# 2017–18 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season

The 2017–18 Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey season represented the University of Minnesota during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season. They were coached by Brad Frost in his 11th season.
Following a Frozen Four appearance in March, the Golden Gophers were well represented in both international play and Olympic preparations. The April IIHF World Championships featured an impressive 10 alumni and current players from the team. Six players represented the US team including Lee Stecklein and 5 alumni. Of the two Canadians, current player Sarah Potomak made her country's team. Two alumni represented Finland to round out the ten. All of the Golden Gophers left the tournament with a medal, with the US taking gold, Canada silver, and Finland bronze.
In May, Countries began the 2018 Olympic selections. The 2017–18 US Team includes six Minnesota alumni, and Lee Stecklein. This will be Stecklein's second Olympic Games. A week after the US announced their team, Team Canada completed their Centralization roster, choosing Sarah Potomak, and her sister Amy Potomak. Of the 28 selected, 23 will be chosen to represent Canada at the Olympics

## Recruiting

Source
| Player | Position | Nationality | Notes |
| Emily Brown | Defense | United States | Member of Team USA U18 |
| Alex Gulstene | Goaltender | Canada | Attended Okanagan Hockey Academy |
| Olivia Knowles | Defense | Canada | Played for Team Canada U18 |
| Amy Potomak | Forward | Canada | Named Team Canada's Centralization roster |
| Taylor Wente | Forward | United States | Member of Team USA U18 |
| Grace Zumwinkle | Forward | United States | One of 3 recruits from Team USA U18 |

## Regular Season
### Standings

2017–18 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standingsvte :
| | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall |
| | GP | W | L | T | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #2 Wisconsin† | 24 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 64 | 81 | 29 | 37 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 123 | 44 |
| #6 Ohio State | 24 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 49 | 63 | 51 | 38 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 112 | 76 |
| #5 Minnesota* | 24 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 74 | 54 | 38 | 24 | 11 | 3 | 119 | 79 |
| Minnesota Duluth | 24 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 35 | 49 | 62 | 35 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 71 | 82 |
| Bemidji State | 24 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 60 | 68 | 38 | 16 | 19 | 3 | 90 | 96 |
| St. Cloud State | 24 | 6 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 23 | 41 | 59 | 33 | 8 | 20 | 5 | 52 | 82 |
| Minnesota State | 24 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 37 | 82 | 34 | 5 | 28 | 1 | 57 | 123 |
| Championship: March 4, 2018 † indicates conference regular season champion; * indicates conference tournament champion Rankings: USCHO.com ||||||||||||||||

### Schedule

Source
| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Rank$^#$ | Site | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular Season |||||||||
| September 29 | 7:07 | Merrimack* | #3 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Peters | L 3–4 | 1,171 | 0–1–0 (0–0–0) |
| October 1 | 2:07 | Merrimack* | #3 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Gulstene | W 4–1 | 1,047 | 1–1–0 (0–0–0) |
| October 6 | 7:07 | Ohio State | #4 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Gulstene | L 2–3 | 1,670 | 1–2–0 (0–1–0) |
| October 7 | 3:07 | Ohio State | #4 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Gulstene | T 5–5 $^{OT}$ | 1,356 | 1–2–1 (0–1–1) |
| October 13 | 3:07 | at Bemidji State | #9 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | Peters | W 3–1 | 321 | 2–2–1 (1–1–1) |
| October 14 | 3:07 | at Bemidji State | #9 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | Peters | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 577 | 3–2–1 (2–1–1) |
| October 20 | 3:37 | at #8 Minnesota Duluth | #7 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, MN | Gulstene | W 4–1 | 1,240 | 4–2–1 (3–1–1) |
| October 21 | 3:37 | at #8 Minnesota Duluth | #7 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, MN | Peters | W 2–1 | 1,259 | 5–2–1 (4–1–1) |
| October 28 | 4:07 | #1 Wisconsin | #6 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Peters | L 2–3 | 2,109 | 5–3–1 (4–2–1) |
| October 29 | 5:07 | #1 Wisconsin | #6 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Peters | L 1–2 $^{OT}$ | 1,718 | 5–4–1 (4–3–1) |
| November 3 | 7:07 | at Minnesota State | #6 | Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, MN | Peters | W 6–1 | 247 | 6–4–1 (5–3–1) |
| November 4 | 3:07 | at Minnesota State | #6 | Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, MN | Gulstene | W 5–2 | 252 | 7–4–1 (6–3–1) |
| November 10 | 2:00 | at Mercyhurst* | #6 | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, PA | Gulstene | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 697 | 8–4–1 (6–3–1) |
| November 11 | 1:00 | at Mercyhurst* | #6 | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, PA | Peters | W 5–2 | 612 | 9–4–1 (6–3–1) |
| November 17 | 6:07 | St. Cloud State | #6 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Peters | W 3–0 | 1,173 | 10–4–1 (7–3–1) |
| November 18 | 4:07 | St. Cloud State | #6 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Gulstene | W 4–3 | 2,187 | 11–4–1 (8–3–1) |
| November 25 | 2:00 | at Lindenwood* | #6 | Lindenwood Ice Arena • Wentzville, MO | Peters | W 3–1 | 324 | 12–4–1 (8–3–1) |
| November 26 | 2:00 | at Lindenwood* | #6 | Lindenwood Ice Arena • Wentzville, MO | Gulstene | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 292 | 13–4–1 (8–3–1) |
| December 1 | 6:07 | Bemidji State | #6 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Peters | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 1,723 | 14–4–1 (9–3–1) |
| December 2 | 4:07 | Bemidji State | #6 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Peters | L 2–4 | 1,893 | 14–5–1 (9–4–1) |
| December 8 | 7:07 | Minnesota Duluth | #6 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Peters | T 3–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,708 | 14–5–2 (9–4–2) |
| December 9 | 4:07 | Minnesota Duluth | #6 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Peters | W 5–0 | 1,735 | 15–5–2 (10–4–2) |
| January 9, 2018 | 6:07 | St. Cloud State* | #5 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Peters | W 2–1 | 1,166 | 16–5–2 (10–4–2) |
| January 12 | 6:07 | Vermont* | #5 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Gulstene | L 2–4 | 1,342 | 16–6–2 (10–4–2) |
| January 13 | 4:07 | Vermont* | #5 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Gulstene | W 6–1 | 2,159 | 17–6–2 (10–4–2) |
| January 19 | 5:07 | at #7 Ohio State | #5 | Ohio State University Ice Rink • Columbus, OH | Peters | L 2–3 | 442 | 17–7–2 (10–5–2) |
| January 20 | 2:07 | at #7 Ohio State | #5 | Ohio State University Ice Rink • Columbus, OH | Gulstene | L 1–5 | 639 | 17–8–2 (10–6–2) |
| January 26 | 6:07 | Minnesota State | #7 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Peters | W 4–2 | 2,020 | 18–8–2 (11–6–2) |
| January 27 | 4:07 | Minnesota State | #7 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Peters | W 2–0 | 2,456 | 19–8–2 (12–6–2) |
| February 2 | 3:07 | at St. Cloud State | #7 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN | Gulstene | T 3–3 $^{OT}$ | 426 | 19–8–3 (12–6–3) |
| February 3 | 3:07 | at St. Cloud State | #7 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN | Peters | W 5–2 | 452 | 20–8–3 (13–6–3) |
| February 16 | 7:07 | at #1 Wisconsin | #7 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Peters | L 3–4 | 2,273 | 20–9–3 (13–7–3) |
| February 17 | 3:07 | at #1 Wisconsin | #7 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Peters | L 0–1 | 2,273 | 20–10–3 (13–8–3) |
| WCHA Tournament |||||||||
| February 23 | 7:07 | St. Cloud State* | #7 | Ridder Arena • (Quarterfinals, Game 1) | Peters | W 5–1 | 1,017 | 21–10–3 (13–8–3) |
| February 24 | 4:07 | St. Cloud State* | #7 | Ridder Arena • (Quarterfinals, Game 2) | Peters | W 4–1 | 1,069 | 22–10–3 (13–8–3) |
| March 3 | 5:00 | #5 Ohio State* | #7 | Ridder Arena • (Semifinals) | Peters | W 2–0 | 2,499 | 23–10–3 (13–8–3) |
| March 4 | 2:00 | #1 Wisconsin* | #7 | Ridder Arena • (Finals) | Peters | W 3–1 | 1,854 | 24–10–3 (13–8–3) |
| NCAA Tournament |||||||||
| March 10 | 2:00 | #2 Wisconsin* | #5 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI (Quarterfinals) | Peters | L 0–4 | 2,423 | 24–11–3 (13–8–3) |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. |||||||||

### Roster

Source: