2004–05 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season explained

The 2004–05 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season represented the University of Minnesota during the 2004–05 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season. The Gophers had an overall record of 36–2–2, and a 25–1–2 record in WCHA conference play. Both totals established the most wins in a season and in conference action since the start of the Gophers program in 1997–98. From the beginning of the season to the end, the Gophers were ranked No. 1. In addition, the Gophers were ranked in the top five in every statistical category, including winning percentage, power-play and offensive scoring.^[1]

Regular season

Standings

During the 2004–05 season, Krissy Wendell set an NCAA record (since tied) for most shorthanded goals in one season with 7.^[2] After graduating from Minnesota, she had the career record for most shorthanded goals in a career with 16. Ironically, both marks were tied by Meghan Agosta.
Krissy Wendell scored the game-winning goal in the 2005 WCHA championship game against Wisconsin. She followed that with a hat trick against ECAC champion Harvard. She was the NCAA runner-up in the scoring race to Gophers teammate Natalie Darwitz with 98 points.

Schedule

Source^[3] .

Roster

Source:^[4]

Player stats

= Indicates team leader

Skaters

Natalie Darwitz	40	42	72	114	2.8500	0	9	9	5
Krissy Wendell	40	43	61	104	2.6000	0	9	14	7
Kelly Stephens	40	33	43	76	1.9000	0	5	16	2
Lyndsay Wall	39	14	34	48	1.2308	0	0	12	0
Bobbi Ross	40	15	18	33	0.8250	0	2	10	2
Erica McKenzie	36	12	9	21	0.5833	0	2	3	0
Andrea Nichols	40	10	8	18	0.4500	0	2	3	2
Chelsey Brodt	40	4	13	17	0.4250	0	0	1	0
Ashley Albrecht	40	4	12	16	0.4000	0	2	1	0
Becky Wacker	36	5	7	12	0.3333	0	2	0	1
Allie Sanchez	39	2	8	10	0.2564	0	1	0	0
Liz Palkie	40	3	5	8	0.2000	0	0	0	0
Noelle Sutton	34	2	5	7	0.2059	0	0	0	0
Anya Miller	39	2	5	7	0.1795	0	0	0	0
Jenelle Philipczyk	40	2	4	6	0.1500	0	1	0	0
Maggie Souba	35	1	3	4	0.1143	0	1	0	0
Krista Johnson	31	1	2	3	0.0968	0	0	0	0
Stacy Troumbly	36	2	0	2	0.0556	0	0	1	0
Whitney Graft	31	0	1	1	0.0323	0	0	0	0
Jody Horak	28	0	0	0	0.0000	0	0	0	0
Brenda Reinen	12	0	0	0	0.0000	0	0	0	0

^[5]

Goaltenders

Jody Horak	28	24	2	2	41	1691:41	1.45	8	498	.924
Brenda Reinen	12	12	0	0	12	719:37	1.00	5	212	.946

Postseason

The Gophers then went on to win their second straight WCHA Championship with a 3–2 overtime win over Wisconsin.In the NCAA playoffs, the Gophers defeated the Providence Friars by a 6–1 score. With the win, the Gophers advanced to its fourth-straight NCAA Frozen Four appearance. The Gophers defeated the Dartmouth Big Green by a 7–2 score in the semifinal game. In the first period, the Gophers scored five goals in the first period. On March 27, the Gophers defeated the Harvard Crimson by a 4–3 mark to win their consecutive national championship.

Awards and honors

Natalie Darwitz, Patty Kazmaier Award top three finalist
Laura Halldorson, WCHA Coach of the Year (her third award)
Krissy Wendell, Patty Kazmaier Award (Wendell became the first player from Minnesota, and the first from the WCHA to win the Patty Kazmaier Award)
The Gophers had four players garner All-America honors, the most in a single season.^[6]

Notes and References

Web site: Laura Halldorson . gophersports.com . June 23, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090414092513/http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400 . April 14, 2009 .
Web site: 2010 NCAA Ice Hockey Division I Women's Records . NCAA.
Web site: 2004–05 Women's Hockey Schedule . September 14, 2024 . University of Minnesota Athletics . en.
Web site: 2003–04 Women's Hockey Roster . University of Minnesota Athletics . December 27, 2023.
Web site: 2004–05 Women's Hockey Cumulative Statistics . GopherSports.com . University of Minnesota Athletics . September 13, 2024.
Web site: Laura Halldorson . gophersports.com . June 23, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090414092513/http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400 . April 14, 2009 .