Gophers freshman Adrianna Milani makes her mark early

With ten goals in the first eight games of her freshman season, Minnesota forward Adrianna Milani is already making an impact. She leads the NCAA in goals after scoring four times in Minnesota’s weekend sweep of Lindenwood. Her ability to shoot the puck isn’t new to those who have followed Milani’s career, including junior defender Chloe Primerano, who remembers facing her in junior hockey. “I’m pretty sure we lost,” Primerano said. “I think she scored the shootout winner.” Milani, an Oakville, Ontario, native, arrived at Minnesota after three seasons with the Etobicoke Junior Dolphins, a women’s junior ice hockey team in Canada. She also represented Canada at the 2026 Under-18 Women’s World Championships, scoring 10 goals and adding three assists to help her team earn a silver medal.  Despite her success, the transition to college hockey has brought new challenges and new competition. Milani said the support of her teammates, coaches and family has helped her adjust to a new environme