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Player Profile: Ryan Zuhlsdorf
10/31/2019 1:56:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS -- Senior defenseman Ryan Zuhlsdorf is Gopher Hockey's active leader in games played and is the only active Minnesota skater to have competed in 100 career games so far. GopherSports.com caught up with the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect to talk about his time at the University of Minnesota.
It doesn't seem that long ago that you were a freshman defenseman, scoring in your Gophers debut up in Alaska. How have you developed as a person and as a player during your time here at the University of Minnesota?
I think for any college student there's a big learning gap between your freshman year and your senior year of college. I think I've really matured as a player and certainly as a person. Having to deal with the coaching change was a lot for me – they have different styles and different personalities. Being able to adapt and be flexible with everything has been something new for me.
We mentioned that Alaska trip your freshman year…you've also been able to go to Las Vegas for a game and New York City to play at Madison Square Garden. Do you have a favorite memory of your time here at the 'U' whether it's on or off the ice?
Definitely going to Vegas. It was an unreal experience. Unbelievable trip both on and off the ice. The game was definitely an atmosphere I enjoyed playing in, and I know the whole team felt the same way.
Minnesota added a three defensemen last year and another three this year with you, Tyler Nanne and Sam Rossini serving as the only upperclassmen on the blue line this year. How can you help the newer guys learn what it takes to be successful here?
It's always a tough job trying to show younger guys what the 'M' is all about. It's kind of something that guys need to learn on their own without having it shoved in their face. But there is an expectation when you come to play hockey at the University of Minnesota, and part of that is how you represent the school and the program on the ice and off of it. The biggest thing for the older guys is just setting the example of how we do things here – working hard every day and continuing the tradition of Gopher Hockey.
For your first three years at the 'U', you had Eric Schierhorn in goal and the last two years you also had Mat Robson – two of the best goaltenders we've had come through this program. This year, we have three new goalies in Jack LaFontaine, Jared Moe and Justen Close. How difficult is for the defense and the rest of the skaters to adapt to a whole new group of goalies?
There was a lot of trust with Schierhorn and Robson backstopping us over the last couple years. With three new goalies, we've spent a lot of time getting familiar with them and their styles…just knowing where to be and knowing how they like to play the puck. At the end of the day, we know they are going to do their job and we've got to do our job.
Twelve new guys on the team including 11 freshmen…do you feel like one of the old men on the team this year?
Definitely…there is a huge change between your freshman year and your senior year. I think it's actually kind of fun watching the freshmen go through their first year experiences. It's a little bit of living in Memory Lane for the rest of us. There are so many freshmen this year – it's a really good mix of squirrely guys and guys who are a little more down to Earth. Great group of guys though…a lot of fun to be around.
It doesn't seem that long ago that you were a freshman defenseman, scoring in your Gophers debut up in Alaska. How have you developed as a person and as a player during your time here at the University of Minnesota?
I think for any college student there's a big learning gap between your freshman year and your senior year of college. I think I've really matured as a player and certainly as a person. Having to deal with the coaching change was a lot for me – they have different styles and different personalities. Being able to adapt and be flexible with everything has been something new for me.
We mentioned that Alaska trip your freshman year…you've also been able to go to Las Vegas for a game and New York City to play at Madison Square Garden. Do you have a favorite memory of your time here at the 'U' whether it's on or off the ice?
Definitely going to Vegas. It was an unreal experience. Unbelievable trip both on and off the ice. The game was definitely an atmosphere I enjoyed playing in, and I know the whole team felt the same way.
Minnesota added a three defensemen last year and another three this year with you, Tyler Nanne and Sam Rossini serving as the only upperclassmen on the blue line this year. How can you help the newer guys learn what it takes to be successful here?
It's always a tough job trying to show younger guys what the 'M' is all about. It's kind of something that guys need to learn on their own without having it shoved in their face. But there is an expectation when you come to play hockey at the University of Minnesota, and part of that is how you represent the school and the program on the ice and off of it. The biggest thing for the older guys is just setting the example of how we do things here – working hard every day and continuing the tradition of Gopher Hockey.
For your first three years at the 'U', you had Eric Schierhorn in goal and the last two years you also had Mat Robson – two of the best goaltenders we've had come through this program. This year, we have three new goalies in Jack LaFontaine, Jared Moe and Justen Close. How difficult is for the defense and the rest of the skaters to adapt to a whole new group of goalies?
There was a lot of trust with Schierhorn and Robson backstopping us over the last couple years. With three new goalies, we've spent a lot of time getting familiar with them and their styles…just knowing where to be and knowing how they like to play the puck. At the end of the day, we know they are going to do their job and we've got to do our job.
Twelve new guys on the team including 11 freshmen…do you feel like one of the old men on the team this year?
Definitely…there is a huge change between your freshman year and your senior year. I think it's actually kind of fun watching the freshmen go through their first year experiences. It's a little bit of living in Memory Lane for the rest of us. There are so many freshmen this year – it's a really good mix of squirrely guys and guys who are a little more down to Earth. Great group of guys though…a lot of fun to be around.
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