Friday, January 17
St. Cloud, Minn.
3 p.m. CT
St. Cloud State
vs
Bemidji State
Photo by: Jason Soria
No. 11 St. Cloud State Women’s Hockey Set for Final Regular Season Home Series
1/16/2025 4:28:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Huskies welcome Bemidji State to St. Cloud for a pair of WCHA games Friday and Saturday
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 11 St. Cloud State Women's Hockey (10-8-4, 5-8-3 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) returns to St. Cloud for its final regular season home series of the season. The Huskies play Bemidji State (4- 18-1, 2-14-0 WCHA) on Friday and Saturday at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. Puck drop on Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT while Saturday's game will begin at 1 p.m. CT.
Series Notes
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Both games will be streamed on B1G+ (note – a paid subscription is required) with radio coverage on 97.5 FM RadioX. KVSC talent Luke Paider (play-by-by) and Sam Roering (color) will be on the call. Live stats will be provided by UMD. Links to each coverage option are available on the SCSU Women's Hockey schedule page.
Game 23 vs. Bemidji State (Herb Brooks National Hockey Center – St. Cloud) – Friday, Jan. 17 / 3 p.m. CT / Livestream ($ - B1G+) / Live Stats / Audio (97.5 FM RadioX) / Tickets
Game 24 vs. Bemidji State (Herb Brooks National Hockey Center – St. Cloud) – Saturday, Jan. 18 / 1 p.m. CT / Livestream ($ - B1G+) / Live Stats / Audio (97.5 FM RadioX) / Tickets
GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
Saturday, Jan. 18 is Youth Day and don't forget your skates, because everyone will have the opportunity to Skate with the Huskies post-game.
SERIES HISTORY
SCSU leads the all-time series against Bemidji State, 54-51-10, inlcuding a 10-0-0 record in the team's last 10 matchups. The Huskies own a 27-24-6 record when playing BSU in St. Cloud. SCSU swept the Beavers to open WCHA play on Oct. 11-12, taking the games, 1-0 and 2-0 in Bemidji.
LET'S GO POLLING
The Huskies are ranked No. 11 in both national polls (USCHO and USA Hockey/The Rink Live). St. Cloud State is one of five WCHA programs featured in the rankings with one additional club receiving votes.
LAST TIME OUT
The then-No. 10/9 Huskies were swept by No. 4 Minnesota Duluth at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth in their first series of 2025. UMD won both games 3-0 and took the season series 3-0-1 over the Huskies.
SCSU's powerplay went 0-for-8 on the weekend, extending its streak of going 0-for-3 or worse to six straight games. It is the second time the Huskies have been held scoreless in two consecutive games (Nov. 1-2 against No. 1 Wisconsin) and SCSU is on its second three-game losing streak this season.
THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA
Friday, Jan. 17
Bemidji State at No. 11 St. Cloud State* - 3 PM CT
(RV) Minnesota State at No. 3 Minnesota* - 6 PM CT
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 4 Minnesota Duluth* - 6 PM CT
No. 1 Wisconsin at St. Thomas* - 7 PM CT
Saturday, Jan. 18
Bemidji State at No. 11 St. Cloud State* - 1 PM CT
(RV) Minnesota State at No. 3 Minnesota* - 2 PM CT
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 4 Minnesota Duluth* - 3 PM CT
No. 1 Wisconsin at St. Thomas* - 3 PM CT
*WCHA Game
HCA WOMEN'S GOALIE OF THE YEAR AWARD WATCH LIST
Fifth year goaltender Sanni Ahola (Helsinki, Finland) and freshman goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö (Nokia, Finland) have been named to the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) Women's Goalie of the Year Award Watch List, as announced by the organization on Jan. 14. The HCA National Women's Goalie of the Year Award was created in 2021 to recognize the top female goalie in NCAA Division I Hockey.
Ahola and Kyrkkö are two of seven Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) players on the 33-member watch list. The goalies to watch come from all five NCAA Division I conferences with 17 from the United States, nine from Canada and seven from Europe (two from Finland, two from Sweden and one each from Austria, Denmark and Slovenia).
As of Jan. 14, Ahola has made 12 appearances with 12 starts. She owns a 6-4-2 record, 1.92 goals against average and .924 save percentage. She has also posted two shutouts. The Helsinki, Finland native was also named to the watch list last season.
In her debut campaign (as of Jan. 14), Kyrkkö has made 11 appearances with 10 starts. She owns a 4-4-2 record, 2.07 goals against average and .926 save percentage, while recording two shutouts. This season, Kyrkkö has been named WCHA Goaltender of the Week twice (Oct. 7 | Oct. 28), WCHA Rookie of the Week (Oct. 21), WCHA Rookie of the Month (October), HCA National Rookie of the Month (October).
The initial "Watch List" of outstanding goalies is comprised of those with a goals against average of 2.10 or lower or a save percentage of .920 or higher. A committee of voters — made up of a cross section of coaches, administrators, and media — will pare this list down within the next two weeks and then ultimately choose the winner who will be announced in March during the NCAA Frozen Four. NOTE: The process allows for goalies not on this first list to be considered before the first vote.
HUSKIES AT THE SIX NATIONS TOURNAMENT
St. Cloud State Women's Hockey had six current players and one alumna compete for their respective country's national team at the 2024 Six Nations Tournament that took place from Dec. 11-15 in Tampere, Finland.
Fifth year forward Emma Gentry (Alpena, Mich.) represented the Stars and Stripes of the United States on the U.S. Collegiate Women's Select Team while fifth year goaltender Sanni Ahola (Helsinki, Finland), freshman goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö (Nokia, Finland), sophomore forward Sofianna Sundelin (Ulvila, Finland) and freshman defender Siiri Yrjölä (Vantaa, Finland) were joined by 2023 SCSU alumna Jenniina Nylund (Pietarsaari, Finland) on the Finnish National Team and redshirt sophomore forward Laura Zimmermann (Ringgenberg, Switzerland) played for the Swiss National Team .
The Six Nations Tournament was the third competition on the annual Women's Euro Hockey Tour (WEHT) and in addition to Switzerland, included Canada, Czechia, Finland, Sweden and the U.S.
The six participating countries were split into two groups. Group A included the United States, Finland and Switzerland, while Group B featured Canada, Czechia and Sweden. The United States beat Finland 4-0 and Switzerland 6-2 to win the group while Finland beat the Swiss 4-0 to take second place in the group and advanced to the semifinals. Sundelin scored in the 4-0 shutout of Switzerland. Finland dropped its semifinal game to Canada, 3-0 and its third-place game to Sweden, 2-1. The U.S. took down Sweden 5-0 in the semifinals and Canada 5-3 in the championship.
FIRST HUSKY ON A PWHL OPENING DAY ROSTER
Former St. Cloud State Women's Hockey forward Klára Hymlárová (Opava, Czech Rebublic) made history for the program on Nov. 29 when she was named to the opening day roster for the Minnesota Frost of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) following the team's preseason minicamp. She became the first alumna to make an opening day roster for a PWHL team.
On June 10, Hymlárová was selected by then-PWHL Minnesota in the 3rd round (15th overall) of the league's draft, becoming the first Husky to be selected since the inauguration of the PWHL Draft in 2023.
The Frost won the first annual Walter Cup Championship in 2023-24 and return 16 members from that team. The final 10 players that make up the 26-player roster are PWHL rookies, including Hymlárová. The Frost opened their season with a 4-3 overtime loss against the New York Sirens on Sunday. Hymlárová skated to a +1 mark in her professional debut.
A two-time alternate captain, Hymlárová ended her five-year Huskies career in 2023-24 with 36 goals and 53 assists for 89 points over 142 collegiate games. She compiled four Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) weekly awards in her career including one Forward of the Week nod in 2023-24 after being named Most Outstanding Player at the 2023 Ice Breaker in which she led the Huskies to the title with a natural hat trick in the Championship Game, and three Rookie of the Week selections in 2019-20. She also earned WCHA Rookie of the Month honors in December 2019 and was named to the 2019-20 WCHA All-Rookie Team.
Hymlárová is well-known on the international circuit as a leader on the Czechia Senior National Team, earning two Bronze medals at the World Championships (2022, 2023) while appearing in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. In total, she has represented Czechia seven times at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and three times at the IIHF U18 World Junior Championships (2015, 2016, 2017).
HCA NATIONAL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Freshman goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö (Nokia, Finland) was named the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) National Rookie of the Month, as announced by the organization on Nov. 1, following her impressive stretch in the net during the month of October.
As of Nov. 1, Kyrkkö ranked No. 3 in goals-against-average (0.97), No. 3 in save percentage (.962), No. 4 in shutouts (two) and No. 6 in goalie winning percentage (.800) among all Division I goaltenders.
WCHA ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Freshman goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö (Nokia, Finland) was named Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Rookie of the Month, by the league office on Oct. 30, following her impressive stretch between the pipes during the month of October.
Throughout October, she earned her first three WCHA weekly honors of the season and of her career. She was named Goaltender of the Week on Oct. 7 and Oct. 28 and was tabbed as the league's Rookie of the Week on Oct. 21.
The freshman netminder led the WCHA in goals against average (0.97) and save percentage (.962) during the month while posting an impressive undefeated record of 3-0-2. She began her career with two consecutive shutouts and only two of the five goals she conceded in the month were full strength goals.
Kyrkkö also ranked No. 2 in shutouts (2), No. 2 in shutouts/game (0.4), No. 3 in total saves (126), tied for No. 3 in goaltender wins (3) and No. 5 in saves/game (25.2) among all conference goaltenders during the month.
The Nokia, Finland native tallied a career high 45 saves in SCSU's tie/shootout win over No. 2 Ohio State. Her 45 saves were the most in a single game by a conference goaltender during the month.
WCHA WEEKLY HONORS
Freshman goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö (Nokia, Finland) was named Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Goaltender of the Week, by the league office on Oct. 28, following her standout performance in the net during the series against (RV) St. Thomas. It was her third weekly award of the season and of her career (Goaltender of the Week – Oct. 7; Oct. 28 | Rookie of the Week – Oct. 21).
The Nokia, Finland native did not allow an even-strength goal and made 14 saves in Saturday's 3-1 home win over (RV) St. Thomas. The Tommies scored a powerplay goal with just eight seconds left in regulation to take away her third shutout performance of the season. In Friday's 1-1 tie/shootout loss at UST she made 28 saves and allowed just one goal in regulation (.966 save %) while saving three of the penalty shots she faced in the shootout.
Kyrkkö led the WCHA in goals against average (0.96) and was third in save percentage (.955), third in saves (42) and fifth in saves/game (21.0). Kyrkkö remains undefeated through her first five collegiate games (3-0-2) and owns impressive marks for goals against average (0.97), save percentage (.962) and shutout (2).
St. Cloud State has won each of the WCHA weekly awards at least once this season. Kyrkkö has been named the Goaltender of the Week twice (Oct. 7 & Oct. 28) and the Rookie of the Week once (Oct. 21), and senior defender Ella Anick (Hermantown, Minn.) and fifth year forward Emma Gentry (Alpena, Mich.) were named the conference Defender and Forward of the Week respectively on Sept. 23 after SCSU's season-opening sweep of Lindenwood.
It was the second time Anick had been named WCHA Defender of the Week in her career, both coming while playing for SCSU. It was Gentry's third career time being named the WCHA Forward of the Week.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Series Notes
FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
Both games will be streamed on B1G+ (note – a paid subscription is required) with radio coverage on 97.5 FM RadioX. KVSC talent Luke Paider (play-by-by) and Sam Roering (color) will be on the call. Live stats will be provided by UMD. Links to each coverage option are available on the SCSU Women's Hockey schedule page.
Game 23 vs. Bemidji State (Herb Brooks National Hockey Center – St. Cloud) – Friday, Jan. 17 / 3 p.m. CT / Livestream ($ - B1G+) / Live Stats / Audio (97.5 FM RadioX) / Tickets
Game 24 vs. Bemidji State (Herb Brooks National Hockey Center – St. Cloud) – Saturday, Jan. 18 / 1 p.m. CT / Livestream ($ - B1G+) / Live Stats / Audio (97.5 FM RadioX) / Tickets
GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
Saturday, Jan. 18 is Youth Day and don't forget your skates, because everyone will have the opportunity to Skate with the Huskies post-game.
SERIES HISTORY
SCSU leads the all-time series against Bemidji State, 54-51-10, inlcuding a 10-0-0 record in the team's last 10 matchups. The Huskies own a 27-24-6 record when playing BSU in St. Cloud. SCSU swept the Beavers to open WCHA play on Oct. 11-12, taking the games, 1-0 and 2-0 in Bemidji.
LET'S GO POLLING
The Huskies are ranked No. 11 in both national polls (USCHO and USA Hockey/The Rink Live). St. Cloud State is one of five WCHA programs featured in the rankings with one additional club receiving votes.
LAST TIME OUT
The then-No. 10/9 Huskies were swept by No. 4 Minnesota Duluth at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth in their first series of 2025. UMD won both games 3-0 and took the season series 3-0-1 over the Huskies.
SCSU's powerplay went 0-for-8 on the weekend, extending its streak of going 0-for-3 or worse to six straight games. It is the second time the Huskies have been held scoreless in two consecutive games (Nov. 1-2 against No. 1 Wisconsin) and SCSU is on its second three-game losing streak this season.
THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA
Friday, Jan. 17
Bemidji State at No. 11 St. Cloud State* - 3 PM CT
(RV) Minnesota State at No. 3 Minnesota* - 6 PM CT
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 4 Minnesota Duluth* - 6 PM CT
No. 1 Wisconsin at St. Thomas* - 7 PM CT
Saturday, Jan. 18
Bemidji State at No. 11 St. Cloud State* - 1 PM CT
(RV) Minnesota State at No. 3 Minnesota* - 2 PM CT
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 4 Minnesota Duluth* - 3 PM CT
No. 1 Wisconsin at St. Thomas* - 3 PM CT
*WCHA Game
HCA WOMEN'S GOALIE OF THE YEAR AWARD WATCH LIST
Fifth year goaltender Sanni Ahola (Helsinki, Finland) and freshman goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö (Nokia, Finland) have been named to the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) Women's Goalie of the Year Award Watch List, as announced by the organization on Jan. 14. The HCA National Women's Goalie of the Year Award was created in 2021 to recognize the top female goalie in NCAA Division I Hockey.
Ahola and Kyrkkö are two of seven Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) players on the 33-member watch list. The goalies to watch come from all five NCAA Division I conferences with 17 from the United States, nine from Canada and seven from Europe (two from Finland, two from Sweden and one each from Austria, Denmark and Slovenia).
As of Jan. 14, Ahola has made 12 appearances with 12 starts. She owns a 6-4-2 record, 1.92 goals against average and .924 save percentage. She has also posted two shutouts. The Helsinki, Finland native was also named to the watch list last season.
In her debut campaign (as of Jan. 14), Kyrkkö has made 11 appearances with 10 starts. She owns a 4-4-2 record, 2.07 goals against average and .926 save percentage, while recording two shutouts. This season, Kyrkkö has been named WCHA Goaltender of the Week twice (Oct. 7 | Oct. 28), WCHA Rookie of the Week (Oct. 21), WCHA Rookie of the Month (October), HCA National Rookie of the Month (October).
The initial "Watch List" of outstanding goalies is comprised of those with a goals against average of 2.10 or lower or a save percentage of .920 or higher. A committee of voters — made up of a cross section of coaches, administrators, and media — will pare this list down within the next two weeks and then ultimately choose the winner who will be announced in March during the NCAA Frozen Four. NOTE: The process allows for goalies not on this first list to be considered before the first vote.
HUSKIES AT THE SIX NATIONS TOURNAMENT
St. Cloud State Women's Hockey had six current players and one alumna compete for their respective country's national team at the 2024 Six Nations Tournament that took place from Dec. 11-15 in Tampere, Finland.
Fifth year forward Emma Gentry (Alpena, Mich.) represented the Stars and Stripes of the United States on the U.S. Collegiate Women's Select Team while fifth year goaltender Sanni Ahola (Helsinki, Finland), freshman goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö (Nokia, Finland), sophomore forward Sofianna Sundelin (Ulvila, Finland) and freshman defender Siiri Yrjölä (Vantaa, Finland) were joined by 2023 SCSU alumna Jenniina Nylund (Pietarsaari, Finland) on the Finnish National Team and redshirt sophomore forward Laura Zimmermann (Ringgenberg, Switzerland) played for the Swiss National Team .
The Six Nations Tournament was the third competition on the annual Women's Euro Hockey Tour (WEHT) and in addition to Switzerland, included Canada, Czechia, Finland, Sweden and the U.S.
The six participating countries were split into two groups. Group A included the United States, Finland and Switzerland, while Group B featured Canada, Czechia and Sweden. The United States beat Finland 4-0 and Switzerland 6-2 to win the group while Finland beat the Swiss 4-0 to take second place in the group and advanced to the semifinals. Sundelin scored in the 4-0 shutout of Switzerland. Finland dropped its semifinal game to Canada, 3-0 and its third-place game to Sweden, 2-1. The U.S. took down Sweden 5-0 in the semifinals and Canada 5-3 in the championship.
FIRST HUSKY ON A PWHL OPENING DAY ROSTER
Former St. Cloud State Women's Hockey forward Klára Hymlárová (Opava, Czech Rebublic) made history for the program on Nov. 29 when she was named to the opening day roster for the Minnesota Frost of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) following the team's preseason minicamp. She became the first alumna to make an opening day roster for a PWHL team.
On June 10, Hymlárová was selected by then-PWHL Minnesota in the 3rd round (15th overall) of the league's draft, becoming the first Husky to be selected since the inauguration of the PWHL Draft in 2023.
The Frost won the first annual Walter Cup Championship in 2023-24 and return 16 members from that team. The final 10 players that make up the 26-player roster are PWHL rookies, including Hymlárová. The Frost opened their season with a 4-3 overtime loss against the New York Sirens on Sunday. Hymlárová skated to a +1 mark in her professional debut.
A two-time alternate captain, Hymlárová ended her five-year Huskies career in 2023-24 with 36 goals and 53 assists for 89 points over 142 collegiate games. She compiled four Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) weekly awards in her career including one Forward of the Week nod in 2023-24 after being named Most Outstanding Player at the 2023 Ice Breaker in which she led the Huskies to the title with a natural hat trick in the Championship Game, and three Rookie of the Week selections in 2019-20. She also earned WCHA Rookie of the Month honors in December 2019 and was named to the 2019-20 WCHA All-Rookie Team.
Hymlárová is well-known on the international circuit as a leader on the Czechia Senior National Team, earning two Bronze medals at the World Championships (2022, 2023) while appearing in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. In total, she has represented Czechia seven times at the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and three times at the IIHF U18 World Junior Championships (2015, 2016, 2017).
HCA NATIONAL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Freshman goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö (Nokia, Finland) was named the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) National Rookie of the Month, as announced by the organization on Nov. 1, following her impressive stretch in the net during the month of October.
As of Nov. 1, Kyrkkö ranked No. 3 in goals-against-average (0.97), No. 3 in save percentage (.962), No. 4 in shutouts (two) and No. 6 in goalie winning percentage (.800) among all Division I goaltenders.
WCHA ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Freshman goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö (Nokia, Finland) was named Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Rookie of the Month, by the league office on Oct. 30, following her impressive stretch between the pipes during the month of October.
Throughout October, she earned her first three WCHA weekly honors of the season and of her career. She was named Goaltender of the Week on Oct. 7 and Oct. 28 and was tabbed as the league's Rookie of the Week on Oct. 21.
The freshman netminder led the WCHA in goals against average (0.97) and save percentage (.962) during the month while posting an impressive undefeated record of 3-0-2. She began her career with two consecutive shutouts and only two of the five goals she conceded in the month were full strength goals.
Kyrkkö also ranked No. 2 in shutouts (2), No. 2 in shutouts/game (0.4), No. 3 in total saves (126), tied for No. 3 in goaltender wins (3) and No. 5 in saves/game (25.2) among all conference goaltenders during the month.
The Nokia, Finland native tallied a career high 45 saves in SCSU's tie/shootout win over No. 2 Ohio State. Her 45 saves were the most in a single game by a conference goaltender during the month.
WCHA WEEKLY HONORS
Freshman goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö (Nokia, Finland) was named Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Goaltender of the Week, by the league office on Oct. 28, following her standout performance in the net during the series against (RV) St. Thomas. It was her third weekly award of the season and of her career (Goaltender of the Week – Oct. 7; Oct. 28 | Rookie of the Week – Oct. 21).
The Nokia, Finland native did not allow an even-strength goal and made 14 saves in Saturday's 3-1 home win over (RV) St. Thomas. The Tommies scored a powerplay goal with just eight seconds left in regulation to take away her third shutout performance of the season. In Friday's 1-1 tie/shootout loss at UST she made 28 saves and allowed just one goal in regulation (.966 save %) while saving three of the penalty shots she faced in the shootout.
Kyrkkö led the WCHA in goals against average (0.96) and was third in save percentage (.955), third in saves (42) and fifth in saves/game (21.0). Kyrkkö remains undefeated through her first five collegiate games (3-0-2) and owns impressive marks for goals against average (0.97), save percentage (.962) and shutout (2).
St. Cloud State has won each of the WCHA weekly awards at least once this season. Kyrkkö has been named the Goaltender of the Week twice (Oct. 7 & Oct. 28) and the Rookie of the Week once (Oct. 21), and senior defender Ella Anick (Hermantown, Minn.) and fifth year forward Emma Gentry (Alpena, Mich.) were named the conference Defender and Forward of the Week respectively on Sept. 23 after SCSU's season-opening sweep of Lindenwood.
It was the second time Anick had been named WCHA Defender of the Week in her career, both coming while playing for SCSU. It was Gentry's third career time being named the WCHA Forward of the Week.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Goaltender
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Defender
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Forward
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Forward
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