University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, January 3
3M Arena at Mariucci
3:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Arizona State
Players Mentioned
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Top-Ranked Gophers to Host ASU
1/1/2021 11:14:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS -- The top-ranked Gopher men's hockey program gets its first taste of nonconference play this weekend, hosting Arizona State for the first of two series with the Sun Devils at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Minnesota's first action of 2021 starts on Sunday, Jan.3 at 3:05 p.m. CT with the series finale set for Monday, Jan. 4 at 7:05 p.m. CT. FOX Sports North and FOX Sports Arizona will broadcast both games with streams available via FOX Sports Go and BTN+. Radio broadcasts will be available on 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM.
FIRST HALF SUCCESS
Minnesota has started the season 8-0-0 for the first time since the 1987-88 campaign and have actually won 10-straight games dating back to the end of last season – the program's longest winning streak since claiming 11-straight victories during the 1995-96 season.
BACK ON TOP
The Gophers have now earned a No. 1 ranking in both the USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine 2020-21 Men's College Hockey poll for the third-straight week – Minnesota's first No. 1 ranking by either poll since Nov. 10, 2014. Minnesota enters 2021 as college hockey's top-ranked team after not receiving a single vote in either poll in the final poll of 2019 or the first poll of 2020.
YOU CAN'T LOSE IF YOU NEVER TRAIL
The 'U' has not yet trailed an opponent this season through 480 minutes of play and has outscored its foes 27-8 on the year. Furthermore, Minnesota has held a lead in 78.9 percent of those 480 minutes of play. The Gophers boast the best defense in the nation – allowing 1.00 goals per game (eight goals in eight games).
LAFF-ING ALL THE WAY
Jack LaFontaine (8-0-0) has started every game in net for the Gophers this season and leads the nation in save percentage (.965), goals against average (1.00) and wins (eight) among goalies with more than one start. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect, who has also earned his first two career shutouts this season, has won 10-straight games for Minnesota dating back to last season and has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his last 13 starts. An alternate captain for the Gophers, the senior was named the national goaltender of the month by the HCA in November and will be a candidate for the honor again in December.
AGAINST ARIZONA STATE
Minnesota holds a 2-0-0 all-time record against Arizona State, having swept the Sun Devils at 3M Arena at Mariucci at the end of the 2018-19 season (Bob Motzko's first campaign with the Gophers).
REEDY CONTINUES TO FIND THE NET
Scott Reedy leads Minnesota and ranks tied for the Big Ten lead with six goals this year while he sits one goal shy of the national lead. The San Jose Sharks prospect leads the nation with four game-winning goals this year while he has contributed to the deciding goal in five of Minnesota's eight wins this year. The senior is also tied for the team lead with nine points this year and has found the net in six of eight games.
MY-MY-MEYERS
Ben Meyers is tied for the team scoring lead with Reedy, having tallied nine points (four goals, five assists) this season. The sophomore alternate captain is currently riding a six-game point streak (tied for his career long) and has points in seven of Minnesota's eight games this year.
SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS
Minnesota's penalty kill remains unblemished this year with a perfect 17-for-17 record and ranks first in the nation. Additionally, the Maroon & Gold are one of the least penalized teams in the nation with an average of five penalty minutes a game – ranking tied for 49th out of 49 teams that have seen action this year. On the other hand, Minnesota's power play ranks first in the Big Ten and tied for fifth nationally at 29.0 percent (9-of-31).
MAROON & GOLD TO RED, WHITE & BLUE
Jackson LaCombe, Ryan Johnson and Brock Faber are representing the United States at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship on the U.S. National Junior Team. The three University of Minnesota products are tied for the most representatives of any school in the NCAA while the Gophers make up a third of the team's nine-man defensive corps. Gopher Hockey has a proud history at the IIHF World Junior Championship with the University of Minnesota set to be represented at 42 of the 45 events dating back to the inaugural tournament in 1977.
CELEBRATING 100 SEASONS OF PRIDE ON ICE
The 2020-21 campaign marks the 100th season of play for the University of Minnesota, dating back to the 1921-22 season. Since that first season, the Gophers have hoisted five national championship trophies (1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003), celebrated four Hobey Baker Award winners (Neal Broten in 1981, Robb Stauber in 1988, Brian Bonin in 1996, Jordan Leopold in 2002) and earned a total of 65 All-America honors. The Maroon & Gold have produced over a hundred NHL players with 11 alums having their names engraved on the Stanley Cup while other Pride on Ice products have been part of some of the most iconic international hockey events in history including U.S. Olympic gold medals in 1960 and 1980. Throughout the season, the University of Minnesota will honor the people, the moments and the memories that define "Pride on Ice".
GOPHERS ANNOUNCE CENTURY SEASON CAPTAINS
Junior Sammy Walker will return to the Gophers lineup as team captain in 2020-21 while senior Brannon McManus, senior Jack LaFontaine and sophomore Ben Meyers will serve as alternate captains for the Maroon & Gold. The three newcomers to the leadership group are the 173rd, 174th and 175th 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 Gophers.
MINNESOTA TABBED PRESEASON BIG TEN FAVORITES
The Gophers enter the season as the favorite to win the Big Ten this year ahead of Michigan in second, Notre Dame and Ohio State tied for third, Wisconsin in fifth, Michigan State in sixth and Penn State in seventh, as selected by conference coaches. Additionally, Sammy Walker was named Preseason All-Big Ten First Team while Brannon McManus and Jackson LaCombe were named Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team. Ben Meyers received honorable mention on the list.
BOB IS BACK AS BIG TEN COACH OF THE YEAR
Bob Motzko was named the 2020 Big Ten Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award (national coach of the year) in his second year leading the Gophers. The honor was Motzko's fifth career conference coaching honor after winning the accolade in the WCHA in 2006 and 2007 and in the NCHC in 2014 and 2018. While Motzko headlined Minnesota's postseason Big Ten honors, Ben Meyers, Jackson LaCombe and Jared Moe were all named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team (Meyers was a finalist for Big Ten Freshman of the Year).
GOPHER HOCKEY SEASON NOTES
Fourteen members of the 2020-21 Gopher Hockey squad have been drafted by NHL teams including 2019 first round pick Ryan Johnson (31st overall to Buffalo)...the Anaheim Ducks lead all NHL teams with three prospects on the Maroon & Gold roster...senior Jack LaFontaine posted a .919 save percentage for the Gophers last year in his first season with the Maroon & Gold -- the statistic ranks seventh all-time in program history...the University of Minnesota will host the 2024 NCAA Frozen Four at Xcel Energy Center -- marking the ninth time the school has hosted the event and the fourth time the event was hosted at Xcel Energy Center (a Minnesota team has won the national championship every time the venue has played host)...Todd Richards became the 11th Gopher Hockey alum to win the Stanley Cup after guiding the Tampa Bay Lightning to the 2020 title as an assistant coach. A Second Team All-American and team captain in 1988-89, Richards now serves as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators...Gopher Hockey alum Dean Blais is among the inductees for the Class of 2020 to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame...Gopher Hockey roster breakdown by home state/country: Minnesota (19), California (2), Canada (2), Michigan (1), Wisconsin (1), Finland (1), Arizona (1)...the Big Ten Conference enters its eighth season sponsoring men's hockey in 2020-21 with Minnesota claiming more regular-season titles (four) than every other conference opponent combined (three). The Gophers won the first four league titles in Big Ten history as part of an NCAA record six-straight regular-season conference championships.
FIRST HALF SUCCESS
Minnesota has started the season 8-0-0 for the first time since the 1987-88 campaign and have actually won 10-straight games dating back to the end of last season – the program's longest winning streak since claiming 11-straight victories during the 1995-96 season.
BACK ON TOP
The Gophers have now earned a No. 1 ranking in both the USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine 2020-21 Men's College Hockey poll for the third-straight week – Minnesota's first No. 1 ranking by either poll since Nov. 10, 2014. Minnesota enters 2021 as college hockey's top-ranked team after not receiving a single vote in either poll in the final poll of 2019 or the first poll of 2020.
YOU CAN'T LOSE IF YOU NEVER TRAIL
The 'U' has not yet trailed an opponent this season through 480 minutes of play and has outscored its foes 27-8 on the year. Furthermore, Minnesota has held a lead in 78.9 percent of those 480 minutes of play. The Gophers boast the best defense in the nation – allowing 1.00 goals per game (eight goals in eight games).
LAFF-ING ALL THE WAY
Jack LaFontaine (8-0-0) has started every game in net for the Gophers this season and leads the nation in save percentage (.965), goals against average (1.00) and wins (eight) among goalies with more than one start. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect, who has also earned his first two career shutouts this season, has won 10-straight games for Minnesota dating back to last season and has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his last 13 starts. An alternate captain for the Gophers, the senior was named the national goaltender of the month by the HCA in November and will be a candidate for the honor again in December.
AGAINST ARIZONA STATE
Minnesota holds a 2-0-0 all-time record against Arizona State, having swept the Sun Devils at 3M Arena at Mariucci at the end of the 2018-19 season (Bob Motzko's first campaign with the Gophers).
REEDY CONTINUES TO FIND THE NET
Scott Reedy leads Minnesota and ranks tied for the Big Ten lead with six goals this year while he sits one goal shy of the national lead. The San Jose Sharks prospect leads the nation with four game-winning goals this year while he has contributed to the deciding goal in five of Minnesota's eight wins this year. The senior is also tied for the team lead with nine points this year and has found the net in six of eight games.
MY-MY-MEYERS
Ben Meyers is tied for the team scoring lead with Reedy, having tallied nine points (four goals, five assists) this season. The sophomore alternate captain is currently riding a six-game point streak (tied for his career long) and has points in seven of Minnesota's eight games this year.
SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS
Minnesota's penalty kill remains unblemished this year with a perfect 17-for-17 record and ranks first in the nation. Additionally, the Maroon & Gold are one of the least penalized teams in the nation with an average of five penalty minutes a game – ranking tied for 49th out of 49 teams that have seen action this year. On the other hand, Minnesota's power play ranks first in the Big Ten and tied for fifth nationally at 29.0 percent (9-of-31).
MAROON & GOLD TO RED, WHITE & BLUE
Jackson LaCombe, Ryan Johnson and Brock Faber are representing the United States at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship on the U.S. National Junior Team. The three University of Minnesota products are tied for the most representatives of any school in the NCAA while the Gophers make up a third of the team's nine-man defensive corps. Gopher Hockey has a proud history at the IIHF World Junior Championship with the University of Minnesota set to be represented at 42 of the 45 events dating back to the inaugural tournament in 1977.
CELEBRATING 100 SEASONS OF PRIDE ON ICE
The 2020-21 campaign marks the 100th season of play for the University of Minnesota, dating back to the 1921-22 season. Since that first season, the Gophers have hoisted five national championship trophies (1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003), celebrated four Hobey Baker Award winners (Neal Broten in 1981, Robb Stauber in 1988, Brian Bonin in 1996, Jordan Leopold in 2002) and earned a total of 65 All-America honors. The Maroon & Gold have produced over a hundred NHL players with 11 alums having their names engraved on the Stanley Cup while other Pride on Ice products have been part of some of the most iconic international hockey events in history including U.S. Olympic gold medals in 1960 and 1980. Throughout the season, the University of Minnesota will honor the people, the moments and the memories that define "Pride on Ice".
GOPHERS ANNOUNCE CENTURY SEASON CAPTAINS
Junior Sammy Walker will return to the Gophers lineup as team captain in 2020-21 while senior Brannon McManus, senior Jack LaFontaine and sophomore Ben Meyers will serve as alternate captains for the Maroon & Gold. The three newcomers to the leadership group are the 173rd, 174th and 175th 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 Gophers.
MINNESOTA TABBED PRESEASON BIG TEN FAVORITES
The Gophers enter the season as the favorite to win the Big Ten this year ahead of Michigan in second, Notre Dame and Ohio State tied for third, Wisconsin in fifth, Michigan State in sixth and Penn State in seventh, as selected by conference coaches. Additionally, Sammy Walker was named Preseason All-Big Ten First Team while Brannon McManus and Jackson LaCombe were named Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team. Ben Meyers received honorable mention on the list.
BOB IS BACK AS BIG TEN COACH OF THE YEAR
Bob Motzko was named the 2020 Big Ten Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award (national coach of the year) in his second year leading the Gophers. The honor was Motzko's fifth career conference coaching honor after winning the accolade in the WCHA in 2006 and 2007 and in the NCHC in 2014 and 2018. While Motzko headlined Minnesota's postseason Big Ten honors, Ben Meyers, Jackson LaCombe and Jared Moe were all named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team (Meyers was a finalist for Big Ten Freshman of the Year).
GOPHER HOCKEY SEASON NOTES
Fourteen members of the 2020-21 Gopher Hockey squad have been drafted by NHL teams including 2019 first round pick Ryan Johnson (31st overall to Buffalo)...the Anaheim Ducks lead all NHL teams with three prospects on the Maroon & Gold roster...senior Jack LaFontaine posted a .919 save percentage for the Gophers last year in his first season with the Maroon & Gold -- the statistic ranks seventh all-time in program history...the University of Minnesota will host the 2024 NCAA Frozen Four at Xcel Energy Center -- marking the ninth time the school has hosted the event and the fourth time the event was hosted at Xcel Energy Center (a Minnesota team has won the national championship every time the venue has played host)...Todd Richards became the 11th Gopher Hockey alum to win the Stanley Cup after guiding the Tampa Bay Lightning to the 2020 title as an assistant coach. A Second Team All-American and team captain in 1988-89, Richards now serves as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators...Gopher Hockey alum Dean Blais is among the inductees for the Class of 2020 to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame...Gopher Hockey roster breakdown by home state/country: Minnesota (19), California (2), Canada (2), Michigan (1), Wisconsin (1), Finland (1), Arizona (1)...the Big Ten Conference enters its eighth season sponsoring men's hockey in 2020-21 with Minnesota claiming more regular-season titles (four) than every other conference opponent combined (three). The Gophers won the first four league titles in Big Ten history as part of an NCAA record six-straight regular-season conference championships.
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