlen (Lakeville, Minn.) all come in at the forward position and will look to further bolster a team that ranked second only to Bethel in the MIAC in goals per game last season with three. The Gusties welcome Marina Chapman (South Haven, Minn.), Anna DeBoom (Apple Valley, Minn.), Erin Moes (Hastings, Minn.), and Laine Fischer (Northfield, Minn.) to help reinforce a blue line that allowed the least amount of goals per game in the MIAC with 1.58 last season. Gustavus also brings in two new goalies in Paige Press (Cottage Grove, Minn.) and Amanda DiNella (Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) who will look to keep Hibbard fresh between the pipes.
Who’s Gone?
At forward, Gustavus will be tasked with replacing 2014 and 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-American, NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winner, 2013-14 and 2014-15 All-Conference honoree, and 2014-15 Sheila Brown Winner Carolyn Draayer ’15 who led the team in goals with 12 and finished tied for second in total points with 20 last season. On the defensive side, the Gusties will be without 2015 All-American and 2013-14 and 2014-15 All-Conference honoree Courtney Boucher ’15 on the ice, however, Boucher remains with the Black and Gold as an assistant coach. Last season, Boucher led Gustie defenders with 14 points off five goals and nine assists.
Scouting UW-Superior
Last season, UW-Superior fell in the WIAC semifinals to UW-Stevens Point by a score of 5-0 to finish its season with an overall record of 15-12-0. Gustavus also faced UW-Superior in its 2014-15 season opener, and defeated the Yellowjackets 3-1 on Nov 4, 2014 at Don Roberts Ice Rink. UW-Superior has played twice already this season, as it split a two-game series with Saint Mary’s University, falling 5-2 in game one, but picking up a 2-0 victory in game two.
Tuesday’s game will mark the 21st meeting between Gustavus and UW-Superior in women’s hockey. The Gusties have controlled the all-time series with a record of 13-5-2, however, the series has been evenly matched as of late, with Gustavus going 3-2-2 against the Yellowjackets over the course of the last four seasons.
Gusatvus Links
Roster | Schedule/Results | Statistics
UW-Superior Links
Roster | Schedule/Results | Statistics