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Ranta to Make NHL Debut in Stanley Cup Playoffs
5/30/2021 2:28:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Ranta will be the 22nd Gopher Hockey alum to play in the NHL this year.
MINNEAPOLIS – Gopher Hockey alum Sampo Ranta will make his NHL debut with the Colorado Avalanche as the organization opens the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena in Denver. Tonight's game will air on NBC with a start time of 7:00 p.m. CT.
A First Team All-America and First Team All-Big Ten selection for the Maroon & Gold this season, Ranta will be the 123rd Gopher Hockey product to play at professional hockey's highest level.
He is the 22nd Gopher to play in the NHL this season while he is the 11th 'U' product to earn a position on a Stanley Cup playoff roster this year.
A native of Naantali, Finland, Ranta led the Gophers with career highs in both goals (19) and points (31) in his final season with the Maroon & Gold, while also notching a new career high for assists (12). Skating in all 31 games this season, Ranta's 19 goals ranked second in the nation while Minnesota was 20-3-0 this year when he tallied a point. The forward totaled 67 points (37 goals, 30 assists) in 102 career games with the Gophers.
A Big Ten All-Tournament Team selection, Ranta helped Minnesota claim the 2021 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament title and a No. 1 seed for the 2021 NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Championships. The Gophers earned their 38th NCAA tournament berth (tied with Michigan for most among all programs) while making their first national tournament appearance since 2017 and winning their first NCAA tournament game since 2014.
A two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a three-time letter winner, Ranta was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the third round (78th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
(NHL photo courtesy of the Colorado Eagles)
A First Team All-America and First Team All-Big Ten selection for the Maroon & Gold this season, Ranta will be the 123rd Gopher Hockey product to play at professional hockey's highest level.
He is the 22nd Gopher to play in the NHL this season while he is the 11th 'U' product to earn a position on a Stanley Cup playoff roster this year.
A native of Naantali, Finland, Ranta led the Gophers with career highs in both goals (19) and points (31) in his final season with the Maroon & Gold, while also notching a new career high for assists (12). Skating in all 31 games this season, Ranta's 19 goals ranked second in the nation while Minnesota was 20-3-0 this year when he tallied a point. The forward totaled 67 points (37 goals, 30 assists) in 102 career games with the Gophers.
A Big Ten All-Tournament Team selection, Ranta helped Minnesota claim the 2021 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament title and a No. 1 seed for the 2021 NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Championships. The Gophers earned their 38th NCAA tournament berth (tied with Michigan for most among all programs) while making their first national tournament appearance since 2017 and winning their first NCAA tournament game since 2014.
A two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a three-time letter winner, Ranta was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the third round (78th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
(NHL photo courtesy of the Colorado Eagles)
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