The No. 7/8 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will travel to Cambridge, Mass. this weekend to face No. 10 Harvard University at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center, literally ringing in the new year with a Friday-Saturday series that will get underway at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. It will mark just the second weekend and third and fourth games the Bulldogs have played outside of the grueling Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
BULLDOG QUICK HITS
HUGHES LEADS NATION IN POINTS PER GAME -- Senior center Gabbie Hughes leads the nation with a 1.81 points per game average through her first 16 games, and ranks second with a 1.19 assists per game average. Senior forward Élizabeth Giguère sits third with 1.12 assists per game . Klein ranks sixth in the nation in goals per game with 11 in 16 skates, while Giguere ranks sixth in points per game in the NCAA at 1.69.
THE GREAT GIGUERE -- Giguère is currently tied for first among all active players in the NCAA for career assists (151) and second in points (259). Giguère also ranks second in points per game (1.69), first in assists per game (0.99), second in goals (108) and first in game-winning goals (25).
GAMES ON: While the Bulldogs have played the eighth fewest games in the NCAA so far this season with 16 (and the fewest in the WCHA), Harvard has actually skated in fewer. The Crimson are tied for the fewest games played so far with 12.
IT'S BEEN AWHILE: Going all the way to the 2016-17 season -- the last time UMD and Harvard met for a series -- on Nov. 25-26, 2016, the Bulldogs swept Harvard in Cambridge, Mass. by scores of 4-1 and a 2-1 overtime thriller.
INTRODUCTIONS NEEDED: Ironically, while UMD's staff and program may have history with Harvard, not a single player currently on the roster has skated against the Crimson in a Bulldog sweater. While at Clarkson University, graduate senior Élizabeth Giguère has skated in six career games against Harvard, logging five goals and five assists for 10 points, a 1.66 points per game average.
THE SERIES: All-time, UMD is 12-5-1 all-time against Harvard and 3-1 since Crowell took the coaching helm. The Bulldogs are 39-19-4 in the ECAC, the home conference of the Crimson, and defeated St. Lawrence 4-3 in overtime on Nov. 27 in the D1 in DC showcase. The Saints are the lone common opponent so far between the Bulldogs and Crimson -- Harvard defeated St. Lawrence 2-0 on the road back on Nov. 5.
Notably, the Crimson share one of UMD's all-time great program moments, as it was Harvard the Bulldogs defeated on March 23, 2003 in the DECC after two overtimes to win the 2003 NCAA title by a score of 4-3.
The two sides also met in the 2002 NCAA Frozen Four semifinals, where UMD also came out on top en route to the 2002 championship by a score of 6-3.
Ironically, while UMD's staff and program may have history with Harvard, not a single player currently on the roster has skated against the Crimson in a Bulldog sweater. While at Clarkson University, graduate senior Élizabeth Giguère has skated in six career games against Harvard, logging five goals and five assists for 10 points, a 1.66 points per game average.
Going all the way to the 2016-17 season -- the last time UMD and Harvard met for a series -- on Nov. 25-26, 2016 the Bulldogs swept Harvard in Cambridge, Mass. by scores of 4-1 and a 2-1 overtime thriller.
UMD needed just three minutes to turn a one-goal lead into a three-goal lead in game one, scoring two power play tallies early in the third period to ice the 4-1 game. Katherine McGovern scored two of the Bulldogs four goals, while Lara Stalder had a game-high three assists. The Bulldogs outshot Harvard 36-25 in the skate.
The Crimson scored 8:57 into the third period in the second game, but then senior forward Ashleigh Brykaliuk's one-time redirection goal with 1:17 remaining in regulation sent the game into overtime. Senior blueliner Sidney Morin buried the game-winner 1:51 into extra time for the 2-1 win and series sweep.
The Bulldogs outshot the Crimson 36-25 in game one and a staggering 41-16 in game two for a weekend total of 77-41.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO BOSTON: While the Bulldogs haven't faced the Crimson since the 2016-17 season, Harvard was the previous coaching stop for UMD head coach Maura Crowell and Bulldog associate head coach Laura Bellamy, who also had a solid four-year career for the Crimson in goal. Prior to her arrival in Duluth, Crowell spent five seasons at Harvard, including as Harvard's associate head coach in 2014-15 after filling an interim head coaching role in 2013-14. She was a Crimson assistant coach from 2010-13.
In Crowell's final season at Harvard (and Bellamy's second as an assistant coach), the Crimson went 27-6-3 overall, captured the ECAC and Ivy League regular season championship and the ECAC playoff crown, and advanced all the way to the NCAA Frozen Four title game. Crowell was an instrumental component of a Harvard program that had qualified for the NCAA Tournament three consecutive winters.
Bellamy enjoyed a rewarding four-year goaltending career (2009-13), posting a 60-25-7 record, a 1.82 goals against average, a .915 saves percentage and 19 shutouts (the second most in program history) in 95 lifetime appearances. As a senior, she paced the nation in goals against with an average (0.92) and ranked second in saves percentage (.949) en route to landing All-Ivy League first team accolades.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE CRIMSON: Tenth-ranked Harvard, who has not skated in any games since the beginning of December -- is led by senior forward Becca Gilmore, who has both a team-high 15 points and eight goals in 12 games. While three goaltenders have recorded at least three starts, freshman goaltender Alex Pellicci is 3-0 and started in both of the Crimson's last games back in the first week in December.
Harvard is led by Katey Stone, who is in her 27th season. Stone, the 2014 U.S. Olympic head coach, is 503-256-54 over her tenure.
LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs split with the No. 3/4 University of Minnesota at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. on Dec. 10-11. UMD delivered a 3-2 win in the first skate, while the Gophers held on for a 2-1 triumph the following day.
After a scoreless first period -- the first between the two programs in nine games dating back to Nov. 22, 2019 -- Minnesota struck first 10:09 into the second frame in game one. At 2:59 of the third period, Gabbie Hughes finally tied the game up, and Naomi Rogge gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead 1:37 later.
The Gophers equalized at 11:07, but Elizabeth Giguere, already the NCAA active career leader for game-winning goals, tacked on her 25th to lead UMD to a 3-2 win.
Emma Soderberg made 29 saves in the game. The Bulldogs stifled Minnesota's power play, allowing just four shots in four attempts, including a single shot during a penalty kill that came at 15:35 and ended with just 2:25 remaining in the game.
In the second game, Minnesota scored two goals in the first period and never relinquished its lead. Freshman Gabby Krause drew the Bulldogs to within one at 2-1 at 14:38 on a rebound goal, but UMD would get no closer, settling for a series split with Minnesota.
Soderberg had 33 stops for the Bulldogs in the setback.
NOTES FROM THE MINNESOTA SERIES: UMD is 31-65-10 all-time now against the Gophers, but 2-2 this season, having split both home and away.
--UMD scored nine goals in four games against Minnesota this season. The Bulldogs averaged 2.25 goals in those skates. Despite splitting both series, the Gophers netted 11 total goals, outscoring UMD 11-9.
--In eight games against teams ranked in the top-five or higher, UMD has scored 21 goals -- averaging 2.62. The Bulldogs are averaging 3.59 goals in all of their games combined through their first 16 outings.
NATIONALLY OFFENSIVE: Senior center Gabbie Hughes leads the nation with a 1.81 points per game average through her first 16 games, and ranks second with a 1.19 assists per game average. Senior forward Élizabeth Giguère sits third with 1.12 assists per game . Klein ranks sixth in the nation in goals per game with 11 in 16 skates, while Giguere ranks sixth in points per game in the NCAA at 1.69.
Because UMD has played two-to-four fewer games than all but seven teams in the NCAA, the points per game statistic is the most accurate in comparing Bulldog players against the nation's other top offensive skaters.
HIGHLY OFFENSIVE BULLDOGS: UMD has been on an offensive tear, having now compiled 59 goals through its first 16 games. While their 59 goals are the ninth most scored this season, the Bulldogs rank seventh nationally with a 3.69 goals per game average --which only ranks them fourth in the WCHA. Harvard sits sixth with 3.83 goals a game.
POWERED PLAY: Despite not scoring a power play goal in their past four games, the Bulldogs rank eighth in the NCAA with a 24.5 conversion rate on 12-of-49 attempts.
Harvard currently ranks 14th on the power play -- the Crimson has a 18.5% conversion rate on eight-of-43 attempts
FAST START, BEST START: UMD is 7-2 overall when it scores first and 5-3 with a lead after the first period. The Bulldogs are almost untouchable with a lead after two periods of play -- UMD is 7-1 in those games so far this season.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME: The Bulldogs are 7-3 this season outside the confines of AMSOIL Arena, and just 2-4 on home ice.
UMD has only played top-five teams at home so far, however. Four of the Bulldogs six home games have been against the No. 1 or No. 2 team in the country.
THE CENTURY CLUB: When Anna Klein joined the 100 career point club on Dec. 3, she joined fellow teammates Gabbie Hughes (138 career points) and Elizabeth Giguere (259 career points).
They are the first trio of 100 points club members since the 2012-13 season (Jessica Wong, Pernilla Winberg and Katie Wilson, and Audrey Cournoyer all had 100 or more points over that season.) In all, UMD has had three or more members of the 100 career point club on its roster eight times in program history.
GIGUERE BY THE (CAREER) NUMBERS: Élizabeth Giguère currently ranks first among all active players in the NCAA for career assists (151) and second in points (259). Giguère also ranks second in points per game (1.69), first in assists per game (0.99) and second in goals (108) and first in game-winning goals (25).
Only Wisconsin's Daryl Watts has more career points and goals than Giguère.
HUGHES' CLIMBING ACTIVE NUMBERS: Bulldog senior center Gabbie Hughes has cracked the top-10 among all active NCAA players and ranks seventh in the D-I with 138 career points. Hughes also ranks seventh in career assists (79) and fifth in assists per game (0.77).
Among all active players, Hughes also ranks fourth overall with 0.57 goals per game, fifth in points per game (1.34), and 10th with 59 career goals.
Hughes currently ranks 14th all-time in career points for UMD.
KLEIN'S DURABILITY CLIMB: Senior winger Anna Klein has never, in her previous four years of college hockey, missed a game. The fifth-year senior is now at 141 consecutive games played. Klein is chasing former standout defenseman Sidney Morin, who skated in 147 consecutive games between 2013-17.
HUGHES STREAK SNAPPED: After Gabbie Hughes extended her scoring streak to 10 games on Dec. 10, it ended on the Dec. 11 with six goals and 16 assists for 22 points over that span. It marked the longest-scoring streak in her career in a single season.
(Hughes' longest total scoring streak began on Feb. 22, 2019 of her rookie year and ran all the way into the following season, ending on Nov. 1, 2019. Over those 12-straight games, Hughes recorded 10 goals and eight assists for 18 points.)
