University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, October 21
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
North Dakota
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ 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: Brad Rempel
Top-Ranked Gophers Host No. 7 UND Oct. 21-22
10/20/2022 12:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Capacity crowds expected for both games
MINNEAPOLIS - The top-ranked Minnesota men's hockey team is back on the ice Oct. 21-22 renewing a rivalry with No. 7 North Dakota at 3M Arena at Mariucci. It'll be the Golden Gophers first action in 13 days as the series begins Friday night at 7 p.m. and continues with the finale Saturday at 7 p.m.
3M Arena at Mariucci will be the place to be with capacity crowds expected for both games as the Maroon and Gold prepare for its second-straight, top-10 battle. Fans can catch the series live on Bally Sports North networks and the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM / AM-1130 each night. Both games can also be streamed with a B1G+ subscription (More Info).
TO THE TOP
Minnesota moved up to the No. 1 spot in both the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine and DCU/USCHO.com national polls entering week four after spending three weeks at No. 2. The Gophers jumped to the top spot during a bye week thanks to a UMass sweep of previous No. 1 Denver. It's the first time Minnesota has held the highest ranking in the nation since January 11, 2021, when it started the season 11-1 overall.
FEELING GOOD AT HOME
Minnesota is a perfect 3-0 at home this season and have excelled on home ice inside 3M Arena at Mariucci of late winning eight of its last nine games dating back to January 2022. The Maroon and Gold have outscored its opponents by a 40-14 margin in that stretch, including three shutouts.
HATS OFF TO THEE
Thanks to his first four collegiate goals against No. 5 Minnesota State, three of which came on the same night, freshman Jimmy Snuggerud was named B1G First Star of the Week Oct. 10. He burst onto the scene Friday tallying the NCAA's first hat trick of the year, including the game winner, and added the opening goal on the road Saturday. The four-goal series moved the Chaska, Minn., into a tie for the NCAA lead in total goals through two weeks.
HISTORY WITH THE FIGHTING HAWKS
The Gophers own a 149-135-16 all-time record against North Dakota dating back to the first meeting in 1930 and are 4-5-1 in the last 10 meetings starting when Minnesota claimed a 2-1 win in the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four. The teams split a weekend series in Grand Forks, N.D., in late November last season with the Gophers winning game one, 5-1, thanks to a pair of goals from Bryce Brodzinski and points from 11 different players. UND took the series finale on its home ice, 3-2.
TRULY SPECIAL TEAMS
Through four games this season, the Maroon and Gold have registered five power-play goals, burying two in each of the first two contests before adding one in the series opener with Minnesota State for a 27.8 percent conversion rate. The game-winning goals in Minnesota's first two wins both came on the man advantage off the sticks of seniors Jaxon Nelson and Bryce Brodzinski. On the defensive side, the Gophers penalty killers have held opponents to two power-play goals in 13 chances totaling an 84.6 percent kill rate.
PLAYING IN FRONT
The Gophers have scored the first goal in all four games this season and played with a lead for 147 of the 240 total minutes played. Minnesota has trailed for just 8:57 on the year and never fell behind in two of four contests, both of which came during the series-opening game.
CLOSE UP
After Justen Close took over the starting goaltender job in January, he flourished in the new role. He backstopped the Gophers to an 11-2 record down the stretch, including a nine-game winning streak, and has picked up where he left off in 2022-23. The senior put together a 16-save shutout in his first game of the year against Lindenwood and added a win over the No. 5 Mavericks Oct. 7. After turning in one of the best seasons in Minnesota history a year ago with top-five marks for goals against average and save percentage in single-season history, Close has a 1.34 goals against average and a .941 save percentage in three outings this year.
FRESHMEN FILLING IT UP
With 11 freshmen on the roster, Minnesota will rely on this class to contribute in every aspect and that has been the case through four games. Logan Cooley posted points in each of his first three games and is tied for the team lead with five points, while Jimmy Snuggerud's hat trick versus MSU has the newcomer pacing the squad with four goals. Connor Kurth has found the back of the net twice and Brody Lamb also has a goal. Ryan Chesley, Luke Mittelstadt, Garrett Pinoniemi and Charlie Strobel all have tallied at least one assist this year as the freshmen class has combined for 17 points and 38 percent of the team's offense.
OFFENSE FROM THE BLUE LINE
Knowing it could rely on its defensive corps as leaders on the team, that notion became even more important Oct. 2 as the blue line accounted for eight of the team's 16 points in a 6-4 win over Lindenwood. Brock Faber and Mike Koster combined for five points and Ryan Chesley, Jackson LaCombe and Luke Mittelstadt each added an assist. The veteran-laden group scored two of the final three goals for the Maroon and Gold securing the come-from-behind win and now have combined for 16 points in four outings.
LOCALLY SOURCED
Holding the moniker of the State of Hockey, Minnesota is known for its strong history of players that start skating on local ice sheets and backyard ponds. That has fed a deep pipeline of talent to colleges around the country, most importantly to the University of Minnesota. The Gophers' roster features a collection of 26 student-athletes, 20 of which were born and raised within the state lines. Even more impressive is the fact that 16 of the Minnesotans on the team are from within 40 miles of campus.
3M Arena at Mariucci will be the place to be with capacity crowds expected for both games as the Maroon and Gold prepare for its second-straight, top-10 battle. Fans can catch the series live on Bally Sports North networks and the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM / AM-1130 each night. Both games can also be streamed with a B1G+ subscription (More Info).
TO THE TOP
Minnesota moved up to the No. 1 spot in both the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine and DCU/USCHO.com national polls entering week four after spending three weeks at No. 2. The Gophers jumped to the top spot during a bye week thanks to a UMass sweep of previous No. 1 Denver. It's the first time Minnesota has held the highest ranking in the nation since January 11, 2021, when it started the season 11-1 overall.
FEELING GOOD AT HOME
Minnesota is a perfect 3-0 at home this season and have excelled on home ice inside 3M Arena at Mariucci of late winning eight of its last nine games dating back to January 2022. The Maroon and Gold have outscored its opponents by a 40-14 margin in that stretch, including three shutouts.
HATS OFF TO THEE
Thanks to his first four collegiate goals against No. 5 Minnesota State, three of which came on the same night, freshman Jimmy Snuggerud was named B1G First Star of the Week Oct. 10. He burst onto the scene Friday tallying the NCAA's first hat trick of the year, including the game winner, and added the opening goal on the road Saturday. The four-goal series moved the Chaska, Minn., into a tie for the NCAA lead in total goals through two weeks.
HISTORY WITH THE FIGHTING HAWKS
The Gophers own a 149-135-16 all-time record against North Dakota dating back to the first meeting in 1930 and are 4-5-1 in the last 10 meetings starting when Minnesota claimed a 2-1 win in the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four. The teams split a weekend series in Grand Forks, N.D., in late November last season with the Gophers winning game one, 5-1, thanks to a pair of goals from Bryce Brodzinski and points from 11 different players. UND took the series finale on its home ice, 3-2.
TRULY SPECIAL TEAMS
Through four games this season, the Maroon and Gold have registered five power-play goals, burying two in each of the first two contests before adding one in the series opener with Minnesota State for a 27.8 percent conversion rate. The game-winning goals in Minnesota's first two wins both came on the man advantage off the sticks of seniors Jaxon Nelson and Bryce Brodzinski. On the defensive side, the Gophers penalty killers have held opponents to two power-play goals in 13 chances totaling an 84.6 percent kill rate.
PLAYING IN FRONT
The Gophers have scored the first goal in all four games this season and played with a lead for 147 of the 240 total minutes played. Minnesota has trailed for just 8:57 on the year and never fell behind in two of four contests, both of which came during the series-opening game.
CLOSE UP
After Justen Close took over the starting goaltender job in January, he flourished in the new role. He backstopped the Gophers to an 11-2 record down the stretch, including a nine-game winning streak, and has picked up where he left off in 2022-23. The senior put together a 16-save shutout in his first game of the year against Lindenwood and added a win over the No. 5 Mavericks Oct. 7. After turning in one of the best seasons in Minnesota history a year ago with top-five marks for goals against average and save percentage in single-season history, Close has a 1.34 goals against average and a .941 save percentage in three outings this year.
FRESHMEN FILLING IT UP
With 11 freshmen on the roster, Minnesota will rely on this class to contribute in every aspect and that has been the case through four games. Logan Cooley posted points in each of his first three games and is tied for the team lead with five points, while Jimmy Snuggerud's hat trick versus MSU has the newcomer pacing the squad with four goals. Connor Kurth has found the back of the net twice and Brody Lamb also has a goal. Ryan Chesley, Luke Mittelstadt, Garrett Pinoniemi and Charlie Strobel all have tallied at least one assist this year as the freshmen class has combined for 17 points and 38 percent of the team's offense.
OFFENSE FROM THE BLUE LINE
Knowing it could rely on its defensive corps as leaders on the team, that notion became even more important Oct. 2 as the blue line accounted for eight of the team's 16 points in a 6-4 win over Lindenwood. Brock Faber and Mike Koster combined for five points and Ryan Chesley, Jackson LaCombe and Luke Mittelstadt each added an assist. The veteran-laden group scored two of the final three goals for the Maroon and Gold securing the come-from-behind win and now have combined for 16 points in four outings.
LOCALLY SOURCED
Holding the moniker of the State of Hockey, Minnesota is known for its strong history of players that start skating on local ice sheets and backyard ponds. That has fed a deep pipeline of talent to colleges around the country, most importantly to the University of Minnesota. The Gophers' roster features a collection of 26 student-athletes, 20 of which were born and raised within the state lines. Even more impressive is the fact that 16 of the Minnesotans on the team are from within 40 miles of campus.
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