University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, December 6
Columbus, OH
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Ohio State
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Minnesota Closes Out First Half at OSU
12/4/2019 10:13:00 AM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Gopher Hockey program hits the road this weekend as the Maroon & Gold close out the first half with a two-game, Big Ten series at No. 7/8 Ohio State at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The action gets underway on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM) while the series concludes on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. CT (Stream: BTN PLUS; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM).
Against the Buckeyes
The University of Minnesota holds a 29-7-4 all-time record in 40 games against Ohio State in a series that dates back to 1968 (27 of the 40 head-to-head matchups have come in the big Ten era). The Gophers are 9-4-1 against the Buckeyes on the road in 14 career meetings including a sweep over Ohio State last season at Value City Arena. The Maroon & Gold hold a six-game unbeaten streak (3-0-3) against the Buckeyes entering the weekend. Sophomore forward Nathan Burke is Minnesota's active-leading scorer against Ohio State with four points (two goals, two assists) in three career games against the Buckeyes.
Closing Out the First Half
This weekend's series in Columbus will mark Minnesota's fourth-straight series (seventh- and eighth-straight games) against a nationally ranked opponent. The Maroon & Gold closed up a six-game home stand at 3M Arena at Mariucci last weekend against then No. 3 North Dakota...prior to that Minnesota hosted then-No. 16 Wisconsin and then. No. 8 Penn State. Ten of Minnesota's 16 regular-season games so far this season have come against nationally ranked opponents.
Milestone Mark Approaching for Motzko
The University of Minnesota's next win will mark Bob Motzko's 300th career win. Motzko currently holds a 299-216-56 career coaching record including a 23-24-7 mark with the Gophers. Motzko would be the third head coach with ties to Gopher Hockey to reach the 300-win mark, joining his predecessors in Don Lucia (736 career wins, 457 at Minnesota) and Doug Woog (388 career wins, all at Minnesota).
Leading the Nation in the Most Painful Way Possible
The Maroon & Gold enter this weekend's Big Ten series in Columbus in a tie for the NCAA lead in blocked shots at 254 with Robert Morris. Senior captain Tyler Nanne leads the Gophers with 33 blocked shots this season (tied for fourth in the nation and just two off the national lead of Joe Rutkoski of Ferris State at 35). Four of the top-seven shot blockers in the nation play in the Big Ten. Ryan Johnson leads all NCAA freshman defensemen in blocked shots with 26 while Jackson LaCombe and Matt Staudacher are tied for fifth in the NCAA with 20.
The Offensive Defenseman
Freshman defenseman Jackson LaCombe leads all Big Ten freshman defensemen with eight assists this season and is one assist off the overall Big Ten freshman assist lead of Alec Turcotte at Wisconsin. LaCombe joined the Gophers this season after setting a Shattuck-St. Mary's record for points by a defenseman with 89 (22 goals, 67 assists) last year.
Ranta Named to Finland's WJC Camp Roster
Sophomore forward Sampo Ranta has been named to Finland's World Junior Championship camp roster. Ranta, who is currently tied for the Gophers points and goals leads, recorded four goals and six points at the World Junior Summer Showcase -- finishing tied for the goal scoring lead and ranking second among all players in points. USA Hockey is expected to announce its camp roster in the coming days.
Brotherly Love
Senior forward Joey Marooney will see a familiar face when the Gophers take on Ohio State this weekend -- his younger brother, James, is a freshman for the Buckeyes. The pair also had an older brother, Cody, who played at Alabama-Huntsville. Marooney is one of five active Gophers with a brother who plays or played college hockey, joining Tyler Nanne (brother, Lou, played at RPI), Jack Perbix (brother, Nick, plays at SCSU), Bryce Brodzinski (brother, Easton, plays for SCSU; brother, Michael, played for Minnesota; brother, Jonny, played for SCSU) and Blake McLaughlin (stepbrother, Jake Bischoff, played for Minnesota).
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, three defensemen and six forwards.
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. 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 21st 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...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.
Against the Buckeyes
The University of Minnesota holds a 29-7-4 all-time record in 40 games against Ohio State in a series that dates back to 1968 (27 of the 40 head-to-head matchups have come in the big Ten era). The Gophers are 9-4-1 against the Buckeyes on the road in 14 career meetings including a sweep over Ohio State last season at Value City Arena. The Maroon & Gold hold a six-game unbeaten streak (3-0-3) against the Buckeyes entering the weekend. Sophomore forward Nathan Burke is Minnesota's active-leading scorer against Ohio State with four points (two goals, two assists) in three career games against the Buckeyes.
Closing Out the First Half
This weekend's series in Columbus will mark Minnesota's fourth-straight series (seventh- and eighth-straight games) against a nationally ranked opponent. The Maroon & Gold closed up a six-game home stand at 3M Arena at Mariucci last weekend against then No. 3 North Dakota...prior to that Minnesota hosted then-No. 16 Wisconsin and then. No. 8 Penn State. Ten of Minnesota's 16 regular-season games so far this season have come against nationally ranked opponents.
Milestone Mark Approaching for Motzko
The University of Minnesota's next win will mark Bob Motzko's 300th career win. Motzko currently holds a 299-216-56 career coaching record including a 23-24-7 mark with the Gophers. Motzko would be the third head coach with ties to Gopher Hockey to reach the 300-win mark, joining his predecessors in Don Lucia (736 career wins, 457 at Minnesota) and Doug Woog (388 career wins, all at Minnesota).
Leading the Nation in the Most Painful Way Possible
The Maroon & Gold enter this weekend's Big Ten series in Columbus in a tie for the NCAA lead in blocked shots at 254 with Robert Morris. Senior captain Tyler Nanne leads the Gophers with 33 blocked shots this season (tied for fourth in the nation and just two off the national lead of Joe Rutkoski of Ferris State at 35). Four of the top-seven shot blockers in the nation play in the Big Ten. Ryan Johnson leads all NCAA freshman defensemen in blocked shots with 26 while Jackson LaCombe and Matt Staudacher are tied for fifth in the NCAA with 20.
The Offensive Defenseman
Freshman defenseman Jackson LaCombe leads all Big Ten freshman defensemen with eight assists this season and is one assist off the overall Big Ten freshman assist lead of Alec Turcotte at Wisconsin. LaCombe joined the Gophers this season after setting a Shattuck-St. Mary's record for points by a defenseman with 89 (22 goals, 67 assists) last year.
Ranta Named to Finland's WJC Camp Roster
Sophomore forward Sampo Ranta has been named to Finland's World Junior Championship camp roster. Ranta, who is currently tied for the Gophers points and goals leads, recorded four goals and six points at the World Junior Summer Showcase -- finishing tied for the goal scoring lead and ranking second among all players in points. USA Hockey is expected to announce its camp roster in the coming days.
Brotherly Love
Senior forward Joey Marooney will see a familiar face when the Gophers take on Ohio State this weekend -- his younger brother, James, is a freshman for the Buckeyes. The pair also had an older brother, Cody, who played at Alabama-Huntsville. Marooney is one of five active Gophers with a brother who plays or played college hockey, joining Tyler Nanne (brother, Lou, played at RPI), Jack Perbix (brother, Nick, plays at SCSU), Bryce Brodzinski (brother, Easton, plays for SCSU; brother, Michael, played for Minnesota; brother, Jonny, played for SCSU) and Blake McLaughlin (stepbrother, Jake Bischoff, played for Minnesota).
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, three defensemen and six forwards.
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. 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 21st 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...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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