Hello Gopher fans,

Things are still pretty quiet around campus, but there are a few hockey updates worth noting. The men’s hockey team released the 2026-27 schedule this week, and having the home opener against North Dakota feels like a pretty good way to kick things off.

I also stayed busy this week covering the PWHL Awards and Draft in Detroit. Fox Theatre was an incredible venue for the league to welcome their newest players, including five Gophers. Abbey Murphy went second overall to the Seattle Torrent with Nelli Laitinen, Sydney Morrow, Jamie Nelson, and Josefin Bouveng getting drafted as well.

The Gophers were also well represented at the league awards. Alumni Kelly Pannek took home the PWHL Forward of the Year award after her breakthrough season, and you can check out my story on her below.

Anyways, I’ll have more coverage on the drafted Gophers and what comes next for them in the weeks ahead.

Ski-u-mah, respectfully,

Samantha Roering | Sports Editor | [email protected]

In the Spotlight

Kelly Pannek wins Forward of the Year alongside other league honors

by Samantha Roering | Published June 19, 2026

In 2016, Kelly Pannek hoisted her second national championship trophy with the University of Minnesota. Nearly a decade later, she would help the Minnesota Frost capture the Walter Cup twice in the first two seasons of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, adding two Olympic gold medals and a silver medal along the way.

Pannek clearly knows what it takes to win. Even with that winning resume, she has not seen double-digit goal scoring since her college days. 

That was until the 2025-26 season. 

From the Bullpen

Game-Winning Shots