Eight players with ties to the Gopher women's hockey program — and two other Minnesotans — will will compete in the 2023 International Ice Hockey Federation women's world championship starting Wednesday through Apr. 16 in Brampton, Ontario.

Five of those with Gophers connections will be on the U.S. team: fifth-year Taylor Heise, redshirt-sophomore Abbey Murphy and alumnae Amanda Kessel (2016), Kelly Pannek ('19) and Lee Stecklein ('17). All but Murphy were a part of Team USA's silver-medal team in 2022.

In her first action with the U.S. senior national team last September, Heise had 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in seven games — the second-most in a single women's worlds tournament in IIHF history. She was named the tournament MVP.

Freshmen Josefin Bouveng and Nelli Laitinen were each selected for national team rosters of Sweden and Finland, respectively. Incoming freshman forward Emma Kreisz will represent Hungary.

Two other Minnesotans are also on the U.S. team: Cornell defenseman Rory Guilday (Minnetonka) and Minnesota Duluth forward Gabbie Hughes (Lino Lakes).

At the 2023 IIHF Women's World Championship, the U.S. women's national team will compete in Group A alongside Canada, Czechia, Japan and Switzerland. Finland, Hungary and Sweden will compete in Group B with Germany and France. All Team USA games will be broadcast live in the U.S. on NHL Network.

Canada has won the gold medal a record 12 times, the U.S. nine times.

Gophers baseball loses

Junior Brett Bateman had three hits and a walk, but the Gophers baseball team lost 6-2 to Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio.

Sophomore George Klassen started for Minnesota (6-20, 1-1 Big Ten) and took the loss. He gave up four runs, four hits and four walks in four innings. He struck out one. Junior reliever Noah DeLuga threw two shutout innings, allowing one hit, with a strikeout and two walks. Freshmen Sam Hunt and Weber Neels both went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Henry Kaczmar of Ohio State (13-12, 1-4) was 3-for-4 with a home and three RBI.

Etc.

  • The Gophers softball team's game against Penn State on Saturday was postponed because of an overnight snowstorm. The teams will play a doubleheader starting at noon Sunday at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
  • Gophers tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford was named to the 2023 Walter Camp preseason All-American second team. The St. Cloud native started all 13 games last season and led the team in receptions (42) and was second in receiving yards (497).
  • St. Cloud State sophomore Nick Novak was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Super Region V Wrestler of the Year. The New Prague native went 27-0 and won the NCAA Division II title at 157 pounds.