Missing out on an NCAA Frozen Four right in their backyard was a disappointment for the Minnesota Duluth women last March, but a new season provides a new incentive that is within arm's reach.
The 2013 Division I semifinals and final are March 22 and 24 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. UMD's most recent of five NCAA titles was won there in 2010.
"Last season was hard to take. It was hard for us, our fans and our coaches," senior defenseman Jessica Wong of Baddeck, Nova Scotia, UMD's captain, said last week. "What we learned was that there are going to ups and downs, but you can help yourself by being ready for every game. We weren't ready for some games in the first half of the season and that cost us at the end.
"We want to start on a positive note and play well from the start. We have a young team that's going to take some time to become a team, but there's skill at every position."
UMD coach Shannon Miller, entering her 14th season, and the Bulldogs begin practice today at Amsoil Arena. An exhibition series against the Minnesota Whitecaps on Sept. 28-29 will be followed by the regular-season opening games Oct. 5-6 against Ohio State in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association meeting at home.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Bulldogs are ranked No. 7 and No. 8 in two major preseason polls. UMD was No. 11 in the final 2012 PairWise Rankings, which mimic the NCAA tournament selection process. The top eight teams are chosen.
UMD (21-14-1) finished with the most losses and second-fewest wins in program history and missed qualifying for the NCAA tournament for just the second time.
"Our power play didn't do well last season, we didn't have offensive depth and we had players who weren't consistent," said Miller, who has a Division I-leading record of 334-101-35. "We clearly have more depth this season, we have an infusion of youth and energy, and my message is that all of our players need to produce."
The Bulldogs were fourth in the WCHA in 2011-12 and will again be locked in a four-way league and national battle with Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. After starting 5-7-1, UMD went 16-7 the last 23 games last season and beat defending NCAA champion Wisconsin 3-1 in the WCHA playoff semifinals and lost 2-0 to eventual champion Minnesota in the title game.
Minnesota ultimately defeated Wisconsin 4-2 in the Division I final at Amsoil Arena. In two previous Frozen Fours in Duluth, at the DECC in 2003 and 2008, UMD won two championships.
"At the end of (last) season I think we were one of the best four teams in the country, and it was painfully devastating to not get selected," said Miller. "We came a long way over the year, but you are judged on your entire body of work and we started too slowly."
Among five losses to graduation were scoring leader Haley Irwin, fifth in UMD career scoring with 206 points, and goalie Jennifer Harss, with the third-most wins in program history (57) and fourth-best save percentage (.931) in a three-year career.
Sixteen of 23 players are freshmen and sophomores, although 12 of the top 13 scorers return, led by senior Audrey Cournoyer, sophomore Jenna McParland and seniors Wong, Katie Wilson and Pernilla Winberg. The Bulldogs also have a strong defensive group with Wong and sophomores Brigette Lacquette and Tea Villila.
ADVERTISEMENT
The biggest question mark, by far, is in goal. UMD prospered the past six years with international stars Kim Martin of Sweden and Harss of Germany. Vying for the starting job are freshmen Sofia Carlstrom of Sweden and Kayla Black of Blyth, Ontario, along with Karissa Grapp of Essexville, Mich.
"Our theme is to start fresh, to turn a new leaf," junior forward and assistant captain Jamie Kenyon of Sparta, Wis., said. "We're a well-rounded team with the deepest roster in my three years here.
"Last year I don't think a lot of us realized the big picture, right from our first series against Boston College. We split games and at the end of the year, they were in the NCAA tournament and we weren't. Every game needs to be taken seriously."
