The No. 9 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will begin its postseason trek this Friday when Bemidji State University comes to town for the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's playoffs.  The series will get underway at AMSOIL Arena 2 p.m. Friday, followed by a 1 p.m. Saturday game, and if needed, 2 p.m. Sunday.

USCHO RANKING:  UMD-- 9th, Bemidji State--- N/R
USA TODAY/USA HOCKEY MAG: UMD-- 9th, Bemidji State-- N/R
PAIRWISE RANKING:  UMD-- 8th, Bemidji State-- 14th
 
THE SERIES:  All-time, UMD is 61-6-2 against BSU.  Five of UMD's six all-time losses have occurred in past four years.  Overall, UMD and BSU split on the regular season at 2-2, but the Beavers outscored the Bulldogs 9-5.  UMD outshot BSU 135-106 in those four games.

The two teams last tangled on Jan. 10-11 at AMSOIL, a series split.  In the Jan. 10 4-1 loss, BSU struck twice on its power play.  The Bulldogs lone goal came from Zoe Hickel, who tied the game at 1-1 8:48 into the second period.  UMD outshot BSU 38-25.
Sunday, Jan. 11 was a different story for the Bulldogs, who struck first on a goal by Katerina Mrázová 4:34 into the opening stanza.  Though the Beavers equalized  18 seconds later, UMD again pummeled BSU with shots and was finally rewarded with 52 seconds left in the second period.  Brienna Gillanders redirected a shot from the point from Brigette Lacquette, and it would be the only goal UMD would need.  Kayla Black made 23 saves in the win.

UMD outshot BSU 74-49 on the weekend, but the Beavers outscored the Bulldogs 5-3.  

BSU and UMD has met five times in post season WCHA play.  The Bulldogs own a record of 5-0 in those games, and last met on March 6, 2010 in the WCHA Final Face-Off semifinals at Ridder Arena.  That skate was a 7-3 win for the UMD.

A closer look at the Bulldogs and Beavers WCHA postseason history --
UMD 7, BSU 3 March 6, 2010
WCHA Final Face-Off semifinals

UMD 5, BSU 1 March 1, 2008 First Round
UMD 6, BSU 0 Feb. 29, 2008 First Round

UMD 3, BSU 0 March 4, 2006 First Round
UMD 7, BSU 2 March 3, 2006 First Round

WHERE THEY FINISHED:  The Bulldogs finished in fourth place in the WCHA with a record of 14-10-4-2 in league play and 19-10-5 overall.  BSU ended up in fifth place with a conference record of 13-14-1-1 and an overall record of 18-15-1.  While the Bulldogs swept OSU last weekend, the Beavers were swept at home by the No. 2 University of Minnesota 2-3 and 2-4.

LAST TIME OUT:  Last Friday night senior Zoe Hickel scored in the opening 23 seconds of the second period.  After OSU equalized, it was rookie defenseman Jessica Healey with a bouncing shot from the left point that found the net and the game-winning goal at 17:26 mark.  Sophomore Michela Cava, who already had an assist on Healey's score, netted her own power play goal 1:15 into the third period to ice the game at 3-1 for UMD.  Ashleigh Brykaliuk, the Bulldogs second leading scorer, did not play.

The Bulldogs found themselves down 2-0 Sunday before finally getting on the scoreboard with 17 seconds remaining in the second stanza on a goal by Katerina Mrázová.  Healey again found the twine, this time knotting the game at 2-2 at 8:59 of the third period.  From there, UMD would offensively overwhelm the Buckeyes with three more goals, including a game-winning tip from Brienna Gillanders on a Brigette Lacquette blast at 12:56 for the 3-2 lead.  Hickel and Lara Stalder would each add empty netters to pad the final 5-2 score.

NOTES FROM THE OHIO STATE SERIES:  The Bulldogs are 61-12-3 all-time against OSU.  UMD finishes the regular season 3-0-1-1 against the Buckeyes and the Bulldogs are unbeaten versus OSU in their last five skates, and have gone 7-1-3 in their last 11 head-to-head contests.

-- The series sweep was UMD's seventh of the year, the most by a Bulldog squad since the 2010-11 season.

-- Seven total players posted two or more points in a game against OSU over the weekend, including five that did so Sunday (Brigette Lacquette, Zoe Hickel, Lara Stalder, Brienna Gillanders, and Katerina Mrázovå).

UMD'S WCHA PLAYOFF HISTORY:  Since the WCHA went to a quarterfinal game (2005) or series (2006), UMD has advanced nine times out of a possible 10. From the 2005-06 season until present, the Bulldogs have been at home for every quarterfinal series possible.  (The 2005 quarterfinal game against North Dakota was held in Minneapolis, Minn.)

UMD owns five WCHA Playoff crowns, with the last one won in 2010.  (The others were won in 2008, 2003, 2001 and 2000.)  The Bulldogs own an overall record of 31-12 in the WCHA postseason, which includes a dominant quarterfinal record of 17-4.  

HEALEY NABS WCHA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK HONORS:  It was impossible to overlook Jessica Healey last weekend, and apparently the WCHA agreed.

UMD freshman defenseman Healey nabbed the WCHA's Rookie of the Week honor Tuesday after her two-goal (including one game-winner) weekend against Ohio State University.  Healey helped the No. 9 Bulldogs sweep the Buckeyes by scores of 3-1 and 5-2 and secure first round WCHA playoff ice for the upcoming weekend.

A native of  Edmonton, Alberta, Healey put a bouncing puck on goal and past the goaltender Friday night at the 17:26 mark of the second period to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead.  It was Healey's lone shot of the game, where she also was +1, but more importantly, her first goal in a UMD sweater.  Sunday afternoon Healey then did it again, drawing UMD even with OSU at 2-2 8:59 into the third period on a wrist shot from the left circle.  In the series, Healey had two goals on two shots and was +2.

BULLDOG NOTES:  With three assists, Brigette Lacquette has now climbed to the seventh all-time scoring defenseman with 67 points and is tied with Jessica Wong for the seventh most assists by a blue liner   Lacquette ranks 8th in the nation among all scoring defenseman with 23 points on six goals and 17 helpers.

--  Zoe Hickel has 92 career points after a one goal, two assist weekend (45g, 47a) and leads UMD in both scoring with 31 points and goals with 18 in just 33 games.

-- Jenna McParland 's three assists against OSU push her into sole possession of 14th place on UMD's all-time career scoring chart with 114 points (50 goals, 64 assists).

----UMD has yet to lose with a lead after the first period of play (8-0-2) and has suffered just one setback when holding on to a lead after two periods (16-1-1).  Ironically enough, the Bulldogs have scored just 19 goals in the first period, while now having netted 36 second and 38 third period goals.

HICKEL HAVING CAREER YEAR:  It will come to the surprise of no one, but senior winger Zoe Hickel is having the best season of her four-year career.  

The Anchorage, Alaska product skated past her previous season high for goals three weeks ago (13) and currently sits with 18 goals in 33 games this year.  WIth a goal and an assist last weekend against North Dakota, Hickel jumped past her previous season-high point total of 27 (13g, 14a) and currently owns 18 goals and 13 assists for 31points -- over just 33 outings.

Hickel -- who has increased her point output every season she has been a Bulldog (12 points as a rookie, 22 as a sophomore and 27 a a junior)  -- has 89 career points on 43 goals and 46 helpers.  Those 89 points now puts Hickel in the crosshairs of the 100 point club.  

Her teammate and fellow senior Jenna  McParland became the 19th member of the 100 point club earlier this season on Oct. 26.

BLACK'S (RECORD) BOOK:  Junior goaltender Kayla Black is wreaking havoc on the UMD goaltending record books.
Black earned her the 18th shutout of her three-year career on a 41 save performance against Wisconsin on Feb. 6.  That 18th shutout makes Black UMD's all-time career shutout leader and new record holder, surpassing former Bulldog All-American Riitta Schaublin.  

With a 4-0 shutout on Jan. 24, junior goaltender Kayla Black took over sole possession of the single-season shutout record at UMD, but added to it last Friday night to give her No. 9 of the season.  Black now sits No. 6th all-time in the UMD record books with her 788 current single-season saves.  

Black  surpassed Jennifer Harss for third on the career saves list, with a total of 2,437 after the weekend sweep.  Black has played 99 career games, (10 more played than Harss) and is now tied with Kim Martin with the second most games played by a UMD netminder in a career.  Riitta Schaublin has the record with 104.

Black is ranked third in the nation with her nine shutouts, 10th with a saves percentage of .935 and 15th with a GAA of 1.75.  Of players ranked in the top-20 for saves percentage, Black ranks second with 788 total saves.

WIth 16 wins this season, Black jumped into a tie for the 8th most wins in a season by a UMD netminder.  It is also a career season-high for Black.

SENIOR SALUTE:  The Bulldogs will honor their seven seniors after the game Sunday.  Those seniors include Zoe Hickel, Emma Stauber, Brigette Lacquette, Brienna Gillanders, Tea Villila, Meghan Huertas and Jenna McParland.  A closer look at the 2014-2015 senior class.

EMMA STAUBER - Duluth, Minn. - Defense - The Duluth native and two-year captain is currently four games away from cracking into the all-time games played column at UMD.  Stauber will enter this weekend having played 140 consecutive career games, already a Bulldog record for consecutive games played.  In those 140 games, Stauber has scored three goals and recorded 20 assists for 23 points over her four years.  She is a two-time member of the WCHA's All-Academic Team. Stauber is one of only two Duluth natives ever to wear the "C".

JENNA MCPARLAND - Schreiber, Ontario - Forward  Currently 14th all-time in career scoring at UMD, McParland has amassed 50 goals, 64 assists for 114 points in 138 games.  The current alternative captain has landed on three WCHA teams, including the 2013-14 All-WCHA Third Team, the 2012-13 All-WCHA Second Team and the 2011-12 WCHA All-Rookie Team.  

MEGHAN HUERTAS - Boynton Beach, Fla. - Forward Transferred from the University of Vermont in time for her junior season. Has compiled 19 goals and 17 assists for 36 points in 69 skates.  Huertas has compiled two or more points on eight occassions as a Bulldog.

ZOE HICKEL - Anchorage, Alaska - Forward
The two-year captain has increased her offensive output every season of her four-year career, and currently leads UMD with 31 points on a team-high 18 goals and 13 assists.  Hickel has rolled up 92 career points on 45 goals and 47 assists in 135 games.  A 2013-14 WCHA All-Academic Team member, she is currently a top-five finalist for the BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented annually to college hockey's finest citizen.

TEA VILLILA - Hyvinkaa, Finland - Defense
A 2010 Olympian, she played in 115 games as a Bulldog, and has scored five goals and dished out 30 assists for 35 points over her career.  A two-time WCHA All-Academic Team member, she missed seven games this season due to an injury she is currently still courageously battling.    

BRIGETTE LACQUETTE - Mallard, Manitoba - Defense  In just three seasons, Lacquette has imposed herself on the record books.  Currently tied for 4th in career goals by a defenseman with 19, she also sits 7th for blueliner assists with 48 and seventh for career points with 67.  She was named to the 2012-13 All-USCHO.com Third Team, and also selected to the 2012-13 All-WCHA Second Team and 2011-12 All-WCHA Rookie Team.   

BRIENNA GILLANDERS - Kyle, SASKATCHEWAN - Forward The fifth-year senior was granted another season after losing the 2013-14 season to a knee injury, and has currently played in 140 games -- four shy of cracking into the top-10 at UMD for games played.  With 27 goals and 23 assists, she has registered at total of 50 points, which includes 15 power play tallies.  The alternate captain is a three-time WCHA All-Academic Team performer off the ice, and was named a prestgious WCHA Scholar Athlete in 2013-14.


HICKEL NAMED TO U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER FOR IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:  UMD senior forward Zoe Hickel has been selected to the roster for the U.S. Women's National Team that will compete in the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship, March 28 through April 4 at Malmo Isstadion in Malmo, Sweden.

Hickel, currently tied for the scoring lead at UMD with 28 points on a Bulldog-best 14 goals and 14 assists, had a successful USA Hockey Winter Training Camp back in late Dec. in Blaine, Minn.  The current U.S. hockey IIHF team will mark the first senior national team Hickel has participated over her hockey career.

U.S. Hockey's 23-player roster features 13 members of the silver medal-winning 2014 U.S. Women's Olympic hockey team.

HICKEL ONE OF FIVE FINALISTS FOR 2015 HOCKEY HUMANITARIAN AWARD:  The BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award announced last Friday that University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey senior Zoe Hickel has been named oned of five finalists for the 2015 award.  The award is presented annually to college hockey's finest citizen.

The forward from Anchorage, Alaska and two-time co-captian helped create, organize and direct the "Great Alaska Girls Hockey Showcase", beginning in 2012 for Alaskan girls who are unable or can't afford to do the showcase circuit.  Hickel continues to volunteer with SPYDER non-profit (Sports Programs for Youth Development, Education and Recreation) with running fundraisers, coaching soccer and downhill ski racing and initiaiting and directing the Falls Festival youth hockey camps.  An assistant volunteer coach for Alaska's All-Star Girls Hockey program, Hickel is also the creator, organizer and administrator of the SHARK Kids healthy lifestyle program, which will reach up to 20,000 Duluth, Minn. elementary school students and has a focurs on eating healthy and being active every day.

Hickel, along with University of Wisconsin senior forward Brittany Ammerman and Katelyn Scott of Robert Morris represent the women named finalists. Mark MacMillan of North Dakota, Jamie Murray of Babson College round out the top five and were the only two men selected in the final five.

The recipient will be announced Friday, April 10th as part of the 2015 NCAA Men's Frozen Four in Boston, Mass.  Additionally, the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation will make a donation to the charity most important to each finalist.

FLYING THEIR COLORS -- HOST OF BULLDOGS HAVE BEEN REPORTING FOR NATIONAL TEAM DUTY THIS SEASON:  Six Bulldogs had international duties over the holiday break, starting with senior captain Zoe Hickel, who spent Dec. 27-31 in Blain, Minn. at the USA Hockey Winter Camp.  

Hickel was one of 40 players invited to the 2014 USA Hockey Women's Winter Training Camp that was held Dec. 27-31 at Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, Minn.  The roster also included 16 members of the silver medal-winning 2014 U.S Women's Olympic Hockey Team.  

Katerina Mrázová spent time with the Czech Republic's squad, while four players suiting up for two different teams skated in the Nations Cup in Fussen, Germany.  Rookies Linnea Hedin, Maria Lindh and Michelle Lowenhielm all won silver medals with Team Sweden, while sophomore Lara Stalder represented Switzerland.

Brigette Lacquette and assistant coach Laura Schuler spent a week at Canada's National Women's Team training camp that ran from Jan. 26-30.

Lacquette was one of 24 players that was invited, including one of just nine defensemen.  She will join former Bulldogs Caroline Ouellette, Jocelyne Lacrocque, Haley Irwin and Jessica Wong, who have also been invited.  Ouellette, Lacrocque and Irwin won gold medals with Team Canada in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia (Ouellette owns four gold medals, Irwin owns two Olympic gold medals total) and Wong won a gold medal with Canada's National Women's Development Team at the 2015 Nations Cup in Fussen, Germany.

For a full PDF version of this release, click here.

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