The Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey team represents the University of Minnesota and plays at the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis. The team is one of the members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. Since 2002, the Gophers have played their home games in Ridder Arena, the first facility in the United States built specifically for college women's ice hockey.[1][2]
The program started play in the 1997–98 season with Laura Halldorson as their first head coach.[3] She led the Gophers to the final American Women's College Hockey Alliance national championship in their third season of play,[4] as well as back-to-back NCAA Division I National Championships in 2003–04[5][6] and 2004–05.[5][7]
Brad Frost took over as the Gophers' coach in the 2007–08 season. He led the team to back-to-back NCAA Division I National Championships twice. The first pair was the 2011–12[5][8] and 2012–13 seasons.[5][9] During the 2012–13 season, the Gophers had a perfect 41–0–0 record.[10][11][12] The Gophers then won titles in the 2014–15[5][13] and 2015–16 seasons.[5][14]
Table key
| Color/symbol | Explanation |
|---|---|
| † | National champions |
| ‡ | Conference tournament champions |
| ↑ | Conference regular season champions |
| Term or abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| W | Number of wins |
| L | Number of losses |
| T | Number of ties |
| OT, 2OT, etc. | Overtime, 2 Overtimes, etc. |
| Finish | Final position in conference standings |
| Tournament | Results in conference tournament |
Year by year
As of March 27, 2025
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Season result | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | W | L | T | Finish | Tournament | |||||
| 1997–98 | Laura Halldorson | 21 | 7 | 3 | AWCHA[a] | Lost semifinals vs. New Hampshire (1–4) Lost third-place game vs. Northeastern (0–4) |
[15] | |||||
| 1998–99 | Laura Halldorson | 29 | 4 | 3 | AWCHA | Lost semifinals vs. New Hampshire (2–3) OT Won third-place game vs. Brown (3–2) |
[16] | |||||
| 1999–2000† | Laura Halldorson | 32 | 6 | 1 | WCHA[b] | 21 | 2 | 1 | 2nd | Won quarterfinals vs. Minnesota State (10–0) Won semifinals vs. Wisconsin (5–0) Lost Championship vs. Minnesota Duluth (0–2) |
Won Frozen Four vs. Minnesota Duluth (3–2) Won Championship vs. Brown (4–2)† |
[17] |
| 2000–01 | Laura Halldorson | 23 | 9 | 2 | WCHA | 18 | 4 | 2 | 1st↑ | Lost semifinals vs. Ohio State (0–4) | Did not qualify | [18] |
| 2001–02 | Laura Halldorson | 28 | 4 | 6 | WCHA‡ | 19 | 2 | 3 | 1st↑ | Won semifinals vs. Ohio State (4–1) Won Championship vs. Wisconsin (3–2)‡ |
Lost first round vs. Brown (1–2) | [19] |
| 2002–03 | Laura Halldorson | 27 | 8 | 1 | WCHA | 19 | 4 | 1 | 2nd | Won semifinals vs. Wisconsin (3–1) Lost Championship vs. Minnesota Duluth (3–5) |
Lost first round vs. Harvard (1–6) | [20] |
| 2003–04† | Laura Halldorson | 30 | 4 | 2 | WCHA‡ | 19 | 3 | 2 | 1st↑ | Won semifinals vs. Ohio State (5–1) Won Championship vs. Minnesota Duluth (4–2)‡ |
Won Frozen Four vs. Dartmouth (5–1) Won Championship vs. Harvard (6–2)† |
[21] |
| 2004–05† | Laura Halldorson | 36 | 2 | 2 | WCHA‡ | 25 | 1 | 2 | 1st↑ | Won quarterfinals vs. Bemidji State (6–3) Won semifinals vs. Ohio State (7–1) Won Championship vs. Wisconsin (3–2 OT)‡ |
Won first round vs. Providence (6–1) Won Frozen Four vs. Dartmouth (7–2) Won Championship vs. Harvard (4–3)† |
[22] |
| 2005–06 | Laura Halldorson | 29 | 11 | 1 | WCHA | 19 | 8 | 1 | 2nd | Won quarterfinals vs. Minnesota State (5–1, 6–0) Won semifinals vs. Minnesota Duluth (2–1) Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (1–4) |
Won first round vs. Princeton (4–0) Won Frozen Four vs. New Hampshire (5–4) Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (0–3) |
[23] |
| 2006–07 | Laura Halldorson | 23 | 12 | 1 | WCHA | 17 | 10 | 1 | 3rd | Won quarterfinals vs. Bemidji State (5–1, 4–1) Won semifinals vs. Minnesota Duluth (3–2 OT) Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (1–3) |
Did not qualify | [24] |
| 2007–08 | Brad Frost | 27 | 7 | 4 | WCHA | 21 | 5 | 2 | 2nd | Won quarterfinals vs. North Dakota (3–1, 9–1) Lost semifinals vs. Wisconsin (3–4) |
Lost first round vs. Wisconsin (2–3 OT) | [25] |
| 2008–09 | Brad Frost | 32 | 5 | 3 | WCHA | 23 | 2 | 3 | 1st↑ | Won quarterfinals vs. Bemidji State (4–1, 5–1) Won semifinals vs. Minnesota State (7–2) Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (3–5) |
Won first round vs. Boston College (4–3) Lost Frozen Four vs. Mercyhurst (4–5) |
[26] |
| 2009–10 | Brad Frost | 26 | 9 | 5 | WCHA | 18 | 6 | 4 | 2nd | Won quarterfinals vs. Minnesota State (8–5, 4–3) Won semifinals vs. Ohio State (5–4 2OT) Lost Championship vs. Minnesota Duluth (2–3) |
Won first round vs. Clarkson (3–2 OT) Lost Frozen Four vs. Minnesota Duluth (2–3) |
[27] |
| 2010–11 | Brad Frost | 26 | 10 | 2 | WCHA | 18 | 8 | 2 | 2nd | Won quarterfinals vs. Ohio State (3–2, 4–2) Won semifinals vs. Minnesota Duluth (4–2) Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (4–5 OT) |
Lost first round vs. Boston College (1–4) | [28] |
| 2011–12† | Brad Frost | 34 | 5 | 2 | WCHA‡ | 21 | 5 | 2 | 2nd | Won quarterfinals vs. St. Cloud State (6–1, 6–0) Won semifinals vs. North Dakota (6–0) Won Championship vs. Minnesota Duluth (2–0)‡ |
Won first round vs. North Dakota (5–1) Won Frozen Four vs. Cornell (3–1) Won Championship vs. Wisconsin (4–2)† |
[29] |
| 2012–13† | Brad Frost | 41 | 0 | 0 | WCHA‡ | 28 | 0 | 0 | 1st↑ | Won quarterfinals vs. Bemidji State (5–0, 8–0) Won semifinals vs. Ohio State (5–0) Won Championship vs. North Dakota (2–0)‡ |
Won first round vs. North Dakota (3–2 3OT) Won Frozen Four vs. Boston College (3–2 OT) Won Championship vs. Boston University (6–3)† |
[30] |
| 2013–14 | Brad Frost | 38 | 2 | 1 | WCHA‡ | 26 | 1 | 1 | 1st↑ | Won quarterfinals vs. St. Cloud State (4–1, 7–1) Won semifinals vs. Minnesota Duluth (4–1) Won Championship vs. North Dakota (3–1)‡ |
Won first round vs. Boston University (5–1) Won Frozen Four vs. Wisconsin (5–3) Lost Championship vs. Clarkson (4–5) |
[31] |
| 2014–15† | Brad Frost | 34 | 3 | 4 | WCHA | 22 | 2 | 4 | 1st↑ | Won quarterfinals vs. Minnesota State (10–0, 5–1) Lost semifinals vs. Bemidji State (0–1) |
Won first round vs. RIT (6–2) Won Frozen Four vs. Wisconsin (3–1) Won Championship vs. Harvard (4–1)† |
[32] |
| 2015–16† | Brad Frost | 35 | 4 | 1 | WCHA | 24 | 3 | 1 | 2nd | Won quarterfinals vs. Ohio State (5–2, 5–0) Won semifinals vs. North Dakota (2–0) Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (0–1) |
Won first round vs. Princeton (6–2) Won Frozen Four vs. Wisconsin (3–2 OT) Won Championship vs. Boston College (3–1) |
[33] |
| 2016–17 | Brad Frost | 26 | 8 | 5 | WCHA | 19 | 4 | 5 | 2nd | Won quarterfinals vs. Bemidji State (3–1, 1–2, 3–2) Lost semifinals vs. Minnesota Duluth (1–2 2OT) |
Won first round vs. Minnesota Duluth (1–0) Lost Frozen Four vs. Clarkson (3–4) |
[34] |
| 2017–18 | Brad Frost | 24 | 11 | 3 | WCHA‡ | 13 | 8 | 3 | 3rd | Won quarterfinals vs. St. Cloud State (5–1, 4–1) Won semifinals vs. Ohio State (2–0) Won Championship vs. Wisconsin (3–1)‡ |
Lost first round vs. Wisconsin (0–4) | [35] |
| 2018–19 | Brad Frost | 32 | 6 | 1 | WCHA | 19 | 4 | 1 | 1st↑ | Won semifinals vs. Minnesota Duluth (4–1) Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (1–3) |
Won first round vs. Princeton (5–2) Won Frozen Four vs. Cornell (2–0) Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (0–2) |
[36] |
| 2019–20 | Brad Frost | 27 | 6 | 3 | WCHA | 17 | 5 | 2 | 2nd | Won quarterfinals vs. St. Cloud State (4–2, 7–3) Lost semifinals vs Ohio State (4–3 OT) |
2020 Tournament canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic | [37] |
| 2020–21[c] | Brad Frost | 11 | 8 | 1 | WCHA | 11 | 7 | 1 | 4th | Lost semifinals vs. Wisconsin (3–5) | Did not qualify | [38] |
| 2021–22 | Brad Frost | 29 | 9 | 1 | WCHA | 21 | 6 | 1 | 1st↑ | Won quarterfinals vs. St. Thomas (4–0, 5–1) Won semifinals vs. Minnesota Duluth (5–1) Lost Championship vs. Ohio State (2–3 OT) |
Lost quarterfinals vs. Minnesota Duluth (1–2) | [39] |
| 2022–23 | Brad Frost | 30 | 6 | 3 | WCHA‡ | 22 | 3 | 3 | 2nd | Won quarterfinals vs. St. Thomas (7–0, 6–2) Won semifinals vs. Wisconsin (4–2) Won Championship vs. Ohio State (3–1)‡ |
Won semifinals vs. Minnesota Duluth (3–0) Lost Frozen Four vs. Wisconsin (3–2 OT) |
[40] |
| 2023–24 | Brad Frost | 27 | 10 | 2 | WCHA | 19 | 7 | 2 | 3rd | Won quarterfinals vs. Minnesota State (4–5, 7–1, 3–0) Lost semifinals vs. Wisconsin (4–3 OT) |
Lost quarterfinals vs. Clarkson (2–3 4OT) | [41] |
| 2024–25 | Brad Frost | 29 | 12 | 1 | WCHA | 19 | 8 | 1 | 3rd | Won quarterfinals vs. Minnesota State (6–1, 4–5 (2OT), 6–2) Won semifinals vs. Ohio State (6–2) Lost Championship vs. Wisconsin (3—4) |
Won quarterfinals vs. Clarkson (3–2) Lost Frozen Four vs. Wisconsin (2–6) |
[42] |
| Totals | 809 | 184 | 65 | 518 | 117 | 52 | – | – | 25 postseason tournament appearances | |||
Notes
- a From the 1997–98 season to the 1999–2000 season, the national championship tournament was sanctioned by the American Women's College Hockey Alliance, a program funded by the United States Olympic Committee to the NCAA Conference Grant Program.
- b The WCHA started a women's ice hockey division in the 1999–2000 season.
- c Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season was shortened to 19 regular season games, all within the WCHA conference.
References
- ^ "Ridder Arena". VintageMNHockey.com. Vintage Minnesota Hockey. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Angel, Brett (October 18, 2002). "Women's Hockey Opens New Arena Saturday". MNDaily.com. Minnesota Daily. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
Ridder Arena is the first facility of its kind built exclusively for a women's collegiate hockey program
- ^ Urton, Lee (October 13, 1997). "Minnesota Women Get Started". USCHO.com. US College Hockey Online. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Johnson, Randy (October 18, 2019). "Twenty years ago, a powerhouse emerged for Gophers women's hockey". StarTribune.com. Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
The 1999-2000 national championship team will be celebrated Sunday at Ridder Arena. Its path to the title wasn't smooth, but the team grew and finally slayed its rival to the north.
- ^ a b c d e f "Women's Ice Hockey Championship History". NCAA.com. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "2004 NCAA Champions". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. May 21, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "2005 NCAA Champions". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. May 21, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "2012 NCAA Champions". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. May 21, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "2013 NCAA Champions". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. May 21, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Murphy, Brian (March 23, 2013). "Gophers Women's Hockey: U Finishes Perfect Season with Repeat NCAA Title". TwinCities.com. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Campbell, Dave (March 24, 2013). "Gophers Get Perfect Season with NCAA Women's Title". MPRNews.com. Minnesota Public Radio. Associated Press. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ Brophy, Bill (December 14, 2023). "25 Seasons of Excellence: Minnesota's Perfect Season". WCHA.com. Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "2015 NCAA Champions". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. May 21, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "2016 NCAA Champions". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. March 21, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ^ "1997–98 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "1998–99 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "1999–2000 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2000–01 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2001–02 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2002–03 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2003–04 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2004–05 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2005–06 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2006–07 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2007–08 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2008–09 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2009–10 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2010–11 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2011–12 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2012–13 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2013–14 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2014–15 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2015–16 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2016–17 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2017–18 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2018–19 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2019–20 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2020–21 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2021–22 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2022–23 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2023–24 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "2024–25 Women's Hockey Schedule". GopherSports.com. University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
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