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Articles by Nathan Wells
Sections 2 & 6 Seniors Take 2021 Great 8 Championship
A seven-goal first-half offensive explosion was enough of a high performance for HP SR Sections 2/6 to take home the 2021 Ted Brill Great 8 title game, defeating HP 18 Sections 4/5 by a 7-2 final score at Doug Woog Arena. Sullivan Scholle (Chaska) scored a pair of goals 28 seconds apart midway through the first half to put the game out of reach. Goals in pairs were en vogue for the seniors, who scored twice in under a minute on three separate occasions Sunday.
Gophers hockey: UMN ties in finale, loses Lindgren to injury
Minnesota was able to salvage a point Saturday on Senior Night thanks to a senior. Unfortunately for the Gophers, their game against Michigan State likely was played at the expense of a freshman defenseman. Senior Jake Bischoff finished a tic-tac-toe play among himself, Rem Pitlick and Justin Kloos as Minnesota and the Spartans ended Saturday’s regular-season finale tied at 1. Michigan State won a shootout to earn an extra point for Big Ten conference purposes. Officially, the game ends as a tie.
Six seniors put Gophers hockey in a good place
One of the best compliments coach Don Lucia could give his six Gophers seniors came going into last weekend’s series against a Michigan team struggling without five players who departed early. “I guarantee I’m a lot smarter because they’re back,” he said, calling them the team’s difference makers.
Gophers women’s hockey team tops Bemidji State to advance in WCHA playoffs
The Gophers brushed off a scare and will live to play another weekend. Kelly Pannek scored a pair of goals to lead the Gophers in a 3-2 victory over Bemidji State as Minnesota won the best-of-three WCHA first round series two games to one. A day after being upset by Bemidji State in a game it never led, the Gophers (24-6-5) got two goals in the opening 13:26 of Sunday’s Game 3 and did not trail.
Men’s hockey: Gophers hold off Wisconsin 3-2, stay in Big Ten lead
With a timely goal and a sweep of the puck off the goal line, Minnesota took back control of first place in the Big Ten regular season race by defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 3-2 on Saturday night at Mariucci Arena. Justin Kloos put the Gophers (21-9-2, 12-4-0-0 Big Ten) ahead of Wisconsin with 5:06 remaining in regulation. Minnesota buckled down late and spent the final 58.1 seconds on the penalty kill, culminating with Vinni Lettieri clearing a Grant Besse tying chance away from net.
UMN falls to Bemidji State 2-1, forcing Game 3 of WCHA playoff series
With its season — and for six seniors, their college careers — on the line, Bemidji State defeated the Gophers 2-1 on Saturday to force a deciding Game 3 in the first-round WCHA series at Ridder Arena. Ciscely Nelson’s goal with 8:51 left in regulation broke a 1-1 tie, and Bemidji State held on to snap fourth-ranked Minnesota’s 11-game unbeaten streak. “They came out flying today,” said Sarah Potomak, who scored for the Gophers (24-6-5). “They just played unbelievable and had a great game.
Gophers men’s hockey: No rally this time as UMN falls to Wisconsin
Minnesota began Friday’s game believing the bounces would be going the way of the home team with an opening-shift lead that came from a shot from behind the Wisconsin goal line. The Gophers ended the night getting many more over the remaining 59 minutes that went any other way but inside the net. Playing from behind and trying to get yet another come-from-behind win, Minnesota’s latest attempt was one comeback too many.
Gophers hockey: UMN edges Penn State in wild finish to sweep series
STATE COLLEGE, PA. — Exactly 12 minutes removed from the sellout crowd at Pegula Arena screaming at the sight of a successful penalty shot, 6,140 fans and 23 players clad in white and blue sweaters left Happy Valley on Saturday night with nothing resembling grins on their faces. They were stunned, with the air let out of the building. They were wallowing in Minnesota pulling a rabbit out of its hat and pulling the cruel trick of taking away what appeared to be a certain win.
Gophers men's hockey defeat Penn State
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Once denied, Justin Kloos and Minnesota could not be stopped a second time on the road against Penn State. Initially believing he had given the Gophers a 4-2 lead Friday night by tipping a shot through the legs of Penn State goaltender Peyton Jones, Kloos’ first attempt at his 15th goal of the season was overturned. After a review, it was ruled Minnesota’s captain played the puck with a high stick. Four minutes later, Kris Myllari tied the score at 3 for Penn State. No matter.
Gophers women's hockey glad Taylor Williamson finding the net
The Gophers women’s hockey team waited much of the season for Taylor Williamson to break out and score. In the lead-up to Minnesota’s final Western Collegiate Hockey Association series of the season this weekend against rival Wisconsin, secondary scoring for the Gophers is on the rise after the team got 65 percent of its goals during the first two months from its top line. It eventually reached a point where coach Brad Frost stopped bringing up the subject.
Gophers hockey on a roll with No. 2-ranked penalty kill
University of Minnesota sophomore forwards Jack Ramsey and Darian Romanko share a line that goes by several nicknames. “Blue,” for both the jersey color worn in practice and collar style of play. And “trench line,” a name preferred by Ramsey, carried over from his time in junior hockey; it represents digging in and shutting down the top offensive line.
Men’s hockey: Gophers sweep Penn State behind Leon Bristedt’s hat trick
Leon Bristedt’s smile gave it away. The University of Minnesota junior forward ended Saturday night feeling good after completing his first collegiate hat trick. His team shared in the feeling. The Gophers defeated Penn State 5-2 at Mariucci Arena to sweep the Nittany Lions in a series between teams heading in different directions. “It’s always good when you win.
Hard work puts Emma May in goal
Before games, Emma May likes to sing. Not just sing, actually. The Gophers’ sophomore goaltender has a whole pregame routine designed to pump up her teammates and get herself into game mode. There are dance moves and a Disney movie-inspired handshake between May and her roommates — and singing to the point of being shushed. Belting out whatever is in her head seems to help, and right now it’s Whitney Houston. May likes the high notes.
Gophers men’s hockey: Schierhorn stops 3 breakaways in opening minute of win
On the opening shift of Saturday’s North Star College Cup consolation game, Minnesota goaltender Eric Schierhorn gave a preview of things to come. Schierhorn stopped Bemidji State forward Gerry Fitzgerald on a breakaway. Then he did so again. Then one more for good measure that also drew a Bemidji State penalty. Three times in the opening minute of Minnesota’s 4-0 victory, the sophomore was forced to shut down chances by the Beavers before his team found its legs at both ends of the ice.
North Star College Cup: Minnesota Duluth tips St. Cloud State in OT for title
One rebound put back and one celebration later, Minnesota Duluth can head back home as the top college hockey team in Minnesota, despite having needed more than 60 minutes to settle the North Star College Cup championship game. With the Bulldogs and St. Cloud State playing in front of an announced crowd of 11,098 at the Xcel Energy Center, UMD senior Kyle Osterberg scored six minutes into overtime for a 2-1 victory Saturday.
Gophers lose to Minnesota Duluth in North Star College Cup semifinals
Minnesota entered the North Star College Cup trying to get back in the win column following a pair of last-place finishes. Facing the second-ranked team in the nation, coming close wasn’t enough with state pride on the line. In a back-and-forth contest at the Xcel Energy Center, the sixth-ranked Gophers fell 3-2 to Minnesota Duluth in a tournament semifinal. Brent Gates Jr. scored two power-play goals for Minnesota. UMD (16-5-4) will play St. Cloud State for the championship Saturday evening.
College hockey: North Star College Cup never took off
This weekend’s fourth annual North Star College Cup at Xcel Energy Center will be the final one contested between the five Division 1 schools in Minnesota. After meeting this summer and fall, the schools’ five head coaches elected to do away with tournament after the initial four-year rotation citing attendance issues and a reluctance to give up home games.
Gophers hockey hoping to end dry spell vs. state rivals
Marking an intersection between U.S. highways 2 and 169, the Iron Range city of Grand Rapids sits between Minnesota destinations. One highway leads east to Duluth. The other winds south towards St. Paul and Minneapolis. Jake Bischoff is well aware of how much the Twin Ports and Twin Cities influence his hometown. Grand Rapids is his stomping grounds, the place where he still goes back to hunt when the opportunity allows.
Wisconsin’s burst ends UMN Gophers hockey win streak at 7
MADISON, Wis. — With Minnesota leading 2-1 midway through the game Saturday at Kohl Center, coach Don Lucia commented to an assistant coach during a lull in the action that he thought the Gophers needed one more goal to stay in good shape. His fear held weight. Wisconsin’s offense found the spark it needed, erupting for three goals in a span of 5:06 and energizing a nearly sold-out arena.
Men’s hockey: Gophers beat Wisconsin in OT, extend win streak to seven
MADISON, Wis. — Justin Kloos extended the longest winning streak in 10 years for the Gophers men’s hockey team, scoring 1:43 into overtime to give Minnesota a 4-3 victory over Wisconsin. Badgers forward Trent Frederic had tied the score at 3 with 10:39 remaining in regulation when Cameron Hughes’ shot went off the freshman and past Gophers goaltender Eric Schierhorn.
Gophers hockey preps for Badgers without Tommy Novak
Connor Reilly has an idea what Gophers hockey teammate Tommy Novak is going through. Twice Reilly, a redshirt senior and alternate captain, had his season end early because of lower-body injury, just like Novak, who was hurt in Minnesota’s 4-2 victory over Michigan on Saturday and is out for the season. He pulled Novak aside and talked with him for a little bit. “There will be some good days. There will be some bad days,” Reilly said he told Novak. “It’s not easy.
Men’s hockey: Gophers remain hot coming off break, rout Michigan
Kicking off a nine-week stretch with games every weekend to end the regular season, Minnesota began by building on opportunities given and took advantage of early chances with a three-goal first period in a 5-2 victory over Michigan on Friday night at Mariucci Arena.
Gophers men’s hockey: Lettieri’s hat trick paves way in sweep of Michigan
With fans screaming and trying to focus on the task at hand, Minnesota senior forward Vinni Lettieri changed course at the last instant. Lettieri had an idea of what he wanted to do while lining up for a penalty shot 39 seconds into the third period Saturday night at Mariucci Arena. With the Gophers leading Michigan 2-0 at the time and on the penalty kill, coach Don Lucia said he nearly declined the penalty shot in favor of a penalty. The crowd wanted to see the penalty shot, though. Lucia abided.
Gophers men’s hockey: Brent Gates leads UMN in victory, road sweep
EAST LANSING, Mich. — A two-game road sweep by Minnesota nearly 40 years in the making needed the help of a Michigan native. Sophomore forward Brent Gates Jr. scored the go-ahead goal with 8:46 remaining as Minnesota (9-5-2, 3-1-0-0 Big Ten) came back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Michigan State 4-2 in the team’s final game before the holiday break. To Gates, it couldn’t get any better.
Gophers hockey: UMN earns comeback win over Michigan State
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Although the Gophers did not get the start they wanted Friday against Michigan State, they have to be happy with the ending. Minnesota earned a hard-fought 4-2 road win at Munn Arena after trailing early in the game. Tyler Sheehy and Justin Kloos each had a goal and an assist for the Gophers (8-5-2, 2-1-0-0 Big Ten). JT Stenglein put Michigan State (4-7-1, 0-1-0-0) on the board 3:30 into the series opener with the team’s second shot of the game.
Goaltender recruit in line to be U's first Canadian in 10 years
In Minneapolis, the 20 year-old saw a place similar to his hometown, and a chance to play goalie in front of 10,000 fans at Mariucci Arena."The first and most important thing was going to a great program," said Robson, who orally committed last Friday to play hockey with the Gophers. "I'm excited, being a Toronto kid, going back to a big city."Yes, Toronto.
Goaltender recruit in line to be U's first Canadian in 10 years
In Minneapolis, the 20 year-old saw a place similar to his hometown, and a chance to play goalie in front of 10,000 fans at Mariucci Arena."The first and most important thing was going to a great program," said Robson, who orally committed last Friday to play hockey with the Gophers. "I'm excited, being a Toronto kid, going back to a big city."Yes, Toronto.
Special goaltender will be Gophers' first Canadian in 10 years
When Mat Robson visited the University of Minnesota last month, he knew it was for him. Bright lights. Big city. Elite players. In Minneapolis, the 20 year-old saw a place similar to his hometown, and a chance to play goalie in front of 10,000 fans at Mariucci Arena. “The first and most important thing was going to a great program,” said Robson, who orally committed last Friday to play hockey with the Gophers. “I’m excited, being a Toronto kid, going back to a big city.” Yes, Toronto.
Goaltender recruit in line to be U's first Canadian in 10 years
In Minneapolis, the 20 year-old saw a place similar to his hometown, and a chance to play goalie in front of 10,000 fans at Mariucci Arena."The first and most important thing was going to a great program," said Robson, who orally committed last Friday to play hockey with the Gophers. "I'm excited, being a Toronto kid, going back to a big city."Yes, Toronto.
Goaltender recruit in line to be U's first Canadian in 10 years
In Minneapolis, the 20 year-old saw a place similar to his hometown, and a chance to play goalie in front of 10,000 fans at Mariucci Arena."The first and most important thing was going to a great program," said Robson, who orally committed last Friday to play hockey with the Gophers. "I'm excited, being a Toronto kid, going back to a big city."Yes, Toronto.
No. 2 Gophers headed for top-ranked Wisconsin
Dani Cameranesi doesn’t see this weekend’s No. 1 vs. No. 2 women’s hockey series at Wisconsin as a measuring stick. The University of Minnesota senior forward insists the second-ranked Gophers rate their progress internally. “The second you start comparing yourself to another team, you usually start to go downhill,” Cameranesi said. It’s a mind-set that serves both player and team well.
Twin Cities
Date/Time: Friday December 2 at 8 pm CT (BTN), Saturday December 3 at 7 pm CT (FSN+) at Mariucci Arena Note: Schierhorn is 71st out of 74 eligible goaltenders in non-Saturday/Sunday games. He’s 7th in Saturday/Sunday. Toughest non-con schedule comes from KRACH – http://www.collegehockeynews.com/ratings/krach.php Minnesota head coach Don Lucia answered where his team was entering Big Ten play this weekend against Ohio State (8-1-4) with three numbers. Six, four and two.
Gophers' freshman Rem Pitlick glad he enrolled 'early'
When Rem Pitlick sets his course, change can be difficult. It’s why he nearly didn’t become a Golden Gopher this season. After being named the 2015-16 United States Hockey League player of the year, Pitlick was set on returning to Muskegon, Mich., where he scored 46 goals and earned a league-high 89 points. Gophers coaches had seen enough, but Pitlick wasn’t convinced he was ready for college hockey.
Gophers hockey: Schierhorn stars in 2-0 win over North Dakota
Gophers men’s hockey coach Don Lucia has not wavered from letting sophomore goalie Eric Schierhorn get a second night of work, even if the first does not go well. Schierhorn has bounced back from poor Friday performances often enough to earn that trust. He did so again Saturday.
College hockey: Gophers, North Dakota tie 5-5 in wild game
And the rivalry resumes with 60 minutes of penalties, 65 minutes of action and neither team able to claim victory. In the first regular-season men’s hockey game between Minnesota and North Dakota since January 2013, the Gophers and Fighting Hawks tied 5-5 after Minnesota stormed back four times on the strength of three power-play goals, the fourth coming with 1:17 to go in regulation and goalie Eric Schierhorn out of the net.
Minnesota, North Dakota set to resume 'greatest' rivalry
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that’s been true — to some extent — for the men’s hockey teams from Minnesota and North Dakota. Set to play in regular-season games for the first time since January 2013, players and coaches on both sides of the border are beyond excited to resume one of college hockey’s great rivalries at a sold-out Mariucci Arena. “I’ve grown up watching the Gophers all the time.
Minnesota Gophers take aim at NCAA tournament
Like the rest of his teammates, Minnesota goaltender Eric Schierhorn can’t wait to get back on the ice. But the sophomore has a little bit more on his mind as the Gophers prepare to open their season at Alaska-Anchorage. Schierhorn, 20, grew up in Anchorage and routinely attended Aces games at Sullivan Arena. More than 35 friends and family are expected to be there Friday and Sunday, his first games in Alaska since he was in the seventh grade.
Amanda Kessel leads Gophers back to Frozen Four
Playing her final game at Ridder Arena, Amanda Kessel had some words for her teammates after leaving the rink Saturday. She was not the only one who left something on the ice. Fans threw dozens of hats over the glass in the second period after Kessel notched her third goal of the game. Her first hat trick since returning from two years of post-concussion issues came as Minnesota’s offense overwhelmed Princeton to advance to its fifth consecutive Frozen Four.
Gophers whip Wisconsin to win Big Ten title
For the fifth time in as many years, the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team ended the regular season as conference champions. The Gophers dragged out title No. 5 until the final period of the last game, finally taking over against Wisconsin in a 4-1 victory Saturday at Mariucci Arena. Minnesota, fired up against a Badgers team playing for pride, did not miss their opportunity for a second straight night.
Gophers’ goal with five seconds left called off in 4-3 loss to Wisconsin
Minnesota’s chance to win the Big Ten regular-season men’s hockey title eluded the Gophers by a hair Friday night. What appeared to be two goals in the final minute by Tommy Novak to tie the score ended up being one. The second, with five seconds remaining in regular, was reversed after a long video review that showed Minnesota was offside before Novak tapped in a pass. With that, the Gophers’ comeback came short. Minnesota lost 4-3 for its second consecutive loss.
Gophers hockey: OT goal gives Big Ten lead back to UMN
Hudson Fasching gave the Big Ten lead back to Minnesota. The Gophers found the energy that was missing from the night before, and Fasching scored his 19th goal of the season 57 seconds into overtime as Minnesota defeated Michigan 3-2 on Friday night at Mariucci Arena. “There were a lot of times where I’ve come to this and just been like, ‘Oh, we need a little more,’ ” Fasching said moments after his goal sent Mariucci into a frenzy.
Gophers hockey: Michigan wins to take over Big Ten lead
Don Lucia said he wanted his team to be in a defensive game against a Michigan team that was averaging nearly five goals a game. To quiet the Wolverines by holding them under four goals would give his Gophers team an opportunity. Lucia got the style of game he wanted for 50 minutes, but Michigan showed it can win with defense to quiet his team instead. The Wolverines used the final 10 minutes to show off the better-known offense.
Men's hockey: Minnesota beats Michigan, makes up for Friday night mess
ANN ARBOR, MI -- The message was clear Saturday. Eight goals given up the night before were embarrassing. So was not being mentally tough and working hard on the ice. And giving up a goal directly after scoring one was not acceptable. Vinni Lettieri turned the script. A night after Minnesota gave up two goals in 49 seconds to Michigan after tying the game, the Gophers did the opposite. The junior needed 12 seconds to respond to Kyle Connor's second goal of the night for a 3-2 victory Saturday.
Gophers men's hockey: Michigan shows why it's tops in Big Ten with 8-3 romp
ANN ARBOR, MI -- When playing Michigan in hockey, the game can change in a second, at the blink of an eye. Minnesota found out the hard way right from the opening puck drop Friday night. Twice the Gophers came back from early deficits. Twice the Wolverines and its high-powered offense made the team pay, pulling away in the second period to hand Minnesota an 8-3 loss in a game between the two teams predicted before the season to finish at the top of the Big Ten standings.
Gophers beat Michigan to win Big Ten hockey tournament title
DETROIT -- Minnesota's fifth power play of the game midway through the third period Saturday appeared to be finishing with a whimper before Justin Kloos did his best Bobby Orr impression. The sophomore forward flew through air after skating into the slot, sidestepping Michigan defenseman Kevin Lohan and launching a shot past Wolverines goaltender Steve Racine for a 3-2 lead with 10:31 remaining in the third period of the Big Ten Conference championship game.
Big Ten tournament men's hockey: Gophers 3, Ohio State 0
Minnesota goalie Adam Wilcox (32) stops a shot on goal against Ohio State during the second period of an NCAA college hockey game in the Big Ten Conference tournament Friday, March 20, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) DETROIT -- Defense wins championships. And for the University of Minnesota, defense earned the Gophers another day at Joe Louis Arena for the Big Ten Conference hockey tournament.
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