University of Minnesota Athletics
Buckeyes to Visit Mariucci Arena
2/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
| Minnesota vs. Ohio State | |
| Dates | Friday, Feb. 6 (8:12 p.m. CT) |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 (7:05 p.m. CT) | |
| Location | Mariucci Arena | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Friday TV | Big Ten Network |
| Saturday TV | FOX Sports North PLUS |
| BTN2Go Stream | Friday | Saturday |
| Radio | 1500 ESPN | Listen Online |
| Live Stats | | |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Ohio State | Big Ten |
| Social Media | @GopherHockey | Facebook |
Feb. 4, 2015
Gopher Hockey returns to Big Ten Conference action this weekend with a two-game series against Ohio State at Mariucci Arena. Friday's series opener is set for 8:12 p.m. CT (Big Ten Network, BTN2Go, 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network) while Saturday's series finale is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT (FOX Sports North PLUS, BTN2Go, 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network).
Against the Buckeyes
In 18 meetings, the Gophers hold a 15-2-1 all-time record against the Buckeyes including a 9-1-0 mark on home ice. The teams met five times last season with the Maroon & Gold going 3-1-1 agaisnt Ohio State. The Gophers swept Ohio State at home in January including a 1-0 win at TCF Bank Stadium for the Hockey City Classic, picked up a win and a tie in Columbus in early March and then lost to the Buckeyes in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Mike Reilly is Minnesota's active leading scorer against Ohio State with six assists in five games.
Wilcox Climbs Record Book
Adam Wilcox has appeared in 101 games since arriving on campus as a freshman while the All-American continues to make a name for himself in the Gopher Hockey history books. Wilcox's 10 career shutouts rank second all-time at Minnesota behind Kellen Briggs' 13 while the junior's 63 career wins rank fifth in school history. Next up on the list is John Blue in fourth with 64 wins -- Briggs also holds the school wins record at 84.
Back Home at Mariucci Arena
The 2014-15 season marks the 21st campaign in which the Gophers have called Mariucci Arena home. Since opening Mariucci Arena, Minnesota is 297-115-46 (.700) on home ice. Since the start of the 2011-12 season, the Gophers are 55-12-7 (.812) on home ice including a 15-1-3 (.853) mark last year and a 7-2-1 mark this season.
Ambroz Earns Big Ten Accolades
Seth Ambroz continued to find success against Wisconsin in last weekend's series with four goals over the series. The alternate captain tallied a pair of goals in both games including an overtime-forcing tally with just two seconds left in regulation in Saturday's 4-4 overtime tie. As it stands, 11 of Ambroz's 35 career goals have come against the Badgers while four of his six career multiple goal games have come against Minnesota's Border Battle rival. The senior forward was awarded Big Ten Second Star of the Week honors for his performance in Madison.
On Point From the Point
As a sophomore last season, Mike Reilly earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and became Minnesota's first First Team All-American since 2009. The defenseman is once again among the elite defensemen in the nation -- his 22 assists rank second among all NCAA defensemen this year while his 26 points are also second among the group. Reilly is the first Gopher defensemen to lead the team in scoring since Mike Crowley tallied 56 points (nine goals, 47assists) in route to All-America honors in 1996-97.
Winner for Rau
Twenty of senior captain Kyle Rau's 55 career goals have been game winners as Rau is the NCAA active leading scorer in game-winning goals. Rau is Minnesota's active leading scorer with 147 points (the most career points by a Gopher since Troy Riddle's 178 from 2000-2004). Minnesota is now 76-13-8 all-time when Rau tallies a point and 37-3-0 when the forward tallies more than one point in a game.
Lucia Record Watch
Gopher Hockey coach Don Lucia is 663-353-97 all-time as a head coach including 384-198-68 at Minnesota. Only Doug Woog has more coaching wins behind the Gophers' bench with 390. Lucia's 663 career wins rank him ninth all-time in college hockey and third among active Division I coaches while he will enter his 28th overall season as a head coach and 16th season with the Gophers in 2014-15.
Rau Up for Senior CLASS Award
Already a nominee for the Hobey Baker Award, Kyle Rau has now been listed as one of 20 candidates for the annual Senior CLASS Award -- given to one Division I hockey player based on achievement in the "Four C's" -- classroom, character, community and competition. Rau was honored as Gopher Hockey's John Mayasich Outstanding Student-Athlete Award winner last year and was recognized as the Henry L. Williams Legacy Award winner, which annually recognizes the top male student-athlete at the University of Minnesota who excels in competition and in the classroom while representing the values of the athletics department, earlier this year. Rau was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree as a junior last season and was a member of the All-WCHA Academic Team in 2011-12 in his first year of eligibility.
Iron Man in Net
Over his two-plus seasons with the Gophers, Adam Wilcox has arguably put up two of the top seasons in net in program history. The South St. Paul, Minn., native set a new school GAA record of 1.88 in 2012-13 as a freshman, earning All-WCHA Third Team honors. Last year was even better for the netminder. Wilcox set a new school save percentage record of .932 and earned Second Team All-America accolades as well as being named Big Ten Player & Goaltender of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten. He also was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award -- Minnesota's first finalist since Ryan Potulny in 2006.
