Former Gophers forward Abby Boreen has played her way onto the team with PWHL Minnesota by scoring twice in five games, including a goal and an assist in Wednesday night’s 2-1 comeback victory over PWHL Ottawa at Xcel Energy Center.
Abby Boreen makes her case for sticking with team as PWHL Minnesota tops Ottawa 2-1
Former Gophers forward Abby Boreen, now a pharmacy student, notched a goal and an assist Wednesday night at Xcel Energy Center as one of her two 10-day contracts expired.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
February 15, 2024 at 6:06AM
But is there a place for her?
Undrafted last fall, Boreen signed the first of two 10-day contracts she is allowed under league rules as a full-time student who is pursuing a pharmacy degree. The last day of those first 10 days came and went Wednesday, when Boreen scored a tying goal with some digging around the net 2:35 into the second period.
She then assisted on defender Maggie Flaherty’s winning goal at 3:35 in the third period.
The victory, before an announced crowd of 6,276, earned three more precious points as Minnesota battles PWHL Montreal for first place in the new six-team league.
Boreen scored her first PWHL goal Jan. 28 at New York. Minnesota General Manager Natalie Darwitz carefully planned out those first 10 days to maximize five games played. Another 10-day deal is allowed, but her status as a full-time student prevents her from being signed for the rest of the season.
“There’s 100 percent a place for her here,” Minnesota coach Ken Klee said. “Those are things we’re discussing and looking into.”
Boreen missed practice Monday and morning skate Wednesday because she had exams to take, he said.
“I just wanted to make the most of this opportunity,” Boreen said. “I don’t know. I don’t really have any comment. I just know I was pulled up for 10 days and that’s just kind of where it’s at right now.”
She said playing her fifth season of college hockey for the Gophers last season while starting pharmacy school at the same time has helped this transition.
“I learned to balance both,” Boreen said. “Just before [Wednesday’s] game, I had two tests so I was scrambling to be here. Playing my fifth year and knowing what school was like helped me.”
Boreen’s cousin and aunt are pharmacists. So, too, is her best friend’s dad.
“I shadowed them when I was younger, and I knew I wanted to be in the medical field,” Boreen said. “So I kind of fell in love with pharmacy and I’ve enjoyed going to school.”
She’s also a forward with the kind of presence Klee said his team needs.
“She has been great for us,” Klee said. “She brings that physical element to our forward group. We’re not a very physical group, I don’t think. With her in there, that was something missing in our first games without her. She came in and provided a little physical-type play. She impressed me.
“I was told she would be able to play for us. Watching her in practice and then in a game, she got comfortable. As she played more and more, she has gotten more and more.”
Klee also on Wednesday welcomed the physical play of newly acquired offensive defenseman Sophie Jaques, who was added Sunday from Boston in the PWHL’s first trade.
Minnesota also played without injured star Taylor Heise for the first time, because of an upper-body injury sustained Sunday in an international Rivalry Series game against Canada. Klee said after Wednesday’s game that he doesn’t expect Heise to be ready to play in this weekend’s rematch at Ottawa.
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A 7-1 loss to Edmonton came with back-to-back home games just ahead and another injury in place, as the Wild placed defenseman Jake Middleton on IR and claimed veteran Travis Dermott off waivers.
