'U' Opens Six-Game Home Stand with PSU Series

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Gopher Hockey program gets back in action this weekend with a two-game, Big Ten series against No. 8 Penn State at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The conference competition begins on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7:05 p.m. CT (TV: FSN PLUS; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM; Stream: FOX Sports Go) before wrapping up on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7:05 p.m. CT (TV: FSN PLUS; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM; Stream: FOX Sports Go).

Against the Nittany Lions
The University of Minnesota enters this weekend's series against Penn State with a 15-13-0 all-time record against the Nittany Lions. The Gophers are 9-3-0 against their Big Ten foes on home ice. Junior forward Scott Reedy leads all active Gophers with six points (three goals, three assists) in nine career games against Penn State while Brannon McManus and Ryan Zuhlsdorf each have four points against this weekend's opponent in their careers.

Six-Game Home Stand for the Gophers
This weekend's series with the Nittany Lions kicks off a six-game home stand for the Maroon & Gold at 3M Arena at Mariucci and possibly the toughest stretch of the season to close out the first half. After No. 8 Penn State comes to town this weekend, the Gophers host No. 15 Wisconsin (Nov. 22-23) before a Thanksgiving/Black Friday series with No. 9 North Dakota (Nov. 28-29). On top of that, Minnesota closes out the first half with a trip to Columbus to take on No. 11 Ohio State (Dec. 6-7).

McManus Stays Hot
Junior forward Brannon McManus currently sits as Minnesota's active leading point producer and goal scorer with 42 points (25 goals, 17 assists) in 82 career games with the Maroon & Gold. McManus has also scored a goal in three-straight games entering this weekend to tie his career-long goal streak. Part of that success is credited to linemate and sophomore forward Sampo Ranta, who has tallied an assist in three-straight games to match his career-best streak for points.

One-Two Punch of LaFontaine and Moe
The Gophers goaltending tandem of junior Jack LaFontaine and freshman Jared Moe combined for 71 official saves on 73 shots last weekend as the Gophers took five out of six Big Ten points on the road at Michigan. Both goaltenders set season-best marks for saves in the series. LaFontaine made 27 saves on 28 shots (stopping two additional shots during the 3-on-3 overtime session) in Friday's 1-1 overtime tie before Moe made a career-high 38 saves on 39 shots to pick up the win on Saturday. Both goaltenders ranked in the top-five nationally for save percentages last weekend -- LaFontaine at .971 and Moe at .974.

NHL Alumni Notes
The University of Minnesota has produced 18 NHL players already in the 2019-20 campaign including the NHL debut of former captain and 2017 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Jake Bischoff (VGK)...former Gopher captain Ryan Lindgren (NYR) recorded his first NHL goal in Sunday's 6-5 shootout loss to Florida.

Odd Streak for the Gophers
Despite being unbeaten in three of the last four games, Minnesota actually snapped a five-game winless streak on Saturday. The Maroon & Gold are now officially 1-2-2 over the last five contests – while picking up the Big Ten bonus point with a win in 3-on-3 overtime in both ties. Additionally, the University of Minnesota has only allowed one power-play goal on 19 chances during the five-game stretch entering this weekend and will face off against a team that ranks among the top-10 in scoring offense and power play in Penn State.

Two High School Greats in One Class
Two Gopher Hockey freshmen forwards may have flown under the radar compared to Mr. Hockey Award winners, NHL prospects and state champions, but both Jaxon Nelson and Ben Meyers rank among the top-10 all-time scorers in Minnesota high school hockey history. Nelson currently ranks fifth in state history with 290 career points while playing for Luverne High School, and Meyers currently ranks eighth in state history with 278 career points while playing for Delano High School. Nelson also holds the state high school record with 78 goals during the 2015-16 season.

Nanne, Walker Tabbed Team Captains
Senior defenseman Tyler Nanne and sophomore forward Sammy Walker have been voted to serve as team captains for the Gophers for the 2019-20 season. The pair are the 171st and 172nd players in University of Minnesota history to wear letters, dating back to the first season of play in 1921-22 when Chet Bros led the Maroon & Gold. Nanne, the first third-generation player in Pride on Ice history, is also the second Gophers captain in his family following his grandfather -- All-American Lou Nanne -- in 1962-63.

Big Ten Preseason Information
The University of Minnesota has been predicted to finish fifth in the 2019-20 Big Ten Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll with the complete order as followed: Penn State, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Minnesota, Michigan and Michigan State. The Gophers, who have won four regular-season conference championships in the six-year history of the Big Ten, are the only program in the league to win multiple conference crowns. Additionally, Sammy Walker was named as a Preseason Second Team All-Big Ten selection by the conference coaches. Walker was named the 2019 Big Ten Freshman of the Year after leading all conference rookies with 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) last season.

Youthful Excitement
The Maroon & Gold will field a youthful roster for the 2019-20 season with 19 of the team's 27 players listed as either a freshman or sophomore. The Gophers will also bring in 12 newcomers to the locker room -- 11 freshmen and junior transfer Jack LaFontaine in net. Breaking things down, the 11 freshmen are comprised of two goaltenders (Justen Close, Jared Moe), three defensemen (Ryan Johnson, Jackson LaCombe, Matt Staudacher) and six forwards (Bryce Brodzinski, Ben Meyers, Jaxon Nelson, Jack Perbix, Jonny Sorenson, Noah Weber).

Statistically Speaking
According the College Hockey Inc., the University of Minnesota will field both the youngest team in college hockey (average age of 20 years, 240 days) and the biggest team in college hockey (average weight of 193.89 pounds) this season. The Maroon & Gold will also be the eighth tallest team in college hockey this year (average height of 6-00.67). All statistics are as of Oct. 1, 2019.

Follow the Golden Gophers on TV
The University of Minnesota once again boasts college hockey's best television broadcast schedule with 31 of 34 regular-season games available in the Minnesota/Twin Cities market (more games may be added at a later date). FOX Sports North leads the way in Gopher Hockey coverage with 19 games scheduled to be broadcast on the network while the Big Ten Network will currently air 10 Minnesota contests in 2019-20. FOX9+ will pick up the Gophers' road game at Minnesota Duluth while NBC Sports will broadcast the series opener at Notre Dame. Visit GopherSports.com to view the complete and up-to-date Gopher Hockey schedule.

Gopher Hockey Notes and News
Fourteen Gophers on the 2019-20 roster have been drafted by NHL teams including 2019 first rounder and incoming freshman defenseman Ryan Johnson (31st overall by Buffalo). Johnson, whose father Craig also played for the Gophers before an NHL career, is the 21 Gopher Hockey prospect selected in the first round...freshman forward Bryce Brodzinski was also drafted in 2019, part of an eventful offseason that included being named the 2018-19 All-USA Boys Athlete of the Year and the 2019 Mr. Hockey Award. The 35th Mr. Hockey Award recipient, Brodzinski is the 24th Gopher Hockey prospect to win the honor...the University of Minnesota Board of Regents has approved a renovation project for 3M Arena at Mariucci with over 11,000 square feet of team space impacted including a state-of-the-art weight room, a new 'M' Club alumni room and a remodeled office suite. The project is anticipated to begin in late 2019...sophomore forward Sampo Ranta recorded four goals and six points at the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase, tying for the goal scoring lead and ranking second among all skaters in points scored...former Gopher Hockey assistant coach Jack Blatherwick will receive the NHL's Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the U.S. on Dec. 12 as part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Celebration.

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Players Mentioned

Bryce Brodzinski

Justen Close

Ryan Johnson

Jackson LaCombe

Jack LaFontaine

Ryan Lindgren

Brannon McManus

Ben Meyers

Jared Moe

Tyler Nanne

Jaxon Nelson

Jack Perbix

Sampo Ranta

Scott Reedy

Jonny Sorenson

Matt Staudacher

Sammy Walker

Noah Weber

Ryan Zuhlsdorf