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/ Men's Hockey
Gophers Hit the Ice for First Time Under Motzko
9/12/2018 1:17:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – The Gopher Hockey program took to the ice for the first time under new head coach Bob Motzko this week as a new chapter of Pride on Ice starts in less than a month.
As the ice is installed next door in 3M Arena at Mariucci, Motzko and the Gophers held their first two skill instruction sessions next door at Ridder Arena on Monday and Tuesday. Taking the ice in Maroon & Gold for the first time since 2005, Motzko pointed out the staff and team were equally excited to get on the ice for the first time together.
"It's a very exciting time for our program, and I think everyone was looking forward to getting back on the ice," Motzko said. "There was a lot to like in our first two sessions on the ice, but the most important thing is that our engine is started, and we are moving fast."
Several Gopher Hockey players echoed Motzko's sentiments regarding the early season skill instruction including Brent Gates Jr., who is heading into his senior season at Minnesota tied for the team's second leading returner after his best statistical season in 2017-18. Only Rem Pitlick's 31 points last season are better than Gates' 26 while the pair led Minnesota with 12 goals each last year alongside returning senior Tyler Sheehy.
"It's great to get everyone on the ice together for the first time," Gates added. "A lot of the guys have been skating together off and on all summer, but it's different when the whole team gets out there especially with the new coaching staff. It's kind of like an exciting first day of school."
Senior forward Darian Romanko is also entering his final year after recording his best statistical season as a junior last year. With the program's longest active ironman streak at 96 games, Romanko is the only Gopher who has played in every game over the last two seasons.
"It's definitely exciting, we're certainly ready to get going," senior forward Darian Romanko said. "There's a lot of new faces around, and everyone has a lot of motivation to prove themselves individually and as a team."
Gopher Hockey fans will have their first chance to meet the 2018-19 team on Friday, Sept. 21 as the Gopher men's and women's programs host a new Countdown to Puck Drop fan event at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The kickoff event is free to all fans from 6 p.m. CT until 8 p.m.
The 98th season of Gopher men's hockey will see the Maroon & Gold take the ice for the first time under new head coach Bob Motzko, who returns to the University of Minnesota after helping the program claim back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003 as an assistant coach. Minnesota opens the season against the defending national champions in Minnesota Duluth with a home-and-home series (Oct. 6-7).
As the ice is installed next door in 3M Arena at Mariucci, Motzko and the Gophers held their first two skill instruction sessions next door at Ridder Arena on Monday and Tuesday. Taking the ice in Maroon & Gold for the first time since 2005, Motzko pointed out the staff and team were equally excited to get on the ice for the first time together.
"It's a very exciting time for our program, and I think everyone was looking forward to getting back on the ice," Motzko said. "There was a lot to like in our first two sessions on the ice, but the most important thing is that our engine is started, and we are moving fast."
Several Gopher Hockey players echoed Motzko's sentiments regarding the early season skill instruction including Brent Gates Jr., who is heading into his senior season at Minnesota tied for the team's second leading returner after his best statistical season in 2017-18. Only Rem Pitlick's 31 points last season are better than Gates' 26 while the pair led Minnesota with 12 goals each last year alongside returning senior Tyler Sheehy.
"It's great to get everyone on the ice together for the first time," Gates added. "A lot of the guys have been skating together off and on all summer, but it's different when the whole team gets out there especially with the new coaching staff. It's kind of like an exciting first day of school."
Senior forward Darian Romanko is also entering his final year after recording his best statistical season as a junior last year. With the program's longest active ironman streak at 96 games, Romanko is the only Gopher who has played in every game over the last two seasons.
"It's definitely exciting, we're certainly ready to get going," senior forward Darian Romanko said. "There's a lot of new faces around, and everyone has a lot of motivation to prove themselves individually and as a team."
Gopher Hockey fans will have their first chance to meet the 2018-19 team on Friday, Sept. 21 as the Gopher men's and women's programs host a new Countdown to Puck Drop fan event at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The kickoff event is free to all fans from 6 p.m. CT until 8 p.m.
The 98th season of Gopher men's hockey will see the Maroon & Gold take the ice for the first time under new head coach Bob Motzko, who returns to the University of Minnesota after helping the program claim back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003 as an assistant coach. Minnesota opens the season against the defending national champions in Minnesota Duluth with a home-and-home series (Oct. 6-7).
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