University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, January 20
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Michigan
Players Mentioned
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ 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
Defense
/ 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: Matt Krohn
'U' Welcomes Wolverines for B1G Clash
1/19/2023 3:15:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Powerhouse series between top 10 teams
MINNEAPOLIS - No. 2 Minnesota men's hockey is back home for a powerhouse series with No. 8/7 Michigan from 3M Arena at Mariucci Jan. 20-21 presented by Flint Hills Resources. In what's become a budding rivalry inside the Big Ten Conference, the first-place Gophers won both games on the road over the Wolverines earlier this season.
Both games are scheduled for puck drop at 7 p.m. with the action Friday to air on Bally Sports North and Saturday's contest live on Big Ten Network. Fans also can listen to all the excitement on the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK with Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco.
The first 1,500 in the arena Saturday night will receive a FREE Gopher Hockey tote bag courtesy of Minnesota Athletics.
POLLS AND STANDINGS
The Gophers find themselves ranked No. 2 in both the DCU/USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll for the second-straight week. Most importantly, Minnesota remains atop the PairWise rankings and the Big Ten Conference standings with 34 points, holding a 10-point lead over three teams tied for second place in Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State. The Gophers lead the conference in both goals for (60) and goals against (29) in B1G contests.
FEELING RIGHT AT HOME
Minnesota won its first four games at home this season and followed with five wins in six B1G matchups to close the calendar year as it's excelled on home ice inside 3M Arena at Mariucci. The Maroon and Gold have outscored its opponents by a 2-1 ratio (48-24) and recorded two shutouts on the way to a 10-2 record as the home team. Twenty different players have registered at least one point for the Gophers at 3M Arena at Mariucci, including an assist from goaltender Justen Close, who also has a 1.43 goals against average in 11 home appearances with two shutouts.
CLOSE EYE ON THE SENIOR
The same week he was added to the 2023 Mike Richter Award Watch List for the best goaltender in NCAA Division I men's hockey, Justen Close picked up his B1G-leading fourth shutout of the season at Notre Dame and was named the B1G Second Star of the Week for his efforts. It's the third time he has been honored by the conference over the last eight weeks the Gophers have competed. He improved his goals against average to 1.97 and his save percentage to .925, both of which are the best in the league and rank seventh in the nation. His seven career shutouts are the 11th-most in program history, and he's done so in just 39 career starts. The senior has shutout an opponent in a game during every month this season.
HISTORY WITH THE WOLVERINES
Thanks to a road sweep at Michigan in mid-November, the Gophers improved their record to 152-133-18 in the all-time series that dates back to the first meeting almost exactly 100 years ago. Minnesota faced off with the Wolverines for the first time Jan. 22, 1923. Ten different players recorded multiple points in the series sweep for the Maroon and Gold with Jackson LaCombe, Luke Mittelstadt and Jimmy Snuggerud all producing a goal and three assists. Owen Bartoszkiewicz stepped up and played a major role making 64 saves with a .928 save percentage, including a career-high 35 saves in the series finale Nov. 18.
DIFFICULT SLATE CONTINUES
When the Maroon and Gold host No. 8/7 Michigan this weekend, it marks the ninth series where it battled a team ranked in the top 13 of the national polls and it handled that challenge to the tune of an 11-5 record to this point. The series against the Huskies also was the third time the Gophers faced an opponent ranked No. 5 or better, while only two of 12 series have come against teams not ranked or receiving votes. Since the USCHO polls were introduced 24 years ago, this has been the most difficult Gophers' schedule to date, where they played 14 of their first 18 games against teams that highly ranked.
HOCKEY HUMANITARIAN NOMINEE
Minnesota's Ryan Johnson was named one of 15 nominees for the 2023 Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented annually to college hockey's finest citizen - a student-athlete who makes significant contributions not only to his or her team but also to the community-at-large through leadership in volunteerism. The senior is one of only three to make the list from NCAA Division I men's hockey.
FOUR THE FRESHMAN
For the fourth time this season, Minnesota freshman Logan Cooley was named a B1G Star of the Week as he earned the No. 3 star Jan. 10 after his efforts against St. Cloud State. He tallied a two-point performance in the Sunday win at home, including the game-winning goal in overtime to secure a series split. Cooley is the only player in the conference to be named a Star of the Week four times during the 2022-23 season as he has landed the recognition in three of the last four weeks the Gophers have played.
PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THE GOPHERS
Fans have come out to see the high-powered Gophers to the tune of a sellout in eight of nine arenas played in across the country, including each of their last 10 road games, counting an exhibition game on New Year's Eve at Bemidji State. Minnesota has had three sellouts at 3M Arena at Mariucci this season, two of which came during its series against North Dakota and the third versus St. Cloud State. The Gophers have the second-highest home attendance of any college hockey team this year averaging more than 8,500 patrons per game. That number is a more than 13 percent increase from a season ago.
DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING
Thanks to the fourth-highest scoring offense in the nation that averages 3.9 goals per game, Minnesota is one of only two NCAA teams with 12 players that have scored double-digit points and includes five skaters with 20 or more points. The Gophers are led by Jimmy Snuggerud's 29 points, while his linemates, Logan Cooley (28) and Matthew Knies (24), are close behind as the trio are the three highest scoring players for Minnesota, while senior Jackson LaCombe (21) and Jaxon Nelson (20) also are at the 20-point mark. Seven other players have joined the group in double figures in Bryce Brodzinski (17), Mason Nevers (17), Brock Faber (16), Luke Mittelstadt (14), Rhett Pitlick (13), Mike Koster (12) and Ryan Johnson (10).
NATION'S ELITE TRIO
One of the most prolific lines in college hockey, the trio of Logan Cooley, Matthew Knies and Jimmy Snuggerud, has combined for 81 points for the year and each player has double-digit goals. The entire line has been held off the scoresheet in just four games played this season. They are three of the top four point producers in the B1G and all rank in the top 25 nationally for total points, averaging a point per game or more.
VETERAN SCORING
Minnesota has relied on its veteran line of seniors Bryce Brodzinski and Jaxon Nelson with junior Mason Nevers to provide critical scoring all year. The group has totaled 54 points, including seven power-play goals and six game winners, and posted at least one point in all but three games. Nelson and Nevers have both already set career highs in goals, assists and points in just 22 games of the 2022-23 campaign, while Brodzinski is closing in on his second-straight season with double-digit goals. The line has been held without a goal only twice in B1G play, Nov. 17 at Michigan and Jan. 14 at Notre Dame.
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.
WHEN YOU CALL MY NAME
Fourteen of Minnesota's 26 rostered players have heard their name called in the NHL Entry Draft, six of which are part of this year's freshmen class. The Gophers have had the most all-time draft selections (227) by any NCAA men's hockey program after adding four in July 2022. At least one Gopher has been drafted in 48 of the last 49 NHL Entry Drafts dating back to 1974, with 2001 being the only exception. Only Harvard has more draft picks (15) on its NCAA roster for the 2022-23 season.
Both games are scheduled for puck drop at 7 p.m. with the action Friday to air on Bally Sports North and Saturday's contest live on Big Ten Network. Fans also can listen to all the excitement on the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK with Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco.
The first 1,500 in the arena Saturday night will receive a FREE Gopher Hockey tote bag courtesy of Minnesota Athletics.
POLLS AND STANDINGS
The Gophers find themselves ranked No. 2 in both the DCU/USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll for the second-straight week. Most importantly, Minnesota remains atop the PairWise rankings and the Big Ten Conference standings with 34 points, holding a 10-point lead over three teams tied for second place in Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State. The Gophers lead the conference in both goals for (60) and goals against (29) in B1G contests.
FEELING RIGHT AT HOME
Minnesota won its first four games at home this season and followed with five wins in six B1G matchups to close the calendar year as it's excelled on home ice inside 3M Arena at Mariucci. The Maroon and Gold have outscored its opponents by a 2-1 ratio (48-24) and recorded two shutouts on the way to a 10-2 record as the home team. Twenty different players have registered at least one point for the Gophers at 3M Arena at Mariucci, including an assist from goaltender Justen Close, who also has a 1.43 goals against average in 11 home appearances with two shutouts.
CLOSE EYE ON THE SENIOR
The same week he was added to the 2023 Mike Richter Award Watch List for the best goaltender in NCAA Division I men's hockey, Justen Close picked up his B1G-leading fourth shutout of the season at Notre Dame and was named the B1G Second Star of the Week for his efforts. It's the third time he has been honored by the conference over the last eight weeks the Gophers have competed. He improved his goals against average to 1.97 and his save percentage to .925, both of which are the best in the league and rank seventh in the nation. His seven career shutouts are the 11th-most in program history, and he's done so in just 39 career starts. The senior has shutout an opponent in a game during every month this season.
HISTORY WITH THE WOLVERINES
Thanks to a road sweep at Michigan in mid-November, the Gophers improved their record to 152-133-18 in the all-time series that dates back to the first meeting almost exactly 100 years ago. Minnesota faced off with the Wolverines for the first time Jan. 22, 1923. Ten different players recorded multiple points in the series sweep for the Maroon and Gold with Jackson LaCombe, Luke Mittelstadt and Jimmy Snuggerud all producing a goal and three assists. Owen Bartoszkiewicz stepped up and played a major role making 64 saves with a .928 save percentage, including a career-high 35 saves in the series finale Nov. 18.
DIFFICULT SLATE CONTINUES
When the Maroon and Gold host No. 8/7 Michigan this weekend, it marks the ninth series where it battled a team ranked in the top 13 of the national polls and it handled that challenge to the tune of an 11-5 record to this point. The series against the Huskies also was the third time the Gophers faced an opponent ranked No. 5 or better, while only two of 12 series have come against teams not ranked or receiving votes. Since the USCHO polls were introduced 24 years ago, this has been the most difficult Gophers' schedule to date, where they played 14 of their first 18 games against teams that highly ranked.
HOCKEY HUMANITARIAN NOMINEE
Minnesota's Ryan Johnson was named one of 15 nominees for the 2023 Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented annually to college hockey's finest citizen - a student-athlete who makes significant contributions not only to his or her team but also to the community-at-large through leadership in volunteerism. The senior is one of only three to make the list from NCAA Division I men's hockey.
FOUR THE FRESHMAN
For the fourth time this season, Minnesota freshman Logan Cooley was named a B1G Star of the Week as he earned the No. 3 star Jan. 10 after his efforts against St. Cloud State. He tallied a two-point performance in the Sunday win at home, including the game-winning goal in overtime to secure a series split. Cooley is the only player in the conference to be named a Star of the Week four times during the 2022-23 season as he has landed the recognition in three of the last four weeks the Gophers have played.
PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THE GOPHERS
Fans have come out to see the high-powered Gophers to the tune of a sellout in eight of nine arenas played in across the country, including each of their last 10 road games, counting an exhibition game on New Year's Eve at Bemidji State. Minnesota has had three sellouts at 3M Arena at Mariucci this season, two of which came during its series against North Dakota and the third versus St. Cloud State. The Gophers have the second-highest home attendance of any college hockey team this year averaging more than 8,500 patrons per game. That number is a more than 13 percent increase from a season ago.
DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING
Thanks to the fourth-highest scoring offense in the nation that averages 3.9 goals per game, Minnesota is one of only two NCAA teams with 12 players that have scored double-digit points and includes five skaters with 20 or more points. The Gophers are led by Jimmy Snuggerud's 29 points, while his linemates, Logan Cooley (28) and Matthew Knies (24), are close behind as the trio are the three highest scoring players for Minnesota, while senior Jackson LaCombe (21) and Jaxon Nelson (20) also are at the 20-point mark. Seven other players have joined the group in double figures in Bryce Brodzinski (17), Mason Nevers (17), Brock Faber (16), Luke Mittelstadt (14), Rhett Pitlick (13), Mike Koster (12) and Ryan Johnson (10).
NATION'S ELITE TRIO
One of the most prolific lines in college hockey, the trio of Logan Cooley, Matthew Knies and Jimmy Snuggerud, has combined for 81 points for the year and each player has double-digit goals. The entire line has been held off the scoresheet in just four games played this season. They are three of the top four point producers in the B1G and all rank in the top 25 nationally for total points, averaging a point per game or more.
VETERAN SCORING
Minnesota has relied on its veteran line of seniors Bryce Brodzinski and Jaxon Nelson with junior Mason Nevers to provide critical scoring all year. The group has totaled 54 points, including seven power-play goals and six game winners, and posted at least one point in all but three games. Nelson and Nevers have both already set career highs in goals, assists and points in just 22 games of the 2022-23 campaign, while Brodzinski is closing in on his second-straight season with double-digit goals. The line has been held without a goal only twice in B1G play, Nov. 17 at Michigan and Jan. 14 at Notre Dame.
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.
WHEN YOU CALL MY NAME
Fourteen of Minnesota's 26 rostered players have heard their name called in the NHL Entry Draft, six of which are part of this year's freshmen class. The Gophers have had the most all-time draft selections (227) by any NCAA men's hockey program after adding four in July 2022. At least one Gopher has been drafted in 48 of the last 49 NHL Entry Drafts dating back to 1974, with 2001 being the only exception. Only Harvard has more draft picks (15) on its NCAA roster for the 2022-23 season.
Highlights: Gophers 6, LIU 3
Saturday, November 15
Highlights: Gophers 2, LIU 6
Friday, November 14
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Notre Dame
Tuesday, November 11
Highlights: Gophers 4, Notre Dame 1
Saturday, November 08