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LaFontaine, Ranta Earn Big Ten Honors
2/16/2021 3:04:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – Hobey Baker Award and Mike Richter Award candidate Jack LaFontaine has been named the Big Ten First Star of the Week and Sampo Ranta earned Big Ten Third Star of the Week after the No. 4 Gopher men's hockey program earned a two-game conference sweep last weekend at Notre Dame.
A native of Mississauga, Ontario, LaFontaine (15-5-0) became the first Gophers goaltender in the program's modern era to post back-to-back shutouts in a two-game road series, stopping all 52 shots he faced to win a pair of 3-0 games against the Irish. The senior, who added his second assist of the season on Friday's game winner, leads the nation with 15 wins and ranks second in the NCAA with five shutouts this year. The alternate captain ranks third in the nation with a goal against average of 1.56 and fourth in the nation with a save percentage of .943 (LaFontaine has played at least five more games than any goaltender ranked above him). The last Gophers goaltender to post two shutouts in a road series was Burt Joseph on Jan. 24-25, 1941 at Michigan Tech.
A native of Naantali, Finland, Ranta recorded three points in the Notre Dame sweep and tied for the Big Ten lead with two goals over the last week. The junior scored in both wins and added an assist on the game winner on Saturday as the forward set new single-season career highs for goals (14) and points (22) over the weekend. Ranta is currently tied for the team scoring lead this season while his 14 goals rank tied for second in the NCAA this year.
Up Next: Hosting the Spartans
Minnesota returns to action next weekend, hosting Michigan State for a two-game Big Ten series at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The weekend kicks off on Friday, Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: FOX Sports North Plus; Stream: BTN+/FOX Sports Go; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM) before concluding on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 5:00 p.m. CT (CT (TV: FOX Sports North/FOX Sports Detroit; Stream: BTN+/FOX Sports Go; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM).
A native of Mississauga, Ontario, LaFontaine (15-5-0) became the first Gophers goaltender in the program's modern era to post back-to-back shutouts in a two-game road series, stopping all 52 shots he faced to win a pair of 3-0 games against the Irish. The senior, who added his second assist of the season on Friday's game winner, leads the nation with 15 wins and ranks second in the NCAA with five shutouts this year. The alternate captain ranks third in the nation with a goal against average of 1.56 and fourth in the nation with a save percentage of .943 (LaFontaine has played at least five more games than any goaltender ranked above him). The last Gophers goaltender to post two shutouts in a road series was Burt Joseph on Jan. 24-25, 1941 at Michigan Tech.
A native of Naantali, Finland, Ranta recorded three points in the Notre Dame sweep and tied for the Big Ten lead with two goals over the last week. The junior scored in both wins and added an assist on the game winner on Saturday as the forward set new single-season career highs for goals (14) and points (22) over the weekend. Ranta is currently tied for the team scoring lead this season while his 14 goals rank tied for second in the NCAA this year.
Up Next: Hosting the Spartans
Minnesota returns to action next weekend, hosting Michigan State for a two-game Big Ten series at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The weekend kicks off on Friday, Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: FOX Sports North Plus; Stream: BTN+/FOX Sports Go; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM) before concluding on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 5:00 p.m. CT (CT (TV: FOX Sports North/FOX Sports Detroit; Stream: BTN+/FOX Sports Go; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM).
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