While the No. 5 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team currently sports one of the smallest rosters it has had in program history, one thing is for certain: the Bulldogs won't have that problem next year.
UMD signed five players for the first signing date of the class of 2010, and with the addition of the five Bulldogs currently centralized with their respective national teams ahead of the Olympics, (Kim Martin, Elin Holmlov, Haley Irwin, Jocelyne Larocque and Pernilla Winberg), the Maroon and Gold will have plenty of depth next season.
The Bulldogs new signees include forward Dana Gallop (Grand Rapids, Minnesota), forward Jamie Kenyon (Sparta, Wisconsin), forward Jenna McParland (Schreiber, Ontario), forward Brienna Gillanders (Kyle, Saskatchewan), and defenseman Noora Jaakkola (Toijala, Finland).
“We are excited to announce this new, talented, group of freshmen for next year,” said head coach Shannon Miller, currently in her 11th season with the Bulldogs. “Each and every single one of them is affilated with their respective national team programs, which indicates the caliber of of athlete we are signing. I am very excited that we have members of the US, Canada and Finnish national team programs joining us next season.”
Gallop, a pre-season Ms. Hockey finalist and current Team USA U-18 member, will provide UMD with some offensive pop and a little bit of local flare. The 2009 MN AP All-State selection from Grand Rapids/Greenway, scored 42 points last season as a junior (22g, 20a) and 49 points as a sophomore (20g, 29a), and is a smart, offensive player who owns great puck movement skills.
One of two players with Team USA U-18 experience, Kenyon has spent the past eight seasons playing for the Madison Capitals, where she has been a four-year captain. Kenyon was a member if the U-18 team that won the International World Cup Tournament last January, and is a four-year US National Development Camp participant. Kenyon's older sister, Cyndy, played for the University of Wisconsin.
The 5'10 McParland comes from Toronto Junior Aeros club, and was a member of the U-18 Team Ontario squad that won the gold medal at the Canadian National Championships. McParland netted Most Valuable Player honors after scoring two goals in the gold medal game. A member of Team Canada U-18 Conditioning and Selection Camps, McParland will bring excellent puck control, great size and a goal scoring touch to the Bulldogs next season.
Gillanders, who currently suits up for the Notre Dame Hounds, led the league in scoring two years ago as a member of the Swift Current of the Midget AAA League. A member of the Team Canada U-18 Condidtioning and Selection Camps with McParland, Gillanders played for Team Saskatchewan in the last Canadian National Championships.
Jaakkola is the only addition to the 2010 class to come from outside of North America, and is a member of the U-18 Finnish National Team. A tough defender who is strong and moves the puck well, Jaakola had an assist and a +3 rating in the 2008 IIHF Women's World U-18 Championships.
“This group of five brings size, talent and Under-18 national team experience to our program,” said Miller. “With these additions and the return of our five Olympians, we will have a great deal of depth on our roster next season.”
