Gophers can win league title this weekend (photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) — The No. 5 Gopher Hockey closes out the 2016-17 regular season this weekend with a two-game Big Ten series against Michigan State at Mariucci Arena. Minnesota controls it own destiny and can win the Big Ten title this weekend.
Sheehy Posts U’s Best Season in Over a Decade
Sophomore forward Tyler Sheehy leads the Big Ten and ranks tied for sixth in the NCAA with 52 points this year — the most in a season by a Gopher since Ryan Potulny recorded 63 in 2005-06. A candidate for the Hobey Baker Award this year, Sheehy has career bests in points (52), goals (20) and assists (32). The sophomore has 16 points in the last eight games and has 19 multi-point games on the year (ranking second in the nation in the category). He leads the nation with 38 points at even strength this season. Sheehy was tabbed the Big Ten Second Star of the Week on Tuesday — his fifth weekly honor of the season.
Mariucci Milestone
Saturday’s game against the Spartans will stand as the 500th Gopher game at Mariucci Arena, where the Gophers boast a record of 323-128-47 in the venue’s 24-year history. The Gophers are 10-3-1 this season at Mariucci Arena including a six-game home winning streak earlier this season.
Bischoff Leads the Gophers Blue Line
Senior defenseman and alternate captain Jake Bischoff is one of several Gophers seniors having their best season with the Maroon & Gold. Bischoff has career bests in points (30), assists (26) and blocks (80). The senior ranks ninth in the nation in blocks and ninth in NCAA scoring among defensemen (first among Big Ten defensemen). The senior has a point in eight-straight games entering this weekend — a career-best streak for the defenseman.
The Skate for Six
Minnesota will look to make NCAA history this weekend by becoming the first program in history to win six straight regular-season conference titles. The Maroon & Gold have won the first three Big Ten regular-season crowns (2014-16) and previously won two-straight WCHA regular-season titles (2012-13). Minnesota has won 17 regular-season conference championships in program history — seven of them under head coach Don Lucia. One win this weekend would lock up at least a share of this year’s Big Ten regular-season championship.
Goalie Speaks
Gopher sophomore goaltender Eric Scheirhorn of Anchorage, Alaska sat down with MNN Sports Director Mike Grimm this week:
Goalie Eric Schierhorn in action (photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
