University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, October 9
3M Arena at Mariucci
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
2-0-0
5
vs
3
Mercyhurst
0-3-0
1
2
3
F
Mercyhurst
2
1
0
3
Minnesota
1
1
3
5
Photo by: Matt Krohn
Gophers Sweep Lakers with 5-3 Win
10/9/2021 8:15:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota improved to 5-0-0 all-time against Mercyhurst.
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 4 Gopher men's hockey program opened the season with a sweep over Mercyhurst on Saturday night with a 5-3 win at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Bryce Brodzinski scored a pair of goals to pace the Maroon & Gold while Jack Perbix and Blake McLaughlin each tallied a pair of assists for the Gophers (2-0-0 overall, 0-0-0-0-0 Big Ten).
Mercyhurst (0-2-0, 0-0-0 Atlantic Hockey) jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period only to see Minnesota rally with a power-play goal late in the first from Mason Nevers and the equalizer early in the second from Jaxon Nelson. The Lakers reclaimed the lead shortly after Nelson's first of the year, but the 'U' found the net three times in the third period to complete the sweep.
A pair of goals from Brodzinski bookended the eventual game winner from Ben Meyers in the third period. Brodzinski's first of the night also came on the power play as the Maroon & Gold went 2-for-2 on the advantage and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill in the series finale.
Jack LaFontaine improved to 2-0-0 on the year with a 16-save performance.
Minnesota outshot Mercyhurst 42-19 on Saturday night.
Coach's Comments
"I thought we played a much better game tonight," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "We had a four-line attack tonight, and we wore them down. That's what we want to do, and it paid off."
Noteworthy
Minnesota earned a series sweep to open the season for the second-straight year (Minnesota swept Penn State at 3M Arena at Mariucci to open the 2020-21 season – starting a 10-win run to open the campaign)…The Gophers improved to 5-0-0 all-time against Mercyhurst with this weekend's contests standing as the first two-game series between the two programs…Nevers has now scored four goals in his last four games after going without a tally in his first 23 college games…Grant Cruikshank picked up an assist for his first point as a Gopher after transferring from Colorado College.
Up Next: Home-and-Home with the Huskies
Minnesota continues the 2021-22 season with a home-and-home series against St. Cloud State next weekend. The in-state rivalry kicks off on Friday, Oct. 15 at 7:00 p.m. CT from 3M Arena at Mariucci (TV: Bally Sports North; Radio 1130 KTLK/103.5 FM; Stream: B1G+) with the follow up on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 5:00 p.m. CT in St. Cloud (TV: FOX9+; Radio 1130 KTLK/103.5 FM; Stream: NCHC.tv).
Bryce Brodzinski scored a pair of goals to pace the Maroon & Gold while Jack Perbix and Blake McLaughlin each tallied a pair of assists for the Gophers (2-0-0 overall, 0-0-0-0-0 Big Ten).
Mercyhurst (0-2-0, 0-0-0 Atlantic Hockey) jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period only to see Minnesota rally with a power-play goal late in the first from Mason Nevers and the equalizer early in the second from Jaxon Nelson. The Lakers reclaimed the lead shortly after Nelson's first of the year, but the 'U' found the net three times in the third period to complete the sweep.
A pair of goals from Brodzinski bookended the eventual game winner from Ben Meyers in the third period. Brodzinski's first of the night also came on the power play as the Maroon & Gold went 2-for-2 on the advantage and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill in the series finale.
Jack LaFontaine improved to 2-0-0 on the year with a 16-save performance.
Minnesota outshot Mercyhurst 42-19 on Saturday night.
Coach's Comments
"I thought we played a much better game tonight," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "We had a four-line attack tonight, and we wore them down. That's what we want to do, and it paid off."
Noteworthy
Minnesota earned a series sweep to open the season for the second-straight year (Minnesota swept Penn State at 3M Arena at Mariucci to open the 2020-21 season – starting a 10-win run to open the campaign)…The Gophers improved to 5-0-0 all-time against Mercyhurst with this weekend's contests standing as the first two-game series between the two programs…Nevers has now scored four goals in his last four games after going without a tally in his first 23 college games…Grant Cruikshank picked up an assist for his first point as a Gopher after transferring from Colorado College.
Up Next: Home-and-Home with the Huskies
Minnesota continues the 2021-22 season with a home-and-home series against St. Cloud State next weekend. The in-state rivalry kicks off on Friday, Oct. 15 at 7:00 p.m. CT from 3M Arena at Mariucci (TV: Bally Sports North; Radio 1130 KTLK/103.5 FM; Stream: B1G+) with the follow up on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 5:00 p.m. CT in St. Cloud (TV: FOX9+; Radio 1130 KTLK/103.5 FM; Stream: NCHC.tv).
Team Stats
MER
UMN
Shots
19
42
PPG
1
2
SHG
0
0
Penalties
3
5
Penalty Mins
6
10
Faceoffs Won
32
36
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
-1
Goals
2
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
2
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
0
A
2
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
5
A
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyForward
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