Minnesota Women's Hockey 2025-26

[robertearle]

After starting a 'new season coming' thread for Ohio State, I was asked to do something similar for Minnesota. So here goes. There will *certainly* be Gopher fans who can speak more knowledgably about the makeup of the roster, and how the pieces might fit together. This is more an 'accounting' of the comings and goings from last year to this. And there was plenty of coming and going...

Graduating players from 2024-25:

Forwards:
Audrey Wethington
Peyton Hemp
Ella Huber
Natalie Mlynkova

Defenders:
Maggie Nicholson

Goalie
Olivia King

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Players from 2024-25 transferring out:

Forwards:
Ayla Puppe
Emma Conner
Lauren O'Hara

Defenders:
Krista Parkkonen
Elly Klepinger
Kate Kosobud

Goalie:
Skylar Vetter

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Returning players:

Forwards:
Abbey Murphy
Josefin Bouveng
Ava Lindsay
Emma Kreisz
Allie Franco
Madison Kaiser
Kendra Distad

Defenders:
Chloe Primerano
Sydney Morrow
Nelli Laitinen
Gracie Graham
Carly Humphrey

Goalies:
Hannah Clark
Sophia Johnson

-----------------------

Players transferring in:

Forwards:
Sarah Nelson (Princeton)
Jamie Paul (Mankato)

Defender:
Molly Jordan (BC)

-----------------------------

Incoming freshmen:

Forwards:
Sienna D'Alessandro
Bella Fanale
Avery Hovland
Tereza Plosova
Olivia Kortan

Defender:
Sydney Bailey

Goalie:
Layla Hemp


After carrying a roster of 27 for the 2024-25 season, the Gophers lose 13 of those 27 to graduation and transfer. 14 players return, though three of them played sparingly (due to the roster size? or injury?). They add 10 players; three transfers and seven incoming freshmen. That gives them a roster size of 24; 14 forwards, 7 defenders, and 3 goalies.

As I said, I'll leave it to others on how the new pieces will mesh with the 'old'.

(Apologies for any typos or mis-spellings, etc.)

 

[eastcoastgopher]

Parkkonen's out. Transferred to UMD.

 

[robertearle]

Parkkonen's out. Transferred to UMD.

As I said, lots of coming and going...

Post will be corrected. Thanks. If anyone else sees something wrong, of course call it out.

 

[eastcoastgopher]

Last year of Murphy. Last year of Bouveng. Last year of Laitinen. Last year of Morrow. Only year of Nelson.

It's interesting that the floor for Gopher recruits has been "transferring out". Only Kreisz and Lindsay remain from the six-player 23-24 freshman group. Graham/Primerano/Clark in 24-25 is a recruiting class most college programs would kill to have, but two of the other four were one-and-done. D'Alessandro/Fanale/Plosova/Hemp have the makings of another great core, but when I look at, let's say Wisconsin, I find two key differences. One is that they had more than one player shouldering the offensive load. The other is the floor; middle-line Badger players are making key on-ice contributions against the other top teams. Lower-line players are sticking around and trying to work their way up, in many cases successfully. Blame whatever you want as to why, but that hasn't been happening in Gopherland.

As a positive, Clark just didn't get a break last year because of the Vetter injury and now will have a partner who can take some starts. I thought Clark was really good last year but a less intense workload should result in better numbers. Year 2 Primerano *should* really show that she's already one of the very best at her position in the country. Last year there was a difference of 17 goals between Murphy and the second-leading goal scorer and a difference of 17 points between Murphy and the second-leading point getter. Paul, if she can handle the transition to the WCHA (and I have no reason to believe she can't), should close the gap in the former category this year.

There isn't a reason for me to believe this is the best team in the country, but this is a team where if—and it's a considerable-sized if—the core players' floors are raised they should have a legitimate shot at a title.

But the apathy will continue if they don't prove that early on.

 

[Moosefan1]

One small observation - I saw Fanale play at the U19 nationals this spring (where her team easily won the championship) and she was pretty electric at times. Very noticeable for her compete level and strength on the puck. I don't have enough experience watching players transition into college hockey to know whether it'll transfer, but she's got the potential to be very good.

(Although the other super-noticeable player from her team was Lopusanova, who will be a Badger, so not sure there will be a net gain for the Gophers anyway).