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‘U’ Named Preseason B1G Favorite, Six Named to Preseason All-B1G Teams
9/24/2021 10:29:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Gopher Hockey boasted half of the Big Ten's preseason honorees.
MINNEAPOLIS – The Gopher men's hockey program enters the 2021-22 season as the favorite to win the Big Ten while Minnesota boasts half of the conference's selections to the preseason All-Big Ten teams with six Maroon & Gold honorees.
The Gophers landed on the top spot of the 2021-22 Big Ten Hockey Coaches' Poll on Friday morning ahead of Michigan, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State. In the eight-year history of the Big Ten Conference, the Gophers have claimed a league-high four regular-season conference championships as well as two Big Ten tournament titles including last year's thrilling playoff run by the Maroon & Gold.
The University of Minnesota also led the Big Ten with six individuals on the 2021-22 Preseason All-Big Ten Hockey Teams, headlined by four players earning First Team honors. The Gophers were represented in the preseason honor roll by Jackson LaCombe (First Team), Jack LaFontaine (First Team), Ben Meyers (First Team), Sammy Walker (First Team), Brock Faber (Second Team) and Ryan Johnson (Second Team). Mike Koster also earned honorable mention honors on behalf of the Maroon & Gold.
A native of Eden Prairie, Minn., LaCombe was a Second Team All-America selection and a First Team All-Big Ten honoree on the blue line last season for the Gophers. The Anaheim Ducks prospect led all Big Ten defensemen in scoring and recorded new career highs for points (21), assists (17) and goals (four). LaCombe, who was a Big Ten All-Freshman Team honoree in 2019-20, also helped the U.S. National Junior Team win a gold medal last year at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.
A native of Mississauga, Ont., LaFontaine won the Mike Richter Award as the nation's top goaltender in 2020-2021 and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top player. A First Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten selection, he was also named the Big Ten Goaltender of the Year. The Carolina Hurricane prospect set new school records and was among the NCAA leaders with a .934 save percentage and a 1.79 GAA while he led the nation with 22 wins. Off the ice, LaFontaine was named a recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor and was the only Division I men's hockey player to earn CoSIDA First Team Academic All-America honors. After acting as an alternate captain last year, LaFontaine was elevated to team captain in 2021-22.
A native of Delano, Minn., Meyers is also among Minnesota's top returners following a sophomore season that saw the forward record career highs of 12 goals and 28 points. He was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection in 2020-21 after earning a place on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2019-20. Like LaFontaine, Meyers will serve as a team captain this season after representing the team as an alternate captain last year.
A native of Edina, Minn., Walker is coming off his most productive season with the Gophers after averaging nearly a point a game (.935) as a junior. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect notched a career-high 13 goals in the 2020-21 campaign while his 29 points were one shy of matching his best collegiate output despite playing in six fewer games. The forward has been recognized as an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection in each of the last two seasons after earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades in 2018-19. Walker enters his senior year as the program's top returning scorer from the 2020-21 season and will serve as a team captain for the third-straight season.
A native of Maple Grove, Minn., Faber returns to the Gophers blue line after being named a Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection and an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten pick last year. The Los Angeles Kings prospect tied for the team scoring lead among newcomers with 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) and led all Gophers with 39 blocked shots. The NCAA West Regional All-Regional Team selection and Minnesota's Frank Pond Rookie of the Year, Faber also won a gold medal with the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship and is one of four Gophers in the running to represent the U.S. this season.
A native of Irvine, Calif., Johnson was the third Gophers defensemen on last year's gold-medal winning U.S. National Junior Team at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. The second generation Gopher Hockey skater was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection last year for the Maroon & Gold after recording career highs for points (14), assists (12) and goals, (two). Johnson was a first round draft pick (31st overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in 2019.
A native of Chaska, Minn., Koster tied for Minnesota's scoring lead among newcomers with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) from the blue line. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team after contributing points in all three games during Minnesota's playoff title run.
Minnesota opens its 101st season of competition on Saturday, Oct. 2 against Alaska at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
The Gophers landed on the top spot of the 2021-22 Big Ten Hockey Coaches' Poll on Friday morning ahead of Michigan, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State. In the eight-year history of the Big Ten Conference, the Gophers have claimed a league-high four regular-season conference championships as well as two Big Ten tournament titles including last year's thrilling playoff run by the Maroon & Gold.
The University of Minnesota also led the Big Ten with six individuals on the 2021-22 Preseason All-Big Ten Hockey Teams, headlined by four players earning First Team honors. The Gophers were represented in the preseason honor roll by Jackson LaCombe (First Team), Jack LaFontaine (First Team), Ben Meyers (First Team), Sammy Walker (First Team), Brock Faber (Second Team) and Ryan Johnson (Second Team). Mike Koster also earned honorable mention honors on behalf of the Maroon & Gold.
A native of Eden Prairie, Minn., LaCombe was a Second Team All-America selection and a First Team All-Big Ten honoree on the blue line last season for the Gophers. The Anaheim Ducks prospect led all Big Ten defensemen in scoring and recorded new career highs for points (21), assists (17) and goals (four). LaCombe, who was a Big Ten All-Freshman Team honoree in 2019-20, also helped the U.S. National Junior Team win a gold medal last year at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.
A native of Mississauga, Ont., LaFontaine won the Mike Richter Award as the nation's top goaltender in 2020-2021 and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top player. A First Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten selection, he was also named the Big Ten Goaltender of the Year. The Carolina Hurricane prospect set new school records and was among the NCAA leaders with a .934 save percentage and a 1.79 GAA while he led the nation with 22 wins. Off the ice, LaFontaine was named a recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor and was the only Division I men's hockey player to earn CoSIDA First Team Academic All-America honors. After acting as an alternate captain last year, LaFontaine was elevated to team captain in 2021-22.
A native of Delano, Minn., Meyers is also among Minnesota's top returners following a sophomore season that saw the forward record career highs of 12 goals and 28 points. He was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection in 2020-21 after earning a place on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2019-20. Like LaFontaine, Meyers will serve as a team captain this season after representing the team as an alternate captain last year.
A native of Edina, Minn., Walker is coming off his most productive season with the Gophers after averaging nearly a point a game (.935) as a junior. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect notched a career-high 13 goals in the 2020-21 campaign while his 29 points were one shy of matching his best collegiate output despite playing in six fewer games. The forward has been recognized as an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection in each of the last two seasons after earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades in 2018-19. Walker enters his senior year as the program's top returning scorer from the 2020-21 season and will serve as a team captain for the third-straight season.
A native of Maple Grove, Minn., Faber returns to the Gophers blue line after being named a Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection and an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten pick last year. The Los Angeles Kings prospect tied for the team scoring lead among newcomers with 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) and led all Gophers with 39 blocked shots. The NCAA West Regional All-Regional Team selection and Minnesota's Frank Pond Rookie of the Year, Faber also won a gold medal with the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship and is one of four Gophers in the running to represent the U.S. this season.
A native of Irvine, Calif., Johnson was the third Gophers defensemen on last year's gold-medal winning U.S. National Junior Team at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. The second generation Gopher Hockey skater was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection last year for the Maroon & Gold after recording career highs for points (14), assists (12) and goals, (two). Johnson was a first round draft pick (31st overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in 2019.
A native of Chaska, Minn., Koster tied for Minnesota's scoring lead among newcomers with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) from the blue line. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team after contributing points in all three games during Minnesota's playoff title run.
Minnesota opens its 101st season of competition on Saturday, Oct. 2 against Alaska at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
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