University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, October 18
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
2-1-0
3
vs
2
Niagara
0-1-0
1
2
3
OT 1
F
Niagara
0
1
1
0
2
Minnesota
0
0
2
1
3
Photo by: Bruce Kluckhohn
Walker’s OT Winner Gives ‘U’ 3-2 Victory
10/18/2019 10:43:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Sammy Walker scored 46 seconds into overtime as the Gopher men's hockey program picked up a 3-2 overtime win over Niagara on Saturday in the 2019-20 home opener at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Sampo Ranta and Jonny Sorenson also scored for Minnesota (2-1-0 overall, 0-0-0-0 Big Ten) while Jack LaFontaine picked up his first win with the Maroon & Gold.
After nearly 40 minutes of scoreless hockey to open the game, Niagara (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Atlantic Hockey) found the net at 19:37 of the second period off the stick of Jack Billings. The Gophers bounced back early in the third with two goals just over a minute apart from Ranta at 5:53 on the power play and Sorenson at 6:58. The lead would not last however as Cam Cook evened things up at 8:05 of the third period.
Walker sent the Gopher fans home happy on the only shot on goal in the added session, scoring the game-winning tally for his second goal in as many games for Minnesota.
LaFontaine made 25 saves in net for the Maroon & Gold as the Gophers outshot the Purple Eagles 28-27 and went 1-for-3 on the power play and 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.
Notable
In addition to Jack LaFontaine's first win as a Gopher, Jonny Sorenson picked up his first collegiate goal while Jackson LaCombe earned his first points as a Gopher with two assists in the win and Ryan Johnson also picked up his first point with Minnesota on an assist.
Quotable
"We dodged a bullet," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "We won the game, there's the positive, but I think we're going to be a lot better tomorrow."
Up Next: Series Home Opener vs. Niagara
The Gophers close out this weekend's non-conference series with Niagara at 3M Arena at Mariucci at 7:00 p.m. Ct on Saturday, Oct. 19 (TV: FOX Sports North; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM; Stream: FOX Sports Go).
All tickets for the 2019-20 Gopher Hockey season – the 99th campaign in program history – are now on sale through GopherSports.com. Season tickets start at $500 – the lowest price point for season tickets at the University of Minnesota since 1999-2000. Highlighting the 2019-20 slate is one of the strongest home schedules in program history with Minnesota hosting all six Big Ten opponents (Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin) along with nonconference foes in North Dakota, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, Bemidji State, St. Cloud State and Niagara.
Sampo Ranta and Jonny Sorenson also scored for Minnesota (2-1-0 overall, 0-0-0-0 Big Ten) while Jack LaFontaine picked up his first win with the Maroon & Gold.
After nearly 40 minutes of scoreless hockey to open the game, Niagara (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Atlantic Hockey) found the net at 19:37 of the second period off the stick of Jack Billings. The Gophers bounced back early in the third with two goals just over a minute apart from Ranta at 5:53 on the power play and Sorenson at 6:58. The lead would not last however as Cam Cook evened things up at 8:05 of the third period.
Walker sent the Gopher fans home happy on the only shot on goal in the added session, scoring the game-winning tally for his second goal in as many games for Minnesota.
LaFontaine made 25 saves in net for the Maroon & Gold as the Gophers outshot the Purple Eagles 28-27 and went 1-for-3 on the power play and 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.
Notable
In addition to Jack LaFontaine's first win as a Gopher, Jonny Sorenson picked up his first collegiate goal while Jackson LaCombe earned his first points as a Gopher with two assists in the win and Ryan Johnson also picked up his first point with Minnesota on an assist.
Quotable
"We dodged a bullet," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "We won the game, there's the positive, but I think we're going to be a lot better tomorrow."
Up Next: Series Home Opener vs. Niagara
The Gophers close out this weekend's non-conference series with Niagara at 3M Arena at Mariucci at 7:00 p.m. Ct on Saturday, Oct. 19 (TV: FOX Sports North; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM; Stream: FOX Sports Go).
All tickets for the 2019-20 Gopher Hockey season – the 99th campaign in program history – are now on sale through GopherSports.com. Season tickets start at $500 – the lowest price point for season tickets at the University of Minnesota since 1999-2000. Highlighting the 2019-20 slate is one of the strongest home schedules in program history with Minnesota hosting all six Big Ten opponents (Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin) along with nonconference foes in North Dakota, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, Bemidji State, St. Cloud State and Niagara.
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Team Stats
NIA
MINN
Shots
27
28
PPG
0
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
4
2
Penalty Mins
8
4
Faceoffs Won
24
30
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
2
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
-1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
Players Mentioned
Defense
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