The St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies women's ice hockey team represents the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) in NCAA Division I competition in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).
| St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies women's ice hockey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) |
| Conference | WCHA |
| First season | 1998–99 |
| Head coach | Bethany Brausen[1] 1st season, 0–0–0 (–) |
| Arena | St. Thomas Ice Arena Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Colors | Purple and gray[2] |
| NCAA Tournament Frozen Four | |
| DIII: 2014, 2019 | |
| NCAA Tournament appearances | |
| DIII: 2003, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 | |
| Conference Tournament championships | |
| MIAC: 2003, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 | |
| Conference regular season championships | |
| DIII: 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 | |
History
editSt. Thomas played their first varsity game during the 1998–99 season. In the last 20 years, the Tommies have never had a losing season. They finished third or better in the MIAC every year. In the program's 23-year history at the NCAA Division III level, the Tommies have won six conference championships, six conference tournament titles and reached the NCAA Division III frozen four once.[3][4]
In 2019 the MIAC took the unprecedented step of removing St. Thomas from its membership because of concerns about “athletic competitive parity.”[5] Because the removal affected all sports and was effective at the end of the 2020–21 season, St. Thomas had time to decide what it would do next. The women's ice hockey program was given the green light to jump directly to the Division I level in July 2020.[6] The women's hockey team joined the WCHA for the 2021–22 season.[7][8]
In 2023, St. Thomas announced plans for the new Lee and Penny Anderson Arena, with the team planned to begin playing its home games there in the fall of 2025.[9]
Current roster
editAs of August 21, 2022.[10]
| No. | S/P/C | Player | Class | Pos | Height | DoB | Hometown | Previous team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 
|
Maddy Clough | Sophomore | D | 5' 3" (1.6 m) | 2003-03-31 | Andover, Minnesota | Andover High School |
| 4 |
|
Mary Zavoral | Freshman | F | 5' 7" (1.7 m) | 2004-02-11 | Edina, Minnesota | Benilde-St. Margaret's |
| 5 |
|
Maija Almich (C) | Senior | F | 5' 6" (1.68 m) | 2001-01-05 | Lino Lakes, Minnesota | Centennial High School |
| 6 |
|
Jenna Hartung | Senior | F | 5' 4" (1.63 m) | 2001-04-18 | Burnsville, Minnesota | Burnsville High School |
| 7 |
|
Emma Larson | Senior | D | 5' 6" (1.68 m) | 2001-03-30 | Maple Grove, Minnesota | Maple Grove High School |
| 8 | 
|
Emma McCauley | Freshman | D | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 2002-10-20 | South Portland, Maine | Burlington Jr. Barracudas |
| 9 |
|
Kate Haug | Freshman | F | 5' 6" (1.68 m) | 2004-04-06 | Roseville, Minnesota | Roseville Area High School |
| 10 |
|
Isabel Lippai | Junior | D | 5' 4" (1.63 m) | 2002-06-25 | Woodbury, Minnesota | Woodbury High School |
| 11 | 
|
Abby Promersberger | Sophomore | F | 5' 6" (1.68 m) | 2002-09-27 | Fargo, North Dakota | Fargo North/South Spruins |
| 12 |
|
Maria Cooper | Freshman | F | 5' 5" (1.65 m) | 2003-12-24 | Eagan, Minnesota | Eagan High School |
| 13 |
|
Molly Grundhoffer | Freshman | F | 5' 5" (1.65 m) | 2004-02-04 | Mankato, Minnesota | Shattuck-Saint Mary's |
| 14 | 
|
Allie Monrean | Senior | F | 5' 5" (1.65 m) | 2001-05-08 | Anchorage, Alaska | Culver Academies |
| 15 |
|
Luci Bianchi (C) | Senior | F | 5' 3" (1.6 m) | 2000-12-22 | Bloomington, Minnesota | Bloomington Jefferson High School |
| 16 |
|
Lauren Stenslie | Sophomore | F | 5' 4" (1.63 m) | 2002-10-24 | Maple Grove, Minnesota | Maple Grove High School |
| 17 | 
|
Lotti Odnoga | Graduate | D | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 1999-01-19 | Győr, Hungary | Dartmouth College |
| 18 |
|
Gabby Billing | Graduate | F | 5' 3" (1.6 m) | 1999-10-18 | Rogers, Minnesota | Dartmouth College |
| 19 |
|
Anna Solheim (C) | Graduate | F | 5' 7" (1.7 m) | 1999-01-01 | Shoreview, Minnesota | Mounds View High School |
| 20 |
|
Marki Oberg | Sophomore | F | 5' 4" (1.63 m) | 2002-09-06 | Alexandria, Minnesota | Alexandria Area High School |
| 21 | 
|
Alli Pahl | Sophomore | D | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 2002-12-24 | Medicine Hat, Alberta | Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna |
| 22 |
|
Maddie Jurgensen | Sophomore | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 2003-05-05 | Andover, Minnesota | Andover High School |
| 23 |
|
Brieja Parent | Junior | F | 5' 4" (1.63 m) | 2001-11-09 | Forest Lake, Minnesota | University of Minnesota Duluth |
| 24 |
|
Haley Maxwell | Freshman | D | 5' 4" (1.63 m) | 2003-08-07 | Edina, Minnesota | Edina High School |
| 26 | 
|
Nicole Vallario | Sophomore | D | 5' 5" (1.65 m) | 2001-08-30 | Lugano, Switzerland | HC Thurgau |
| 27 |
|
Anna Promersberger | Graduate | F | 5' 8" (1.73 m) | 1999-09-14 | Fargo, North Dakota | Penn State University |
| 29 |
|
Saskia Maurer | Sophomore | G | 5' 5" (1.65 m) | 2001-07-29 | Röthenbach, Switzerland | EV Bomo Thun |
| 30 |
|
Alexa Dobchuk | Senior | G | 5' 8" (1.73 m) | 2000-07-01 | Eden Prairie, Minnesota | Colgate University |
| 35 |
|
Maggie Malecha | Freshman | G | 5' 5" (1.65 m) | 2003-09-05 | Northfield, Minnesota | Northfield High School |
Head coaches
edit- As of November 20, 2024
| Tenure | Coach | Years | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–2007 | Kevin Gorg | 7 | 143–75–13 | .647 |
| 2008–2021 | Tom Palkowski | 14 | 220–99–40 | .669 |
| 2021–2024 | Joel Johnson | 3+ | 28–88–4 | .250 |
| 2024–present | Bethany Brausen | 1 | 0–0–0 | – |
| Totals | 4 coaches | 24 Seasons | 391–262–57 | .591 |
Season-by-season results
edit| Won Championship | Lost Championship | Conference Champions | League Leader |
| Year | Coach | W | L | T | Conference | Conf. W | Conf. L | Conf. T | Finish | Conference Tournament | NCAA Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Joel Johnson | 10 | 26 | 1 | WCHA | 4 | 23 | 1 | 7th WCHA | Lost Quarterfinals vs. Wisconsin (2-4, 1–9) | Ineligible due to D1 transition |
| 2022–23 | Joel Johnson | 8 | 27 | 1 | WCHA | 3 | 24 | 1 | 7th WCHA | Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota (0-7, 2–6) | Ineligible due to D1 transition |
| 2021–22 | Joel Johnson | 5 | 27 | 1 | WCHA | 3 | 23 | 1 | 8th WCHA | Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota (0–4, 1–5) | Ineligible due to D1 transition |
References
edit- ^ Velazquez, Giselle (November 19, 2024). "St. Thomas' Women's Hockey Coach Joel Johnson Resigns". TheIceGarden.com. The Ice Garden. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
Joel Johnson resigns from head coaching role at St. Thomas.
- ^ "Athletic Brand Standards – The University of St. Thomas". March 3, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
- ^ "St. Thomas Women's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ "Program Overview". tommiesports.com. August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ "D-III Powerhouse St. Thomas Is Getting Kicked Out of Its Conference Because It's Too Good at Sports". Sports Illustrated. May 22, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ "At the rink, it's 'Tommie Time,' as St. Thomas moves hockey programs to Division I". Duluth News Tribune. July 15, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ Jay, Michelle (July 15, 2020). "University of St. Thomas joins the WCHA for 2021-22 season". theicegarden.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ "St. Thomas can go D1; Minn. school was ousted from D3 league". Minnesota Public Radio. July 16, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ Wald, Jeff (17 January 2023). "St. Thomas announces plans for hockey, basketball arena starting in 2025". FOX 9. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
- ^ "2022–23 Women's Hockey Roster". The University of St. Thomas. August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.