University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, October 5
St. Cloud, MN
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
5
at
1
St. Cloud State
Players Mentioned
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ 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
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Jason Soria, SCSU Athletics
'U' Skates by Huskies, 5-1, in Saturday Exhibition
10/5/2024 10:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Five goal scorers for Gophers in road win
ST. CLOUD, Minn. - The No. 6/5-ranked Golden Gophers men's hockey team scored five-straight goals in the second and third period during a 5-1 victory over No. 16 St. Cloud State in an exhibition matchup at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center Saturday night.
Â
Minnesota got goals from five different players, while 11 recorded a point in the unofficial start to the 2024-25 campaign. The Maroon and Gold went 2-for-4 on the power play, scoring twice on shots from defensemen to secure the road win.
Â
Two minutes into the game and it was the Gophers on the attack with newcomer Matthew Wood forcing a turnover at the defensive blue line. The junior skated in for a partial breakaway before his shot was turned aside. After the Huskies made an offensive push, the visitors went to a power play at the 7:29 mark that was erased by SCSU. Chances on goal came for both sides throughout the remainder of the opening period, but it was six blocks from Minnesota that helped keep it scoreless at intermission.
Â
The home side struck first 1:55 into the second stanza as it capitalized on a Gophers' turnover that led to a breakaway at the other end for a 1-0 lead. The intensity ramped up in the first action for both sides this season against a live opponent and while the teams skated 4-on-4, Minnesota found the back of the net. Connor Kurth's forecheck allowed the junior to find a streaking Aaron Huglen for the tying tally 5:14 into the frame. Huglen shielded off the defenseman and one-timed the Kurth pass into the top corner.
Â
The Gophers continued to put pressure on SCSU and jumped in front, 2-1, as Jimmy Snuggerud buried a cross-ice feed from Brodie Ziemer. Snuggerud ripped a shot from his off wing as Ziemer threaded a pass to the junior for the eventual game winner on a play started in the neutral zone by Oliver Moore. The Maroon and Gold cycled through the offensive zone on the next shift, leading to two penalties on one Huskies skater with 4:18 remaining in the second. That led to a power-play goal from Ryan Chesley as he got a shot in from the point with assists from Leo Gruba and Mason Nevers, to take a 3-1 cushion back to the locker room after 40 minutes.
Â
Another goal on the man advantage 6:42 into the final frame extended the margin to 4-1 as Mike Koster blasted a shot from the blue line on a pass from Ziemer, who tallied his second assist of the night. The hometown kid, August Falloon, scored for the Gophers 90 later with assists from Kurth, his second Saturday, and Luke Mittelstadt. The freshman pushed his way into the crease and finished off a Kurth feed as Minnesota made it a four-goal advantage. Transfer goaltender Liam Souliere made a quick pad save in the middle of the frame to hold off an SCSU attack and made two more while the visitors were on the penalty kill.
Â
Nathan Airey started in goal for the Maroon and Gold and made 11 saves in 29:02 of action before Souliere entered for the final 30:58. Souliere stopped seven shots in his first action for Minnesota to close out the 5-1 win.
Â
Next Up
Minnesota takes a trip out west to officially begin the 2024-25 season with two games at the Ice Breaker Tournament Oct. 11-12 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Gophers battle the Air Force Academy Friday night at 7:30 p.m. (CT) inside Orleans Arena to get the year started.
Â
Minnesota got goals from five different players, while 11 recorded a point in the unofficial start to the 2024-25 campaign. The Maroon and Gold went 2-for-4 on the power play, scoring twice on shots from defensemen to secure the road win.
Â
Two minutes into the game and it was the Gophers on the attack with newcomer Matthew Wood forcing a turnover at the defensive blue line. The junior skated in for a partial breakaway before his shot was turned aside. After the Huskies made an offensive push, the visitors went to a power play at the 7:29 mark that was erased by SCSU. Chances on goal came for both sides throughout the remainder of the opening period, but it was six blocks from Minnesota that helped keep it scoreless at intermission.
Â
The home side struck first 1:55 into the second stanza as it capitalized on a Gophers' turnover that led to a breakaway at the other end for a 1-0 lead. The intensity ramped up in the first action for both sides this season against a live opponent and while the teams skated 4-on-4, Minnesota found the back of the net. Connor Kurth's forecheck allowed the junior to find a streaking Aaron Huglen for the tying tally 5:14 into the frame. Huglen shielded off the defenseman and one-timed the Kurth pass into the top corner.
Â
The Gophers continued to put pressure on SCSU and jumped in front, 2-1, as Jimmy Snuggerud buried a cross-ice feed from Brodie Ziemer. Snuggerud ripped a shot from his off wing as Ziemer threaded a pass to the junior for the eventual game winner on a play started in the neutral zone by Oliver Moore. The Maroon and Gold cycled through the offensive zone on the next shift, leading to two penalties on one Huskies skater with 4:18 remaining in the second. That led to a power-play goal from Ryan Chesley as he got a shot in from the point with assists from Leo Gruba and Mason Nevers, to take a 3-1 cushion back to the locker room after 40 minutes.
Â
Another goal on the man advantage 6:42 into the final frame extended the margin to 4-1 as Mike Koster blasted a shot from the blue line on a pass from Ziemer, who tallied his second assist of the night. The hometown kid, August Falloon, scored for the Gophers 90 later with assists from Kurth, his second Saturday, and Luke Mittelstadt. The freshman pushed his way into the crease and finished off a Kurth feed as Minnesota made it a four-goal advantage. Transfer goaltender Liam Souliere made a quick pad save in the middle of the frame to hold off an SCSU attack and made two more while the visitors were on the penalty kill.
Â
Nathan Airey started in goal for the Maroon and Gold and made 11 saves in 29:02 of action before Souliere entered for the final 30:58. Souliere stopped seven shots in his first action for Minnesota to close out the 5-1 win.
Â
Next Up
Minnesota takes a trip out west to officially begin the 2024-25 season with two games at the Ice Breaker Tournament Oct. 11-12 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Gophers battle the Air Force Academy Friday night at 7:30 p.m. (CT) inside Orleans Arena to get the year started.
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