University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, November 7
3M Arena at Mariucci
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Notre Dame
Players Mentioned
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ 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
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Gophers Host Notre Dame for B1G Series
11/6/2025 11:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Beginning of six-game homestand
MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota men's hockey team begins its season-long, six-game homestand when it hosts the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame for the first Big Ten Conference series at home inside 3M Arena at Mariucci Nov. 7-8.
Both games will get underway at 7 p.m. with live television coverage on FOX9+ and streaming via B1G+. Fans can also listen to the action via the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK each night.
TRAVEL / PARKING ADVISORY
Due to multiple events happening on the University of Minnesota campus this weekend, fans attending the game are encouraged to purchase parking passes in advance by clicking HERE. For individuals arriving without a parking pass, it is recommended to park in the Oak Street or Washington Avenue Ramps, or surface lots surrounding Huntington Bank Stadium.
WATCH THE PRIDE ON ICE
Minnesota and FOX9 have partnered for a local television broadcast deal for the third-straight year that will air 17 home games during the 2025-26 campaign presented by Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union. This year's home broadcasts on FOX9 and FOX9+ will again feature a 30-minute Pride on Ice Pre-Game Show presented by M Health Fairview as well as a post-game show recapping the action presented by RBC Wealth Management. The Gophers will have 10 games broadcast on Big Ten Network as well as one on FS1 this season.
LAST TIME ON THE ICE
Minnesota dropped both games of its opening Big Ten Conference series at Wisconsin as the Badgers used a pair of power-play goals in each contest to complete the weekend sweep and remain unbeaten overall. The Gophers saw their six-game unbeaten streak against their border rival come to an end Friday in a 5-2 setback before falling 4-0 in Saturday's rematch. Mason Moe and Brodie Ziemer each tallied goals in the opener, while goaltender Luca Di Pasquo made a career-high 38 saves in his start Friday.
DROPPED FROM THE RANKINGS
For the first time in nearly 2,100 days, Minnesota has fallen outside the top 20 in both national polls, though the Gophers continue to receive votes from panelists. The last time the Maroon and Gold skated as an unranked team was Feb. 15, 2020, when they defeated Notre Dame before returning to the polls at No. 18 the following week. Minnesota's current four-game losing streak matches its longest winless stretch since the 1997-98 season, when the program dropped nine straight games from Nov. 8 to Dec. 20.
LAMB'S OCTOBER SCORING FEAST
Senior captain Brody Lamb has been a driving force behind the Gophers' offense, tied for the team's scoring lead with seven points and four goals. The Byron, Minn., native showcased his scoring touch in a road win at North Dakota on Oct. 18, recording a three-point night for the fourth time in his career and first since Feb. 21, 2025, against Ohio State. Known for starting strong, Lamb has totaled 23 points (15 goals, eight assists) in 29 career games played during the month of October.
HENDRICKSON HITTING HIS STRIDE
Beckett Hendrickson continues to make his presence felt each weekend as he takes a significant step forward in his development with Gopher hockey. His assist in the series finale against Minnesota Duluth marked his fifth point of the season, and he recorded at least one point in each of the first four series in 2025-26. That same milestone took the sophomore until the 22nd game to reach a year ago. Hendrickson also leads the team with a plus-5 rating.
LUKE DOING IT ALL
Senior captain Luke Mittelstadt is playing some of the best hockey of his career to begin his final collegiate campaign. The Eden Prairie, Minn., native is tied with junior Jimmy Clark in pacing the Gophers with five assists, which ranks 15th among all NCAA defensemen, and has 21 shots on goal as he has consistently jumped into the attack. He also blocked a career-high eight shots in the home tie versus Boston College (Oct. 10) and currently leads the nation with 25 blocked shots.
BUILT ON SACRIFICE
Through eight games, the Maroon and Gold have turned defensive sacrifice into a national best. Minnesota leads the country with 165 blocked shots, averaging nearly 17 per game, more than 40 higher than the next closest Big Ten team. The Gophers' commitment to getting sticks and bodies in shooting lanes is led by senior Luke Mittelstadt and sophomore John Whipple, who rank first and second in the NCAA with 25 and 23 blocks, respectively. Cal Thomas has also reached double digits with 11 blocks despite missing the last three games.
SPECIAL TEAMS STRUGGLES
Special teams have been a key factor in Minnesota's early-season challenges, as the Gophers rank in the bottom 20 percent nationally in both power play and penalty kill efficiency. Only two teams in the NCAA have surrendered more goals while shorthanded, with Minnesota among just five programs to allow double-digit power-play goals this season. The Maroon and Gold have given up at least one power-play tally in seven of 10 games, including two in each of the past three contests. Over the last four seasons, Minnesota has averaged 17.5 power-play goals against per year, highlighted by a program-record low of just 15 allowed during the 2021-22 campaign.
AN INSIDE LOOK AT NOTRE DAME
The Fighting Irish opened Big Ten play at home last weekend, earning one point in a series against Michigan. Notre Dame saw its four-game unbeaten streak end with a 5-3 loss in Friday's opener before falling 2-1 in overtime Saturday. Offensively, the team is averaging 3.5 goals per game, aided by the nation's fourth-best faceoff percentage and a strong power play converting at 32 percent (9-for-28). Discipline has been an issue as the Irish rank fourth nationally with 145 total penalty minutes (18.1 per game) and have surrendered five goals while shorthanded. RPI transfer Sutter Muzzatti leads the team with six goals and nine points, while four teammates have tallied seven points apiece. In goal, Nicholas Kempf has started all eight contests, recording a 3.22 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage.
HISTORY WITH THE FIGHTING IRISH
Minnesota owns a 48-31-6 (.600) advantage in the all-time series against Notre Dame, including a 28-18-3 mark at home. The Gophers took three of four regular-season meetings last year, highlighted by a road sweep in November. Of Minnesota's four home losses in 2024-25, three came against the Fighting Irish, who advanced in the B1G Tournament by winning the three-game series at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Jimmy Snuggerud paced the Maroon and Gold with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in seven matchups versus the Irish, while Sam Rinzel, Matthew Wood, and Oliver Moore combined for 21 points. Goaltender Nathan Airey earned all four victories, posting a 4-1-0 record with a 2.34 goals-against average.
STREAK FINALLY SNAPPED
After more than 2,000 days without a shootout goal or victory, Minnesota ended both droughts against Boston College on Oct. 10 thanks to a pair of newcomers. LJ Mooney and Tanner Ludtke each converted in the shootout, while goaltender Nathan Airey turned aside both Eagles' attempts to secure the Gophers' first shootout win since Feb. 14, 2020, at Notre Dame. The victory snapped an 11-shootout skid during which Minnesota had gone 28 consecutive attempts without a goal.
GAUNTLET RUN FROM START TO FINISH
Minnesota's 2025-26 regular-season slate will once again be among the nation's toughest. Of the Gophers' 35 scheduled games, 25 come against teams ranked in the USCHO preseason poll, while eight more are against unranked opponents that still received votes. Seventeen matchups will be against opponents ranked inside the top 12, including a heavy dose of Big Ten play. The conference is again stacked, with six Big Ten programs ranked in the preseason top 20. Minnesota is no stranger to difficult schedules, having battled the nation's No. 4 strength of schedule in 2023-24 and the No. 2 schedule the year before. Even last year's "dip" to the No. 19 toughest schedule still placed the Gophers among the most battle-tested teams in the country.
DEFENSEMAN 'U'
Minnesota was the lone college hockey program in the country with more than 10 blue liners in the NHL last season. A total of 12 former Gopher defensemen took the ice in the NHL during the 2024-25 campaign, accounting for more than 600 games played. Highlighted in that group was Erik Johnson becoming the ninth former Minnesota skater to reach the 1,000-game milestone when he hit the mark last November and capped by Nate Schmidt's Stanley Cup victory with the Florida Panthers. At the collegiate level, Minnesota has dominated the Big Ten Conference's postseason awards dedicated to defensive play, winning six of the 12 Defensive Player of the Year awards distributed, including three of the last four.
Both games will get underway at 7 p.m. with live television coverage on FOX9+ and streaming via B1G+. Fans can also listen to the action via the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK each night.
TRAVEL / PARKING ADVISORY
Due to multiple events happening on the University of Minnesota campus this weekend, fans attending the game are encouraged to purchase parking passes in advance by clicking HERE. For individuals arriving without a parking pass, it is recommended to park in the Oak Street or Washington Avenue Ramps, or surface lots surrounding Huntington Bank Stadium.
WATCH THE PRIDE ON ICE
Minnesota and FOX9 have partnered for a local television broadcast deal for the third-straight year that will air 17 home games during the 2025-26 campaign presented by Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union. This year's home broadcasts on FOX9 and FOX9+ will again feature a 30-minute Pride on Ice Pre-Game Show presented by M Health Fairview as well as a post-game show recapping the action presented by RBC Wealth Management. The Gophers will have 10 games broadcast on Big Ten Network as well as one on FS1 this season.
LAST TIME ON THE ICE
Minnesota dropped both games of its opening Big Ten Conference series at Wisconsin as the Badgers used a pair of power-play goals in each contest to complete the weekend sweep and remain unbeaten overall. The Gophers saw their six-game unbeaten streak against their border rival come to an end Friday in a 5-2 setback before falling 4-0 in Saturday's rematch. Mason Moe and Brodie Ziemer each tallied goals in the opener, while goaltender Luca Di Pasquo made a career-high 38 saves in his start Friday.
DROPPED FROM THE RANKINGS
For the first time in nearly 2,100 days, Minnesota has fallen outside the top 20 in both national polls, though the Gophers continue to receive votes from panelists. The last time the Maroon and Gold skated as an unranked team was Feb. 15, 2020, when they defeated Notre Dame before returning to the polls at No. 18 the following week. Minnesota's current four-game losing streak matches its longest winless stretch since the 1997-98 season, when the program dropped nine straight games from Nov. 8 to Dec. 20.
LAMB'S OCTOBER SCORING FEAST
Senior captain Brody Lamb has been a driving force behind the Gophers' offense, tied for the team's scoring lead with seven points and four goals. The Byron, Minn., native showcased his scoring touch in a road win at North Dakota on Oct. 18, recording a three-point night for the fourth time in his career and first since Feb. 21, 2025, against Ohio State. Known for starting strong, Lamb has totaled 23 points (15 goals, eight assists) in 29 career games played during the month of October.
HENDRICKSON HITTING HIS STRIDE
Beckett Hendrickson continues to make his presence felt each weekend as he takes a significant step forward in his development with Gopher hockey. His assist in the series finale against Minnesota Duluth marked his fifth point of the season, and he recorded at least one point in each of the first four series in 2025-26. That same milestone took the sophomore until the 22nd game to reach a year ago. Hendrickson also leads the team with a plus-5 rating.
LUKE DOING IT ALL
Senior captain Luke Mittelstadt is playing some of the best hockey of his career to begin his final collegiate campaign. The Eden Prairie, Minn., native is tied with junior Jimmy Clark in pacing the Gophers with five assists, which ranks 15th among all NCAA defensemen, and has 21 shots on goal as he has consistently jumped into the attack. He also blocked a career-high eight shots in the home tie versus Boston College (Oct. 10) and currently leads the nation with 25 blocked shots.
BUILT ON SACRIFICE
Through eight games, the Maroon and Gold have turned defensive sacrifice into a national best. Minnesota leads the country with 165 blocked shots, averaging nearly 17 per game, more than 40 higher than the next closest Big Ten team. The Gophers' commitment to getting sticks and bodies in shooting lanes is led by senior Luke Mittelstadt and sophomore John Whipple, who rank first and second in the NCAA with 25 and 23 blocks, respectively. Cal Thomas has also reached double digits with 11 blocks despite missing the last three games.
SPECIAL TEAMS STRUGGLES
Special teams have been a key factor in Minnesota's early-season challenges, as the Gophers rank in the bottom 20 percent nationally in both power play and penalty kill efficiency. Only two teams in the NCAA have surrendered more goals while shorthanded, with Minnesota among just five programs to allow double-digit power-play goals this season. The Maroon and Gold have given up at least one power-play tally in seven of 10 games, including two in each of the past three contests. Over the last four seasons, Minnesota has averaged 17.5 power-play goals against per year, highlighted by a program-record low of just 15 allowed during the 2021-22 campaign.
AN INSIDE LOOK AT NOTRE DAME
The Fighting Irish opened Big Ten play at home last weekend, earning one point in a series against Michigan. Notre Dame saw its four-game unbeaten streak end with a 5-3 loss in Friday's opener before falling 2-1 in overtime Saturday. Offensively, the team is averaging 3.5 goals per game, aided by the nation's fourth-best faceoff percentage and a strong power play converting at 32 percent (9-for-28). Discipline has been an issue as the Irish rank fourth nationally with 145 total penalty minutes (18.1 per game) and have surrendered five goals while shorthanded. RPI transfer Sutter Muzzatti leads the team with six goals and nine points, while four teammates have tallied seven points apiece. In goal, Nicholas Kempf has started all eight contests, recording a 3.22 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage.
HISTORY WITH THE FIGHTING IRISH
Minnesota owns a 48-31-6 (.600) advantage in the all-time series against Notre Dame, including a 28-18-3 mark at home. The Gophers took three of four regular-season meetings last year, highlighted by a road sweep in November. Of Minnesota's four home losses in 2024-25, three came against the Fighting Irish, who advanced in the B1G Tournament by winning the three-game series at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Jimmy Snuggerud paced the Maroon and Gold with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in seven matchups versus the Irish, while Sam Rinzel, Matthew Wood, and Oliver Moore combined for 21 points. Goaltender Nathan Airey earned all four victories, posting a 4-1-0 record with a 2.34 goals-against average.
STREAK FINALLY SNAPPED
After more than 2,000 days without a shootout goal or victory, Minnesota ended both droughts against Boston College on Oct. 10 thanks to a pair of newcomers. LJ Mooney and Tanner Ludtke each converted in the shootout, while goaltender Nathan Airey turned aside both Eagles' attempts to secure the Gophers' first shootout win since Feb. 14, 2020, at Notre Dame. The victory snapped an 11-shootout skid during which Minnesota had gone 28 consecutive attempts without a goal.
GAUNTLET RUN FROM START TO FINISH
Minnesota's 2025-26 regular-season slate will once again be among the nation's toughest. Of the Gophers' 35 scheduled games, 25 come against teams ranked in the USCHO preseason poll, while eight more are against unranked opponents that still received votes. Seventeen matchups will be against opponents ranked inside the top 12, including a heavy dose of Big Ten play. The conference is again stacked, with six Big Ten programs ranked in the preseason top 20. Minnesota is no stranger to difficult schedules, having battled the nation's No. 4 strength of schedule in 2023-24 and the No. 2 schedule the year before. Even last year's "dip" to the No. 19 toughest schedule still placed the Gophers among the most battle-tested teams in the country.
DEFENSEMAN 'U'
Minnesota was the lone college hockey program in the country with more than 10 blue liners in the NHL last season. A total of 12 former Gopher defensemen took the ice in the NHL during the 2024-25 campaign, accounting for more than 600 games played. Highlighted in that group was Erik Johnson becoming the ninth former Minnesota skater to reach the 1,000-game milestone when he hit the mark last November and capped by Nate Schmidt's Stanley Cup victory with the Florida Panthers. At the collegiate level, Minnesota has dominated the Big Ten Conference's postseason awards dedicated to defensive play, winning six of the 12 Defensive Player of the Year awards distributed, including three of the last four.
John Whipple First Career Goal
Saturday, November 08
Highlights: Gophers 3, Notre Dame 0
Friday, November 07
Highlights: Gophers 2, Wisconsin 5
Thursday, October 30
Highlights: Gophers 1, UMD 4
Saturday, October 25