University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, February 18
University Park, PA
5:30 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Penn State
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Bjorn Franke
Minnesota Closes Out Road Stretch at PSU
2/17/2022 2:15:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Minnesota is currently riding a season-best four-game winning streak.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The 101st season of Gopher men's hockey continues this weekend with Minnesota's final regular-season road trip as the No. 5/6 Maroon & Gold heading to Penn State. Pegula Ice Arena hosts the two-game series with action opening up on Friday, Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM) before the series finale on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 5:00 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM).
BIG TEN HONORS PITLICK
Rhett Pitlick enters the series as the Big Ten Second Star of the Week after posting four points (two goals, two assists) against Ohio State last weekend. The freshman is riding a season-best four-game point streak and has three multi-point games in that stretch as well as his first three collegiate goals. Pitlick is coming off his first career multi-goal game with a pair of tallies against the Buckeyes last Saturday.
STREAKING GOPHERS
The Gophers earned their fifth sweep of the season last weekend in a battle of top-10 teams at Ohio State and have now won a season-best four games in a row. Additionally, the Maroon & Gold are 9-3-0 in the second half (not including a pair of exhibition victories). Last Friday's 3-2 win over the Buckeyes snapped a seven-game unbeaten streak for Ohio State and was its first regulation loss since Dec. 10). Saturday's 5-1 win moved the Gophers to 6-1-1 at Value City Arena under Bob Motzko.
CLOSING TIME
Since taking over as Minnesota's starter last month, Justen Close has led the Gophers to a 7-3-0 record with four wins over top-12 teams. Six of his 10 starts (and four of his wins) have come against teams ranked seventh or better in scoring nationally. His 1.91 GAA ranks seventh in the NCAA this season (first in the Big Ten) while his .924 save percentage ranks tied for 11th in the nation.
AGAINST THE NITTANY LIONS
In a series that started in 2014 with the creation of the Big Ten Conference, Minnesota holds an 18-16-1 all-time record against Penn State. The two programs split a pair of games at 3M Arena at Mariucci earlier this season. Of note, Minnesota did not travel to University Park last season due to health concerns with the Penn State program.
FRESHMEN VS. SENIORS
The Gophers have scored 15 goals during its four-game winning streak and all but one of them have come from either a freshman (eight) or a senior (six). Rhett Pitlick and Sammy Walker lead the way with three goals each while a pair of freshmen lead the scoring race over the streak -- Pitlick (seven points) and Huglen (five points).
GOPHER HOCKEY AT THE OLYMPICS
Three current Gophers -- Ben Meyers, Matthew Knies and Brock Faber -- and Minnesota alum Aaron Ness wrapped up the Olympics this week while competing with the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. Meanwhile, strength & conditioning coach Cal Dietz served in the same role with silver medal-winning U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team. Gopher Hockey has been represented at each of the last 21 Winter Olympics since 1936 with the Maroon & Gold helping USA Hockey to eight medals including gold in 1960 and 1980. Ness served as an alternate captain for the U.S.
MOTZKO MILESTONES
February saw Bob Motzko set a pair of milestones as the Minnesota head coach won his 350th career game on Friday, Jan. 4 (353-240-60) before adding his 75th win with the Gophers on Saturday, Jan. 5 (77-48-11). The five-time conference coach of the year, who agreed to a three-year extension that will keep him with Minnesota through the 2025-26 season, is in his fourth season with the Maroon & Gold and 17th season as a Division I head coach.
CENTURY MARKERS
One Gopher Hockey skater hit a notable career milestone last month while his long-time linemate is now approaching it. Sammy Walker became the 85th Gopher to join the 100-Point Club as the senior captain is Minnesota's active-leading scorer with 107 points (46 goals, 61 assists) in 135 games. Fellow senior Blake McLaughlin is next in line for the Gophers with 99 points (36 goals, 63 assists) in 133 games. McLaughlin's 100th point will also match his career single-season career high for points (28 last year).
GOPHERS MAKE ROSTER ADJUSTMENTS
Minnesota has made a number of roster adjustments over the weeks. Four-year Gopher letter winner Sam Rossini re-joined the program on Jan. 19 -- the defenseman has played in 49 games with 13 points (three goals, 10 assists). Owen Bartoszkievicz was added to the roster as a freshman on Jan. 14 -- the goaltender most recently played in the USHL with Youngstown while he was an All-NAHL Rookie First Team honoree in 2020-21 with Wichita Falls. Jack LaFontaine signed an entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 9 and made his NHL debut with the organization on Jan. 13.
PRIDE ON ICE HISTORY
While the Gophers celebrated the program's 100th season in 2020-21, a number of notable milestones will actually occur during the 2021-22 season. First among them, Jan. 9, 2022 marked 100 years since the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and the University Athletic Board of Control officially granted men's hockey varsity status (Jan. 9, 1922). Meanwhile, Minnesota's first varsity hockey game celebrated the century mark on Jan. 17, 2022 (a 2-1 loss to Hamline before a string of five-straight wins -- four of them coming against Wisconsin). Minnesota got its revenge against Hamline in the season finale to finish its inaugural season with a 6-3-1 record.
NHL UPDATE: GOPHERS PACE COLLEGE HOCKEY
Minnesota leads all NCAA programs with 118 all-time NHL alums including 24 already this season (also the most in college hockey). Tommy Novak, Scott Reedy and Jack LaFontaine have all made their NHL debuts in 2021-22 while Sampo Ranta debuted during last year's Stanley Cup playoffs (Ranta, Reedy and LaFontaine were all on the Gophers roster last year).
WEARING THE 'C'
The 101st season of Gopher Hockey will see two familiar faces and college hockey veterans leading the 'U' as Sammy Walker and Ben Meyers have been named team captains for the 2021-22 season. Walker will enter his senior season wearing a "C" for the third-straight season for the Maroon & Gold while Meyers was elevated to share the honor after serving as alternate captains during the 2020-21 campaign. With all both players returning to the Minnesota leadership group, Gopher Hockey has now featured 175 captains dating back to the school's first season of play in 1921-22 when Chet Bros led the Maroon & Gold as team captain.
IN THE NHL DRAFT
Fourteen of Minnesota's 27 players on the 2021-22 roster have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft including five newcomers -- Chaz Lucius (2021), Matthew Knies (2021), Tristan Broz (2021), Aaron Huglen (2019) and Rhett Pitlick (2019). Lucius is the 22nd Gopher Hockey prospect selected in the first round (18th overall by Winnipeg), joining 2019 first rounder Ryan Johnson on this year's roster for Minnesota. Meanwhile, Knies and Broz were selected with back-to-back picks in the second round this year.
PRESEASON BIG TEN PROSPECTUS
The Gophers landed on the top spot of the 2021-22 Big Ten Hockey Coaches' Poll earlier this season 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. 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.
BIG TEN HONORS PITLICK
Rhett Pitlick enters the series as the Big Ten Second Star of the Week after posting four points (two goals, two assists) against Ohio State last weekend. The freshman is riding a season-best four-game point streak and has three multi-point games in that stretch as well as his first three collegiate goals. Pitlick is coming off his first career multi-goal game with a pair of tallies against the Buckeyes last Saturday.
STREAKING GOPHERS
The Gophers earned their fifth sweep of the season last weekend in a battle of top-10 teams at Ohio State and have now won a season-best four games in a row. Additionally, the Maroon & Gold are 9-3-0 in the second half (not including a pair of exhibition victories). Last Friday's 3-2 win over the Buckeyes snapped a seven-game unbeaten streak for Ohio State and was its first regulation loss since Dec. 10). Saturday's 5-1 win moved the Gophers to 6-1-1 at Value City Arena under Bob Motzko.
CLOSING TIME
Since taking over as Minnesota's starter last month, Justen Close has led the Gophers to a 7-3-0 record with four wins over top-12 teams. Six of his 10 starts (and four of his wins) have come against teams ranked seventh or better in scoring nationally. His 1.91 GAA ranks seventh in the NCAA this season (first in the Big Ten) while his .924 save percentage ranks tied for 11th in the nation.
AGAINST THE NITTANY LIONS
In a series that started in 2014 with the creation of the Big Ten Conference, Minnesota holds an 18-16-1 all-time record against Penn State. The two programs split a pair of games at 3M Arena at Mariucci earlier this season. Of note, Minnesota did not travel to University Park last season due to health concerns with the Penn State program.
FRESHMEN VS. SENIORS
The Gophers have scored 15 goals during its four-game winning streak and all but one of them have come from either a freshman (eight) or a senior (six). Rhett Pitlick and Sammy Walker lead the way with three goals each while a pair of freshmen lead the scoring race over the streak -- Pitlick (seven points) and Huglen (five points).
GOPHER HOCKEY AT THE OLYMPICS
Three current Gophers -- Ben Meyers, Matthew Knies and Brock Faber -- and Minnesota alum Aaron Ness wrapped up the Olympics this week while competing with the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. Meanwhile, strength & conditioning coach Cal Dietz served in the same role with silver medal-winning U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team. Gopher Hockey has been represented at each of the last 21 Winter Olympics since 1936 with the Maroon & Gold helping USA Hockey to eight medals including gold in 1960 and 1980. Ness served as an alternate captain for the U.S.
MOTZKO MILESTONES
February saw Bob Motzko set a pair of milestones as the Minnesota head coach won his 350th career game on Friday, Jan. 4 (353-240-60) before adding his 75th win with the Gophers on Saturday, Jan. 5 (77-48-11). The five-time conference coach of the year, who agreed to a three-year extension that will keep him with Minnesota through the 2025-26 season, is in his fourth season with the Maroon & Gold and 17th season as a Division I head coach.
CENTURY MARKERS
One Gopher Hockey skater hit a notable career milestone last month while his long-time linemate is now approaching it. Sammy Walker became the 85th Gopher to join the 100-Point Club as the senior captain is Minnesota's active-leading scorer with 107 points (46 goals, 61 assists) in 135 games. Fellow senior Blake McLaughlin is next in line for the Gophers with 99 points (36 goals, 63 assists) in 133 games. McLaughlin's 100th point will also match his career single-season career high for points (28 last year).
GOPHERS MAKE ROSTER ADJUSTMENTS
Minnesota has made a number of roster adjustments over the weeks. Four-year Gopher letter winner Sam Rossini re-joined the program on Jan. 19 -- the defenseman has played in 49 games with 13 points (three goals, 10 assists). Owen Bartoszkievicz was added to the roster as a freshman on Jan. 14 -- the goaltender most recently played in the USHL with Youngstown while he was an All-NAHL Rookie First Team honoree in 2020-21 with Wichita Falls. Jack LaFontaine signed an entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 9 and made his NHL debut with the organization on Jan. 13.
PRIDE ON ICE HISTORY
While the Gophers celebrated the program's 100th season in 2020-21, a number of notable milestones will actually occur during the 2021-22 season. First among them, Jan. 9, 2022 marked 100 years since the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and the University Athletic Board of Control officially granted men's hockey varsity status (Jan. 9, 1922). Meanwhile, Minnesota's first varsity hockey game celebrated the century mark on Jan. 17, 2022 (a 2-1 loss to Hamline before a string of five-straight wins -- four of them coming against Wisconsin). Minnesota got its revenge against Hamline in the season finale to finish its inaugural season with a 6-3-1 record.
NHL UPDATE: GOPHERS PACE COLLEGE HOCKEY
Minnesota leads all NCAA programs with 118 all-time NHL alums including 24 already this season (also the most in college hockey). Tommy Novak, Scott Reedy and Jack LaFontaine have all made their NHL debuts in 2021-22 while Sampo Ranta debuted during last year's Stanley Cup playoffs (Ranta, Reedy and LaFontaine were all on the Gophers roster last year).
WEARING THE 'C'
The 101st season of Gopher Hockey will see two familiar faces and college hockey veterans leading the 'U' as Sammy Walker and Ben Meyers have been named team captains for the 2021-22 season. Walker will enter his senior season wearing a "C" for the third-straight season for the Maroon & Gold while Meyers was elevated to share the honor after serving as alternate captains during the 2020-21 campaign. With all both players returning to the Minnesota leadership group, Gopher Hockey has now featured 175 captains dating back to the school's first season of play in 1921-22 when Chet Bros led the Maroon & Gold as team captain.
IN THE NHL DRAFT
Fourteen of Minnesota's 27 players on the 2021-22 roster have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft including five newcomers -- Chaz Lucius (2021), Matthew Knies (2021), Tristan Broz (2021), Aaron Huglen (2019) and Rhett Pitlick (2019). Lucius is the 22nd Gopher Hockey prospect selected in the first round (18th overall by Winnipeg), joining 2019 first rounder Ryan Johnson on this year's roster for Minnesota. Meanwhile, Knies and Broz were selected with back-to-back picks in the second round this year.
PRESEASON BIG TEN PROSPECTUS
The Gophers landed on the top spot of the 2021-22 Big Ten Hockey Coaches' Poll earlier this season 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. 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.
2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule
Monday, August 11
Herb Brooks Statue
Wednesday, August 06
Meet the Newcomers: Teddy Townsend
Friday, July 18
Meet The Newcomers: Jacob Rombach
Friday, July 11