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ROSEVILLE, Minn. – Junior Kate Schipper scored two first-period goals to spark Minnesota to a 7-0 defeat of St. Cloud State in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women’s Face Off Classic, an exhibition game.
“We were a little bit more determined to come out and show who we really are after Wisconsin,” Schipper said. “I think everyone was a little bit more determined and urgent with the puck.”
The Gophers got single goals from Milica McMillen, Nina Rodgers, Dani Cameranesi, Kelsey Cline, and Hannah Brandt, with the latter having a three-point game, one of seven with multiple points.
“Any time you can have balance up and down your lineup, you’re going to be successful,” Minnesota coach Brad Frost said.
Amanda Leveille stopped all 12 shots from the Huskies to record the shutout.
“I thought ‘Lev’ was great when we needed her to be,” Frost said.
Each team had a Roseville native in the lineup: Minnesota junior defenseman Lee Stecklein and St. Cloud State senior forward Hanna Brodt.
“It really is kind of emotional,” Brodt said. “A really fun week though, kind of leading up to that, knowing that I come back to my roots. That I get to go back to where it all started, that’s very special to me.”
Brodt’s family has been instrumental to not only the area’s high school hockey, but both programs, with one of her aunts being the first coach of the St. Cloud State program and two others playing for national champions at Minnesota.
St. Cloud State trailed by only a goal until Brandt scored at 17:51 of the first period, and Schipper added her second goal 38 seconds later. The Gophers added three more goals in less than four minutes just past the midway point of the second period.
“They are a team, coach said it, they smell the blood and they get all excited for the goal,” Brodt said. “They do feed off goals. If they get one goal, the floodgates open.”
Both teams are off until January.
“Especially my line can go in with a little confidence, and obviously, work on the little things that we need to work on, individually and as a line, but then be ready to play in the second half,” Schipper said.
Despite the loss, the Huskies are an improved team through the first half.
“Last year, I think the difference with our coaches, it was more of an intake year,” Brodt said. “This year, we have more structure, and I think that’s been successful. We’ve had people on our team — Molly Illikainen, she’s been putting the puck in the net for us. Our goalie, Katie Fitzgerald, she was a backup goalie her first three years, and now she’s like lights out every game for us.”
