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Ranta, Johnson Named to WJC Preliminary Rosters
12/9/2019 3:58:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – A pair of Gopher Hockey skaters have been named to preliminary rosters ahead of the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship with Sampo Ranta representing Finland and Ryan Johnson representing the United States.Â
The 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship will be held from Dec. 26, 2019-Jan. 5, 2020 in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.Â
A native of Naantali, Finland, Ranta is in his second season with the Maroon & Gold and has 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 54 games with the Gophers. The sophomore forward currently leads Minnesota with seven goals (a new career high) and is tied for the team lead with 11 points in 18 games this season. Ranta previously helped Finland capture a gold medal with Finland at the 2018 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. He would be the second Gopher Hockey player to represent Finland at the World Junior Championship after Erik Haula in 2011. The Colorado Avalanche selected Ranta in the third round (78th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Â
A native of Irvine, Calif., Johnson is in his first season with the University of Minnesota. The freshman defenseman has five assists in 18 games with the Maroon & Gold while Johnson leads all NCAA freshmen with 29 blocked shots this year. Johnson previously helped USA Hockey earn a gold medal at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge while the defenseman also helped the Sioux Falls Stampede capture the 2019 USHL Clark Cup. His father, Gopher Hockey and NHL alum Craig Johnson, represented the U.S. at the 1991 World Junior Championship, the 1994 Winter Olympic Games and four World Championships (1993, 1996, 1999, 2003). The Buffalo Sabres selected Johnson in the first round (31st overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.Â
Up Next: Mariucci ClassicÂ
After a two-year layoff, the Mariucci Classic returns on Dec. 28-29 with an all-Minnesota lineup as the Gophers host Bemidji State, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Â
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The 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship will be held from Dec. 26, 2019-Jan. 5, 2020 in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.Â
A native of Naantali, Finland, Ranta is in his second season with the Maroon & Gold and has 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 54 games with the Gophers. The sophomore forward currently leads Minnesota with seven goals (a new career high) and is tied for the team lead with 11 points in 18 games this season. Ranta previously helped Finland capture a gold medal with Finland at the 2018 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. He would be the second Gopher Hockey player to represent Finland at the World Junior Championship after Erik Haula in 2011. The Colorado Avalanche selected Ranta in the third round (78th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Â
A native of Irvine, Calif., Johnson is in his first season with the University of Minnesota. The freshman defenseman has five assists in 18 games with the Maroon & Gold while Johnson leads all NCAA freshmen with 29 blocked shots this year. Johnson previously helped USA Hockey earn a gold medal at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge while the defenseman also helped the Sioux Falls Stampede capture the 2019 USHL Clark Cup. His father, Gopher Hockey and NHL alum Craig Johnson, represented the U.S. at the 1991 World Junior Championship, the 1994 Winter Olympic Games and four World Championships (1993, 1996, 1999, 2003). The Buffalo Sabres selected Johnson in the first round (31st overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.Â
Up Next: Mariucci ClassicÂ
After a two-year layoff, the Mariucci Classic returns on Dec. 28-29 with an all-Minnesota lineup as the Gophers host Bemidji State, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Â
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