The Golden Gopher women’s hockey team and head coach Brad Frost are pleased to announce the addition of Lizi Norton, a defender from Orono, Minn., who will join the Maroon and Gold as a graduate transfer for the 2022-23 season.
Norton will switch pantones of Maroon and Gold as she joins the Gophers from Minnesota Duluth where she tallied 32 points and six goals over four seasons. The veteran blueliner will be Minnesota’s ninth fifth-year skater in 2022-23 as she adds 126 career games-played to an already experienced roster. Norton was previously teammates with current Gophers Taylor Heise, Abbey Murphy, Maggie Nicholson, Gracie Ostertag, Makayla Pahl and Madeline Wethington on the United States’ gold medal-winning teams at the 2017 and 2018 U18 Women’s World Championships.
“We are really excited to have Lizi as part of our program,” said Frost. “She has played important minutes in the WCHA and has some great experience playing in big games. Lizi will fit in very well with our team.”
Norton, a disciplined defender who played a key role in the Bulldogs’ run to the 2022 NCAA Championship, has taken only 13 penalties over four seasons. She recorded eight blocks and a plus-three rating in Minnesota Duluth’s four postseason contests last season. Norton also brings numerous academic accolades to the Gopher roster as a three-time WCHA Scholar Athlete and WCHA All-Academic Team honoree.
Norton joins four incoming freshmen – Josefin Bouveng, Allie Franco, Madison Kaiser and Nelli Laitinen, to make up the newest class of Gophers for the 2022-23 season.
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)