Gopher's Women will play in the Frozen Four again in 2014

Minnesota Gophers Women's Hockey team won its Region Hockey game against Boston University 5-1 today at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis to advance to the Frozen Four in Hamden, Conn. March 21 and 23rd. The 37-1-1 record is the best in women's hockey this year after the Gophers went undefeated in 2012-2013. The Gophers will be the number 1 seed for the Tournament.

Do the Gophers have to win one game this weekend to win Big Ten regular season

The Minnesota Gophers are at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan to play the Wolverines in the final series of the regular Big Ten Men's Hockey season tonight. The Gophers who are 24-4-6 over all and 13-2-3 in the Big Ten need just one victory this weekend or a Wisconsin Badger defeat at Michigan State. The Gophers have a 5 point lead going into this series. The Big Ten Tournament starts on Thursday March 20,at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul. All the men hockey teams in the conference will play in the Tournament.

Probably the best player to come out of Minnesota will be honor Friday Night

Gophers to Honor Mayasich on Friday

 Mayasich’s eight national team appearances are the most in U.S. history

 

 

Gophers Olympics Central | Olympics History

 

MINNEAPOLIS (Gophersports.com) – The University of Minnesota and Gopher Hockey will salute the legendary John Mayasich during Friday’s Big Ten Conference matchup with Michigan at Mariucci Arena.

 

The salute to Mayasich is part of Minnesota's Olympic celebration, honoring the university's long-standing history at the Winter Games including six Gopher Hockey alums in Sochi this year (the University of Minnesota has a total of 14 representatives at this year's competition). Mayasich's eight U.S. national team appearances are a U.S. record while the forward earned an Olympic silver medal in 1956 and a gold medal in 1960. 

 

The U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer and Minnesota’s all-time leading scorer will participate in a brief pre-game program on the ice prior to the 8:04 p.m. CT game and will drop a ceremonial puck to kick off the series between the nationally ranked Gophers and Wolverines.

 

The Minnesota/Michigan series opener will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network and streamed on BTN2Go.com. Radio broadcast for the game will be on the Gopher Radio Network and 1500 ESPN.

 

From Gophersports.com...

 

No player in amateur hockey history dominated at every level quite like Minnesota’s John Mayasich.

 

As a prep athlete, Mayasich never lost a high school game and led Eveleth to four-straight high school state championships from 1948-51.

 

As a Gopher, Mayasich was a three-time All-American who still stands as the program’s all-time leading scorer and is the only Gopher to have his jersey (No. 8) retired.

 

As an international competitor, Mayasich’s eight national team appearances are the most in U.S. history and include an Olympic silver medal in 1956 followed by a gold medal in 1960.

 

On top of all that, he’s also credited as the inventor of the slapshot.

 

“The words to describe the boy haven’t been invented,” fellow Gopher legend John Mariucci once said of Mayasich. “When I say he’s the best, that’s totally inadequate.”

 

By the time he arrived at the ‘U’, Mayasich’s hockey talents were already widely known. The legend only grew during his time on campus.

 

The Eveleth, Minn., native was Minnesota’s leading scorer in each of his four years with the program and totaled a Gophers’ record of 298 points in 111 career games – an unbelievable average of 2.68 points per game. Mayasich also holds the Minnesota record for career goals with 144 while his 154 career assists were the most in program history until Larry Olimb tallied 159 from 1988-92.

 

The Iron Ranger is also in the Minnesota record books for most goals and most points in a single game. As a senior captain, Mayasich scored an amazing six goals against Winnipeg on Dec. 10, 1954 in a 14-1 Minnesota victory and tallied eight points against Michigan that same season on Jan. 14, 1955 in a 10-4 Gophers’ win.

 

Mayasich earned All-America honors three times during his career at the University of Minnesota, picking up Second Team honors as a freshman in 1952 and again as a senior in 1955 as well as First Team accolades in 1953 as he led the Gophers to the first of back-to-back trips to the NCAA national championship game.  

 

Following his collegiate career, Mayasich competed for the U.S. with two Olympic teams as well as several national squads. In 1956, he joined fellow Gophers Wendell Anderson, Gene Campbell, Dick Dougherty, Dick Meredith, Jack Petroske and Mariucci in traveling to the Winter Olympic Games in Italy and surprised the world by taking a silver medal. Against Canada, which had won seven of the eight gold medals up to that point, Mayasich tallied a hat trick in an unbelievable 4-1 U.S. victory.

 

He was also one of three Gophers on the United States Olympic “Team of Destiny” in 1960 along with Meredith and goaltender Jack McCartan. While Canada, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Sweden were the top four teams heading into the Olympics, the U.S. squad topped all four countries in route to its first Olympic gold medal.  The Squaw Valley, Calif., Games saw the Americans win all seven of their games, including the first time an Olympic hockey team had beaten the mighty Russians.

 

To cap off his many accolades, Mayasich was inducted in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976 with the University of Minnesota retiring his No. 8 jersey on Nov. 15, 1998.

 

Mayasich brought about the dawn of modern Minnesota hockey. As his coach, John Mariucci, once said, “John brought college hockey to a new plateau. He was the Wayne Gretzky of his time.”

 

North Star College Cup today and Saturday at The Xcel energy Center

With the Minnesota Gophers as the host team each year the first annual North Star College Cup will start today at The Xcel Energy Center with three out the four D-1 Men's hockey teams in Minnesota. The schedule today is:

4PM UMD Bulldogs vs. Minnesota State Mavericks

7PM Minnesota Gophers vs. ST. Cloud State Huskies

The winners play at 7PM and the losers at 4PM Saturday.

Goalies are the hot news at every level this week in Minnesota.

Adam Wilcox will be in the nets against Ohio State tonight in the Hockey City Classic at TCF Stadium after getting the third star of the week in the Big Ten Conference with two victories over Penn State for the Gophers. The outside game has sold 44,000 tickets for the game.

Aaron Crandall goalie for UMD was the Goalie of the Week in the NCHC with two victories over Omaha Nebraska with 90 saves on 93 SOG in a 3-2 and 3-1 wins.

The Wild Josh Harding was back at practice after being on the injured reserved. Rookie backup goalie Darcy Kuemper made 20 saves on 21 shots in giving the Wild a 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers last night at the Xcel Center.

Kasimir Kaskisuo of the Minnesota Wilderness Junior team in the NAHL who play there home games in Cloquet, MN Northwood Arena has comitted to UMD.

Gophers Women's Hockey win streak stops at 62

North Dakota beats Minnesota Gophers to end win streak. story by Gophers Athletic Department.

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery  | Frost Post-Game

MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 1 Minnesota women's hockey team's historic winning streak came to an end Sunday afternoon as the Gophers suffered a 3-2 loss to No. 4 North Dakota in front of 2,435 fans at Ridder Arena. With the loss, Minnesota's winning streak ended at an NCAA-record 62 consecutive wins.

"For everybody who has been a part of it, it's been a really special thing," head coach Brad Frost said of the winning streak. "I think they helped grow the game of women's hockey here in Minnesota and nation-wide, and that's a huge testament to them. There was a lot of pressure, a lot of media attention and a lot of excitement every time we stepped on the ice, which was great, but it's over, and we're happy to have been a part of it."

Senior Sarah Davis (Paradise, N.L.) and junior Rachael Bona (Coon Rapids, Minn.) each recorded two points for the Gophers, and Susanna Tapani led North Dakota with one goal and one assist.

Minnesota (13-1-0, 11-1-0-0 WCHA) trailed 3-0 after allowing three first-period goals for the first time since surrendering three in the opening period against Minnesota Duluth in a 4-2 loss on Jan. 13, 2012. North Dakota (9-2-1, 7-2-1-1 WCHA) received tallies from Kayla Gardner and Gracen Hirschy before Tapani buried a power-play goal at 12:39 of the first to give UND the 3-0 lead.

"We played a really poor first period tonight, and it ends up costing you a hockey game," Frost said. "We've been able to get away with it periodically, even last week against St. Cloud, we were down 2-1 after one, and we were able to climb back and win. Against a really quality opponent like that, it makes it a little tougher.

"I know our kids are sad, I think a little bit because the streak is over, but more because we gave up three points here tonight to a good club. We never like to lose, in particular at home."

The Gophers cut the deficit to one with a pair of power-play goals during the second period. Junior Rachel Ramsey (Chanhassen, Minn.) buried a feed from Davis and Bona at 1:50 of the second period before Davis converted on a power-play opportunity of her own with 10:45 to play in the period.

Minnesota outshot North Dakota, 34-24, for the game and owned a 13-8 advantage in the third period, but the Gophers were unable to solve North Dakota goaltender Lexie Shaw for the game-tying goal.

"I'm really proud of our kids and how they came back in the second and the third," Frost said. "We had chance after chance and near misses and those types of things, but you just can't play 40 minutes of hockey and expect to win. So, we're not sad because it's over, we're happy because we were a part of it. I'll tip my hat to anybody who can go to 62 or 63 games without a loss."

Shaw finished with 32 saves for UND, while sophomore Amanda Leveille (Kingston, Ont.) made 21 saves for the Gophers.

Minnesota was 2-for-5 on the power play, and North Dakota converted on its lone opportunity in the first period. With its historic winning streak, Minnesota bested the previous NCAA Division I women's hockey winning streak (21, Harvard) and unbeaten streak (32, Wisconsin, twice), along with surpassing the NCAA Division I men's hockey winning streak (30, RPI and Cornell) and unbeaten streak (38, RPI) records.

The Gophers started and ended their streak against North Dakota as the historic run began with a 5-2 win over UND on Feb. 28, 2012 and ended with today's 3-2 loss. North Dakota was also the last team to defeat the Gophers as UND topped Minnesota 2-1 in overtime on Feb. 17, 2012.

The Gophers are still riding a 35-game road winning streak, which began Jan. 14, 2012, as they travel to New Haven, Conn., for a non-conference series at Yale next weekend. The teams face off at 3 p.m. CT next Saturdayand 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 24.

###

Clic

Minnesota Gophers and the University of North Dakota renew rivalry.

News release by Brian Deutsch Assistant Director of Athletic Communications-Golden Gophers Athletics.

Gophers, North Dakota Renew Historic Rivalry

MINNEAPOLIS – The most prolific rivalry in college hockey returns during the 2016-17 season as the University of Minnesota and the University of North Dakota have agreed to terms on a two-year deal that will renew a rivalry dating back to 1930.

 The Gophers will host North Dakota for a two-game series in 2016-17 at Mariucci Arena and then travel to Grand Forks for a road series in 2017-18. Dates for both series will be determined at a later time.

“We’re thrilled to officially get North Dakota back on our schedule and to renew one of the greatest rivalries in our sport,” Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said. “This rivalry is great for our programs, great for college hockey and great for our fans, and we’re excited to bring North Dakota back to Mariucci Arena.”

The two programs battled each year from 1948 to 2013 before conference realignment put the rivalry on a three-year hiatus. Minnesota owns a 145-130-15 all-time record against North Dakota with the final meeting between the two rivals ending in a 4-4 overtime tie on Jan. 19, 2013 at Mariucci Arena.

"This is a rivalry that our fans, alumni and team look forward to renewing,” North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol said. “It is one of the most heated in all of college sports."

Two of the most decorated programs in college hockey, Minnesota and North Dakota have combined for 12 national championships, 39 NCAA Frozen Four appearances, and six Hobey Baker Award winners. The Gophers are currently in their first season of competition in the Big Ten Conference while North Dakota is in its first season with the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

-Pride on Ice-

 

Gophers and Boston College play again Sunday at 1:10

After the #1 Minnesota Gophers played to a 3-3 tie Friday night against #5 Boston College they do battle again today at 1:10PM at Mariucci Arena. Here is a recap of Friday nights game by the Gopher staff.

 

No. 1 Gophers, No. 5 Eagles Play to 3-3 Tie

MINNEAPOLIS – In an exciting, back-and-forth tilt at Mariucci Arena, the top-ranked Minnesota men’s hockey team and No. 5 Boston College battled to a 3-3 tie Friday night. Eight different Gophers recorded a point and goaltender Adam Wilcox made 31 saves on the night. Minnesota finished with a 39-34 edge in shots.

The pace of the game was quick right from the get-go.

Just 30 ticks into the game, the Gophers staked themselves to a 1-0 lead when freshman Hudson Fasching whacked home a Kyle Rau rebound. After Boston College’s Kevin Hayes took the game’s first penalty at the 3:16, Rau found fellow junior Travis Boyd on the back door at the 4:30 mark to give Minnesota a two-goal lead.

Defenseman Brady Skjei and winger Sam Warning each earned secondary assists to help put the Gophers in front.

Minnesota’s lead, however, disappeared even quicker than it came to be. Eagle forward Johnny Gaudreau potted a power-play tally at the 8:31 mark and Edina, Minn. native Michael Sit scored two goals in 11 seconds to give BC a 3-2 lead. All three goals came in a 1:11 span.

Skjei and captain Nate Condon each missed breakaway chances and Ben Marshall blasted a shot off the crossbar in attempts to even the score.

The scoring came to a screeching halt after Sit’s second tally and after combining for five goals in the game’s first 9:42, netminders Wilcox and Thatcher Demko kept the next 25:51 scoreless.

The teams exchanged chances in the middle stanza, but with 4:27 to play in the frame the Gophers’ freshman class connected for the game-tying goal.

After collecting the puck following in-zone pressure from the Eagles, Michael Brodzinski  hit fellow rookie Justin Kloos with a breakout pass. Kloos zipped up the ice and dished the puck to Taylor Cammarata, who sniped his second goal of the season from the right faceoff circle.

The third period saw Minnesota carry the play with an 11-5 shot advantage, but neither team could pull ahead and the contest went to overtime.

Cammarata almost ended the game for the Gophers with 1:51 to play in the extra session when his breakaway shot ricocheted off Demko and toward the net, but BC defender Ian McCoshen kept the puck out. The Eagles then quickly transitioned for a chance of their own with a two-on-one, but Skjei, the only Gopher back on the play, broke it up.

After the five-minute overtime yielded no results, the game officially ended in a tie. BC went on to win a post-game shootout 2-1 on goals by Bill Arnold and Patrick Brown. Rau notched Minnesota’s lone goal.

This weekend’s series wraps up Sunday, when the teams meet at 1:10 p.m.

Two Gophers get first stars of the week in the Big Ten

 

MINNEAPOLIS – The first-ever Big Ten Three Stars were announced by the league on Tuesday morning with Sam Warning and Kyle Rau earning accolades from the conference after leading the Gophers to the 2013 Ice Breaker Tournament title last weekend.

Warning was named the Big Ten’s Second Star after being named most valuable player of the 2013 Ice Breaker Tournament and an all-tournament team member. The junior forward tallied three points (one goal, two assists) in Minnesota’s 6-0 win over Merychurst to open the 2013-14 campaign and added the game-tying goal in an eventual 3-2 Gophers’ win over No. 12/13 New Hampshire on Saturday in the championship game. Friday’s multi-point game was Warning’s 10th-career game with more than one point as the Gophers own a perfect record when he does so.

Rau was honored as this week’s Third Star after tallying four points (one goal, three assists) over the weekend and being named to the Ice Breaker all-tournament team. The junior captain posted the game-winning goal and a pair of assists in Minnesota’s win over Merychurst on Friday – giving the junior his 25th career multi-point game – and added an assist in the Gophers’ win over the Wildcats on Saturday.

Michigan’s Andrew Copp was named the Big Ten’s First Star this week.

Minnesota returns to action this weekend with a nonconference series at Bemidji State.


Gophers play Badgers in Outside Game in Chicago

Minnesota Gophers play the Wisconsin Badgers today in the Officemax Hockey City Classic game at Soldier field in Chicago at 3:30 today. The game will be on BTN. Here are some notes by Brian Deutsch the Gophers Sports Information Director. 

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