Grace Zumwinkle

Last updated

Grace Zumwinkle
Grace Zumwinkle.jpg
Zumwinkle (right) with PWHL Minnesota, alongside Susanna Tapani (left) in 2024
Born (1999-04-23) April 23, 1999 (age 26)
Excelsior, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
PWHL team Minnesota Frost
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Playing career 2017present
Medal record
Olympic Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2022 Beijing Team
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2025 Czechia
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2021 Canada
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2022 Denmark
World U18 Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2016 Canada
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 Czech Republic

Grace Zumwinkle (born April 23, 1999) is an American ice hockey player for the Minnesota Frost of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She played college ice hockey at Minnesota. She represented the United States women's national ice hockey team at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Contents

Playing career

College

Zumwinkle began her collegiate career for the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the 2017–18 season. During her freshman year, she recorded 17 goals and 21 assists in 38 games to lead the team in scoring. She tied for the team lead with eight multi-point games. She was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week for the week ending December 12, 2017. She led all rookies with five points and recorded two goals and three assists in two games during the weekend. [1] [2] She was also named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Month for December 2017. In four games in December, she led all WCHA players with four goals and four assists, including one game-winning goal. [3] Following an outstanding season, she was named to the All-WCHA First Team, WCHA All-Rookie team and WCHA Scoring Champion. She became the first freshman to be named WCHA Scoring Champion since 2010. [4]

During the 2018–19 season, she ranked second on the team in scoring with 41 points in 39 games and led the team with six multi-goal games. She led Minnesota and ranked second in the WCHA with 25 goals, and led the WCHA and tied for second in the nation with seven power-play goals. She also ranked second in the WCHA with 0.64 goals per game and fifth in the WCHA with 1.05 points per game. [5] On November 30, 2018, she recorded a career-high five points with her first career hat-trick and two assists in a game against Yale. [6] She was subsequently named the WCHA Forward of the Week and NCAA Second Star of the Week for the week ending December 4, 2018. She was also named WCHA Forward of the Month for November 2018 after leading the league with seven goals and 11 points. [7] [8] She was named WCHA Forward of the Week for the week ending January 29, 2019, and she tied for the WCHA lead with four points and three goals over the weekend. [9] She was also named WCHA Forward of the Month for January 2019 after leading the league with 12 points, eight goals, three power-play goals, and four power-play points during January. [10]

During the 2019–20 season, she ranked second on the team with a career-high 45 points. She led the team, and ranked third in the WCHA with 25 goals, ranked second in the WCHA, and 10th in the nation with a +37 plus/minus rating. [5] She was named WCHA Forward of the Week for the week ending October 29, 2019. She scored four of Minnesota's seven goals against Ohio State with a pair of two-goal games during the series. She also recorded her 50th career goal as a Gopher. [11] The following week she was again WCHA Forward of the Week for the week ending November 5, 2019, after leading Minnesota with four points on two goals and two assists during the weekend series against the top-ranked Wisconsin Badgers. [12] On November 16, 2019, she recorded her 100th career point with an assist in a game against Bemidji State. She became the 35th player in program history to reach the milestone. [13] On February 29, 2020, she recorded her second career hat-trick in a game against St. Cloud State. [14] She was subsequently named WCHA Forward of the Week for the week ending March 3, 2020. [15] Following an outstanding season, she was named to the All-WCHA Second Team. [16]

On July 14, 2021, she was named captain for the 2020–21 season. [17] During her senior year she ranked third in the WCHA and eighth in the nation with 24 points, and second the WCHA and in the nation with 17 goals. [5] She was named WCHA Forward of the Week for the week ending December 3, 2020. During the first four games of the season, she led the team with three goals and one assist. [18] She was also named WCHA Forward of the Month for November 2020. [19] On February 19, 2021, she recorded her third career hat trick in a game against Bemidji State. [20] [21] She was subsequently named WCHA Forward of the Week for the week ending February 23, 2021, her ninth WCHA weekly award. [22] She was also named WCHA Forward of the Month for February 2021, her fifth WCHA monthly award. She led the WCHA with 11 points, seven goals, 28 shots on goal, and a +9 rating in six games during February. [23] Following an outstanding season she was named All-WCHA First Team, AHCA All-America Second Team, All-USCHO Second Team, and a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. [24] [25]

Professional

On September 18, 2023, Zumwinkle was drafted in the third round, 13th overall, by PWHL Minnesota in the 2023 PWHL Draft. [26] In Minnesota's first home game, on January 6, 2024, Zumwinkle scored the PWHL's first ever hat-trick and was subsequently named the league's inaugural first star of the week. [27] During the 2023–24 season, she recorded 11 goals and eight assists in 24 regular season games and one goal in ten playoff games to help Minnesota win the inaugural Walter Cup. [28] [29] Following the season she was named PWHL Rookie of the Year. [30]

During the 2024-25 season, Zumwinkle had a shoulder injury which kept her out for approximately three weeks in January. [31] Throughout the rest of the season, she recorded four goals and six assists. With the team, she won the 2025 Walter Cup. [32]

International play

Zumwinkle represented the United States at the 2016 and 2017 IIHF World Women's U18 Championships, where she won gold. [33]

On January 2, 2022, Zumwinkle was named to Team USA's roster to represent the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics. [34] With the team, she won the silver medal.

Zumwinkle represented Team USA at the IIHF World Women's Championship in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025. She made the roster in 2020 but the tournament did not occur due to COVID-19. Zumwinkle has won silver thrice, in 2021, 2022, and 2024, and gold in 2025. Each final game was against Canada. [35]

She has also represented the U.S in the 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 Rivalry Series, as well as the 2021 My Why Tour. [35]

Personal life

Zumwinkle was born to Mike and Lori Zumwinkle. Her father played college football at St. John's University from 1982 to 1986, and her mother played tennis for College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University from 1983 to 1987. [5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2012–13 Breck MNHS25141327432240
2013–14BreckMNHS2515112610383112
2014–15BreckMNHS25342256635382
2015–16BreckMNHS2028113910384120
2016–17BreckMNHS20381558834150
2017–18 University of Minnesota NCAA 381721384
2018–19 University of MinnesotaNCAA392516414
2019–20 University of MinnesotaNCAA3625204510
2020–21 University of MinnesotaNCAA20177244
2022–23 University of MinnesotaNCAA382536610
2023–24 PWHL Minnesota PWHL 24118194101010
2024–25 Minnesota Frost PWHL224610080334
PWHL totals461514294181344

International

YearTeamEventResult GPGAPtsPIM
2015 United States U18 Gold medal icon.svg51232
2016 United StatesU18Gold medal icon.svg54262
2021 United States WC Silver medal icon.svg74262
2022 United States OG Silver medal icon.svg71010
2022 United StatesWCSilver medal icon.svg61230
2025 United StatesWCGold medal icon.svg60110
Junior totals105494
Senior totals2665112

Awards and honors

HonorsYear
PWHL
Walter Cup Champion 2024, 2025 [36] [37]
Rookie of the Year 2024 [38]
PWHL All-Rookie Team 2024 [39]
PWHL All-Second Team 2024

References

  1. "BSU's Mack And Joyce, And UMN's Zumwinkle Named Players of the Week, Powered By GoodWood Hockey". wcha.com. December 12, 2017. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  2. "Zumwinkle Earns WCHA Weekly Award". gophersports.com. December 12, 2017. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  3. "UMN's Zumwinkle, BSU's Joyce And Langei, And UW's Campbell Named WCHA Players Of The Month, Powered By GoodWood Hockey". wcha.com. January 3, 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  4. "WCHA Announces 2017-18 All-League Teams" (PDF). wcha.com. February 23, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Grace Zumwinkle Bio". gophersports.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  6. "Zumwinkle's Five Points Lead Minnesota Past Yale, 7-1". wcha.com. November 30, 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  7. "UMN's Zumwinkle, MSU's Wilgren And Levy, And BSU's Bench Named WCHA Players Of The Week, Powered By GoodWood Hockey". wcha.com. December 4, 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  8. "UMN's Zumwinkle And Heise, OSU's Dunne And MSU's Levy Named WCHA Players Of The Month, Powered By GoodWood Hockey". wcha.com. December 5, 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  9. "Duo Earns WCHA Weekly Honors". gophersports.com. January 29, 2019. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  10. "Duo Picks Up WCHA Monthly Honors". gophersports.com. February 4, 2019. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  11. "Zumwinkle Garners WCHA Weekly Honors". gophersports.com. October 29, 2019. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  12. "WCHA Honors Gophers Duo". gophersports.com. November 5, 2019. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  13. "Gophers Shut Out Beavers, 3-0". gophersports.com. November 16, 2019. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  14. "Zumwinkle Hat Trick Leads Minnesota Into WCHA Semifinals After 7-3 Win Over St. Cloud State". wcha.com. February 29, 2020. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  15. "Minnesota's Zumwinkle, Minnesota Duluth's Flaherty And Rooney, And Bemidji State's Hunt Earn WCHA Player Of The Week Nod". wcha.com. March 3, 2020. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  16. "WCHA Announces 2019-20 All-League Teams, Presented by Sterling Trophy". wcha.com. February 27, 2020. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  17. "Gophers Name Captains for 2020-21". gophersports.com. July 14, 2020. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  18. "Minnesota's Zumwinkle And Bench And Minnesota Duluth's Bell And Van Wieren Earn WCHA Players Of The Month Honors Presented By Sterling Trophy". wcha.com. December 3, 2020. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  19. "Bench, Zumwinkle Pick Up WCHA Monthly Awards". gophersports.com. December 3, 2020. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  20. "Zumwinkle Hat Trick Leads Minnesota Past Bemidji State, 6-1". wcha.com. February 19, 2021. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  21. "Grace Zumwinkle gets a hat trick as No. 4 Gophers rout Bemidji State in women's hockey". Star Tribune . February 19, 2021. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  22. "Minnesota's Zumwinkle, Hengler And Murphy And Minnesota State's Frank Earn WCHA Player Of The Week Honors Presented By Sterling Trophy". wcha.com. February 23, 2021. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  23. "Wisconsin's Grace Bowlby And Lacey Eden, Minnesota's Grace Zumwinkle And Minnesota Duluth's Emma Söderberg Earn WCHA Player Of The Month Honors Presented By Sterling Trophy". wcha.com. March 2, 2021. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  24. "WCHA Announces 2020-21 All-League Teams, Presented by Sterling Trophy". wcha.com. March 3, 2021. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  25. "Zumwinkle Named Patty Kaz Top-Three Finalist". gophersports.com. March 18, 2021. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  26. Kennedy, Ian (September 18, 2023). "Minnesota Picks Another Minnesota Product Grabbing Grace Zumwinkle". The Hockey News . Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  27. "Zumwinkle Headlines Inaugural PWHL 3 Stars of the Week". thepwhl.com. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  28. Blount, Rachel (May 29, 2024). "PWHL Minnesota lifts Walter Cup as league's first champion with Game 5 win over Boston". Star Tribune . Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  29. Salvian, Hailey (May 29, 2024). "PWHL Minnesota wins first-ever Walter Cup championship". The Athletic . Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  30. "Former Gophers star Grace Zumwinkle named PWHL rookie of the year". Star Tribune . June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  31. "Lucy Morgan makes PWHL debut for short-handed Frost in loss to New York". InForum. January 4, 2025. Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  32. "Four Former Gophers Hoist 2025 Walter Cup". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  33. "Meet the Newcomers: Grace Zumwinkle". gophersports.com. June 28, 2017. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  34. "U.S. women with 13 returnees". International Ice Hockey Federation. January 2, 2022. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  35. 1 2 "Grace Zumwinkle | 2025 U.S. Women's National Team". teamusa.usahockey.com. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  36. "Minnesota beats Boston to win PWHL's inaugural Walter Cup". ESPN.com . May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  37. "Minnesota Frost capture second Walter Cup title". Sportsnet.ca. May 26, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  38. "Zumwinkle Named PWHL Rookie of the Year". gophersports.com. June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  39. Kennedy, Ian (June 11, 2024). "PWHL Hands Out Year End Awards, Spooner Named MVP". The Hockey News . Retrieved June 11, 2024.