Sampo Ranta

Photo by: Mike Miller/B1G Ten Hockey

Photo by: Ben Ludeman

Position:
Forward
Ht./Wt.:
6-2 / 200
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Naantali, Finland
Previous Team:
Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
NHL Rights:
Colorado Avalanche (2018)

PRONUNCIATION

CAREER NOTES & HONORS
Spent three seasons with the Gophers • skated in 102 career games with 67 points (37 goals, 30 assists) • First Team All-American (2020-21) • First Team All-Big Ten (2020-21) • Big Ten All-Tournament Team (2021) • Big Ten Tournament champion (2021) • NCAA Tournament participant (2021) • two-time Academic All-Big Ten (earning honor every year eligible) • three-time letter winner • signed an entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche following the season and made his NHL debut during the Stanley Cup playoffs on May 30, 2021.

2020-21 | JUNIOR SEASON
First Team All-American • First Team All-Big Ten • Big Ten All-Tournament Team selection • skated in all 31 games as a junior for the Gophers during the 2020-21 season • led the Gophers with career highs of 19 goals and 31 points while also setting a new career high with 12 assists • his 19 goals ranked second in the nation while the Gophers were 20-3-0 when he tallied a point • helped the Gophers win the Big Ten Tournament title and earn an NCAA tournament appearance • earned the team's Tom Mohr Playoff Most Valuable Player Award • Academic All-Big Ten • earned third letter.

2019-20 | SOPHOMORE SEASON
Skated in 35 games as a sophomore during the 2019-20 season • recorded career highs of 20 points and 12 goals -- doubling his goal scoring total in his second year with the Gophers • tallied points in a career-best six-straight games from Nov. 2-Nov. 22 and scored a goal in a career-best three-straight games from Nov. 15-Nov. 22 as a part of that stretch • missed the Mariucci Classic to represent Finland at the 2020 World Junior Championship -- his only two missed games of the year • notched four multi-point performances on the season including three two-point games in a four game stretch • factored into the deciding goal three times on the season with all three instances coming in a four-game span • the 2019-20 season ended on March 12, 2020, when the Big Ten and NCAA announced they were ceasing competitions and championships because of COVID-19 public health concerns as Minnesota prepared for the Big Ten tournament semifinals • co-recipient of Minnesota's Mike Crupi Most Determined Player Award • Academic All-Big Ten • earned second letter.

2018-19 | FRESHMAN SEASON
Skated in 36 games as a freshman for the Maroon & Gold during the 2018-19 season • recorded 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) as a rookie • scored a his first career goal in his collegiate debut on Oct. 6 at Minnesota Duluth • tallied Minnesota's first and final goals of the 2018-19 season • earned points in three-straight games to open his career while also picking up points in both of Minnesota's exhibition games • notched three assists in a 5-1 win at Notre Dame on Jan. 11 for his first career multi-point game • recorded the game-winning goal and added an assist in the regular-season finale -- a 5-2 victory over Arizona State on March 2 • earned first letter.

JUNIORS
Skated in the USHL with the Sioux City Musketeers for two seasons (2016-18) • totaled 46 points (29 goals, 17 assists) in 84 career USHL games • closed out his junior career with 37 points (23 goals, 14 assists) in 53 games for Sioux City in 2017-18, finishing second on the team in scoring • added nine points (six goals, three assists) in 31 games during the 2016-17 USHL season • skated with fellow Gopher Sammy Walker with Sioux City • previously played youth hockey in Finland and in Austria • skated in the 2018 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

INTERNATIONAL
Captured a gold medal with Finland at the 2018 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Russia with a goal and an assist in seven games • finished fourth with Finland at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.

PERSONAL
Native of Naantali, Finland • son of Esa and Ruusa Ranta • has one sister, Essi, and one brother, Roope • selected in the third round (78th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche • the second Finnish player in Gopher Hockey history following Erik Haula • first player in program history to wear No. 58.