University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, November 2
3M Arena at Mariucci
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Minnesota State University - Mankato
Players Mentioned
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
'U' Takes on Minnesota State in Home-and-Home Series
10/31/2018 5:37:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 8/10 Gopher Hockey program returns to action this weekend with a home-and-home series with No. 4 Minnesota State. The two in-state rivals open the series on Friday, Nov. 2 at 3M Arena at Mariucci before traveling to Mankato on Saturday, Nov. 3 for the series finale. Both games are set for 7 p.m. CT.
In-State Series Shape-Up
The Gophers hold a 37-14-6 all-time record against Minnesota State in a series that dates back to 1997-98. The two teams have not met since splitting a two-game series in 2016-17. The Maroon & Gold currently hold the longest active in-state unbeaten streak among Minnesota's five Division I programs at three games (2-0-1 dating back to January 2018). Senior forward Tyler Sheehy leads all active Gophers with three points (one goal, two assists) in four games against the Mavericks.
Romanko's Ironman Streak Nears Century Mark
Senior forward and alternate captain Darian Romanko will likely skate in his 100th-straight game for the Maroon & Gold on Friday night at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Romanko's 99-straight appearances lead all active Gophers dating back to Jan. 8, 2016 while the senior is the only Gopher to play in every game over the last two full seasons. His nine points, four goals and five assists last year were all career highs while Romanko has 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 113 career games.
The Finn Can Finnish
Minnesota freshman forward Sampo Ranta (two goals, one assist) has recorded a point in each of his first three regular-season games with the Gophers, the first Maroon & Gold rookie to do so since Rem Pitlick in 20116-17. Prior to Pitlick, Hudson Fasching recorded a point in his first eight games at the University of Minnesota during the 2013-14 campaign. Coincidentally for Ranta, the only other Finnish player in Gopher Hockey history had a similar start to his career as Erik Haula recorded points in each of his first four games during the 2010-11 season.
Coaching Connection
Minnesota's Bob Motzko and Minnesota State's Mike Hastings were not only both one time assistants at the University of Minnesota, they both have strong ties to USA Hockey. Serving as head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team, Motzko led USA Hockey to back-to-back medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship (winning gold in 2017 and bronze in 2018) while Hastings is on tap to serve as head coach at the 2019 tournament in British Columbia.
Welcome Back, Bob!
After 13 years leading in-state rival St. Cloud State, Bob Motzko was named the head coach of the University of Minnesota on March 27, 2018. A native of Austin, Minn., Motzko built a 276-192-49 record as head coach of the Huskies (277-193-50 overall record) following a four-year stint as assistant coach at Minnesota that saw the Maroon & Gold claim back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003. Motzko has coached 17 All-Americans in his coaching career including Hobey Baker Award winners Jordan Leopold and Drew LeBlanc. In addition to his collegiate coaching, Motzko led the U.S. National Junior Team to back-to-back medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship -- capturing a gold medal in 2017 and a bronze medal in 2018.
Big Ten Preseason Information
Tyler Sheehy and Rem Pitlick represented the Maroon & Gold on the Big Ten Preseason Watch List while the Gophers were predicted to finish fourth in a competitive Big Ten during the 2018-19 campaign. The Big Ten's three Frozen Four participants last year landed poll rankings ahead of the Maroon & Gold with Ohio State projected to finish first, Michigan to finish second and Notre Dame to finish third. Behind the Gophers are Penn State in fifth, Wisconsin in sixth and Michigan State in seventh.
Minnesota Announces Captains for 2018-19
Four senior forwards will serve as leads for the University of Minnesota during the 2018-19 campaign with Tyler Sheehy and Brent Gates Jr. acting as captains for the Maroon & Gold while Jack Ramsey and Darian Romanko will act as assistant captains. Sheehy returns after serving as team captain as a junior last year while Gates, Ramsey and Romanko will wear letters for the first time as seniors. The four skaters continue a long tradition of Gopher Hockey captains dating back to the program's first season of play in 1921-22 when Chet Bros led the Maroon & Gold. Counting the new additions, 170 Gophers have worn a letter at the University of Minnesota in the program's 97-year history.
Three Gopher Hockey Alums Join Staff
Coach Bob Motzko rounded out his coaching staff this month when he added three former University of Minnesota skaters to the Gophers coaching ranks. Ben Gordon returned to the Gophers for the second time after being named an assistant coach on Monday (Gordon previously served as Minnesota's director of operations during the 2016-17 season). Additionally, former Gophers Stu Bickel and Ryan Potulny joined the Maroon & Gold as undergraduate assistants for the 2018-19 season as they complete their degrees at the University of Minnesota. Previously, Garrett Raboin joined the Minnesota staff as an assistant coach after serving in the same capacity at St. Cloud State for the last six years while Andy Kent returns as the team's volunteer goaltending coach.
Gophers in the NHL Draft
Thirteen current Gophers have had their names called at the NHL Entry Draft including newcomers Robbie Stucker (2017, Columbus, Seventh Round, 210th), Sammy Walker (2017, Tampa Bay, Seventh Round, 200th), Blake McLaughlin (2018, Anaheim, Third Round, 79th) and Sampo Ranta (2018, Colorado, Third Round, 78th). Ranta and McLaughlin were selected with back-to-back picks in 2018 -- the sixth time in Gophers history that has happened. Ten NHL teams have prospects on the Gopher Hockey roster this year with Anaheim, Tampa Bay and Nashville each listing two draftees with Minnesota.
Mr. Hockey Goes to Minnesota
Incoming Gophers freshman Sammy Walker closed out his prep career by leading Edina High School to a third-place finish at the 2018 MSHSL Class AA State Tournament, earning all-tournament honors along with Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year accolades. Walker was also 34th recipient of the annual Mr. Hockey Award, given to the top senior high school boy's hockey player in the state of Minnesota. Of the 34 honorees in the award's history, 23 have gone on to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota.
Cake Eater Connection
The University of Minnesota lists 27 players on its 2018-19 roster and seven of those players (Ben Brinkman, Sammy Walker, Cullen Munson, Garrett Wait, Clayton Phillips, Ryan Zuhlsdorf, Tyler Nanne) played their prep hockey for the Hornets of Edina High School (the most of any high school).
Big Ten Announces Overtime Changes
The Big Ten Conference has announced changes to its overtime protocol and conference points system for the 2018-19 hockey season, including the addition of a 3-on-3 overtime period. Any regular-season conference game that remains tied after regulation will play the NCAA-mandated five-minute, 5-on-5 sudden-death overtime period. If the game remains tied, the two teams will then play a five-minute, 3-on-3 sudden-death overtime period. If the game is still tied following both overtime periods, then the game will move to a sudden-death shootout. Non-conference games other than certain in-season tournaments will conclude following the 5-on-5 overtime period. Postseason games will continue to feature 20-minute 5-on-5 overtime periods as in the past. Teams will be awarded three points in the conference standings for a win in regulation or the 5-on-5 overtime period. If the game is tied following the 5-on-5 overtime, both teams will receive one point, with a second point being awarded to the team that wins in either the 3-on-3 overtime period or the shootout.
In-State Series Shape-Up
The Gophers hold a 37-14-6 all-time record against Minnesota State in a series that dates back to 1997-98. The two teams have not met since splitting a two-game series in 2016-17. The Maroon & Gold currently hold the longest active in-state unbeaten streak among Minnesota's five Division I programs at three games (2-0-1 dating back to January 2018). Senior forward Tyler Sheehy leads all active Gophers with three points (one goal, two assists) in four games against the Mavericks.
Romanko's Ironman Streak Nears Century Mark
Senior forward and alternate captain Darian Romanko will likely skate in his 100th-straight game for the Maroon & Gold on Friday night at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Romanko's 99-straight appearances lead all active Gophers dating back to Jan. 8, 2016 while the senior is the only Gopher to play in every game over the last two full seasons. His nine points, four goals and five assists last year were all career highs while Romanko has 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 113 career games.
The Finn Can Finnish
Minnesota freshman forward Sampo Ranta (two goals, one assist) has recorded a point in each of his first three regular-season games with the Gophers, the first Maroon & Gold rookie to do so since Rem Pitlick in 20116-17. Prior to Pitlick, Hudson Fasching recorded a point in his first eight games at the University of Minnesota during the 2013-14 campaign. Coincidentally for Ranta, the only other Finnish player in Gopher Hockey history had a similar start to his career as Erik Haula recorded points in each of his first four games during the 2010-11 season.
Coaching Connection
Minnesota's Bob Motzko and Minnesota State's Mike Hastings were not only both one time assistants at the University of Minnesota, they both have strong ties to USA Hockey. Serving as head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team, Motzko led USA Hockey to back-to-back medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship (winning gold in 2017 and bronze in 2018) while Hastings is on tap to serve as head coach at the 2019 tournament in British Columbia.
We've got Coach Motzko's interview with @PAOnTheMic from this morning on @KFAN1003. Listen up. #Gophers #PrideOnIce pic.twitter.com/UBZalcWxUI
— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) November 1, 2018
Welcome Back, Bob!
After 13 years leading in-state rival St. Cloud State, Bob Motzko was named the head coach of the University of Minnesota on March 27, 2018. A native of Austin, Minn., Motzko built a 276-192-49 record as head coach of the Huskies (277-193-50 overall record) following a four-year stint as assistant coach at Minnesota that saw the Maroon & Gold claim back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003. Motzko has coached 17 All-Americans in his coaching career including Hobey Baker Award winners Jordan Leopold and Drew LeBlanc. In addition to his collegiate coaching, Motzko led the U.S. National Junior Team to back-to-back medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship -- capturing a gold medal in 2017 and a bronze medal in 2018.
Big Ten Preseason Information
Tyler Sheehy and Rem Pitlick represented the Maroon & Gold on the Big Ten Preseason Watch List while the Gophers were predicted to finish fourth in a competitive Big Ten during the 2018-19 campaign. The Big Ten's three Frozen Four participants last year landed poll rankings ahead of the Maroon & Gold with Ohio State projected to finish first, Michigan to finish second and Notre Dame to finish third. Behind the Gophers are Penn State in fifth, Wisconsin in sixth and Michigan State in seventh.
Minnesota Announces Captains for 2018-19
Four senior forwards will serve as leads for the University of Minnesota during the 2018-19 campaign with Tyler Sheehy and Brent Gates Jr. acting as captains for the Maroon & Gold while Jack Ramsey and Darian Romanko will act as assistant captains. Sheehy returns after serving as team captain as a junior last year while Gates, Ramsey and Romanko will wear letters for the first time as seniors. The four skaters continue a long tradition of Gopher Hockey captains dating back to the program's first season of play in 1921-22 when Chet Bros led the Maroon & Gold. Counting the new additions, 170 Gophers have worn a letter at the University of Minnesota in the program's 97-year history.
Three Gopher Hockey Alums Join Staff
Coach Bob Motzko rounded out his coaching staff this month when he added three former University of Minnesota skaters to the Gophers coaching ranks. Ben Gordon returned to the Gophers for the second time after being named an assistant coach on Monday (Gordon previously served as Minnesota's director of operations during the 2016-17 season). Additionally, former Gophers Stu Bickel and Ryan Potulny joined the Maroon & Gold as undergraduate assistants for the 2018-19 season as they complete their degrees at the University of Minnesota. Previously, Garrett Raboin joined the Minnesota staff as an assistant coach after serving in the same capacity at St. Cloud State for the last six years while Andy Kent returns as the team's volunteer goaltending coach.
Gophers in the NHL Draft
Thirteen current Gophers have had their names called at the NHL Entry Draft including newcomers Robbie Stucker (2017, Columbus, Seventh Round, 210th), Sammy Walker (2017, Tampa Bay, Seventh Round, 200th), Blake McLaughlin (2018, Anaheim, Third Round, 79th) and Sampo Ranta (2018, Colorado, Third Round, 78th). Ranta and McLaughlin were selected with back-to-back picks in 2018 -- the sixth time in Gophers history that has happened. Ten NHL teams have prospects on the Gopher Hockey roster this year with Anaheim, Tampa Bay and Nashville each listing two draftees with Minnesota.
Mr. Hockey Goes to Minnesota
Incoming Gophers freshman Sammy Walker closed out his prep career by leading Edina High School to a third-place finish at the 2018 MSHSL Class AA State Tournament, earning all-tournament honors along with Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year accolades. Walker was also 34th recipient of the annual Mr. Hockey Award, given to the top senior high school boy's hockey player in the state of Minnesota. Of the 34 honorees in the award's history, 23 have gone on to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota.
Cake Eater Connection
The University of Minnesota lists 27 players on its 2018-19 roster and seven of those players (Ben Brinkman, Sammy Walker, Cullen Munson, Garrett Wait, Clayton Phillips, Ryan Zuhlsdorf, Tyler Nanne) played their prep hockey for the Hornets of Edina High School (the most of any high school).
Big Ten Announces Overtime Changes
The Big Ten Conference has announced changes to its overtime protocol and conference points system for the 2018-19 hockey season, including the addition of a 3-on-3 overtime period. Any regular-season conference game that remains tied after regulation will play the NCAA-mandated five-minute, 5-on-5 sudden-death overtime period. If the game remains tied, the two teams will then play a five-minute, 3-on-3 sudden-death overtime period. If the game is still tied following both overtime periods, then the game will move to a sudden-death shootout. Non-conference games other than certain in-season tournaments will conclude following the 5-on-5 overtime period. Postseason games will continue to feature 20-minute 5-on-5 overtime periods as in the past. Teams will be awarded three points in the conference standings for a win in regulation or the 5-on-5 overtime period. If the game is tied following the 5-on-5 overtime, both teams will receive one point, with a second point being awarded to the team that wins in either the 3-on-3 overtime period or the shootout.
2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule
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Herb Brooks Statue
Wednesday, August 06
Meet the Newcomers: Teddy Townsend
Friday, July 18
Meet The Newcomers: Jacob Rombach
Friday, July 11