University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, January 10
East Lansing, MI
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Michigan State
Players Mentioned
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
'U' Opens 2020 at Michigan State
1/8/2020 11:04:00 AM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Gopher Hockey program returns to action for the first time in 2020 this weekend with a two-game Big Ten series against Michigan State in East Lansing. The Gophers and the Spartans meet for the first time this season on Friday, Jan. 10 at 5:00 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM) before closing out the weekend on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 6:00 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: KFAN Plus FM 96.7). Both games will be played at Munn Ice Arena.
AGAINST THE SPARTANS
In a rivalry that dates back to 1950, Minnesota holds a 118-48-16 all-time record against Michigan State including a 48-29-8 mark in East Lansing. The two Big Ten foes will meet for the first of two regular-season series this weekend, playing for the Mariucci-Bessone Trophy. Sammy Walker and Brannon McManus are the active-leading scorers against the Spartans with five points each -- Walker has two goals and three assists in four career meetings with Michigan State. Fellow sophomores Ben Brinkman and Blake McLaughlin each have four points against the Spartans in four career games.
LAST TIME OUT: MARIUCCI CLASSIC
Minnesota closed out 2019 by winning the Mariucci Classic last month, besting an all-Minnesota field with wins over Bemidji State (5-2) and St. Cloud State (4-1) for the program's 15th Mariucci Classic championship in the event's 27-year history. The Maroon & Gold are now 38-17-3 all-time at Minnesota's home holiday tournament.
LAFONTAINE EARNS B1G PRAISE
Jack LaFontaine enters the weekend as the Big Ten Second Star of the Week after backstopping Minnesota to the Mariucci Classic title. The junior was also named the tournament most valuable player after stopping 52 of 55 shots faced over the weekend. LaFontaine, who was named the BCHL's Top Goaltender in 2019 and the NAHL's Midwest Division Goalie of the Year in 2016, has made four-straight starts for Minnesota and has allowed two or fewer goals in his last three games -- an unbeaten stretch (2-0-1) for the Gophers.
HONORING COACH WOOG
The University of Minnesota lost a legend as Doug Woog passed away on Dec. 14, 2019 at the age of 75. A First Team All-American and captain for the Gophers, Woog returned to the University of Minnesota as head coach in 1985 and led the Maroon & Gold for 14 years including a then-program record of 388 wins. To honor Woog, the Gophers will wear commemorative patches for the remainder of the season and will also host Doug Woog Night on Jan. 25 with members of the Woog family and Gopher Hockey alumni on hand to celebrate Woog's legacy.
DECADE REWIND
The University of Minnesota closed out the decade with a 218-138-35 record while recording a pair of NCAA Frozen Four appearances. The Maroon & Gold also set a new NCAA record with six-straight regular-season conference championships during the decade.
MOTZKO HITS MILESTONE
Bob Motzko earned his 300th career win on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 (301-217-56 including a 25-25-7 mark with the Gophers). Motzko is the third head coach with ties to Gopher Hockey to reach the 300-win mark, joining his predecessors in Don Lucia (736 career wins, 457 at Minnesota) and Doug Woog (388 career wins, all at Minnesota). Motzko closed out the weekend by earning his 301st career win in his first meeting against his former team the next night. Motzko served as the head coach at St. Cloud State for 13 years before taking over the Gophers program.
QUICK HITS
Minnesota currently leads the Big Ten with a .862 penalty kill (56-of-65) this season and has only surrendered one power-play goal in its last seven games -- ranking second in the nation since Nov. 23 at .955 (21-for-22)...Scott Reedy tallied three goals during the Mariucci Classic and now leads the Gophers with nine tallies on the season -- a new career high for the junior... Ben Meyers paces the freshmen class with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) this season and has points in five of the last six games and six of the last eight contests...the Maroon & Gold lead the Big Ten and rank second in the nation with 313 blocked shots this season -- one off the national lead of 314 by Robert Morris.
RANTA/FINLAND FINISH FOURTH AT WJC
Sophomore Sampo Ranta helped Team Finland to a fourth-place showing at the World Junior Championship in Ostrava and Trince, Czech Republic. Ranta is the second Gopher to represent Finland at the tournament following Erik Haula in 2011 while Minnesota has been represented at the event in 41 of 44 tournaments dating back to the inaugural event in 1977.
TWO HIGH SCHOOL GREATS IN ONE CLASS
Two Gopher Hockey freshmen forwards may have flown under the radar compared to Mr. Hockey Award winners, NHL prospects and state champions, but both Jaxon Nelson and Ben Meyers rank among the top-10 all-time scorers in Minnesota high school hockey history. Nelson currently ranks fifth in state history with 290 career points while playing for Luverne High School, and Meyers currently ranks eighth in state history with 278 career points while playing for Delano High School. Nelson also holds the state high school record with 78 goals during the 2015-16 season.
NANNE, WALKER NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS
Senior defenseman Tyler Nanne and sophomore forward Sammy Walker have been voted to serve as team captains for the Gophers for the 2019-20 season. The pair are the 171st and 172nd players in University of Minnesota history to wear letters, dating back to the first season of play in 1921-22 when Chet Bros led the Maroon & Gold. Nanne, the first third-generation player in Pride on Ice history, is also the second Gophers captain in his family following his grandfather -- All-American Lou Nanne -- in 1962-63.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
The University of Minnesota will field both the youngest team in college hockey (average age of 20 years, 240 days) and the biggest team in college hockey (average weight of 193.89 pounds) this season. The Maroon & Gold will also be the eighth tallest team in college hockey this year (average height of 6-00.67). All statistics are as of Oct. 1, 2019.
FOLLOW THE GOPHERS ON TV
The University of Minnesota once again boasts college hockey's best television broadcast schedule with 31 of 34 regular-season games available in the Minnesota/Twin Cities market. FOX Sports North leads the way in Gopher Hockey coverage with 19 games scheduled to be broadcast on the network while the Big Ten Network will currently air 10 Minnesota contests in 2019-20. FOX9+ will pick up the Gophers' road game at Minnesota Duluth while NBC Sports will broadcast the series opener at Notre Dame. Visit GopherSports.com to view the complete and up-to-date Gopher Hockey schedule.
GOPHER HOCKEY SEASON NOTES
Fourteen Gophers on the 2019-20 roster have been drafted by NHL teams including 2019 first rounder and incoming freshman defenseman Ryan Johnson (31st overall by Buffalo). Johnson, whose father Craig also played for the Gophers before an NHL career, is the 21st Gopher Hockey prospect selected in the first round...freshman forward Bryce Brodzinski was also drafted in 2019, part of an eventful offseason that included being named the 2018-19 All-USA Boys Athlete of the Year and the 2019 Mr. Hockey Award. The 35th Mr. Hockey Award recipient, Brodzinski is the 24th Gopher Hockey prospect to win the honor...the University of Minnesota Board of Regents has approved a renovation project for 3M Arena at Mariucci with over 11,000 square feet of team space impacted including a state-of-the-art weight room, a new 'M' Club alumni room and a remodeled office suite. The project is anticipated to begin in late 2019...former Gopher Hockey assistant coach Jack Blatherwick was honored with the NHL's Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the U.S. on Dec. 12 as part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Celebration.
AGAINST THE SPARTANS
In a rivalry that dates back to 1950, Minnesota holds a 118-48-16 all-time record against Michigan State including a 48-29-8 mark in East Lansing. The two Big Ten foes will meet for the first of two regular-season series this weekend, playing for the Mariucci-Bessone Trophy. Sammy Walker and Brannon McManus are the active-leading scorers against the Spartans with five points each -- Walker has two goals and three assists in four career meetings with Michigan State. Fellow sophomores Ben Brinkman and Blake McLaughlin each have four points against the Spartans in four career games.
LAST TIME OUT: MARIUCCI CLASSIC
Minnesota closed out 2019 by winning the Mariucci Classic last month, besting an all-Minnesota field with wins over Bemidji State (5-2) and St. Cloud State (4-1) for the program's 15th Mariucci Classic championship in the event's 27-year history. The Maroon & Gold are now 38-17-3 all-time at Minnesota's home holiday tournament.
LAFONTAINE EARNS B1G PRAISE
Jack LaFontaine enters the weekend as the Big Ten Second Star of the Week after backstopping Minnesota to the Mariucci Classic title. The junior was also named the tournament most valuable player after stopping 52 of 55 shots faced over the weekend. LaFontaine, who was named the BCHL's Top Goaltender in 2019 and the NAHL's Midwest Division Goalie of the Year in 2016, has made four-straight starts for Minnesota and has allowed two or fewer goals in his last three games -- an unbeaten stretch (2-0-1) for the Gophers.
HONORING COACH WOOG
The University of Minnesota lost a legend as Doug Woog passed away on Dec. 14, 2019 at the age of 75. A First Team All-American and captain for the Gophers, Woog returned to the University of Minnesota as head coach in 1985 and led the Maroon & Gold for 14 years including a then-program record of 388 wins. To honor Woog, the Gophers will wear commemorative patches for the remainder of the season and will also host Doug Woog Night on Jan. 25 with members of the Woog family and Gopher Hockey alumni on hand to celebrate Woog's legacy.
DECADE REWIND
The University of Minnesota closed out the decade with a 218-138-35 record while recording a pair of NCAA Frozen Four appearances. The Maroon & Gold also set a new NCAA record with six-straight regular-season conference championships during the decade.
MOTZKO HITS MILESTONE
Bob Motzko earned his 300th career win on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 (301-217-56 including a 25-25-7 mark with the Gophers). Motzko is the third head coach with ties to Gopher Hockey to reach the 300-win mark, joining his predecessors in Don Lucia (736 career wins, 457 at Minnesota) and Doug Woog (388 career wins, all at Minnesota). Motzko closed out the weekend by earning his 301st career win in his first meeting against his former team the next night. Motzko served as the head coach at St. Cloud State for 13 years before taking over the Gophers program.
QUICK HITS
Minnesota currently leads the Big Ten with a .862 penalty kill (56-of-65) this season and has only surrendered one power-play goal in its last seven games -- ranking second in the nation since Nov. 23 at .955 (21-for-22)...Scott Reedy tallied three goals during the Mariucci Classic and now leads the Gophers with nine tallies on the season -- a new career high for the junior... Ben Meyers paces the freshmen class with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) this season and has points in five of the last six games and six of the last eight contests...the Maroon & Gold lead the Big Ten and rank second in the nation with 313 blocked shots this season -- one off the national lead of 314 by Robert Morris.
RANTA/FINLAND FINISH FOURTH AT WJC
Sophomore Sampo Ranta helped Team Finland to a fourth-place showing at the World Junior Championship in Ostrava and Trince, Czech Republic. Ranta is the second Gopher to represent Finland at the tournament following Erik Haula in 2011 while Minnesota has been represented at the event in 41 of 44 tournaments dating back to the inaugural event in 1977.
TWO HIGH SCHOOL GREATS IN ONE CLASS
Two Gopher Hockey freshmen forwards may have flown under the radar compared to Mr. Hockey Award winners, NHL prospects and state champions, but both Jaxon Nelson and Ben Meyers rank among the top-10 all-time scorers in Minnesota high school hockey history. Nelson currently ranks fifth in state history with 290 career points while playing for Luverne High School, and Meyers currently ranks eighth in state history with 278 career points while playing for Delano High School. Nelson also holds the state high school record with 78 goals during the 2015-16 season.
NANNE, WALKER NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS
Senior defenseman Tyler Nanne and sophomore forward Sammy Walker have been voted to serve as team captains for the Gophers for the 2019-20 season. The pair are the 171st and 172nd players in University of Minnesota history to wear letters, dating back to the first season of play in 1921-22 when Chet Bros led the Maroon & Gold. Nanne, the first third-generation player in Pride on Ice history, is also the second Gophers captain in his family following his grandfather -- All-American Lou Nanne -- in 1962-63.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
The University of Minnesota will field both the youngest team in college hockey (average age of 20 years, 240 days) and the biggest team in college hockey (average weight of 193.89 pounds) this season. The Maroon & Gold will also be the eighth tallest team in college hockey this year (average height of 6-00.67). All statistics are as of Oct. 1, 2019.
FOLLOW THE GOPHERS ON TV
The University of Minnesota once again boasts college hockey's best television broadcast schedule with 31 of 34 regular-season games available in the Minnesota/Twin Cities market. FOX Sports North leads the way in Gopher Hockey coverage with 19 games scheduled to be broadcast on the network while the Big Ten Network will currently air 10 Minnesota contests in 2019-20. FOX9+ will pick up the Gophers' road game at Minnesota Duluth while NBC Sports will broadcast the series opener at Notre Dame. Visit GopherSports.com to view the complete and up-to-date Gopher Hockey schedule.
GOPHER HOCKEY SEASON NOTES
Fourteen Gophers on the 2019-20 roster have been drafted by NHL teams including 2019 first rounder and incoming freshman defenseman Ryan Johnson (31st overall by Buffalo). Johnson, whose father Craig also played for the Gophers before an NHL career, is the 21st Gopher Hockey prospect selected in the first round...freshman forward Bryce Brodzinski was also drafted in 2019, part of an eventful offseason that included being named the 2018-19 All-USA Boys Athlete of the Year and the 2019 Mr. Hockey Award. The 35th Mr. Hockey Award recipient, Brodzinski is the 24th Gopher Hockey prospect to win the honor...the University of Minnesota Board of Regents has approved a renovation project for 3M Arena at Mariucci with over 11,000 square feet of team space impacted including a state-of-the-art weight room, a new 'M' Club alumni room and a remodeled office suite. The project is anticipated to begin in late 2019...former Gopher Hockey assistant coach Jack Blatherwick was honored with the NHL's Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the U.S. on Dec. 12 as part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Celebration.
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