After making his first move behind the bench to bring in sophomore defender Lauren Goldsworthy, new Gophers coach Greg May wasted little time in retooling the rest of the lineup. Defensive moves were just the beginning, with the focus shifting to a forward group facing its biggest uncertainty of the last five years.
If there is one area where Minnesota looks different, it is here, with graduate forward Abbey Murphy out of eligibility after spending six years with the Gophers. Murphy has declared for the PWHL draft, so the Gophers will have to replace their all-time goal scorer.
Murphy has been a key part of the Gophers’ identity in recent years, and her absence means they will have to almost entirely rebuild the offensive system that so frequently went through her.
That made May’s search for more forward depth difficult, but from the looks of it, he found some players capable of shaping games.
Recently, the Gophers announced that their portal search led them to UConn’s junior forward Ashley Allard and Mercyhurst’s sophomore forward Julia Schalin. Both forwards are arriving from their respective schools with impressive numbers, but also the potential to grow with the Gophers.
Allard’s reputation at UConn reads as a player that coaches and teammates can depend on. Allard recorded 26 points in her sophomore year and 28 points in her junior year with the Huskies, showing a positive upward trajectory.
The statistics only tell part of the story, though.
One of Allard’s most impressive moments came with a Hockey East conference championship on the line, in double overtime against Northeastern. Allard helped UConn break through, setting up and recording an assist on the game-winning goal.
That winning experience matters, and it has followed her throughout her time with the Huskies. Outside of the recent Hockey East championship, she has also had a few national tournament appearances. She has been a stable part of their success.
She brings control to her game as well. As a center, she has won over 60% of her faceoffs in each of her last two seasons. Winning faceoffs will be central to the Gophers’ success next season, as it will allow them to control the pace and ultimately the outcome of their games.
“Ashley is a strong center with great size,” May said in a press release. “She’s been consistently strong in the areas that win games.”
Allard shared her own enthusiasm about joining the Gophers on social media: “Excited to announce that I am continuing my college career at the University of Minnesota,” she wrote. “Go Gophers!”
The reliability she will bring matters now more than ever. With freshman forward Bella Fanale, junior forward Emma Kreisz and freshman forward Avery Hovland back next year, they have options for three of four center spots. Senior forward Madison Kaiser has an uncertain future with the Gophers as well, with another year of eligibility remaining, but also an opportunity to jump to the PWHL.
Bringing in Allard helps steady that uncertainty. She can slot up into Kaiser’s spot if Kaiser leaves, but adds more depth even if Kaiser stays.
Meanwhile, sophomore forward Julia Schalin brings some additional range to the Gophers. Her hockey experience includes representing Finland internationally at both the senior and U-18 levels. She was part of Finland’s bronze medal-winning U-18 team in 2022.
At Mercyhurst, she made an immediate impact, too. She earned Rookie of the Year honors and led all freshmen in scoring with 32 points. She continued to evolve in her sophomore year, earning AHA Forward of the Week twice and getting 31 points in 33 games.
The reason she only played in 33 games was that she stepped onto the Olympic stage for Finland. She appeared in all five of Finland’s games and recorded an assist against the Czech Republic — one of the team’s biggest rivals.
Schalin has already proved that she can handle one of the highest pressures in the sport. The relentless game she plays, driven by her excellent hockey instincts, is one aspect of her game that stands out. Her playmaking abilities are just as developed as her ability to score goals.
The Gophers are losing a player who had 40 goals in just 31 games. That is not what Allard and Schalin are expected to replace overnight.
However, the two portal additions do signal that the Gophers are evolving. They are arriving on upward trajectories and still expanding on their full potential. That is what matters for a program that is also in transition.
