University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Open 2025 Hosting Mercyhurst for Non-Conference Finale
1/2/2025 11:30:00 AM | Men's Hockey
'U' won all five previous meetings with Lakers
MINNEAPOLIS - No. 3 Minnesota men's hockey plays its final non-conference series of the regular season when it welcomes Mercyhurst to 3M Arena at Mariucci Jan. 3-4 for the first games of the 2025 calendar year.
Coming off their three-week break from competition, puck drop for Friday's series opener is set for 7 p.m. and the Golden Gophers and Lakers close the action Saturday evening at 5 p.m. Fans can watch both games live on FOX9 and streaming via B1G+, while audio coverage will also be available through the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
LAST TIME OUT
Minnesota battled through its toughest series to close the first half of the campaign Dec. 13-14 as its injury-riddled lineup picked up just one of a possible six points against now No. 1 Michigan State. The Gophers rallied late Friday getting a power-play goal from Brodie Ziemer to tie the game, 3-3, in the third period before falling in a shootout. After a Brody Lamb tally via the man advantage early in the final frame Saturday gave the Maroon and Gold a 3-1 cushion, the Spartans responded with three goals in a three-minute span to erase the deficit and claim the series finale.
WATCH THE PRIDE ON ICE
Minnesota and FOX9 have partnered for a local television broadcast deal for the second-straight year that will air 16 home games and four road games during the 2024-25 campaign presented by Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union. This year's home broadcasts on FOX9 and FOX9+ will feature a 30-minute Pride on Ice Pre-Game Show presented by M Health Fairview as well as a post-game show recapping the action presented by RBC Wealth Management. This is in addition to the six games picked by the Big Ten Network and one airing on FS1 during the year. Check the schedule page on GopherSports.com for all the latest information and viewing options for every contest. Other FOX affiliates around the area have added Gopher hockey to their coverage with games available in Duluth (KQDS) and Fargo (KVRR) markets.
EXTENDED TIME AT HOME
The Maroon and Gold are in the final stages of an eight-game homestand inside the friendly confines of 3M Arena at Mariucci and are not slated to hit the road again until next week, a span of nearly 50 days between away contests. The home stretch is the longest for the Gophers in more than a decade as they last played eight-consecutive home games between Dec. 29, 2012, and Jan. 25, 2013, where they posted a 6-1-1 record. Minnesota is 7-1-2 at 3M Arena at Mariucci this season and outscored its opposition by a 36-16 margin, getting game-winning goals from seven different skaters. Jimmy Snuggerud has a team-best 11 points at home, while Connor Kurth and Sam Rinzel have also reached double digits with 10 points apiece.
SHOWING OFF THE BALANCE
The Gophers have picked up an NCAA-best 80 goals this season from 17 different players and 213 points via 21 of their 22 total skaters, and one goaltender, that have taken the ice. Minnesota's offensive depth in 2024-25 has shined through as 10 players have reached double-digit scoring, the most of any college program, and the team is tied for first nationally in scoring offense, averaging 4.0 goals per game. The team has lit the lamp five or more times in 10 appearances and been held to fewer than three goals just four times. More importantly, the Gophers are putting in the work on the defensive end, holding the NCAA's second-best scoring margin at plus-2.0 as they have surrendered 40 goals all season, a 2.0 goals per game average.
LAMB STARS THE POWER PLAY
Brody Lamb continues to find offensive success after setting career highs in goals (12), assists (15), and points (27) a year ago. The Byron, Minn., native has a point in 14 of 19 outings this season, aided by a career-long, five-game point streak between Oct. 18 and Nov. 1. After a three-point series versus Alaska, he earned his second weekly award from the league office as the B1G Third Star of the Week (Dec. 3). He picked up the first honor following a four-goal weekend against St. Thomas, including his first NCAA hat trick, and was named the B1G Second Star of the Week (Oct. 29). All three goals of his natural hat trick Saturday were on the power play, and his seven goals on the man advantage this year pace the NCAA. Lamb scored goals in both outings versus Michigan State to close 2024, including his team-leading 12th of the campaign that tied his career high, and ranks second in the country for total goals.
NEW NUMBER, SAME SAM THE STAR
While he may have changed from No. 5 to No. 2 during the offseason, the game of Sam Rinzel has remained unchanged following an All-B1G Second Team selection in 2023-24. After recording multi-point performances in both games against St. Thomas, the sophomore landed B1G First Star of the Week honors (Oct. 29). He extended his career-long point streak to eight games, dating back to the final game of last season, with an assist in the series opener versus Penn State (Nov. 1). Rinzel has a point in 14 of 20 appearances this year, including the first two power-play goals of his tenure at Notre Dame (Nov. 22). He's scored two game-winning goals over the last four weeks and is tied for the most goals (8) and points (20) among all NCAA defensemen, thanks to four multi-point performances and 10 total points over his last eight games.
HISTORY WITH THE LAKERS
Minnesota has never lost to Mercyhurst, winning all five of the previous meetings dating back to the first matchup during the 2003 NCAA West Regional at 3M Arena at Mariucci. That victory opened the Gophers' NCAA Tournament run to the second of back-to-back national championships. This weekend marks just the second-ever series between the two programs and first since they met in Dinkytown to begin the 2021-22 campaign. The Maroon and Gold outscored the Lakers by a 12-7 margin in the series, highlighted by Matthew Knies scoring twice in his Minnesota debut, a three-goal weekend from Bryce Brodzinski, and power-play goals from Mason Nevers in both outings.
INSIDE LOOK AT MERCYHURST
The Lakers begin the 2025 calendar year looking to turn the corner as they last won a game Nov. 2 at home against Niagara, holding an 0-8-3 record in the 11 games since that victory. Mercyhurst does have three ties over its past five outings and picked up a shootout win versus Canisius in late November. A strong point for the Lakers is the fact that they currently lead the country in penalty minutes per game, averaging just 5.8, and have posted four or fewer penalty minutes 11 times in 20 outings this season, but rank third in goals allowed per game at 3.7. Mercyhurst is led offensively by Dustin Geregach's six goals and 15 points, while Mickey Burns and Steven Agriogianis join the senior in double-digit scoring with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
WEARING THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE
Oliver Moore and Brodie Ziemer are currently representing the Minnesota men's hockey program at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa from Dec. 26-Jan. 5. Ziemer has four points behind a team-leading three goals, including a two-goal effort in his WJC debut against Germany, while Moore picked up assists in back-to-back outings versus Latvia and Finland for his two points with the Americans heading into the quarterfinals. Moore helped Team USA win a gold medal at last year's event in Sweden along with fellow Gophers Ryan Chesley, Sam Rinzel, and Jimmy Snuggerud. Minnesota's associate head coach Steve Miller also returned to the bench of Team USA for his eighth tournament having won gold medals in 2021 and 2024 with the Red, White, and Blue. The Gophers have had at least one player at the tournament in 46 of the 49 years it has been played and will be a host of the event for its 50th anniversary next year at 3M Arena at Mariucci and Xcel Energy Center.
FRIDAY NIGHT HUGLEN
Coming off a career year in 2023-24 where Aaron Huglen reached double-digit goals (13) for the first time as a Gopher, he has continued to put his name on the scoresheet this season, especially in Friday night outings. The senior has a point in seven of nine Friday games this year, totaling nine of his 12 points. He has reached double-digit scoring for the fourth-consecutive campaign thanks to seven points over the past seven games. He has 32 goals and 34 assists for 66 career points across 131 appearances after his second multi-point outing of the campaign against Michigan (Dec. 6). Huglen also became the 15th player in program history to score a goal in three different NCAA Tournaments, a feat that had not been accomplished in more than 15 years, when he found the back of the net against Boston University in the 2024 NCAA Sioux Falls Regional Final.
DRAFTED THE SWEET 16
The Gophers have more NHL draft picks on their roster than any other NCAA hockey program in 2024-25. Minnesota's 16 players are the most for the team since 2011-12 when it had 17. From that roster more than a decade ago, four players (Nick Bjugstad, Travis Boyd, Erik Haula, Justin Holl) are still playing in the NHL. This year's roster features four first-round selections in Matthew Wood (15th overall), Oliver Moore (19th overall), Jimmy Snuggerud (23rd overall), and Sam Rinzel (25th overall). Minnesota has had the most all-time draft selections (242) by any NCAA men's hockey program after adding three over the summer. At least one Gopher has been drafted in 50 of the last 51 NHL Entry Drafts dating back to 1974, with 2001 being the only exception.
DEFENSEMAN 'U'
Minnesota was the lone college hockey program in the country with double-digit blue liners in the NHL last year. A total of 12 former Gopher defensemen took the ice in the NHL during the 2023-24 season, accounting for more than 750 games played. Highlighting the group was Brock Faber as he finished second in voting for the Calder Trophy given to the NHL's rookie of the year. Nick Leddy and Erik Johnson both reached the 1,000-game milestone, becoming the eighth and ninth former Gopher to hit the mark.
LUCKY SEVEN FOR COACH MOTZKO
The 2023 Spencer Penrose Coach of the Year award winner, Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko currently owns a 151-74-19 record after leading the Gophers to four-straight, 20-plus-win campaigns. In six of the seven seasons with Coach Motzko at the helm, the program has been ranked in the top five of the national polls at some point, including the No. 1 spot in four of the past five years. He is the sixth coach in program history to reach the 150-win milestone and has earned the title of B1G Coach of the Year three times in the last five seasons.
Coming off their three-week break from competition, puck drop for Friday's series opener is set for 7 p.m. and the Golden Gophers and Lakers close the action Saturday evening at 5 p.m. Fans can watch both games live on FOX9 and streaming via B1G+, while audio coverage will also be available through the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
LAST TIME OUT
Minnesota battled through its toughest series to close the first half of the campaign Dec. 13-14 as its injury-riddled lineup picked up just one of a possible six points against now No. 1 Michigan State. The Gophers rallied late Friday getting a power-play goal from Brodie Ziemer to tie the game, 3-3, in the third period before falling in a shootout. After a Brody Lamb tally via the man advantage early in the final frame Saturday gave the Maroon and Gold a 3-1 cushion, the Spartans responded with three goals in a three-minute span to erase the deficit and claim the series finale.
WATCH THE PRIDE ON ICE
Minnesota and FOX9 have partnered for a local television broadcast deal for the second-straight year that will air 16 home games and four road games during the 2024-25 campaign presented by Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union. This year's home broadcasts on FOX9 and FOX9+ will feature a 30-minute Pride on Ice Pre-Game Show presented by M Health Fairview as well as a post-game show recapping the action presented by RBC Wealth Management. This is in addition to the six games picked by the Big Ten Network and one airing on FS1 during the year. Check the schedule page on GopherSports.com for all the latest information and viewing options for every contest. Other FOX affiliates around the area have added Gopher hockey to their coverage with games available in Duluth (KQDS) and Fargo (KVRR) markets.
EXTENDED TIME AT HOME
The Maroon and Gold are in the final stages of an eight-game homestand inside the friendly confines of 3M Arena at Mariucci and are not slated to hit the road again until next week, a span of nearly 50 days between away contests. The home stretch is the longest for the Gophers in more than a decade as they last played eight-consecutive home games between Dec. 29, 2012, and Jan. 25, 2013, where they posted a 6-1-1 record. Minnesota is 7-1-2 at 3M Arena at Mariucci this season and outscored its opposition by a 36-16 margin, getting game-winning goals from seven different skaters. Jimmy Snuggerud has a team-best 11 points at home, while Connor Kurth and Sam Rinzel have also reached double digits with 10 points apiece.
SHOWING OFF THE BALANCE
The Gophers have picked up an NCAA-best 80 goals this season from 17 different players and 213 points via 21 of their 22 total skaters, and one goaltender, that have taken the ice. Minnesota's offensive depth in 2024-25 has shined through as 10 players have reached double-digit scoring, the most of any college program, and the team is tied for first nationally in scoring offense, averaging 4.0 goals per game. The team has lit the lamp five or more times in 10 appearances and been held to fewer than three goals just four times. More importantly, the Gophers are putting in the work on the defensive end, holding the NCAA's second-best scoring margin at plus-2.0 as they have surrendered 40 goals all season, a 2.0 goals per game average.
LAMB STARS THE POWER PLAY
Brody Lamb continues to find offensive success after setting career highs in goals (12), assists (15), and points (27) a year ago. The Byron, Minn., native has a point in 14 of 19 outings this season, aided by a career-long, five-game point streak between Oct. 18 and Nov. 1. After a three-point series versus Alaska, he earned his second weekly award from the league office as the B1G Third Star of the Week (Dec. 3). He picked up the first honor following a four-goal weekend against St. Thomas, including his first NCAA hat trick, and was named the B1G Second Star of the Week (Oct. 29). All three goals of his natural hat trick Saturday were on the power play, and his seven goals on the man advantage this year pace the NCAA. Lamb scored goals in both outings versus Michigan State to close 2024, including his team-leading 12th of the campaign that tied his career high, and ranks second in the country for total goals.
NEW NUMBER, SAME SAM THE STAR
While he may have changed from No. 5 to No. 2 during the offseason, the game of Sam Rinzel has remained unchanged following an All-B1G Second Team selection in 2023-24. After recording multi-point performances in both games against St. Thomas, the sophomore landed B1G First Star of the Week honors (Oct. 29). He extended his career-long point streak to eight games, dating back to the final game of last season, with an assist in the series opener versus Penn State (Nov. 1). Rinzel has a point in 14 of 20 appearances this year, including the first two power-play goals of his tenure at Notre Dame (Nov. 22). He's scored two game-winning goals over the last four weeks and is tied for the most goals (8) and points (20) among all NCAA defensemen, thanks to four multi-point performances and 10 total points over his last eight games.
HISTORY WITH THE LAKERS
Minnesota has never lost to Mercyhurst, winning all five of the previous meetings dating back to the first matchup during the 2003 NCAA West Regional at 3M Arena at Mariucci. That victory opened the Gophers' NCAA Tournament run to the second of back-to-back national championships. This weekend marks just the second-ever series between the two programs and first since they met in Dinkytown to begin the 2021-22 campaign. The Maroon and Gold outscored the Lakers by a 12-7 margin in the series, highlighted by Matthew Knies scoring twice in his Minnesota debut, a three-goal weekend from Bryce Brodzinski, and power-play goals from Mason Nevers in both outings.
INSIDE LOOK AT MERCYHURST
The Lakers begin the 2025 calendar year looking to turn the corner as they last won a game Nov. 2 at home against Niagara, holding an 0-8-3 record in the 11 games since that victory. Mercyhurst does have three ties over its past five outings and picked up a shootout win versus Canisius in late November. A strong point for the Lakers is the fact that they currently lead the country in penalty minutes per game, averaging just 5.8, and have posted four or fewer penalty minutes 11 times in 20 outings this season, but rank third in goals allowed per game at 3.7. Mercyhurst is led offensively by Dustin Geregach's six goals and 15 points, while Mickey Burns and Steven Agriogianis join the senior in double-digit scoring with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
WEARING THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE
Oliver Moore and Brodie Ziemer are currently representing the Minnesota men's hockey program at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa from Dec. 26-Jan. 5. Ziemer has four points behind a team-leading three goals, including a two-goal effort in his WJC debut against Germany, while Moore picked up assists in back-to-back outings versus Latvia and Finland for his two points with the Americans heading into the quarterfinals. Moore helped Team USA win a gold medal at last year's event in Sweden along with fellow Gophers Ryan Chesley, Sam Rinzel, and Jimmy Snuggerud. Minnesota's associate head coach Steve Miller also returned to the bench of Team USA for his eighth tournament having won gold medals in 2021 and 2024 with the Red, White, and Blue. The Gophers have had at least one player at the tournament in 46 of the 49 years it has been played and will be a host of the event for its 50th anniversary next year at 3M Arena at Mariucci and Xcel Energy Center.
FRIDAY NIGHT HUGLEN
Coming off a career year in 2023-24 where Aaron Huglen reached double-digit goals (13) for the first time as a Gopher, he has continued to put his name on the scoresheet this season, especially in Friday night outings. The senior has a point in seven of nine Friday games this year, totaling nine of his 12 points. He has reached double-digit scoring for the fourth-consecutive campaign thanks to seven points over the past seven games. He has 32 goals and 34 assists for 66 career points across 131 appearances after his second multi-point outing of the campaign against Michigan (Dec. 6). Huglen also became the 15th player in program history to score a goal in three different NCAA Tournaments, a feat that had not been accomplished in more than 15 years, when he found the back of the net against Boston University in the 2024 NCAA Sioux Falls Regional Final.
DRAFTED THE SWEET 16
The Gophers have more NHL draft picks on their roster than any other NCAA hockey program in 2024-25. Minnesota's 16 players are the most for the team since 2011-12 when it had 17. From that roster more than a decade ago, four players (Nick Bjugstad, Travis Boyd, Erik Haula, Justin Holl) are still playing in the NHL. This year's roster features four first-round selections in Matthew Wood (15th overall), Oliver Moore (19th overall), Jimmy Snuggerud (23rd overall), and Sam Rinzel (25th overall). Minnesota has had the most all-time draft selections (242) by any NCAA men's hockey program after adding three over the summer. At least one Gopher has been drafted in 50 of the last 51 NHL Entry Drafts dating back to 1974, with 2001 being the only exception.
DEFENSEMAN 'U'
Minnesota was the lone college hockey program in the country with double-digit blue liners in the NHL last year. A total of 12 former Gopher defensemen took the ice in the NHL during the 2023-24 season, accounting for more than 750 games played. Highlighting the group was Brock Faber as he finished second in voting for the Calder Trophy given to the NHL's rookie of the year. Nick Leddy and Erik Johnson both reached the 1,000-game milestone, becoming the eighth and ninth former Gopher to hit the mark.
LUCKY SEVEN FOR COACH MOTZKO
The 2023 Spencer Penrose Coach of the Year award winner, Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko currently owns a 151-74-19 record after leading the Gophers to four-straight, 20-plus-win campaigns. In six of the seven seasons with Coach Motzko at the helm, the program has been ranked in the top five of the national polls at some point, including the No. 1 spot in four of the past five years. He is the sixth coach in program history to reach the 150-win milestone and has earned the title of B1G Coach of the Year three times in the last five seasons.
Highlights: Gophers 2, Notre Dame 3
Saturday, February 14
Highlights: Gophers 2, Notre Dame 2
Friday, February 13
Gopher Round Table: Men's Hockey
Thursday, February 12
Highlights: Gophers 2, Ohio State 6
Friday, February 06