September 26th

After a 3+ month off season, Christophers Crease is back. Pete Waggoner and myself are still working hard (well mainly Pete) for several of the new changes to both TheStitch.us and MyFoxHockey.com along with a weekly radio hockey show starting in just a few weeks.

It felt kinda weird at the Wild's first preseason game on Wednesday against Columbus getting back into the swing of things. It didn't seem like five months had past since last being in the Al Shaver Press Box during the playoffs. It felt surreal in a sense, as did the Gopher Womens game tonight. Guess it goes to show that the media along with the players needs a training camp/few games to get back into the grove.

Be sure to check back as between the Crease, The Stitch, and My Fox Hockey we'll have plenty of Wild, Gopher Women, and Gopher Mens coverage for you, and thanks for your support.



GOPHERS DOWN SASKATCHEWAN 8-0

Minneapolis, Mn - The University of Minnesota Womens Hockey team opened the 2008-09 season Friday night at Ridder Arena with an exhibition against the University of Saskatchewan (Canada). The Gophers are coming off a 27-7-4 season (21-5-2, 2nd WCHA) in which they returned to the NCAA post-season after a year hiatus, helped in part to a 21-game unbeaten streak (19-0-2, November 18th to February 23rd), but lost a 3-2 heartbreaker in overtime to Wisconsin in the NCAA Regionals and just missed going to the Frozen Four.

Gone from last years roster are Whitney Graft, Erica McKenzie, Anya Miller, Jenelle Philipczyk and Bobbi Ross, who led the Gophers to two national championship games and 110 wins, and three of the top five scorers in McKenzie, Ross and Miller. Minnesota does return 15 letterwinners, including first-team All-WCHA selections Gigi Marvin and Rachael Drazan. Marvin, a second-team All-American, led the team in scoring with 54 points, which was good enough for 2nd in the Conference and eighth in the Nation. Drazen was second among defensewomen in scoring, and led them in plus/minus with a rating of +19.

The Gophers didn't waste any time once the puck dropped as they got their first offensive chance and shot on goal just :23 in, as Senior Gili Marvin's wrist shot went off the blocker of Saskatchewan's Vanessa Frederick. Junior Kelli Blankenship's fired a slapper from the left circle at 5:46 that hit off the pipe, and it wasn't until 6:44 that Minnesota's Gili Marvin scored the games first goal on the power play. The Gophers added another one about six minutes later off the stick of Freshman Monique Lamoureux, again on the power play. It wasn't until 15:15 in that Saskatchewan got their first shot on goal, and at periods end were trailing 18-1 in that department, as Minnesota established control early on and converted two of three power play chances on four total shots in the first period.

As is usually the case in most exhibition games the Gophers played all three of their goaltenders one period. Sophomore Jenny Lura for the first, Freshman Alyssa Grogan for the second, and Senior Kim Hanlon for the third.

Minnesota added three more goals in the second period from Junior Brittany Francis, Lamoureux's second, and Junior Kelli Blankenship, and got third period goals from Freshman Nikki Ludwigson, Sophomore Jen Schoullis, and Freshman Sarah Erickson.

New to WCHA play this year is the shootout. Just like in the NHL, if the score is tied at the end of regulation a five-minute overtime period is played, and if no one scores there will be a best of three shootout. Even though the game ended with the Gophers winning 8-0, the shootout was still practiced. For the record, Minnesota won it 2-1 with goals from Gili Marvin and Monique Lamaureux, and Chelsea Purcell converted for Saskatchewan.

The Gophers will play another exhibition game against the U.S. National Team at Ridder Arena on Sunday at 2pm, before opening the season October 3rd and 4th at home against Robert Morris.


GAME STATS

Shots on Goal:

SASK 1-6-3 10
MINN 18-13-16 47

Faceoffs Won

SASK 31
MINN 36

Penalties--Minutes

SASK 5--10
MINN 5--10

Power Plays

SASK 0-5 (2 SOG, Time 8:08)
MINN 2-5 (10 SOG, Time 7:24)

Goals:

SASK 0-0-0 0 (SO 1)
MINN 2-3-3 8 (SO 2)

Prd--Time--Team--Scored by (Assist/s)

1st--06:44--Minn-- PP Gili Marvin (Emily West)
1st--12:22--Minn-- PP Monique Lamoureux (Sarah Erickson, Anne Schleper)

2nd--10:31--Minn--EV Brittany Francis (Kelli Blankenship, Sarah Erickson)
2nd--16:20--Minn--EV Monique Lamoureux (Jocelyne Lamoure, Alexandra Zebro)
2nd--19:05--Minn--EV Kelli Blankenship (Brittany Francis, Sarah Erickson)

3rd--12:58--Minn--EV Nikki Ludwigson (Terra Rasmussen)
3rd--15:23--Minn--EV Jen Schoullis (Kelly Seeler)
3rd--18:22--Minn--SH Sarah Erickson (Gigi Marvin)


Goalie Stats:

Minnesota

Jenny Lura (Win) 20:00 Min 0 GA 1 SV
Alyssa Grogan 20:00 Min 0 GA 6 SV
Kim Hanlon 20:00 Min 0 GA 3 SV


Saskatchewan

Vanessa Frederick (Loss) 40:00 Min 5 GA 26 SV
Chauntal Armet 20:00 Min 3 GA 13 SV