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Friday, January 31
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Gophers Take Border Battle on the Road
1/29/2020 12:02:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Gopher Hockey program continues the 99th season of Pride On Ice this weekend with a two-game Border Battle series at Wisconsin. The Big Ten series opens up on Friday, Jan. 31 at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: FOX Sports North/FOX Sports Wisconsin; Stream: FOX Sports Go; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM) with the weekend's action concluding on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 8:00 p.m. CT (TV: FOX Sports North PLUS/FOX Sports Wisconsin; Stream: FOX Sports Go; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM)
AGAINST THE BADGERS
Minnesota holds a 171-96-24 all-time record against Wisconsin dating back to 1922 and a 67-56-14 mark on the road. Brannon McManus leads all active Gophers with 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 10 career games against Wisconsin.
MCMANUS NAMED NCAA FIRST STAR AND BIG TEN FIRST STAR
Brannon McManus led the NCAA with six points (two goals, four assists) last weekend as the Gophers swept then-No. 6 Ohio State at 3M Arena at Mariucci for Minnesota's first Big Ten sweep of the season. The junior was tabbed as both the NCAA and Big Ten First Star of the Week. The Gophers had not recorded a three-point game in 22 games entering the series before McManus tallied back-to-back performances against the Buckeyes (Ben Meyers also recorded one on Saturday). The Gophers are 10-1-1 all-time when McManus records multiple points in a game.
RANTA CLAIMS BIG TEN SECOND STAR
Sampo Ranta added four points in the sweep of the Buckeyes and tied for the NCAA lead with three goals and a +7 rating over the weekend (plus/minus rating was shared with Ryan Zuhlsdorf). The sophomore forward was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week after recording his first career multi-goal game on Friday. The Gophers are 5-0-0 all-time when Ranta records multiple points.
NANNE SET FOR 100TH GAME
Senior captain Tyler Nanne is scheduled to play in his 100th career game this weekend when the Gophers rekindle the Border Battle in Madison. Nanne will be the first Gopher to reach the 100-games mark this season and the second active-Gopher to hit the milestone (Ryan Zuhlsdorf). In 99 career games, Nanne has recorded 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) from the blue line.
GOPHER HOCKEY NOTES & STATS
The Maroon & Gold are now 5-1-0 in the first six games of the second half and are unbeaten in six of the last seven games (5-1-1)...The Gophers are also on a four-game winning streak at 3M Arena at Mariucci...the line of Ranta/Meyers/McManus recorded seven of Minnesota's 10 goals last weekend and 14 of the team's 24 points.
WOOGER JERSEYS UP FOR AUCTION
The Gophers celebrated Doug Woog Night on Jan. 25 as the Maroon & Gold honored the late Gopher Hockey All-American captain and former head coach with a sweep over Ohio State. Minnesota is auctioning its gold "Wooger" jerseys online at auctions.gophersports.com until Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 7:00 p.m. CT. The auction benefits the Doug Woog Endowed Scholarship. The Gophers are 2-0-0 in the Wooger jerseys after debuting them at the Mariucci Classic earlier this season.
MOTZKO HITS MILESTONE
Bob Motzko earned his 300th career win on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 (304-218-56 including a 28-26-7 mark with the Gophers). Motzko is 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).
RANTA/FINLAND FINISH FOURTH AT WJC
Sophomore Sampo Ranta helped Team Finland to a fourth-place showing at the World Junior Championship in Ostrava and Trince, Czech Republic. Ranta is the second Gopher to represent Finland at the tournament following Erik Haula in 2011 while Minnesota has been represented at the event in 41 of 44 tournaments dating back to the inaugural event in 1977.
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 NAMED 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.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
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 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 SEASON NOTES
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 was honored with 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 BADGERS
Minnesota holds a 171-96-24 all-time record against Wisconsin dating back to 1922 and a 67-56-14 mark on the road. Brannon McManus leads all active Gophers with 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 10 career games against Wisconsin.
MCMANUS NAMED NCAA FIRST STAR AND BIG TEN FIRST STAR
Brannon McManus led the NCAA with six points (two goals, four assists) last weekend as the Gophers swept then-No. 6 Ohio State at 3M Arena at Mariucci for Minnesota's first Big Ten sweep of the season. The junior was tabbed as both the NCAA and Big Ten First Star of the Week. The Gophers had not recorded a three-point game in 22 games entering the series before McManus tallied back-to-back performances against the Buckeyes (Ben Meyers also recorded one on Saturday). The Gophers are 10-1-1 all-time when McManus records multiple points in a game.
RANTA CLAIMS BIG TEN SECOND STAR
Sampo Ranta added four points in the sweep of the Buckeyes and tied for the NCAA lead with three goals and a +7 rating over the weekend (plus/minus rating was shared with Ryan Zuhlsdorf). The sophomore forward was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week after recording his first career multi-goal game on Friday. The Gophers are 5-0-0 all-time when Ranta records multiple points.
NANNE SET FOR 100TH GAME
Senior captain Tyler Nanne is scheduled to play in his 100th career game this weekend when the Gophers rekindle the Border Battle in Madison. Nanne will be the first Gopher to reach the 100-games mark this season and the second active-Gopher to hit the milestone (Ryan Zuhlsdorf). In 99 career games, Nanne has recorded 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) from the blue line.
GOPHER HOCKEY NOTES & STATS
The Maroon & Gold are now 5-1-0 in the first six games of the second half and are unbeaten in six of the last seven games (5-1-1)...The Gophers are also on a four-game winning streak at 3M Arena at Mariucci...the line of Ranta/Meyers/McManus recorded seven of Minnesota's 10 goals last weekend and 14 of the team's 24 points.
WOOGER JERSEYS UP FOR AUCTION
The Gophers celebrated Doug Woog Night on Jan. 25 as the Maroon & Gold honored the late Gopher Hockey All-American captain and former head coach with a sweep over Ohio State. Minnesota is auctioning its gold "Wooger" jerseys online at auctions.gophersports.com until Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 7:00 p.m. CT. The auction benefits the Doug Woog Endowed Scholarship. The Gophers are 2-0-0 in the Wooger jerseys after debuting them at the Mariucci Classic earlier this season.
MOTZKO HITS MILESTONE
Bob Motzko earned his 300th career win on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 (304-218-56 including a 28-26-7 mark with the Gophers). Motzko is 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).
RANTA/FINLAND FINISH FOURTH AT WJC
Sophomore Sampo Ranta helped Team Finland to a fourth-place showing at the World Junior Championship in Ostrava and Trince, Czech Republic. Ranta is the second Gopher to represent Finland at the tournament following Erik Haula in 2011 while Minnesota has been represented at the event in 41 of 44 tournaments dating back to the inaugural event in 1977.
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 NAMED 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.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
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 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 SEASON NOTES
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 was honored with 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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