The No. 4 Gopher men’s hockey program continues its 100th season of competition this weekend with a two-game series against Arizona State at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The action starts on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 7:05 p.m. CT with the series finale set for Friday, Jan. 22 at 4:05 p.m. CT.
SOPHOMORE SCORING
Minnesota boasts the NCAA’s top scoring sophomore class with 49 points (17 goals, 32 assists) in 14 games this season. Every member of the class who has played a game this season has contributed points to the team total including goaltender Jared Moe while Ben Meyers leads the class (and is tied for the team lead) with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) this season.
THE FINNISH FINISHER
Sampo Ranta leads all Big Ten skaters with nine goals this season and is tied for fifth in the NCAA in the category. The junior, who has points in 10 of Minnesota’s 14 games this year, has not been held without a point in back-to-back games this year. Ranta is the second Finnish player in Gophers history after currently Nashville Predators forward Erik Haula and just the fourth European player to letter at Minnesota in the program’s 100-year history after Haula, Leon Bristedt and Thomas Vanek. Arizona State’s Matthew Kopperud leads the NCAA with 12 goals this year in 17 games.
KOSTER PACES THE NATION
Newcomer Mike Koster enters this weekend’s series tied for the national lead in scoring among freshmen defensemen with eight points (two goals, six assists). Koster is joined by Denver’s Mike Benning and Michigan’s Owen Power. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect leads all Minnesota defensemen in scoring and blocks (21) and is currently sixth overall on the team in points.
AGAINST THE SUN DEVILS
Minnesota holds a 4-0-0 all-time record against Arizona State including sweeping the Sun Devils earlier this month at 3M Arena at Mariucci. This weekend’s series marks Minnesota’s final regular-season nonconference action of the year with all four games coming against Arizona State. Blake McLaughlin (three goals, two assists), Brannon McManus (two goals, three assists) and Sampo Ranta (four goals, one assist) are tied for the team lead among active Gophers with five points each, and all three have notched points in three out of four games against the Sun Devils.
MOTZKO WANTS MORE
Gopher head coach Bob Motzko says after being swept last weekend by Notre Dame, he wants more from his team this weekend:
(info and photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)