Hockey - Women's - News

DIVERSE FRESHMEN CLASS WILL HIGHLIGHT THE 2012-13 HOCKEY SEASON

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Senior forward Pernilla Winberg (Team Sweden) hails from one of seven countries that will be represented by UMD this fall.

The most successful Division women’s hockey program in NCAA history is sticking with the formula for the 2012-13 season that has worked for the previous 13. The Bulldogs simply find the best hockey players in the world and bring them to the University of Minnesota Duluth campus.

The Bulldogs will not only welcome one of the biggest freshmen classes into their tradition-laden history, they will roll out the red carpet for one of the most internationally diverse group of rookies.  Set to wear the UMD sweater this fall are two incoming freshmen from the United States and Canada, and one from Sweden, Finland, Germany, Russia and Australia.  While no program in the country has been home to more Europeans than the Bulldogs, Alivia Del Basso, from Perth, Australia, will become the first player from the southern hemisphere.  Del Baffo is a member of the Australian National Team.

Goaltenders Kayla Black from Blyth, Ontario, Sofia Carlstrom from Danderyd, Sweden (Sweden U-18) and Karissa Grapp from Essexville, Mich. will compete between the pipes for the Bulldogs.  Blueliner Jordan Krause (Canada U-18), Hannah Bramm (Tampa, Florida), Marie Delarbre (Germany U-18), Aleksandra Vafina (Team Russia), and Del Baffo will represent six countries – in just the rookie class alone.  In addition to landing the first player from Australia, UMD also will have its first skater from Florida in Bramm, a forward from the North American Hockey Academy.

Youth can’t be served without steady leadership next fall, and the Bulldogs will return 14 players to the ice in September – including four seniors who own NCAA championship rings earned during their rookie campaigns in 2009-10.

With the addition of UMD's impressive rookie class, there is no question the 2012-13 UMD squad is chomping at the bit to get the season going.  Let the two month countdown to Bulldog hockey begin!

Return to all news.