University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, October 8
3M Arena at Mariucci
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Bemidji State
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ 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
Gophers Host Beavers in Exhibition Tilt Sunday
10/7/2023 1:30:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Watch live on B1G+
MINNEAPOLIS - The 103rd installment of Golden Gopher men's hockey gets underway Sunday evening with an exhibition tilt against in-state foe, Bemidji State. Puck drop from inside the newly-renovated 3M Arena at Mariucci is set for 6 p.m. and will be carried live via streaming on B1G+.
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CHECK OUT THE NEW DIGS
For the first time in the 30 years since 3M Arena at Mariucci opened, a major public-facing renovation project took place during the offseason. It started with the installation of a state-of-the-art ice plant and more energy-efficient refrigeration system and continued with the shrinking of the ice sheet. The ice went from an Olympic size of 200-by-100 feet, down to a hybrid size of 200-by-89 feet, which more closely resembles an NHL ice sheet. The change in dimensions also added approximately 257 seats to the arena, making the official capacity 10,257. Updates to the dasher boards and glass will enhance player safety, while fans in attendance will also notice an increase in brightness inside the arena as a modern LED system was added.
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HOW TO WATCH ALL SEASON
Minnesota and FOX 9 have agreed to a local television broadcast partnership for 10 home games and four road games in 2023-24. This is in addition to the 11 games picked by the Big Ten Network, seven home and four away, along with one airing on FS1 during the campaign. As always, check the schedule page on GopherSports.com for all the latest information and viewing options for every contest.
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PICKED FOR A THREE PEAT
The Gophers are trying to do something only they have done in the 10-year history of college hockey in the Big Ten Conference and that is to win three-straight regular season titles. The Maroon and Gold won a championship in each of the first four years during league play between 2013 and 2017 before a stretch where four different teams won the next four championships. Heading into 2023-24 following back-to-back titles, Minnesota was picked to finish atop the conference standings in the preseason poll as voted upon by the seven head coaches.
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GARNERING EARLY B1G RECOGNITION
Six individual players for the Maroon and Gold were recognized by the league's head coaches and landed on one of the Preseason All-B1G Teams for 2023-24. Jimmy Snuggerud, the defending B1G scoring champion, was joined by fellow sophomore Luke Mittelstadt on the All-B1G First Team. Veterans Bryce Brodzinski, Justen Close and Mike Koster landed on the second team, while sophomore Ryan Chesley garnered honorable mention honors.
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BRINGING BACK THE GOALS
The Gophers closed 2022-23 as the nation's highest-scoring offense after averaging 4.2 goals per game. Thanks to the return of five players that reached double-digit goals a season ago, Minnesota begins the new year as the nation's leader in returning offense, bringing back 108 total goals from 13 different players. Jimmy Snuggerud paces the group of Gophers and is the second-highest returning scorer to college hockey following a 21-goal freshman campaign. Bryce Brodzinski's career-best 19 goals last season showcased his ability to light the lamp, while Rhett Pitlick (11), Jaxon Nelson (10) and Mason Nevers (10) joined the double-digit scorers and will look to power the offense again in 2023-24.
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SHOWCASING THE STATE OF HOCKEY
With five of the six members of the Gophers freshman class hailing from the State of Hockey as well as graduate transfer Nick Michel, the 2023-24 roster now features more than 90 percent homegrown talent. Of the 25 players on the team, 23 grew up and played youth hockey inside the state lines, including all 22 skaters. Even more impressive is the fact that 17 of the Minnesotans on the team are from within 40 miles of campus. In total, 233 student-athletes on NCAA rosters are from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, nearly 100 more than any other state in the country.
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EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP CREW
The guys wearing a letter on the front of their redesigned Gophers jersey in 2023-24 bring together nearly 500 career games of college hockey experience as all four have skated in more than 100 contests. Mike Koster and Jaxon Nelson were named captains for the team, while Bryce Brodzinski and Mason Nevers were chosen as alternate captains heading into the season. In the history of Minnesota hockey, 169 different players have served in a captain's role and remain in good hands with this year's crew.
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RESTORING THE PRIDE ON ICE
Minnesota hockey has enjoyed a resurgence over the past three seasons, reaching the NCAA Tournament each year, including consecutive trips to the NCAA Frozen Four. The rising success has been showcased by holding a 6-3 record at the national tournament where the Gophers have outscored opponents 36-22 in those contests, increasing their all-time NCAA win total to 61, the most of any college hockey program. The Gophers have pushed their win total from 24 in a shortened 2020-21 to 26 in 2021-22 up to 29 a season ago. In four of the five seasons with Coach Motzko at the helm, Minnesota has been ranked in the top five of the national polls at some point.
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HISTORY WITH THE BEAVERS
Minnesota faced Bemidji State in an exhibition tilt on New Year's Eve a season ago at Sanford Center in Bemidji with the Gophers claiming a 2-1 victory. Jaxon Nelson scored the game-winning goal with 1:08 remaining in the third period to break a 1-1 tie. Matthew Knies tallied a power-play marker in the first period to pull even against the Beavers after the home side took an early lead. The two teams have not met for an official game since Dec. 28, 2019, a 5-2 win for Minnesota during the Mariucci Classic, and the Gophers own a 20-2-1 record in the all-time series, including a 13-1-0 mark in home contests.
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NO PLACE LIKE HOME
In its final season on the Olympic-sized ice sheet inside 3M Arena at Mariucci, Minnesota excelled and posted a 16-4 home record with only two losses coming in regulation. The 16 wins were the most since reaching that same mark in 2012-13 and the ninth time hitting that total in the 30-year history of the arena. The Maroon and Gold outscored its opponents by an 87-42 margin and held the opposition to two or fewer goals 12 times, including four shutouts. Points came from 21 different players for the Gophers at home, while 11 reached double-digit scoring, thanks in part to a power play that converted 26.5 percent of their chances. Goaltender Justen Close had a 1.78 goals against average and a .931 save percentage in 19 home appearances.
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CHECK OUT THE NEW DIGS
For the first time in the 30 years since 3M Arena at Mariucci opened, a major public-facing renovation project took place during the offseason. It started with the installation of a state-of-the-art ice plant and more energy-efficient refrigeration system and continued with the shrinking of the ice sheet. The ice went from an Olympic size of 200-by-100 feet, down to a hybrid size of 200-by-89 feet, which more closely resembles an NHL ice sheet. The change in dimensions also added approximately 257 seats to the arena, making the official capacity 10,257. Updates to the dasher boards and glass will enhance player safety, while fans in attendance will also notice an increase in brightness inside the arena as a modern LED system was added.
Â
HOW TO WATCH ALL SEASON
Minnesota and FOX 9 have agreed to a local television broadcast partnership for 10 home games and four road games in 2023-24. This is in addition to the 11 games picked by the Big Ten Network, seven home and four away, along with one airing on FS1 during the campaign. As always, check the schedule page on GopherSports.com for all the latest information and viewing options for every contest.
Â
PICKED FOR A THREE PEAT
The Gophers are trying to do something only they have done in the 10-year history of college hockey in the Big Ten Conference and that is to win three-straight regular season titles. The Maroon and Gold won a championship in each of the first four years during league play between 2013 and 2017 before a stretch where four different teams won the next four championships. Heading into 2023-24 following back-to-back titles, Minnesota was picked to finish atop the conference standings in the preseason poll as voted upon by the seven head coaches.
Â
GARNERING EARLY B1G RECOGNITION
Six individual players for the Maroon and Gold were recognized by the league's head coaches and landed on one of the Preseason All-B1G Teams for 2023-24. Jimmy Snuggerud, the defending B1G scoring champion, was joined by fellow sophomore Luke Mittelstadt on the All-B1G First Team. Veterans Bryce Brodzinski, Justen Close and Mike Koster landed on the second team, while sophomore Ryan Chesley garnered honorable mention honors.
Â
BRINGING BACK THE GOALS
The Gophers closed 2022-23 as the nation's highest-scoring offense after averaging 4.2 goals per game. Thanks to the return of five players that reached double-digit goals a season ago, Minnesota begins the new year as the nation's leader in returning offense, bringing back 108 total goals from 13 different players. Jimmy Snuggerud paces the group of Gophers and is the second-highest returning scorer to college hockey following a 21-goal freshman campaign. Bryce Brodzinski's career-best 19 goals last season showcased his ability to light the lamp, while Rhett Pitlick (11), Jaxon Nelson (10) and Mason Nevers (10) joined the double-digit scorers and will look to power the offense again in 2023-24.
Â
SHOWCASING THE STATE OF HOCKEY
With five of the six members of the Gophers freshman class hailing from the State of Hockey as well as graduate transfer Nick Michel, the 2023-24 roster now features more than 90 percent homegrown talent. Of the 25 players on the team, 23 grew up and played youth hockey inside the state lines, including all 22 skaters. Even more impressive is the fact that 17 of the Minnesotans on the team are from within 40 miles of campus. In total, 233 student-athletes on NCAA rosters are from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, nearly 100 more than any other state in the country.
Â
EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP CREW
The guys wearing a letter on the front of their redesigned Gophers jersey in 2023-24 bring together nearly 500 career games of college hockey experience as all four have skated in more than 100 contests. Mike Koster and Jaxon Nelson were named captains for the team, while Bryce Brodzinski and Mason Nevers were chosen as alternate captains heading into the season. In the history of Minnesota hockey, 169 different players have served in a captain's role and remain in good hands with this year's crew.
Â
RESTORING THE PRIDE ON ICE
Minnesota hockey has enjoyed a resurgence over the past three seasons, reaching the NCAA Tournament each year, including consecutive trips to the NCAA Frozen Four. The rising success has been showcased by holding a 6-3 record at the national tournament where the Gophers have outscored opponents 36-22 in those contests, increasing their all-time NCAA win total to 61, the most of any college hockey program. The Gophers have pushed their win total from 24 in a shortened 2020-21 to 26 in 2021-22 up to 29 a season ago. In four of the five seasons with Coach Motzko at the helm, Minnesota has been ranked in the top five of the national polls at some point.
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HISTORY WITH THE BEAVERS
Minnesota faced Bemidji State in an exhibition tilt on New Year's Eve a season ago at Sanford Center in Bemidji with the Gophers claiming a 2-1 victory. Jaxon Nelson scored the game-winning goal with 1:08 remaining in the third period to break a 1-1 tie. Matthew Knies tallied a power-play marker in the first period to pull even against the Beavers after the home side took an early lead. The two teams have not met for an official game since Dec. 28, 2019, a 5-2 win for Minnesota during the Mariucci Classic, and the Gophers own a 20-2-1 record in the all-time series, including a 13-1-0 mark in home contests.
Â
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
In its final season on the Olympic-sized ice sheet inside 3M Arena at Mariucci, Minnesota excelled and posted a 16-4 home record with only two losses coming in regulation. The 16 wins were the most since reaching that same mark in 2012-13 and the ninth time hitting that total in the 30-year history of the arena. The Maroon and Gold outscored its opponents by an 87-42 margin and held the opposition to two or fewer goals 12 times, including four shutouts. Points came from 21 different players for the Gophers at home, while 11 reached double-digit scoring, thanks in part to a power play that converted 26.5 percent of their chances. Goaltender Justen Close had a 1.78 goals against average and a .931 save percentage in 19 home appearances.
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