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Saturday, October 6
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Motzko Era Begins This Weekend Against No. 1 UMD
10/2/2018 4:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS -- A new era of Gopher Hockey starts this weekend as the No. 13 Minnesota men's hockey program begins its 98th season of play -- and first under new head coach Bob Motzko -- with a two-game nonconference home-and-home series against defending national champion and top-ranked Minnesota Duluth.Â
Welcome Back, Bob!Â
After 13 years leading in-state rival St. Cloud State, Bob Motzko was named the head coach of the University of Minnesota on March 27, 2018. A native of Austin, Minn., Motzko built a 276-192-49 overall record as head coach of the Huskies following a four-year stint as assistant coach at Minnesota that saw the Maroon & Gold claim back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003. Motzko has coached 14 All-Americans in his coaching career including Hobey Baker Award winners Jordan Leopold and Drew LeBlanc. In addition to his collegiate coaching, Motzko led the U.S. National Junior Team to back-to-back medals at the IIHF World Junior Championships -- capturing a gold medal in 2017 and a bronze medal in 2018.Â
Minnesota Announces Captains for 2018-19
Four senior forwards will serve as leads for the University of Minnesota during the 2018-19 campaign with Tyler Sheehy and Brent Gates Jr. acting as captains for the Maroon & Gold while Jack Ramsey and Darian Romanko will act as assistant captains. Sheehy returns after serving as team captain as a junior last year while Gates, Ramsey and Romanko will wear letters for the first time as seniors. The four skaters continue a long tradition of Gopher Hockey captains dating back to the program's first season of play in 1921-22 when Chet Bros led the Maroon & Gold. Counting the new additions, 170 Gophers have worn a letter at the University of Minnesota in the program's 97-year history.
Three Gopher Hockey Alums Join Staff
Coach Bob Motzko rounded out his coaching staff earlier this week when he added three former University of Minnesota skaters to the Gophers coaching ranks. Ben Gordon returned to the Gophers for the second time after being named an assistant coach on Monday (Gordon previously served as Minnesota's director of operations during the 2016-17 season). Additionally, former Gophers Stu Bickel and Ryan Potulny joined the Maroon & Gold as undergraduate assistants for the 2018-19 season as they complete their degrees at the University of Minnesota. Previously, Garrett Raboin joined the Minnesota staff as an assistant coach after serving in the same capacity at St. Cloud State for the last six years while Andy Kent returns as the team's volunteer goaltending coach.Â
Sheehy Stands Out in Senior SeasonÂ
Senior captain Tyler Sheehy enters the 2018-19 season with 108 career points (44 goals, 64 assists) -- tied for second most among active NCAA skaters. The 2017 big Ten Player of the Year and First Team All-American is tied with Princeton's Ryan Kuffner while Ohio State's Mason Jobst is the only NCAA player with more career points at 128.Â
Romanko Takes Up Iron Man Mantle
Now an assistant captain for the Gophers, senior forward Darian Romanko will also head into the season having played in 96-straight games for the Maroon & Gold. Romanko leads all active Gophers in consecutive games played and is the only Minnesota skater to have played in every game over the last two seasons. His nine points, four goals and five assists last year were all career highs.Â
Schierhorn Paces the Nation in Net
Netminder Eric Schierhorn enters his senior season with the Maroon & Gold as the active NCAA leader in wins with 55 while the two-time Big Ten Goaltender of the Year also ranks tied for first among active goalies with 11 career shutouts. Schierhorn ranks fifth in Gophers history in appearances (101) and seventh in career wins (55). His streak of 94-consecutive came to an end last year as the longest run in program history and the fourth longest in NCAA history.Â
Gopher Hockey NHL Notes
The 2017-18 NHL season saw 26 Gopher Hockey alums take the ice (including seven NHL debuts) as Minnesota tied the known NCAA record for NHL players in a single season. In its 97-year history, Minnesota has had 119 alums go on to play in the NHL while the Gophers sent 31 former players into NHL training camps to lead all NCAA programs.Â
Gophers in the NHL DraftÂ
Thirteen current Gophers have had their names called at the NHL Entry Draft including newcomers Robbie Stucker (2017, Columbus, Seventh Round, 210th), Sammy Walker (2017, Tampa Bay, Seventh Round, 200th), Blake McLaughlin (2018, Anaheim, Third Round, 79th) and Sampo Ranta (2018, Colorado, Third Round, 78th). Ranta and McLaughlin were selected with back-to-back picks in 2018 -- the sixth time in Gophers history that has happened. Ten NHL teams have prospects on the Gopher Hockey roster this year with Anaheim, Tampa Bay and Nashville each listing two draftees with Minnesota.Â
Mr. Hockey Goes to Minnesota
Incoming Gophers freshman Sammy Walker closed out his prep career by leading Edina High School to a third-place finish at the 2018 MSHSL Class AA State Tournament, earning all-tournament honors along with Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year accolades. Walker was also 34th recipient of the annual Mr. Hockey Award, given to the top senior high school boy's hockey player in the state of Minnesota. Of the 34 honorees in the award's history, 23 have gone on to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota.Â
Cake Eater Connection
The University of Minnesota lists 27 players on its 2018-19 roster and seven of those players (Ben Brinkman, Sammy Walker, Cullen Munson, Garrett Wait, Clayton Phillips, Ryan Zuhlsdorf, Tyler Nanne) played their prep hockey for the Hornets of Edina High School (the most of any high school).Â
Big Ten Announces Overtime Changes
The Big Ten Conference has announced changes to its overtime protocol and conference points system for the 2018-19 hockey season, including the addition of a 3-on-3 overtime period. Any regular-season conference game that remains tied after regulation will play the NCAA-mandated five-minute, 5-on-5 sudden-death overtime period. If the game remains tied, the two teams will then play a five-minute, 3-on-3 sudden-death overtime period. If the game is still tied following both overtime periods, then the game will move to a sudden-death shootout. Non-conference games other than certain in-season tournaments will conclude following the 5-on-5 overtime period. Postseason games will continue to feature 20-minute 5-on-5 overtime periods as in the past. Teams will be awarded three points in the conference standings for a win in regulation or the 5-on-5 overtime period. If the game is tied following the 5-on-5 overtime, both teams will receive one point, with a second point being awarded to the team that wins in either the 3-on-3 overtime period or the shootout.Â
Tailgate Set for Sunday's Home Opener
Gopher Hockey's first home game of the Bob Motzko era will feature a 7 p.m. CT puck drop as Minnesota hosts Minnesota-Duluth on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 3M Arena at Mariucci. In celebration of the next chapter of Pride on Ice, Gopher Athletics will host the Gopher Garden with fans invited to tailgate the home opener on the front lawn of 3M Arena at Mariucci. Â All Gopher fans will be able to enjoy the beautiful fall weather starting at 3 p.m. CT ahead of the homer opener for Pride on Ice at 7 p.m. CT. Food and beverages (including alcohol) will be available for purchase. Games and tailgating activities will be provided for fans of all ages including viewing the Vikings at Eagles game at 3:25 p.m.
Big Ten Preseason Information
Tyler Sheehy and Rem Pitlick represented the Maroon & Gold on the Big Ten Preseason Watch List while the Gophers were predicted to finish fourth in a competitive Big Ten during the 2018-19 campaign. The Big Ten's three Frozen Four participants last year landed poll rankings ahead of the Maroon & Gold with Ohio State projected to finish first, Michigan to finish second and Notre Dame to finish third. Behind the Gophers are Penn State in fifth, Wisconsin in sixth and Michigan State in seventh.
Welcome Back, Bob!Â
After 13 years leading in-state rival St. Cloud State, Bob Motzko was named the head coach of the University of Minnesota on March 27, 2018. A native of Austin, Minn., Motzko built a 276-192-49 overall record as head coach of the Huskies following a four-year stint as assistant coach at Minnesota that saw the Maroon & Gold claim back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003. Motzko has coached 14 All-Americans in his coaching career including Hobey Baker Award winners Jordan Leopold and Drew LeBlanc. In addition to his collegiate coaching, Motzko led the U.S. National Junior Team to back-to-back medals at the IIHF World Junior Championships -- capturing a gold medal in 2017 and a bronze medal in 2018.Â
Minnesota Announces Captains for 2018-19
Four senior forwards will serve as leads for the University of Minnesota during the 2018-19 campaign with Tyler Sheehy and Brent Gates Jr. acting as captains for the Maroon & Gold while Jack Ramsey and Darian Romanko will act as assistant captains. Sheehy returns after serving as team captain as a junior last year while Gates, Ramsey and Romanko will wear letters for the first time as seniors. The four skaters continue a long tradition of Gopher Hockey captains dating back to the program's first season of play in 1921-22 when Chet Bros led the Maroon & Gold. Counting the new additions, 170 Gophers have worn a letter at the University of Minnesota in the program's 97-year history.
Three Gopher Hockey Alums Join Staff
Coach Bob Motzko rounded out his coaching staff earlier this week when he added three former University of Minnesota skaters to the Gophers coaching ranks. Ben Gordon returned to the Gophers for the second time after being named an assistant coach on Monday (Gordon previously served as Minnesota's director of operations during the 2016-17 season). Additionally, former Gophers Stu Bickel and Ryan Potulny joined the Maroon & Gold as undergraduate assistants for the 2018-19 season as they complete their degrees at the University of Minnesota. Previously, Garrett Raboin joined the Minnesota staff as an assistant coach after serving in the same capacity at St. Cloud State for the last six years while Andy Kent returns as the team's volunteer goaltending coach.Â
Sheehy Stands Out in Senior SeasonÂ
Senior captain Tyler Sheehy enters the 2018-19 season with 108 career points (44 goals, 64 assists) -- tied for second most among active NCAA skaters. The 2017 big Ten Player of the Year and First Team All-American is tied with Princeton's Ryan Kuffner while Ohio State's Mason Jobst is the only NCAA player with more career points at 128.Â
Romanko Takes Up Iron Man Mantle
Now an assistant captain for the Gophers, senior forward Darian Romanko will also head into the season having played in 96-straight games for the Maroon & Gold. Romanko leads all active Gophers in consecutive games played and is the only Minnesota skater to have played in every game over the last two seasons. His nine points, four goals and five assists last year were all career highs.Â
Schierhorn Paces the Nation in Net
Netminder Eric Schierhorn enters his senior season with the Maroon & Gold as the active NCAA leader in wins with 55 while the two-time Big Ten Goaltender of the Year also ranks tied for first among active goalies with 11 career shutouts. Schierhorn ranks fifth in Gophers history in appearances (101) and seventh in career wins (55). His streak of 94-consecutive came to an end last year as the longest run in program history and the fourth longest in NCAA history.Â
Gopher Hockey NHL Notes
The 2017-18 NHL season saw 26 Gopher Hockey alums take the ice (including seven NHL debuts) as Minnesota tied the known NCAA record for NHL players in a single season. In its 97-year history, Minnesota has had 119 alums go on to play in the NHL while the Gophers sent 31 former players into NHL training camps to lead all NCAA programs.Â
Gophers in the NHL DraftÂ
Thirteen current Gophers have had their names called at the NHL Entry Draft including newcomers Robbie Stucker (2017, Columbus, Seventh Round, 210th), Sammy Walker (2017, Tampa Bay, Seventh Round, 200th), Blake McLaughlin (2018, Anaheim, Third Round, 79th) and Sampo Ranta (2018, Colorado, Third Round, 78th). Ranta and McLaughlin were selected with back-to-back picks in 2018 -- the sixth time in Gophers history that has happened. Ten NHL teams have prospects on the Gopher Hockey roster this year with Anaheim, Tampa Bay and Nashville each listing two draftees with Minnesota.Â
Mr. Hockey Goes to Minnesota
Incoming Gophers freshman Sammy Walker closed out his prep career by leading Edina High School to a third-place finish at the 2018 MSHSL Class AA State Tournament, earning all-tournament honors along with Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year accolades. Walker was also 34th recipient of the annual Mr. Hockey Award, given to the top senior high school boy's hockey player in the state of Minnesota. Of the 34 honorees in the award's history, 23 have gone on to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota.Â
Cake Eater Connection
The University of Minnesota lists 27 players on its 2018-19 roster and seven of those players (Ben Brinkman, Sammy Walker, Cullen Munson, Garrett Wait, Clayton Phillips, Ryan Zuhlsdorf, Tyler Nanne) played their prep hockey for the Hornets of Edina High School (the most of any high school).Â
Big Ten Announces Overtime Changes
The Big Ten Conference has announced changes to its overtime protocol and conference points system for the 2018-19 hockey season, including the addition of a 3-on-3 overtime period. Any regular-season conference game that remains tied after regulation will play the NCAA-mandated five-minute, 5-on-5 sudden-death overtime period. If the game remains tied, the two teams will then play a five-minute, 3-on-3 sudden-death overtime period. If the game is still tied following both overtime periods, then the game will move to a sudden-death shootout. Non-conference games other than certain in-season tournaments will conclude following the 5-on-5 overtime period. Postseason games will continue to feature 20-minute 5-on-5 overtime periods as in the past. Teams will be awarded three points in the conference standings for a win in regulation or the 5-on-5 overtime period. If the game is tied following the 5-on-5 overtime, both teams will receive one point, with a second point being awarded to the team that wins in either the 3-on-3 overtime period or the shootout.Â
Tailgate Set for Sunday's Home Opener
Gopher Hockey's first home game of the Bob Motzko era will feature a 7 p.m. CT puck drop as Minnesota hosts Minnesota-Duluth on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 3M Arena at Mariucci. In celebration of the next chapter of Pride on Ice, Gopher Athletics will host the Gopher Garden with fans invited to tailgate the home opener on the front lawn of 3M Arena at Mariucci. Â All Gopher fans will be able to enjoy the beautiful fall weather starting at 3 p.m. CT ahead of the homer opener for Pride on Ice at 7 p.m. CT. Food and beverages (including alcohol) will be available for purchase. Games and tailgating activities will be provided for fans of all ages including viewing the Vikings at Eagles game at 3:25 p.m.
Big Ten Preseason Information
Tyler Sheehy and Rem Pitlick represented the Maroon & Gold on the Big Ten Preseason Watch List while the Gophers were predicted to finish fourth in a competitive Big Ten during the 2018-19 campaign. The Big Ten's three Frozen Four participants last year landed poll rankings ahead of the Maroon & Gold with Ohio State projected to finish first, Michigan to finish second and Notre Dame to finish third. Behind the Gophers are Penn State in fifth, Wisconsin in sixth and Michigan State in seventh.
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Notre Dame
Tuesday, November 11
Highlights: Gophers 4, Notre Dame 1
Saturday, November 08
John Whipple First Career Goal
Saturday, November 08
Highlights: Gophers 3, Notre Dame 0
Friday, November 07