2021–22 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season

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2021–22 Minnesota Golden Gophers
men's ice hockey season
Minnesota Golden Gophers logo.svg
Big Ten, Champion
ConferenceBig Ten
Home ice3M Arena at Mariucci
Rankings
USCHO#2
USA Today#2
Record
Overall24–11–0
Conference18–6–0
Home13–6–0
Road11–5–0
Coaches and Captains
Head CoachBob Motzko
Assistant CoachesGarrett Raboin
Ben Gordon
Captain(s)Jack LaFontaine
Ben Meyers
Sammy Walker
Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey seasons
« 2020–21  »

The 2021–22 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season will be the 101st season of play for the program. They will represent the University of Minnesota in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. This season will mark the 32nd season in the Big Ten Conference. They will be coached by Bob Motzko, in his fourth season, and play their home games at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

Season[]

On January 9, shortly after wrapping up a weekend sweep of Michigan State, the Gophers were dealt a serious blow. Their starting goaltender and co-captain, Jack LaFontaine, who had played all but 28 minutes in got for the team to that point, signed a profession contract with the Carolina Hurricanes and ended his college career.[1]

Departures[]

Player Position Nationality Cause
Nathan Burke Forward  United States Transferred to Bowling Green
Jack LaFontaine Goaltender  Canada Left mid-season (signed with Carolina Hurricanes)
Brannon McManus Forward  United States Graduate transfer to Omaha
Jared Moe Goaltender  United States Transferred to Wisconsin
Cullen Munson Forward  United States Graduation (retired)
Sampo Ranta Forward  Finland Signed professional contract (Colorado Avalanche)
Scott Reedy Forward  United States Graduation (signed with San Jose Sharks)
Robbie Stucker Defenseman  United States Transferred to Vermont
Noah Weber Forward  United States Left program (retired)

Recruiting[]

Player Position Nationality Age Notes
Brennan Boynton Goaltender  United States 21 Champlin, MN
Tristan Broz Forward  United States 18 Bloomington, MN; selected 58th overall in 2021
Grant Cruikshank Forward  United States 23 Delafield, WI; transfer from Colorado College
Aaron Huglen Forward  United States 18 Roseau, MN; selected 102nd overall in 2019
Matthew Knies Forward  United States 18 Phoenix, AZ; selected 57th overall in 2021
Chaz Lucius Forward  United States 18 Lawrence, KS; selected 18th overall in 2021
Rhett Pitlick Forward  United States 20 Chaska, MN; selected 131st overall in 2019

Roster[]

As of August 30, 2021.[2]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1 Saskatchewan Justen Close Junior G 5' 10" (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1998-05-20 Kindersley, Saskatchewan Kindersley (SJHL) —
2 Minnesota Jackson LaCombe Junior D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2001-01-09 Eden Prairie, Minnesota Shattuck-St. Mary's (Midget AAA) ANA, 39th overall 2019
4 Minnesota Ben Brinkman Senior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2000-10-04 Edina, Minnesota Edina (USHS–MN) DAL, 173rd overall 2019
5 Minnesota Matt Denman Senior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1998-04-20 Prior Lake, Minnesota Cedar Rapids (USHL) —
6 Minnesota Mike Koster Sophomore D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2001-04-13 Chaska, Minnesota Tri-City (USHL) TOR, 146th overall 2019
7 Minnesota Aaron Huglen Freshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2001-03-06 Roseau, Minnesota Fargo (USHL) BUF, 102nd overall 2019
9 Minnesota Sammy Walker (C) Senior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1999-06-07 Edina, Minnesota Edina (USHS–MN) TBL, 200th overall 2017
10 Minnesota Tristan Broz Freshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 179 lb (81 kg) 2002-10-10 Bloomington, Minnesota Fargo (USHL) PIT, 58th overall 2021
11 Minnesota Jonny Sorenson Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1999-09-21 St. Louis Park, Minnesota Fairbanks (NAHL) —
14 Minnesota Brock Faber Sophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2002-08-22 Maple Grove, Minnesota USNTDP (USHL) LAK, 45th overall 2020
16 Minnesota Colin Schmidt Junior F 6' 4" (1.93 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 2000-01-06 Wayzata, Minnesota Union (ECAC) —
18 Minnesota Mason Nevers Sophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2001-04-03 Edina, Minnesota Des Moines (USHL) —
21 Wisconsin Grant Cruikshank Senior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1998-07-19 Delafield, Wisconsin Colorado College (NCHC) —
22 Minnesota Bryce Brodzinski Junior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2000-08-09 Blaine, Minnesota Blaine (USHS–MN) PHI, 196th overall 2019
23 California Ryan Johnson Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2001-07-24 Irvine, California Sioux Falls (USHL) BUF, 31st overall 2019
24 Minnesota Jaxon Nelson Junior F 6' 4" (1.93 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 2000-03-30 Magnolia, Minnesota Omaha (USHL) —
25 Minnesota Jack Perbix Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2000-09-13 Elk River, Minnesota Des Moines (USHL) ANA, 116th overall 2018
26 Minnesota Carl Fish Sophomore D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1999-11-09 St. Paul, Minnesota Bismarck (NAHL) —
27 Minnesota Blake McLaughlin Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2000-02-14 Grand Rapids, Minnesota Chicago (USHL) ANA, 79th overall 2018
28 Minnesota Sam Rossini Graduate D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1998-06-19 Burnsville, Minnesota Penticton (BCHL) —
29 Minnesota Chaz Lucius Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2003-05-02 Grant, Minnesota USNTDP (USHL) WPG, 18th overall 2021
33 Minnesota Brennan Boynton Freshman G 6' 0" (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2000-08-01 Champlin, Minnesota Fargo (USHL) —
39 Minnesota Ben Meyers (C) Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1998-11-15 Delano, Minnesota Fargo (USHL) —
45 Ontario Jack LaFontaine (C) Graduate G 6' 3" (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1998-01-06 Mississauga, Ontario Penticton (BCHL) CAR, 75th overall 2016
55 Michigan Matt Staudacher Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2000-02-07 Fenton, Michigan Muskegon (USHL) —
77 Minnesota Rhett Pitlick Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2001-02-07 Chaska, Minnesota Tri-City (USHL) MTL, 131st overall 2019
89 Arizona Matthew Knies Freshman F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 2002-10-17 Phoenix, Arizona Tri-City (USHL) TOR, 57th overall 2021

Standings[]

2021–22 Big Ten ice hockey Standings
Conference record Overall record
GP W L T OTW OTL 3/SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
#2 Minnesota † 24 18 6 0 1 2 0 55 90 50 35 24 11 0 127 79
#4 Michigan 24 16 8 0 0 3 0 51 91 59 38 28 9 1 149 81
#9 Notre Dame 24 17 7 0 5 1 0 47 74 55 38 27 11 0 126 80
#16 Ohio State 24 13 9 2 1 1 1 42 76 59 37 22 13 2 125 87
Penn State 24 6 17 1 1 1 1 20 63 92 38 17 20 1 117 122
Wisconsin 24 6 17 1 1 2 0 20 53 96 37 10 24 3 76 132
Michigan State 24 6 18 0 1 0 0 17 51 87 36 12 23 1 76 119
Championship: March 19, 2022
† indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion
Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated March 12, 2022

Schedule and results[]

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Decision Result Attendance Record
Regular Season
October 8 7:00 PM vs. Mercyhurst* #4 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BSN+ LaFontaine W 7–4  6,372 1–0–0
October 9 5:00 PM vs. Mercyhurst* #4 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BSN LaFontaine W 5–3  6,396 2–0–0
October 15 7:00 PM vs. #2 St. Cloud State* #4 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BSN LaFontaine L 1–2  8,190 2–1–0
October 16 5:07 PM at #2 St. Cloud State* #4 Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN   LaFontaine W 4–3 OT 5,596 3–1–0
October 22 7:00 PM vs. #5 Minnesota Duluth* #4 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN (Rivalry) BSN LaFontaine L 3–5  9,016 3–2–0
October 23 7:07 PM at #5 Minnesota Duluth* #4 AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, MN (Rivalry)   LaFontaine L 1–2  7,596 3–3–0
October 29 8:00 PM vs. #14 Notre Dame #7 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BTN LaFontaine W 4–1  6,744 4–3–0 (1–0–0)
October 30 5:00 PM vs. #14 Notre Dame #7 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BSN LaFontaine W 3–2  6,875 5–3–0 (2–0–0)
November 5 7:00 PM at Wisconsin #5 Kohl Center • Madison, WI (Rivalry) BSW+, BSN+ LaFontaine L 3–4 OT 9,813 5–4–0 (2–1–0)
November 6 8:00 PM at Wisconsin #5 Kohl Center • Madison, WI (Rivalry) BSW, BSN+ LaFontaine W 4–1  12,015 6–4–0 (3–1–0)
November 12 6:30 PM vs. #18 Ohio State #6 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BSN LaFontaine L 3–4  7,511 6–5–0 (3–2–0)
November 13 5:00 PM vs. #18 Ohio State #6 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BSN LaFontaine W 2–0  7,294 7–5–0 (4–2–0)
November 19 7:00 PM vs. Penn State #7 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BSN LaFontaine L 3–5  7,426 7–6–0 (4–3–0)
November 20 8:00 PM vs. Penn State #7 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BSN LaFontaine W 4–2  7,309 8–6–0 (5–3–0)
November 26 7:07 PM at #6 North Dakota* #11 Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, ND (Rivalry) Midco LaFontaine W 5–1  11,624 9–6–0
November 27 6:07 PM at #6 North Dakota* #11 Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, ND (Rivalry) Midco LaFontaine L 2–3  11,617 9–7–0
December 3 6:30 PM vs. #3 Michigan #11 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BTN LaFontaine W 5–1  5,800 10–7–0 (6–3–0)
December 4 7:00 PM vs. #3 Michigan #11 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BTN LaFontaine L 2–6  5,613 10–8–0 (6–4–0)
January 3 6:00 PM vs. USNTDP* #9 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN (Exhibition)     W 5–3   
January 7 6:30 PM at Michigan State #9 Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, MI BTN LaFontaine W 4–1  4,922 11–8–0 (7–4–0)
January 8 7:30 PM at Michigan State #9 Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, MI BTN LaFontaine W 6–3  5,209 12–8–0 (8–4–0)
January 14 6:00 PM vs. Alaska* #8 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN   Close W 4–1  7,624 13–8–0
January 15 6:00 PM vs. Alaska* #8 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN   Close L 2–3  8,083 13–9–0
January 21 8:00 PM at #3 Michigan #11 Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, MI ESPNU Close W 2–1 OT 8,204 14–9–0 (9–4–0)
January 22 6:30 PM at #3 Michigan #11 Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, MI BTN Close L 1–4  8,046 14–10–0 (9–5–0)
January 28 6:30 PM at #11 Notre Dame #10 Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, IN Peacock Close W 5–1  4,711 15–10–0 (10–5–0)
January 29 5:00 PM at #11 Notre Dame #10 Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, IN Peacock Close L 2–3 OT 4,632 15–11–0 (10–6–0)
February 4 7:00 PM vs. Michigan State #8 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BSN Close W 4–2  7,824 16–11–0 (11–6–0)
February 5 5:00 PM vs. Michigan State #8 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN BSN Close W 3–1  8,305 17–11–0 (12–6–0)
February 11 5:30 PM at #8 Ohio State #7 Value City Arena • Columbus, OH BTN Close W 3–2  6,008 18–11–0 (13–6–0)
February 12 5:00 PM at #8 Ohio State #7 Value City Arena • Columbus, OH BTN Close W 5–1  6,208 19–11–0 (14–6–0)
February 18 5:30 PM at Penn State #5 Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, PA BTN Close W 3–1  6,043 20–11–0 (15–6–0)
February 19 5:00 PM at Penn State #5 Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, PA BTN Close W 6–4  6,216 21–11–0 (16–6–0)
February 25 8:00 PM vs. Wisconsin #4 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN (Rivalry) ESPNU Close W 5–0  9,350 22–11–0 (17–6–0)
February 26 8:00 PM vs. Wisconsin #4 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN (Rivalry) BTN Close W 8–0  10,069 23–11–0 (18–6–0)
Big Ten Tournament
March 12 9:00 PM vs. Penn State* #2 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN (Semifinal) BTN Close W 3–2  6,856 24–11–0
March 19 8:00 PM vs. #4 Michigan* #2 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, MN (Championship) BTN        
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Central Time.
Source: [3]

Scoring statistics[]

Goaltending statistics[]

Rankings[]

Main article: 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings
Poll[4] Week
Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 (Final)
USCHO.com 4 (2) 4 (1) 4 (1) 4 7 5 (1) 6 7 11 11 10 (1) 11 9 8 11 10 8 7 5 4
USA Today 4 (7) 4 (3) 4 4 7 5 (1) 8 7 12 12 11 (1) 11 11 8 11 10 10 8 6 4

References[]

  1. ^ "Minnesota goalie, 2021 Richter Award winner LaFontaine leaves Gophers, signs NHL deal with Carolina". USCHO.com. January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "2020–21 Men's Ice Hockey Roster". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  3. ^ "Minnesota 2021-22 Team Schedule". College Hockey Inc. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.

External links[]

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