skip navigation

The Incomers: Minnesota (NCAAW)

By Peter Odney , 09/30/22, 3:00PM CDT

Share

A versatile former Hill-Murray standout, a 2022 Ms. Hockey finalist, and a fifth-year transfer make up this year's crop of incoming native Minnesotans to the Golden Gopher lineup.

Allie Franco 
Hometown: Oakdale 
2021-2022 Team: Hill-Murray 

Franco joins the Golden Gophers after playing five varsity prep seasons between Mahtomedi and Hill-Murray, earning All-Conference honors in all five seasons and playing both defense and forward during her prep career. 

Over those five seasons, Franco totaled 62 goals and 153 points in 132 career games. She helped the Pioneers to the Class AA State Tournament in 2020 as a sophomore and, as a senior, was named a Ms. Hockey semifinalist. Franco was also named All-State Honorable Mention after her 18-goal, 33-point senior season.

On a national level, Franco was selected to participate in the USA Hockey Under-18 National Camp and Festival.  

Thanks to her versatility, Franco is listed as both a defender and a forward on the Golden Gopher roster. 


Allie Franco brings versatility to the Golden Gopher lineup, with experience at the prep level at both defense and forward.

Madison Kaiser
Hometown: Ham Lake 
2021-2022 Team: Holy Family Catholic

Kaiser has been widely known as a top 2004-born skater for several years, and immediately produced in the Andover lineup as a freshman during the 2018-2019 season. 

Kaiser helped the Huskies to the Class AA State Tournament finals in her first varsity season, recording seven goals and 25 points along the way. She captured the state championship as a sophomore in 2020, tallying 10 points in the postseason for a 2019-2020 total of 23 goals and 43 points. 

Kaiser opted to transfer to Victoria, Minn.-based Holy Family Catholic after her sophomore year and sat out her junior season due to MSHSL transfer rules. As a senior during the 2021-2022 season, Kaiser set career highs in goals (37) and points (54), giving her 67 goals and 122 points for her prep career. 

During her senior year, Kaiser was named a Ms. Hockey finalist, plus earned All-State and All-Conference honors. 


Madison Kaiser (right) celebrates after scoring during last June's IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championships.

Lizi Norton 
Hometown: Orono 
2021-2022 Team: Minnesota Duluth 

A fifth-year player who brings a boatload of experience to the Golden Gopher blueline, Norton spent the past four seasons with rival Minnesota Duluth, skating in 126 games for the Bulldogs. 

Norton totaled six goals and 32 points in her four years with the Bulldogs, helping UMD to the Frozen Four in her senior season. 

A product of Orono High School, Norton had 19 goals and 39 points in her final year with the Spartans, and as a prep player, won two gold medals in 2017 and 2018 with Team USA’s Under-18 squad at the U18 Women’s World Championships. 

Recent MN YHH News