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Friday, February 11
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Top-10 Series Awaits Gophers at Ohio State
2/10/2022 12:49:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota is 4-1-1 at Ohio State under Bob Motzko.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The 101st season of Gopher men's hockey continues this weekend with a top-10 showdown between Big Ten squads as No. 7/8 Minnesota heads to No. 8/7 Ohio State. Value City Arena hosts the two-game series with action opening up on Friday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM) before the series finale on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 5:00 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: KFAN+/96.7 FM).
AGAINST THE BUCKEYES
Minnesota and Ohio State split a pair of games earlier this season at 3M Arena at Mariucci as the Gophers are 36-9-5 all-time against the Buckeyes in a series that began in 1968. The Maroon & Gold are 4-1-1 against Ohio State at Value City Arena under Bob Motzko including sweeping last year's regular-season series at the venue.
FISH EARNS BIG TEN HONORS
Carl Fish enters this weekend's series at the Big Ten Third Star of the Week after helping Minnesota to a series and season sweep over Michigan State. The defenseman had three assists in the series and set up both game-winning goals. Fish has now tallied points in three of the last four games and four of the last six contests (all of his career-high five points this season have come in that stretch as well as five of his eight career points). The Gophers are now 6-0-0 all-time when he records a point.
ROOKIES VS. VETERANS
Minnesota scored seven goals last weekend with four coming from seniors and three coming from freshmen. Friday's 4-2 rally saw newcomers score three times for the Gophers including Rhett Pitlick's first career goal (Aaron Huglen and Tristan Broz also represented the rookies) while Saturday's 3-1 win featured all senior scorers as Ben Brinkman snapped a 123-game goal drought and Sammy Walker added the game-winner and an insurance goal (both in the third period). The sweep extended the U's win streak over Michigan State to nine games.
GOPHERS HEADING TO BEIJING
This weekend's series will be Minnesota's second without the trio of Ben Meyers, Matthew Knies and Brock Faber, who will compete along with Gopher Hockey alum Aaron Ness on the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. The trio of current Gophers are expected to miss three series while at the Olympics. Meanwhile, strength & conditioning coach Cal Dietz will serve in the same role with the U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team. Gopher Hockey has been represented at each of the last 21 Winter Olympics since 1936 with the Maroon & Gold helping USA Hockey to eight medals including gold in 1960 and 1980. Ness was named an alternate captain for the U.S. this week.
MOTZKO MILESTONES
Last weekend saw Bob Motzko set a pair of milestones as the Minnesota head coach won his 350th career game on Friday (351-240-60) before adding his 75th win with the Gophers on Saturday (75-48-11). The five-time conference coach of the year, who agreed to a three-year extension that will keep him with Minnesota through the 2025-26 season, is in his fourth season with the Maroon & Gold and 17th season as a Division I head coach.
LACOMBE RETURNS TO FORM
After a relatively slow start to his junior season, Jackson LaCombe has reignited his offensive spark as the 2021 Second Team All-American leads all Gophers defensemen with 17 points this season including a pair of assists last Saturday. The junior has points in six of the last eight games (also has points in nine of the last 13 contests).
CENTURY MARKERS
One Gopher Hockey skater hit a notable career milestone last month while his long-time linemate is now approaching it. Sammy Walker became the 85th Gopher to join the 100-Point Club as the senior captain is Minnesota's active-leading scorer with 105 points (45 goals, 60 assists) in 133 games. Fellow senior Blake McLaughlin is next in line for the Gophers with 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists) in 131 games. McLaughlin's 100th point will also match his career single-season career high for points (28 last year).
GOPHERS MAKE ROSTER ADJUSTMENTS
Minnesota has made a number of roster adjustments over the weeks. Four-year Gopher letter winner Sam Rossini re-joined the program on Jan. 19 -- the defenseman has played in 49 games with 13 points (three goals, 10 assists). Owen Bartoszkievicz was added to the roster as a freshman on Jan. 14 -- the goaltender most recently played in the USHL with Youngstown while he was an All-NAHL Rookie First Team honoree in 2020-21 with Wichita Falls. Jack LaFontaine signed an entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 9 and made his NHL debut with the organization on Jan. 13.
PRIDE ON ICE HISTORY
While the Gophers celebrated the program's 100th season in 2020-21, a number of notable milestones will actually occur during the 2021-22 season. First among them, Jan. 9, 2022 marked 100 years since the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and the University Athletic Board of Control officially granted men's hockey varsity status (Jan. 9, 1922). Meanwhile, Minnesota's first varsity hockey game celebrated the century mark on Jan. 17, 2022 (a 2-1 loss to Hamline before a string of five-straight wins -- four of them coming against Wisconsin). Minnesota got its revenge against Hamline in the season finale to finish its inaugural season with a 6-3-1 record. Oddly enough, Minnesota and Hamline have never met on the ice since that first season.
NHL UPDATE: GOPHERS PACE COLLEGE HOCKEY
Minnesota leads all NCAA programs with 118 all-time NHL alums including 24 already this season (also the most in college hockey). Tommy Novak, Scott Reedy and Jack LaFontaine have all made their NHL debuts in 2021-22 while Sampo Ranta debuted during last year's Stanley Cup playoffs (Ranta, Reedy and LaFontaine were all on the Gophers roster last year).
WEARING THE 'C'
The 101st season of Gopher Hockey will see two familiar faces and college hockey veterans leading the 'U' as Sammy Walker and Ben Meyers have been named team captains for the 2021-22 season. Walker will enter his senior season wearing a "C" for the third-straight season for the Maroon & Gold while Meyers was elevated to share the honor after serving as alternate captains during the 2020-21 campaign. With all both players returning to the Minnesota leadership group, Gopher Hockey has now featured 175 captains dating back to the school's first season of play in 1921-22 when Chet Bros led the Maroon & Gold as team captain. Jack LaFontaine also served as a captain during his tenure with the team this year.
IN THE NHL DRAFT
Fourteen of Minnesota's 27 players on the 2021-22 roster have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft including five newcomers -- Chaz Lucius (2021), Matthew Knies (2021), Tristan Broz (2021), Aaron Huglen (2019) and Rhett Pitlick (2019). Lucius is the 22nd Gopher Hockey prospect selected in the first round (18th overall by Winnipeg), joining 2019 first rounder Ryan Johnson on this year's roster for Minnesota. Meanwhile, Knies and Broz were selected with back-to-back picks in the second round this year.
PRESEASON BIG TEN PROSPECTUS
The Gophers landed on the top spot of the 2021-22 Big Ten Hockey Coaches' Poll earlier this season ahead of Michigan, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State. In the eight-year history of the Big Ten Conference, the Gophers have claimed a league-high four regular-season conference championships as well as two Big Ten tournament titles including last year's thrilling playoff run by the Maroon & Gold. Minnesota also led the Big Ten with six individuals on the 2021-22 Preseason All-Big Ten Hockey Teams, headlined by four players earning First Team honors.
AGAINST THE BUCKEYES
Minnesota and Ohio State split a pair of games earlier this season at 3M Arena at Mariucci as the Gophers are 36-9-5 all-time against the Buckeyes in a series that began in 1968. The Maroon & Gold are 4-1-1 against Ohio State at Value City Arena under Bob Motzko including sweeping last year's regular-season series at the venue.
FISH EARNS BIG TEN HONORS
Carl Fish enters this weekend's series at the Big Ten Third Star of the Week after helping Minnesota to a series and season sweep over Michigan State. The defenseman had three assists in the series and set up both game-winning goals. Fish has now tallied points in three of the last four games and four of the last six contests (all of his career-high five points this season have come in that stretch as well as five of his eight career points). The Gophers are now 6-0-0 all-time when he records a point.
ROOKIES VS. VETERANS
Minnesota scored seven goals last weekend with four coming from seniors and three coming from freshmen. Friday's 4-2 rally saw newcomers score three times for the Gophers including Rhett Pitlick's first career goal (Aaron Huglen and Tristan Broz also represented the rookies) while Saturday's 3-1 win featured all senior scorers as Ben Brinkman snapped a 123-game goal drought and Sammy Walker added the game-winner and an insurance goal (both in the third period). The sweep extended the U's win streak over Michigan State to nine games.
GOPHERS HEADING TO BEIJING
This weekend's series will be Minnesota's second without the trio of Ben Meyers, Matthew Knies and Brock Faber, who will compete along with Gopher Hockey alum Aaron Ness on the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. The trio of current Gophers are expected to miss three series while at the Olympics. Meanwhile, strength & conditioning coach Cal Dietz will serve in the same role with the U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team. Gopher Hockey has been represented at each of the last 21 Winter Olympics since 1936 with the Maroon & Gold helping USA Hockey to eight medals including gold in 1960 and 1980. Ness was named an alternate captain for the U.S. this week.
MOTZKO MILESTONES
Last weekend saw Bob Motzko set a pair of milestones as the Minnesota head coach won his 350th career game on Friday (351-240-60) before adding his 75th win with the Gophers on Saturday (75-48-11). The five-time conference coach of the year, who agreed to a three-year extension that will keep him with Minnesota through the 2025-26 season, is in his fourth season with the Maroon & Gold and 17th season as a Division I head coach.
LACOMBE RETURNS TO FORM
After a relatively slow start to his junior season, Jackson LaCombe has reignited his offensive spark as the 2021 Second Team All-American leads all Gophers defensemen with 17 points this season including a pair of assists last Saturday. The junior has points in six of the last eight games (also has points in nine of the last 13 contests).
CENTURY MARKERS
One Gopher Hockey skater hit a notable career milestone last month while his long-time linemate is now approaching it. Sammy Walker became the 85th Gopher to join the 100-Point Club as the senior captain is Minnesota's active-leading scorer with 105 points (45 goals, 60 assists) in 133 games. Fellow senior Blake McLaughlin is next in line for the Gophers with 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists) in 131 games. McLaughlin's 100th point will also match his career single-season career high for points (28 last year).
GOPHERS MAKE ROSTER ADJUSTMENTS
Minnesota has made a number of roster adjustments over the weeks. Four-year Gopher letter winner Sam Rossini re-joined the program on Jan. 19 -- the defenseman has played in 49 games with 13 points (three goals, 10 assists). Owen Bartoszkievicz was added to the roster as a freshman on Jan. 14 -- the goaltender most recently played in the USHL with Youngstown while he was an All-NAHL Rookie First Team honoree in 2020-21 with Wichita Falls. Jack LaFontaine signed an entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 9 and made his NHL debut with the organization on Jan. 13.
PRIDE ON ICE HISTORY
While the Gophers celebrated the program's 100th season in 2020-21, a number of notable milestones will actually occur during the 2021-22 season. First among them, Jan. 9, 2022 marked 100 years since the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and the University Athletic Board of Control officially granted men's hockey varsity status (Jan. 9, 1922). Meanwhile, Minnesota's first varsity hockey game celebrated the century mark on Jan. 17, 2022 (a 2-1 loss to Hamline before a string of five-straight wins -- four of them coming against Wisconsin). Minnesota got its revenge against Hamline in the season finale to finish its inaugural season with a 6-3-1 record. Oddly enough, Minnesota and Hamline have never met on the ice since that first season.
NHL UPDATE: GOPHERS PACE COLLEGE HOCKEY
Minnesota leads all NCAA programs with 118 all-time NHL alums including 24 already this season (also the most in college hockey). Tommy Novak, Scott Reedy and Jack LaFontaine have all made their NHL debuts in 2021-22 while Sampo Ranta debuted during last year's Stanley Cup playoffs (Ranta, Reedy and LaFontaine were all on the Gophers roster last year).
WEARING THE 'C'
The 101st season of Gopher Hockey will see two familiar faces and college hockey veterans leading the 'U' as Sammy Walker and Ben Meyers have been named team captains for the 2021-22 season. Walker will enter his senior season wearing a "C" for the third-straight season for the Maroon & Gold while Meyers was elevated to share the honor after serving as alternate captains during the 2020-21 campaign. With all both players returning to the Minnesota leadership group, Gopher Hockey has now featured 175 captains dating back to the school's first season of play in 1921-22 when Chet Bros led the Maroon & Gold as team captain. Jack LaFontaine also served as a captain during his tenure with the team this year.
IN THE NHL DRAFT
Fourteen of Minnesota's 27 players on the 2021-22 roster have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft including five newcomers -- Chaz Lucius (2021), Matthew Knies (2021), Tristan Broz (2021), Aaron Huglen (2019) and Rhett Pitlick (2019). Lucius is the 22nd Gopher Hockey prospect selected in the first round (18th overall by Winnipeg), joining 2019 first rounder Ryan Johnson on this year's roster for Minnesota. Meanwhile, Knies and Broz were selected with back-to-back picks in the second round this year.
PRESEASON BIG TEN PROSPECTUS
The Gophers landed on the top spot of the 2021-22 Big Ten Hockey Coaches' Poll earlier this season ahead of Michigan, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State. In the eight-year history of the Big Ten Conference, the Gophers have claimed a league-high four regular-season conference championships as well as two Big Ten tournament titles including last year's thrilling playoff run by the Maroon & Gold. Minnesota also led the Big Ten with six individuals on the 2021-22 Preseason All-Big Ten Hockey Teams, headlined by four players earning First Team honors.
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