Gophers Women’s Hockey: Minnesota routs Team Japan 6-0

A few months removed from celebrating a second consecutive national championship, the Gophers women’s hockey team began the journey towards three consecutive championship seasons on Thursday with an exhibition win over Japan at Ridder Arena.

Despite the six-month off-season, Minnesota came back on the ice and routed Team Japan 6-0, scoring the first goal less than six minutes into the first period. Team Japan did not register a shot until the second period, but by then, the Gophers held the momentum and managed to rattle off three more goals in the second period, stretching the count to four goals before adding two more in the final period.

Minnesota will play British Columbia next in another exhibition matchup before opening their season against Colgate on Oct. 4 and 5.

As for Team Japan, they will play Minnesota-Duluth and British Columbia before returning home.

In Other News…

The Homecoming football game against Iowa on Saturday afternoon is sold out. The matchup with the Hawkeyes is the first time since the Gophers have played a major rival in a Homecoming game since Wisconsin in 1993.

Sophomore quarterback Philip Nelson is listed as questionable in the injury report leading up to Saturday after suffering a hamstring injury against Western Illinois two weekends ago. Redshirt freshman Mitch Leidner will likely get a second consecutive start.

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