On UMD’s terrific top line, Hughes earning national recognition

The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) women’s hockey team is still set to take a road trip down to St. Cloud State University this weekend, despite the men’s program having to postpone.

On the Bulldogs’ bus will be their terrific top line in senior Gabbie Hughes, fifth year Anna Klein, and graduate transfer Elizabeth Giguere. The trio causes trouble anywhere they go as the nation’s second best offensive line.

"Last year we had some struggles near the beginning of the year finding someone, and so to have [Giguere] come in and fit in right off the bat is huge," Klein explained. "It’s been so much fun playing with her. Obviously we’ve been clicking pretty well so I think we’re both thankful that’s been happening because we’ve been putting points up every game."

Klein and Hughes each occupy a spot among the country’s top ten scorers. During their non-conference road sweep at Harvard University last weekend the top line combined for seven of the team’s nine total goals. That has provided UMD great momentum heading back into Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play.

"Anytime we get an opportunity to play non-conference games we know we need to put on a good show, we need to come away with wins," UMD head coach Maura Crowell explained. "There’s a lot of pressure there. Then to see that line, and Gabbie in particular, grab that pressure and run with it and do what they did with it, it’s remarkable."

This week Hughes also earned WCHA Forward and Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) Player of the Month. She led the NCAA posting 1.80 points per game scoring four goals while tallying five assists in five games.

No. 8 UMD drops the puck in St. Cloud Friday at 3:01pm.