University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, October 3
3M Arena at Mariucci
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
6
vs
3
Michigan Tech
Players Mentioned
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Matt Krohn
Ziemer Nets Two as Gophers Surge Past Michigan Tech in Season Opener
10/3/2025 11:15:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Four-goal third pushes 'U' to victory
MINNEAPOLIS - A four-goal third period sparked the No. 8/7 Minnesota men's hockey team to a 6-3, come-from-behind victory over Michigan Tech in its 2025-26 season opener Friday night inside 3M Arena at Mariucci.
The Golden Gophers (1-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 B1G) erased a one-goal deficit early in the final frame and pulled away from the Huskies (0-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 CCHA), a team receiving votes in the USCHO polls. Brodie Ziemer scored less than a minute into the third period to even the score before Brody Lamb buried the eventual game winner three minutes later in front of the home crowd.
It took less than four minutes for the home side to open the scoring for the year as Ziemer slipped a backhand under the goalie's pads for a 1-0 edge at the 3:54 mark. The sophomore found space behind the Huskies defense and collected a pass from Jimmy Clark before potting the opening tally. Cal Thomas started the play behind his own goal crease, forcing a turnover with a strong bodycheck where Leo Gruba was there to start the rush up ice, earning the secondary assist.
MTU was able to generate a forecheck and tested Minnesota netminder Nathan Airey, where the junior made a quick glove save to protect the one-goal cushion. After the visitors erased a Gophers' power play, an offensive-zone turnover proved costly as the Huskies pounced on a rebound in the slot to pull even, 1-1, with 9:38 to play in the frame. The tie remained through the end of the period as the teams went to the locker room deadlocked.
Minnesota regained the lead 5:27 into the second stanza when freshman Tate Pritchard scored his first NCAA goal, set up by Beckett Hendrickson. Pritchard started the play with a clean zone entry and was in the perfect spot near the goal crease to chip a loose puck over the netminder's shoulder to put the Gophers back in front, 2-1. The Huskies responded with two quick goals in the span of 1:09 to seize a 3-2 advantage heading into the final 20 minutes.
The third period started with a flourish as Ziemer struck for the equalizer just 50 seconds into the action. LJ Mooney picked up a loose puck in the attacking zone and put a perfect backhand pass onto the stick of Ziemer, who buried the one-timer. The tie did not last long as Lamb ripped a wrister high to the glove side and ignited the crowd to a 4-3 advantage 3:23 after the Ziemer goal. Javon Moore won a puck battle along the boards allowing space for Lamb to attack and the senior made no mistake from the high slot for the game-winning goal.
The momentum would not stop for Minnesota and with 7:18 to play in regulation, Erik Påhlsson redirected a Pritchard centering pass, pushing the margin to 5-3. Beckett Hendrickson added an empty-net tally, and the Gophers skated to a season-opening victory over the Huskies, 6-3.
Airey closed the night by making 25 saves in the win, while five players posted multi-point efforts for the Maroon and Gold offense.
Noteworthy
Coming off a 12-goal campaign as a freshman, Ziemer picked up the first goal of the season for the Gophers, and added his second during the third period ... It was the Chaska, Minn., native's third career multi-goal performance ... In his college hockey debut, Pritchard made it a memorable night with a goal and an assist ... Hendrickson also had a goal and an assist for the second multi-point outing of his career ... Lamb, the Gophers' top returning scorer, wasted no time finding the back of the net as he put away the 34th goal of his career and seventh game winner to go along with an assist for a two-point night ... Påhlsson scored his first goal since a four-point night versus Wisconsin in January, a span of 11 games ... After collecting 12 points in his first 11 outings last year, Clark is off to another strong start in 2025-26 with two assists on Friday ... Mooney and Tanner Ludtke recorded their first points with the Gophers on Ziemer's tying goal, while Moore and Finn McLaughlin also picked up a point in their NCAA debuts during the third period ... Gruba and Luke Mittelstadt added assists in the season opener as the Minnesota blue line chipped in three points ... The Gophers were 0-for-2 on the man advantage but did not commit a single penalty in the contest, the second straight home game without allowing an opposing power play ... Thirteen different players recorded a blocked shot in the win, totaling 21 as a team, led by five from Thomas ... Senior John Mittelstadt skated in the 100th game of his Maroon and Gold career Friday.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"A ton of positives in there," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "The right guys were making plays when we needed them. A great goal to tie it up right away at the start of the third. (Michigan Tech) is a good hockey team. It was a big win for us tonight and a good grow-up game."
Next Up: Home vs. Michigan Tech (Oct. 4)
The Gophers go for the series sweep of the Huskies to close the weekend Saturday night at 7 p.m. live on FOX9+ and streaming on B1G+, while audio coverage is available on the Gopher Radio Network.
The Golden Gophers (1-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 B1G) erased a one-goal deficit early in the final frame and pulled away from the Huskies (0-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 CCHA), a team receiving votes in the USCHO polls. Brodie Ziemer scored less than a minute into the third period to even the score before Brody Lamb buried the eventual game winner three minutes later in front of the home crowd.
It took less than four minutes for the home side to open the scoring for the year as Ziemer slipped a backhand under the goalie's pads for a 1-0 edge at the 3:54 mark. The sophomore found space behind the Huskies defense and collected a pass from Jimmy Clark before potting the opening tally. Cal Thomas started the play behind his own goal crease, forcing a turnover with a strong bodycheck where Leo Gruba was there to start the rush up ice, earning the secondary assist.
MTU was able to generate a forecheck and tested Minnesota netminder Nathan Airey, where the junior made a quick glove save to protect the one-goal cushion. After the visitors erased a Gophers' power play, an offensive-zone turnover proved costly as the Huskies pounced on a rebound in the slot to pull even, 1-1, with 9:38 to play in the frame. The tie remained through the end of the period as the teams went to the locker room deadlocked.
Minnesota regained the lead 5:27 into the second stanza when freshman Tate Pritchard scored his first NCAA goal, set up by Beckett Hendrickson. Pritchard started the play with a clean zone entry and was in the perfect spot near the goal crease to chip a loose puck over the netminder's shoulder to put the Gophers back in front, 2-1. The Huskies responded with two quick goals in the span of 1:09 to seize a 3-2 advantage heading into the final 20 minutes.
The third period started with a flourish as Ziemer struck for the equalizer just 50 seconds into the action. LJ Mooney picked up a loose puck in the attacking zone and put a perfect backhand pass onto the stick of Ziemer, who buried the one-timer. The tie did not last long as Lamb ripped a wrister high to the glove side and ignited the crowd to a 4-3 advantage 3:23 after the Ziemer goal. Javon Moore won a puck battle along the boards allowing space for Lamb to attack and the senior made no mistake from the high slot for the game-winning goal.
The momentum would not stop for Minnesota and with 7:18 to play in regulation, Erik Påhlsson redirected a Pritchard centering pass, pushing the margin to 5-3. Beckett Hendrickson added an empty-net tally, and the Gophers skated to a season-opening victory over the Huskies, 6-3.
Airey closed the night by making 25 saves in the win, while five players posted multi-point efforts for the Maroon and Gold offense.
Noteworthy
Coming off a 12-goal campaign as a freshman, Ziemer picked up the first goal of the season for the Gophers, and added his second during the third period ... It was the Chaska, Minn., native's third career multi-goal performance ... In his college hockey debut, Pritchard made it a memorable night with a goal and an assist ... Hendrickson also had a goal and an assist for the second multi-point outing of his career ... Lamb, the Gophers' top returning scorer, wasted no time finding the back of the net as he put away the 34th goal of his career and seventh game winner to go along with an assist for a two-point night ... Påhlsson scored his first goal since a four-point night versus Wisconsin in January, a span of 11 games ... After collecting 12 points in his first 11 outings last year, Clark is off to another strong start in 2025-26 with two assists on Friday ... Mooney and Tanner Ludtke recorded their first points with the Gophers on Ziemer's tying goal, while Moore and Finn McLaughlin also picked up a point in their NCAA debuts during the third period ... Gruba and Luke Mittelstadt added assists in the season opener as the Minnesota blue line chipped in three points ... The Gophers were 0-for-2 on the man advantage but did not commit a single penalty in the contest, the second straight home game without allowing an opposing power play ... Thirteen different players recorded a blocked shot in the win, totaling 21 as a team, led by five from Thomas ... Senior John Mittelstadt skated in the 100th game of his Maroon and Gold career Friday.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"A ton of positives in there," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "The right guys were making plays when we needed them. A great goal to tie it up right away at the start of the third. (Michigan Tech) is a good hockey team. It was a big win for us tonight and a good grow-up game."
Next Up: Home vs. Michigan Tech (Oct. 4)
The Gophers go for the series sweep of the Huskies to close the weekend Saturday night at 7 p.m. live on FOX9+ and streaming on B1G+, while audio coverage is available on the Gopher Radio Network.
Highlights: Gophers 6, Michigan Tech 3
Friday, October 03
CCM Jersey Reveal
Wednesday, September 10
2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule
Monday, August 11
Herb Brooks Statue
Wednesday, August 06