2007-08 Season Outlook
With no short cuts to be found, the University of Minnesota Duluth withstood an onslaught of regular season injuries last winter to position themselves for a brilliant post-season run. The late-healing Bulldogs earned their fourth appearance in an NCAA national title game after upending Boston College 4-3 in double-overtime fashion in the NCAA semifinals.
Posting an overall record of 24-11-4 one year ago, UMD will no doubt take a cue from its storied past when all eyes set on the WCHA Championship and NCAA Frozen Four, both of which will be held on the home ice of the Bulldogs this spring.
Returning 15 letterwinners from last year's team, including two members of the 2006-07 WCHA All-Rookie Team (Kim Martin and Saara Tuominen), the Bulldogs will also add instant impact players with the addition of seven newcomers. Boasting what could be one of the best recruiting classes in UMD program history, expectations will again be high for the three-time NCAA national champions, expectations traditionally assumed by those who wear the jersey.
Shannon Miller, now in her ninth season behind the Bulldog bench as the only head coach UMD has ever employed, will look to build on her 200 career-wins without the leadership of six seniors and one sophomore from last year's roster. Captain Noemie Marin, assistant captains Jessica Koizumi, Jill Sales and Ashly Waggoner, as well as Suvi Vacker and Riitta Schaublin set sail after leading the Bulldogs to three NCAA Tournament appearances in four years. German forward Michaela Lanzl finished her NCAA eligibility, joining Marin and Koizumi in scoring almost half (59) of UMD's 128 goals. Marin and Koizumi were the Bulldogs' top offensive threats last winter (Marin netting 24 goals and 29 assists, and Koizumi adding 22 goals and 18 dishes), while Schaublin leaves UMD as it's all-time winning goaltender (65-27-8).
Left to carry the maroon and gold mantle of success will be a strong youth movement, which will highlight the Bulldogs' lone senior, Karine Demeule, and a wealth of underclass experience, including four 2006 Olympians and 10 players who are currently members of their respective national teams.
"Every year we are fortunate to get good student-athletes that represent our institution well and put us in the running for the NCAA tournament," head coach Shannon Miller said. "However, for the second time in the short eight-year history of our program, we have what I would call an exceptional recruiting class coming in. My prediction is that this will be one of the best recruiting classes UMD has ever showcased. They are freshmen, but they are very talented and experienced freshmen that will make an impact immediately. This 2007-08 team will be one of the strongest and most exciting teams we have ever had."
Up Front: At first glance, the Bulldogs' offense seems to have taken a hit with the graduation of Koizumi, Marin and Lanzl, who combined for 48% of UMD's goals last season. But a closer look reveals a crop of offensive talents that may instantly turn the Bulldogs into a perennial firepower. Sophomore forwards Saara Tuominen and Emmanuelle Blais, two of seven currently rostered UMD players to skate in all 39 games last winter, will suit up for their second season as top returning offensive fixtures. Tuominen, a strong defensive forward with a knack of placing the puck, handed out 28 assists last year while adding 12 goals. Her 40 points ranks first among returnees, and her ability to win face-offs will make her one of the nation's most dominant centers.
Blais steps into her second season after proving she could carry some of the offensive load as a rookie. Blais, who reigns as the second highest returning point grabber with 35 (14g,21a), will be a key offensive contributor with her uncanny mix of speed, hands and toughness. Another key sophomore, Elin Holmlov, who suffered through a nagging injury last season, is looking to build on her 26-point (6g,20a) freshman performance. Junior Sara O'Toole, one of several Bulldogs bitten by the injury bug in '06-07, will set her sights on leading an offensive charge, and attempt to top her 21 points in 29 games.
Injecting some instant offense into the ranks will be freshmen Haley Irwin and Laura Fridfinnson, members of the U-22 Canadian National Team, and Russian Olympian Iya Gavrilova. Irwin, a talented forward with the ability to set-up teammates and score big goals, is expected to be an impact player right away. Fridfinnson, a 5-8 forward with speed and vision, will immediately yield offensive results, while the addition of Gavrilova adds international experience and another threat to the arsenal as a strong skater with great hands and a talent for netting big goals.
On Defense: Despite losing three key defensemen to graduation, UMD will reload the blueline with a mixture of experience and the excitement of youth. The Bulldogs retain the services of junior Myriam Trepanier, the top point-getting defenseman last season (5-12–17), and one of two returning blueliners to skate in all 39 games in 2006-07. Heidi Pelttari, who only played the second half of the '06-07 campaign, will anchor the ice as one of the strongest and most experienced players on the backline. Pelttari, who infuses a wealth of international experience courtesy of Team Finland, will be joined by freshman Jocelyn Laroque. Larocque, a member of the U-22 Canadian National team, possesses the ability to skate and handle the puck that will instantly make her one of UMD's top defensemen. Tara Gray, another one of the Bulldogs' five players invited to Team Canada's U-22 camp, will enhance UMD's depth on the blueline with a great shot from the point and ability to play all three zones.
In Goal: After splitting time between the pipes last season with Schaublin, sophomore Kim Martin, one of the premier netminders in all of women's hockey, will look to handle the brunt of UMD's puck-stopping duties. Martin complied an 11-7-2 record in 21 games as a freshman, and was cited as an All-WCHA Rookie Team and All-WCHA Second Team honoree. Following a debut season laced with injuries, a healthy Martin will be pivotal in a Bulldog run down championship lane.
Joining UMD to assist in goaltending duties will be Boston College transfer Johanna Ellison. Ellison, who was a Cloquet (MN) HS standout, will be familiar with the confines of the Bulldogs' home DECC ice, and will provide experience and quality depth. Rounding out the trio of backstoppers is junior Amie Meyer, who finished the 2006-07 season with a perfect save percentage in four relief outings.
Home of the Championships: Drawing on past conclusions, the simple fact that Duluth will host the WCHA Championship for the first time and the NCAA Frozen Four for a second showing will make the stakes even higher for the Bulldogs. The only other time UMD has hosted a Frozen Four (2003), the Bulldogs skated away as national champions in front of a record crowd of 5,167, with a 4-3 (2 ot) thriller over Harvard (and current UMD assistant Julie Chu). The 2007-08 squad will inevitably draw comparisons to the 2002-03 champions (which included UMD assistant Caroline Ouellette). Both teams exhibit multiple Olympians, a streak of international flare, experience, and grit – the ingredients the Bulldogs are counting on to bring them home to the DECC on March 20.