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Knies, Faber Made NHL Debuts Monday
4/11/2023 11:45:00 AM | Men's Hockey
121st and 122nd Gophers to play in NHL
MINNEAPOLIS - Less than 48 hours after they both skated off the ice in the 2023 NCAA national championship game with the University of Minnesota, Matthew Knies and Brock Faber skated onto the ice at the next level. The former Golden Gophers were victorious in their National Hockey League debuts with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Minnesota Wild, respectively, Monday night.
They became the 24th and 25th players from the Minnesota men's hockey team to make an appearance in an NHL game during the 2023-23 season. In the 102-year history of the program, 122 former players have reached the NHL, the most of any college hockey team.
Knies was the 2023 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and made his NHL debut in Sunrise, Fla., against the Panthers. The second-round pick of Toronto back in 2021, he jumped to the league after two brilliant seasons with the Maroon and Gold where he averaged more than a point per game and helped Minnesota to back-to-back appearances at the NCAA Frozen Four.
Just a few hours later inside United Center, the home of the Chicago Blackhawks, the two-time Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year stepped on the ice for the first time as a professional. Faber played 97 games for the Gophers and led the team to the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons at Minnesota. His NHL rights were traded to the Wild last summer and the 2023 First Team All-American played in his first NHL game for his hometown team wearing No. 7 on the road.
They became the 24th and 25th players from the Minnesota men's hockey team to make an appearance in an NHL game during the 2023-23 season. In the 102-year history of the program, 122 former players have reached the NHL, the most of any college hockey team.
Knies was the 2023 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and made his NHL debut in Sunrise, Fla., against the Panthers. The second-round pick of Toronto back in 2021, he jumped to the league after two brilliant seasons with the Maroon and Gold where he averaged more than a point per game and helped Minnesota to back-to-back appearances at the NCAA Frozen Four.
He put on a No. 23 white Maple Leafs sweater for the first time Monday playing on a line with Noel Acciari and Alexander Kerfoot, while also getting time with fellow Phoenix, Ariz., native Austin Matthews. Knies' first shift came three minutes into the game on the power play and his second shift came with another former Gopher, Justin Holl (2010-14), along the blue line. He earned 13:09 of ice time in his first NHL outing and was credited with one hit and one block during the overtime win.Two kids from Arizona living our their dreams https://t.co/ympg1niBUr
— Minnesota Men's Hockey (@GopherHockey) April 11, 2023
Just a few hours later inside United Center, the home of the Chicago Blackhawks, the two-time Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year stepped on the ice for the first time as a professional. Faber played 97 games for the Gophers and led the team to the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons at Minnesota. His NHL rights were traded to the Wild last summer and the 2023 First Team All-American played in his first NHL game for his hometown team wearing No. 7 on the road.
Faber was paired with another player that wore the 'C' for the Maroon and Gold as he joined Alex Goligoski (2004-07) on the blue line. The Maple Grove, Minn., product got his first taste of action when the puck was dropped as he was in the starting lineup for the Wild, even getting the honor of reading the starting lineup in the locker room. He went on to play a team-high 21:49 in total and paced the team with six blocked shots, while owning a plus-one rating in the come-from-behind victory.Dreams do come true 〽️ https://t.co/iqWBVP1RlI
— Minnesota Men's Hockey (@GopherHockey) April 11, 2023
Highlights: Gophers 2, Wisconsin 5
Thursday, October 30
Highlights: Gophers 1, UMD 4
Saturday, October 25
Highlights: Gophers 0, UMD 3
Friday, October 24
Highlights: Gophers 5, North Dakota 1
Saturday, October 18