Gopher hockey leading offensive powerhouse and soon-to-be second-year player, Logan Cooley, announced Friday morning he will stay on for another year skating at Mariucci Arena.

Following Cooley’s commitment to Gopher Hockey next season, on Saturday evening fifth-year forward Bryce Brodzinski confirmed he was back along with rising fourth-years Mike Koster, Mason Nevers and Carl Fish. Before Cooley’s decision, earlier in the week 2022-23 Gopher hockey assistant captain Jaxon Nelson and starting goalie Justen Close also announced they would return.

The two fifth-year moves of Nelson and Close placed precedent for the biggest remaining piece of their offseason puzzle, Cooley, to come back in an effort to rebound from a heartbreaking end to their previous season. With Cooley back, along with the experience of the returning upperclassmen, this team is destined for another dominant year on the ice.

“After losing that game I didn’t want to think about hockey, it just made me mad,” said Cooley at a virtual press conference Saturday, whose main reason for returning was to win a national championship for the Minnesota program. “I haven’t really won that much either, losing the U18 NTDP Gold Medal Game and obviously the World Juniors.”

The Pittsburgh product and top three 2022 NHL draft pick, Cooley, announced Friday morning that he would return for his sophomore season on a joint Instagram post with fellow first-line returnee, Jimmy Snuggerud.

In the post, Snuggerud texted, “Yo cools, you coming back?” and Cooley replied “absolutely.” 

Cooley said he is excited to continue to partner with Dinkytown Athletes, who engineered the post. Dinkytown Athletes is a popular NIL (name, image and likeness) organization used by athletes on campus.

“To hear about the kind of stuff the football guys are getting, hockey is only going to continue to grow with that and I’m happy to be a part of it,” Cooley said. “It’s awesome.”

His $950,000 yearly rookie NHL deal will be put on hold, but for a player like Cooley that’s no problem with many NIL suitors and current affiliations including his huge partnership with Chipotle, which grants him a free meal a day at a convenient location nearby at Stadium Village. 

“We were so fortunate that Logan came with us, and we’re extremely excited that he’s coming back one more year,” Gophers coach Bob Motzko told the StarTribune Friday. “It’s a terrific decision and one that’s going to benefit him in the long run and benefit our program, no question. It’s great for both Logan and Jimmy to continue their development.”

Cooley played in 39 of Minnesota’s 40 games last season, only missing one due to a suspension off of a cross-check on Michigan’s Eric Ciccolini during a 5-2 win in November at Ann Arbor. He totaled 22 goals and 38 assists on the season, including a game-winning goal in a critical game on Jan. 8 against then No. 4 St. Cloud State, with 18.8 seconds left in overtime.

The recently turned 19-year-old also went on an impressive 16-game run of notching a point, the longest streak out of any Division I NCAA hockey player. The most notable moment during that stretch was when Cooley became the first Big Ten player in 2022-23 with a five-point performance (goal and four assists) in the second period at Penn State on Feb. 17. That run ended in the national championship overtime loss to the Quinnipiac Bobcats following a stellar postseason performance totaling six goals and six assists.

Another major factor that possibly prompted Cooley to return was the ongoing turmoil inside the professional organization that drafted him last July. The Arizona Coyotes recently had their plans for a brand new ice arena rejected by the city of Tempe and are a popular team to relocate to cities such as Houston, Kansas City and Milwaukee.

“I know the NHL will do things the right way and whether that’s Arizona … whether if it’s Houston, wherever it is they’re all great spots to play,” Cooley, who noted that he was leaning on towards entering the NHL if a successful stadium deal was set in stone, said. 

Without a new stadium, the Coyotes will remain at the minuscule 5,000 capacity Mullett Arena hosted by Arizona State University. Coupling this with the fact the Coyotes are not likely to win anytime soon, it makes sense for the top American prospect in his draft class to stay in school for a little longer before entering the behemoth business of professional sports.

Cooley helped the U.S. World Juniors teams in 2022 and 2023 bringing home a bronze medal from Halifax, Canada in early January, scoring the first goal of the third-place game against Sweden off a no-look feed from Snuggerud. 

“He’s the best player in college hockey,” Quinnipiac’s head coach and Cooley’s former head coach in the World Juniors, Rand Pecknold, told media on April 7, the day before he defeated the Gophers in Tampa, Florida.

This offseason, Cooley is training in his hometown right now with current professionals hailing from the Pittsburgh area such as J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck and John Gibson, utilizing a custom workout program sent directly to him from the Coyotes. 

The term Cooley and Snuggerud said in their joint Instagram post on Friday was “unfinished business.” 

“I still feel like I have room to grow and I want to accomplish some things in college hockey and after I think I’ll be more prepared to make the jump,” Cooley said.

Brock Faber skated with the Minnesota Wild for 11 days and through four games, but until Friday, he had not played inside the confines of the Xcel Energy Center.

On the day he moved out of his collegiate home in Dinkytown, Faber finally laced up in St. Paul wearing a green jersey and didn’t disappoint. The rookie helped the Wild push past the Dallas Stars 5-1 in Game 3, bouncing back from a big 7-3 blowout loss on Wednesday.

The Maple Grove native finished +2 in the plus/minus, on the ice for both of Mats Zuccarello’s goals and blocking 2 shots in 19 shifts. Faber also held a 59.4% in expected goals forced during his 12:10 minutes of ice time.

“Everything,” said Minnesota Wild head coach Dean Evason about what he liked out of Faber in his home debut. “You don’t play two games in the NHL and then jump right into the Stanley Cup Playoffs without doing what he’s done … credit to [Bob] Motzko and the [Gophers] coaching staff for preparing him to come into the National Hockey League ready to be a pro. But even more importantly, it’s a credit to him … Physically he’s there, but mentally, he’s above.”

After an iconic diving deflection on Dallas’ Mason Marchment in Game 1 to prevent a game-winning goal in double overtime, Faber was blasted by Marchment on Friday near the Wild’s bench during the second period. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy were both present for backup.

“It was fine,” Faber said. “There was no glass there, so it didn’t hurt as much as it probably would’ve … wasn’t too bad.”

Faber started off Friday locked on the defensive end and increasingly became more comfortable on offense as the game opened up. In the first period, he mostly protected the Minnesota netfront, aiding goalie Filip Gustavsson (who saved 23 of 24 Stars shots), before receiving a faceoff to give the Wild their first lead. Faber, number 7, slid the puck across the blue line to John Klinberg, who was credited with an assist to Zuccarello.

“I think he’s solid,” Zuccarello said. “He plays hard, he’s big, he’s strong … he makes plays when they’re there and he makes simple plays when you need to. Like everyone today, he played really solid.”

From the second period onward, Faber wasn’t afraid to lead rushes on the Wild’s constant forecheck. Most of his efforts ended with deep dumps inside Dallas’ zone. His most impressive offensive attack was outskating some Stars in the third period, speeding down the left boards before dumping it again into the opposing side’s ice.

“It was awesome, the crowd was great,” Faber said. “It was everything I ever imagined and even more. Pretty special night, and I’m glad we got the win.”

Faber’s former teammates Mike Koster, Mason Nevers and Carl Fish came to the game alongside Faber’s family and were proud of their former captain’s play.

“He left an imprint on Gopher hockey that no one ever will,” Koster said. “We’re just grateful for what we did, and what’s crazy is that he’s two years younger than me.”

Koster and Faber, along with Jackson LaCombe and Ryan Johnson, led an offensive juggernaut for the Gophers’ blue line last season, combining for 147 points on 30 goals and 117 assists, the most out of any defensive unit in the 2023 NCAA Frozen Four. Faber scored the final point for that defense, assisting Jaxon Nelson on the last Gopher goal of the season during the second period of the NCAA National Championship.

“Fabes took a firm grasp as our leader and laid out: ‘this is who we are, this is what we’re gonna do and this is how we’re going to do it,’” Koster said. “He’s so humble and has talked with our team almost every single day. It just shows how great his parents are and how he was raised; his character is so undervalued.”

The 20-year-old hockey player has been faced with several extreme challenges in the past month, from competing in the Frozen Four at Tampa Bay, making his NHL debut two days later in Chicago and now returning home for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Minnesota Wild are back in action at Xcel Energy Center for Game 4 on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Central Standard Time, televised on TBS and Bally Sports North.

Just a little over a week ago, the Brock Faber, Matthew Knies and Jackson LaCombe trio were inside a stunned Gophers locker room at Amalie Arena. You could hear a pin drop after a crushing 3-2 defeat to Quinnipiac just 10 seconds into overtime in the NCAA National Championship on April 8.

Now, they’re clean-shaven and have swiftly shaken off the heartbreak rust, entering the next chapters of their lives in the National Hockey League (NHL).

It was a busy week for the rookies. In their NHL debuts Faber played with the Minnesota Wild against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 10, Knies skated for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Florida Panthers on April 10 and LaCombe took the ice for the Anaheim Ducks against Vancouver on Tuesday.

“We’ve been texting a bunch,” Faber said following the Minnesota Wild’s 3-1 loss to Winnipeg last Tuesday, which he was a healthy scratch for. “Comber is making his debut tonight and Kniesy got an assist, which was nearly a goal. So yeah, I’ve been talking to them and the boys back home a bunch, obviously going to miss them but thankfully I’m pretty close to home, so I’ll see them plenty.”

Faber and Knies will likely join the Wild’s and Maple Leafs’ playoff rosters with the Stanley Cup Playoffs beginning Monday night.

The Wild will travel to Dallas to play the Stars in the first of a seven-game series at 8:30 p.m. CST on Monday, televised on ESPN2.

Toronto will return home after a long road trip to host the Tampa Bay Lightning with Game 1’s puck drop at 6:30 p.m. CST on Tuesday, televised on ESPN.

Here are some statistics for the former Gophers from their first week of NHL action.

D Faber (MIN): GP: 2, SOG: 1, BS: 9, +/-: 2, TOI/G: 20:04
Had a fantastic debut in a 4-2 comeback victory over the Blackhawks. Faber led the Wild with an on-ice expected goals share of 73.84% and was the only Minnesota player to not allow a “high-danger” scoring chance against Chicago.

“It’s weird, I’m still living at home with my college roommates, so I’m kind of getting the best of both worlds right now,” Faber said Saturday. “It’s been a quick five days, but it’s felt like a lot longer than that, so it’s definitely a dream come true to be here.”

LW Knies (TOR): GP: 3, A: 1, SOG: 4, BS: 2, +/-: 1, TOI/G: 13:06
The only former Gopher to score his first professional point, as his near goal was tapped in by Ryan O’Reilly playing Tampa Bay. That was Knies’ best performance of the week, tying the team high for shots generated by Toronto (8) and was first in providing scoring chances for the Maple Leafs (11) in his second NHL game. He was also stout on the defensive end playing against the New York Rangers, finishing the game at Madison Square Garden tied for first in expected goals against (0.16 xGA). The Leafs are 3-0 since Knies joined the team.

“It makes me feel like way more part of the family,” Knies said Saturday about being offered a place to stay from NHL star John Tavares during Toronto’s playoff push. “Everyone’s been so welcoming the past few days. It’s easy to jump in and try to make an impact.”

D LaCombe (ANA): GP 2: SOG: 1, BS: 9, +/-: -1, TOI/G: 18:28
Skated a very promising offensive debut from the blue line against the Canucks. Led the Ducks with 1.12 expected goals while on the ice against Vancouver. Totalled 6 blocked shots in his second game against the Los Angeles Kings. LaCombe was the only player to suit up inside his home arena during the last stretch of the regular season, playing both of his games at the Honda Center.

“It was pretty special, for sure,” LaCombe said after his debut against Vancouver last Tuesday. “I think being able to play in my first game there was awesome. The guys were great about it the whole time.”

Former Gophers captain and Maple Grove native Brock Faber is a State of Hockey guy through and through. He made his NHL debut Monday night for the Minnesota Wild, totalling 1 shot on goal, 6 blocks, 1 giveaway, 24 shifts and 21:49 time on ice in a 4-2 comeback win over Chicago.

Faber and his defensive partner, 37-year-old veteran and former Gophers assistant captain, playing at Mariucci Arena from 2004-07, Alex Goligoski, were able to chat following the 3-1 loss against the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night outside of the Wild’s locker room.

In his career at the University of Minnesota through 97 games Faber scored 7 goals and 46 assists for 53 points.

-Faber-

How cool was it to play with Alex in your first game as a member of the Wild?

“He’s obviously a Gopher legend, so I couldn’t have asked for a better D[efense] partner my first night. Just considering how experienced he is and this league and the path he took to get here, it was pretty special.”

Making that quick jump from college to the pros, was there a big difference?

“The game is a lot faster and more skilled. You also have teammates who are on a different level and communicate so well, each playing in such a unique way, so it’s cool to kind of pick the brains of some of the guys and learn as much as I can.”

Did you expect to have that much ice time with 24 shifts?

“No, not really, I mean it was kind of just rolling the whole game. So, unfortunately, I got caught out there a few times, which might have boosted my numbers a little bit. But I’m glad I was able to contribute and play the best I could.”

What was your biggest “welcome to the big leagues” moment on Monday?

“My first shift. I don’t know how long it was but it was about five minutes. That was kind of where I was like, alright, this is a lot faster than what I’m used to. Thankfully, the guys were there to pick me up and I got back out there the next shift and just kept rolling.”

What’s your biggest goal for the rest of this season?

“To do what I can to help these guys, whether I’m in the lineup or not. If not, just stay ready in case I do get a chance.”

What’s the best advice you’ve received so far?

“Just keep trying to play as confident as you can and keep the nerves out. Play loose and enjoy it.”

Was it really special to play alongside Matt Boldy?

“Yeah, the last time I got to do that was at World Juniors. He’s on a whole different level now, so it’s cool to play with a star like that. It’s a dream come true to be here, being a Wild fan just three weeks ago.”

Got any messages for the fans and students back across the Mississippi?

“I’m gonna miss them. Again, I’m not that far, 10 minutes away, so I’m thankful for that.”

Bob Motzko was an assistant coach when Goligoski last wore the the maroon and gold. The two have reconnected a couple of times since Motzko returned to Minneapolis as the head coach, meeting most recently in the coach’s room a few summers ago at Mariucci Arena. Goligoski said he thinks Motzko has done an “unbelievable job” at turning the program back around into a perennial powerhouse.

-Goligoski-

How cool was it to play with Brock Faber during his debut?

“I’ve played with a couple other Gophers in my career, but no, it was awesome. He played great — he’s gonna have an awesome career in this league. He’s a really solid player. Good to get the win.”

How do you think he settled in so quickly?

“I think he knows his game. You’re not gonna see him change too much — he’s a very cerebral player. He knows where to be at the right time, his positioning is great, communicates very well on the ice. It makes the game easy for him.”

Did you watch him a lot playing for the Gophers?

“A little bit, I did when I could. He was just rock solid back there for them for three years and really led that team, and it’s awesome to see him do it at the NHL level.”

Do you guys on the Wild make rookies like Faber have any special tasks like carrying your bags or stuff like that?

“We’re kind of soft on the rookies. It’s a little different than when I came into the league. We don’t make them do too much. They’re all good dudes, so it makes it easy for us to not pick on them too much.”

How does Faber gel with the guys so far even though he’s only been with the team for a short timeframe so far?

“Really well. He’s a talkative kid, easy guy to get along with.”

Going forward, how much of an asset is Faber going to be on this team?

“Oh he’s gonna play in this league for a long time. His game is so tight and he knows the player he is. Teams today are looking for a defenseman that can skate, play defense, move the puck and get it out of their hands quick. He does all those things.”

This interview has been edited for length, clarity and style.

Before the finale of the 2022-23 NCAA men’s hockey season, the Gophers’ year was dreamlike. Unfortunately, it ended in a nightmare.

Wisconsin was the official co-host of the Frozen Four alongside the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. Their iconic Camp Randall Stadium tune “Jump Around” bellowed throughout Amalie Arena as their border rival took the ice for the first time and after the light lit red for the last time, not in Minnesota’s favor.

Head coach Bob Motzko and Co. were ahead of the Bobcats 2-1 until 2:47 left in regulation. Quinnipiac terminated Minnesota’s perfect streak, having won 22/22 games entering the third period with a lead before Saturday night.

“First and foremost, congratulations to Quinnipiac and Rand (Pecknold),” said Motzko. “It’s his third trip to that game and he does a heck of a job. You tip your cap to Quinnipiac.”

If the ending was brutal, the beginning mirrored it. Mike Koster received a big blow immediately after puck drop: indirect contact to the head, courtesy of Skyler Brind’Amour. That left the Minnesota defenseman lying on the ice for a good while until skating off with assistance. Fortunately, he returned instantly.

The Gophers held the Bobcats without a shot on goal for the first nine minutes. Responding to that first hit with fury, going up 2-0, thanks to team captain Brock Faber sniping one from the blue line that was tipped in by Jaxon Nelson.

It was all Minnesota for the first 25 minutes, utilizing a relentless forecheck, finding holes to skate through Quinnipiac’s stout defense.

Near-net shots were non-existent for Quinnipiac early. Their bellies were soon full, creeping back slow and steady.

As the Gophers’ leader was credited with an assist, Quinnipiac’s did the same. Bobcats team captain Zach Metsa at the right boards sauced a pass to Christophe Tellier in front of Gophers goalie Justen Close and found a hole to poke the puck in for the Bobcats first score.

If the opening frame was a speedy track meet, the middle was a methodical chess match that Quinnipiac took over in the third period, quickly delivering a swift, finishing blow in overtime.

The Bobcats gelled into a patient pace and controlled the puck for the remainder of the game. The frenetic Big Ten speed Minnesota’s forwards thrive on was nowhere to be found.

Quinnipiac dictated tempo because of their formidable three-man neutral zone wall, derived from their 1-1-3 defensive scheme, that they, on occasion, disguise into a staggered 1-2-2.

On an offensive onslaught, the Bobcats elongated puck possession with the wall continuing to stick pucks from attack attempts by Minnesota. The netminder in maroon and gold was peppered by shots on repeat in the final frame with little action in the opposite zone.

It wasn’t until Brind’Amour was guilty of his second penalty of the game that the Gophers had a golden offensive opportunity, but to no avail. Brind’Amour had every Bobcat penalty in a game where the officials mostly kept their distance, four total on the game for either team.

Jimmy Snuggerud had the best scoring chance for Minnesota following Nelson’s second period strike with 8 minutes remaining but threw the puck high off the glass. The freshman sharpshooter generated the most shots on goal this game for Minnesota with five, but none rang true.

“He shut us down,” said Snuggerud about Quinnipiac goalie Yaniv Perets in net. “We brought it in the first and second. We tried to shut them down in the third and they got a good one there at the end.”

Quinnipiac masterfully muted the rest of Minnesota’s top line. Logan Cooley was absent offensively (16-game point streak snapped, longest out of any NCAA player this season) and Matthew Knies struggled to beat out Bobcat defenders 1-on-1.

Nonetheless, Minnesota still led 2-1 with five minutes remaining.

Cooley inconveniently got nabbed for high sticking after almost corralling a feed in front of Perets distributed by Knies. Close continued to try his very best protecting his crowded net against a growing Quinnipiac swarm. Five seconds following Cooley’s box time, Close was surrounded by three Bobcats.

Union College transfer Collin Graf successfully fired it past Close’s pads. Union College was the previous team to defeat the Gophers in the national championship in 2014.

“They made a good play,” said Close. “I don’t know if it was a set play but they were able to break through the line, get some speed and made a nice move.”

Quinnipiac led in shots on goal 29-15 at the conclusion of regulation, outrifling Minnesota 14-2 in the most quiet period of offense by Minnesota all year.

It only took 10 seconds in overtime for the Connecticut private school of 8,788 students to take home their first title in their upstart hockey program’s history. Jacob Quillian sent the puck home on a breakaway off a re-do of the opening overtime faceoff. Minnesota’s top line of Knies, Cooley and Snuggerud watched from the bench as the Bobcats won 3-2.

“It all happened so fast,” said Jackson LaCombe, who defended Sam Lipkin, who made the game winning assist to Quillan. “I just tried to angle, and the guy got it off hot and made a play.”

“It was a hell of an honor,” a bloodshot and teary-eyed Faber bittersweetly said postgame about having the opportunity to captain the team this season. Faber signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Minnesota Wild Sunday after the championship game and will travel with the pro team on their upcoming road-trip.

This cruel culmination to a magical season pumps plenty of dark adage to the stereotype that Minnesota sports are cursed.

“We had it,” said Motzko. “That one’s gonna sting — that’s a crusher.”

Looking at the history books, the upcoming title match up seems like a David v. Goliath situation.

Quinnipiac’s first NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2002, and the team reached national relevance in 2013 when they made the Frozen Four for the first time. Minnesota is the gold standard in collegiate hockey, having the most NCAA Tournament victories out of any program, with 61 wins.

The Gophers beat the Bobcats 11-2 in their lone meet-up during the 2000 season, Quinnipiac’s third year as a Division I squad.

“[Minnesota] paid us to come out there — they were looking for wins,” 29-year Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold said. “I don’t think they gave me enough money either … I should have asked for more — I wasn’t smart enough.”

The Bobcats defeated Michigan 5-2 Thursday night in the national semifinals. They don’t lose often, four on the year from the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Their style of play is similar to stifling defensive groups like Mankato, St. Cloud or Notre Dame.

Eliciting a 1-1-3 zone, the Bobcats defenders trap their prey in the neutral zone. Against a faster and stronger Michigan team, the Wolverines’ transition attack had troubles breaking through into the opposing zone.

“That’s really what helped Quinnipiac win,” said Quinnipiac Chronicle sports editor Cameron Levassaur. “Michigan wasn’t used to having to defend like that in transition, so the Bobcats caught them off guard.”

One of the ways to evade this trap is to dump and chase. Michigan didn’t do that enough to win the game and relied on their speed to break the three-man neutral zone wall.

“I’ve known Rand a long time,” Gophers head coach Bob Motzko, who lost to Pecknold in the 2013 Frozen Four, said. “He’s got that program dialed in. They play a north-south game as fast as you can play it. They’re stingy defensively, and he keeps doing it cycle after cycle after cycle.”

Jimmy Snuggerud, who was part of the U.S. National 2023 World Junior Team, added: “Being coached by Rand, at the World Juniors — he’s the type of coach to really shut things down.It’s going to be hard to get by them.”

The Bobcats lead the country in fewest goals allowed per game (1.55) and penalty minutes per game (6.9). Gophers goalie Justen Close said it’ll be important for the Gophers to get on the forecheck and get some zone time going.

M&T Bank Arena, in Quinnipiac’s home of Hamden, Connecticut, can hold up to 3,386 attendees, and the school had a fall 2022 enrollment of 8,788 students.

Both numbers are lower than the number of seats at Mariucci Arena, which is currently 10,000. Minnesota’s fall 2022 enrollment was 54,955. Discounting the climate, you can’t find two more different hockey programs and schools to face off for the 2023 NCAA Hockey Championship Trophy.

The title game will be televised at 7 p.m. Central Standard Time on ESPN2 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Players to watch:

• So. G Yaniv Perets (GAA: 1.48, .932 save percentage, 10 shutouts, 33 wins): A Mike Richter Award finalist, Yaniv Perets is widely heralded as one of the best goalies in the country. He is ranked at the top of nearly every goalie statistic, being .001 behind Northeastern’s netminder and Mike Richter Award winner Devon Levi for the top save percentage. He’s ECAC Goalie of the Year and is unanimous all-conference first team.
• So. F Collin Graf (58 points: 20 goals, 38 assists): Third in the nation in scoring, Graf is a transfer from Union College who exploded offensively in his second collegiate go-around. He’s the only Bobcat to score a hat trick this season playing against neighboring rival Yale and is unanimous all-conference first team.
• Fr. F Sam Lipkin (41 points: 14 goals, 27 assists): Lipkin is a deadly shooter of the puck, who rifled the game-winning goal to begin the final period versus Michigan. He became the first Quinnipiac freshman to notch 3 points in an NCAA tournament game with a goal and two assists against Merrimack in the first round of the Bridgeport regional. He’s ECAC Rookie of the year.
• Gr. F Ethan de Jong (40 points: 19 goals, 21 assists): De Jong is the most experienced player ever in the NCAA, playing 183 total games through five years. He passed Larry Olimb last night for the most times lacing up the skates for a single team in NCAA history.
• So. F Jacob Quillan (37 points: 18 goals, 19 assists): Quillian scored the first two goals for the Bobcats against Michigan. This was his second multi-goal game of the tournament with a pair of lamp lighters against Merrimack in the first round of the Bridgeport regional.
• Gr. D Zach Metsa (34 points: 9 goals, 25 assists): The team captain is the second most experienced skater actively playing in the NCAA, with 176 total games played through five years. He scored against Michigan with seven minutes remaining to go up 4-2 yesterday. Afterward, he performed “the Griddy” on the way to the bench.

Boston dominated Minnesota in the middle, but they didn’t start or finish on top. 

The Gophers capitalized off of many power play opportunities with half of their goals coming from their top-scoring D unit in the country (30 goals and 116 assists on the season), taming the Terriers 6-2.

Minnesota’s Frozen Four experience began with one of the closest misses to a goal you’ll ever see in a hockey game. Jimmy Snuggerud’s shot from the point touched the bottom right goal post behind Terriers goalie Drew Commesso, with a near rebound score by Matthew Knies. Close … but no cigar.

“In the first period our line hit like three posts,” said Logan Cooley. “You start to get worried a little bit but I’m happy we soon buried some.” 

The Gophers jumped out to a 5-1 shots advantage in the first five minutes, they were rolling in all facets of the game.

Then things slowly started to unravel. After a couple of positive Boston offensive rushes, Sam Stevens broke the scoring open. The Terriers are 21-0 on the season when in front after the first twenty minutes. 

Mike Koster and Rhett Pitlick ruined Boston’s dreams of a first intermission lead. On the Gophers’ second powerplay of the game after an elbowing call on Jay O’Brien, Koster lifted one from the left circle to tie the game with 4:30 in the first. Aaron Huglen soon dimed a no-look pass between his legs to Pitlick who slotted the puck in the net from the right crease. Another powerplay goal. 

The Terriers totalled seven penalties this game. 

“The discipline cost us,” said Boston head coach Jay Pandolfo. “You can’t give Minnesota seven powerplays, that’s not winning hockey”

The Terriers exacted revenge by moving their feet and being the faster team. They evened the match at two apiece where they outshot Minnesota at one point in the second period 8-1.

The leader of this attack wasn’t the top-NCAA scoring defenseman. Freshman Lane Hutson failed to score a point on the night. Fellow defenseman Domenick Fensore was Boston’s best performer. 

After patiently aiming for an opening from the blue line, Fensore fired a snipe that was rebounded in by his teammates. This assist was off a power play, scored by O’Brien, redeeming himself for his earlier penalty that lost their only lead of the game. Fensore also was credited with an assist on Stevens’ goal to open the game. 

“We knew BU would bring some pressure to start the second…they started to whip it around and were able to start their cycle, going from low to high, getting pucks deep” said Gophers Goalie Justen Close, who saved 29/31 shots. “I thought we did a good job of weathering the storm and competing all night.”

Minnesota battled back thanks to more Boston penalties. Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Connor Kurth nearly chalked a goal in his future home arena with a swipe in front of a clustered Commesso in net. Ryan Johnson nearly had a goal from the right side of the blue line, hitting the crossbar. Another shot was barely glove saved by Commesso who the referees took to review after Bryce Brodzinski nearly tipped it in. 

“I couldn’t tell if it crossed the line or not,” said Brodzinski, the Most Outstanding Player of the Fargo NCAA regional. “It’s a tough situation for the ref to be in because you can’t really see the puck with his glove covering it.”

The Gophers had goals reviewed and sent back twice this contest. The first came with 44 seconds left in the opening frame, Knies was tagged for goalie interference with his stick holding Commesso’s glove down and boxing him out in the crease. 

Again, close … but no cigar. 

Yet, it was only a matter of time before the Gophers’ freshman class kept them in Tampa for a few more nights. Luke Mittelstadt brought the cigars and Cooley brought the daggers. 

A 5-on-3 advantage ensued for Minnesota off of a charging call on Cade Webber to close the second period. Boston killed off the 5-on-3 but didn’t stop the 5-on-4 man advantage. Mittelstadt rifled a shot past Commesso to regain the lead. 

“Mike (Koster) gave me that first one and Huglen set up a great screen,” said Mittelstadt. “I don’t think the goalie saw it for a second, all I had to do was put it in the right side.”

Less than two minutes later, Mittelstadt pressed copy and paste from an identical location around the left circle, the only difference was both teams were at full strength. 4-2 Gophers. 

“Chesley gave me a great pass and it was the same thing,” said Mittelstadt. “Screen out in front.”

Minnesota continued to control the puck with Motzko shortening his bench to three lines and five defenseman due to extra rest from TV timeouts. Kurth was replaced by Brody Lamb, after re-hampering his ankle and hobbling off the ice. Lamb, along with Pitlick and Mason Nevers, applied a pressurizing forecheck from their third to minimize Boston’s offensive attack.

Kurth said postgame he should be 100% for the final game of the NCAA season. 

With three minutes remaining Pandolfo sent Commesso to the bench, needing a 6-on-5 man advantage to attempt to score two goals in three minutes. However, Cooley sent the Boston boys packing.

Two empty net goals were courtesy of the Hobey Baker finalist and the Gophers would take their first Frozen Four win since 2014, 6-2. 

“It was all business for us,” said Jackson LaCombe, who thought the Gophers did a better job of limiting distractions in a vacation-like environment compared to their disappointing series on Thanksgiving weekend at Arizona State. “Just try to limit the distractions, we’re here to play hockey.”

Minnesota will play Quinnipiac in the championship after the Bobcats defeated the 2023 Big Ten Tournament champion Michigan Wolverines 4-2 in the second Frozen Four matchup on Thursday. The Gophers are 11-2 all-time against the private Connecticut school, most recently blowing them out 11-2 in 2000.

“I liked us tonight,” said Motzko. “We had some unfortunate ones called back, but our guys stuck with it. Koster’s powerplay unit had three goals tonight, Mittelstadt is a heck of a player. We had our chances and we finished it.” 

The 2023 NCAA Men’s Hockey National Championship will air on ESPN2 Saturday, April 8 at 7 p.m. Central Standard Time. 

Inside a Stadium Village apartment overflowing with hockey jerseys, including a customized Connor McDavid Minnesota Wild sweater, lie four hockey fanatics. Three from Rogers, Minnesota, and one from Pico Rivera, California. The west coast kid is the most famous of the foursome.

Andrew Mercado, aka “Big Merc” on Twitter, is one of the most well-known figures in the student section for Gophers men’s hockey games.

In fact, last Saturday he was approached by hockey players Brock Faber, Carl Fish, Mike Koster and Mason Nevers after their Frozen Four prep-practice to ask how he was doing. This is a common occurrence for Mercado; one of the first people he met at a Minnesota bar in fall 2021 was former Gophers forward Blake McGlaughlin, who kindly bought him a drink.

“He was a Ducks prospect as well, so I started fanboying over him,” Mercado said. “I got to meet him and he then introduced me to the rest of the team.”

Much of Mercado’s love for the game comes from following the Anaheim Ducks and the Long Beach Ice Dogs ECHL team before they disbanded in 2008.

Back home in Southern California, many of his friends did not watch hockey. Mercado makes sure to tell his roommates how much he loves them because back home, the only people who he can chat puck with are his father and older brother.

“The first time I met LaCombe I told him, ‘you’re going to win me a Stanley Cup one day,’” said Mercado, who is all in on the 39th overall pick in 2019 by Anaheim and the Gophers’ highest scoring defenseman. “One of the best players on the team is going to be a future Duck; it’s great to see that.”

A game presence that’s hard to miss

Easy to spot at Mariucci Arena, Mercado’s maroon and gold Pit Viper sunglasses combined with his bleached mullet make him stand out in the sea of students.

His love for the Gophers goes back to the early 2010s, when his dad traveled to Minnesota for a business conference. Knowing his son was a huge hockey fan, he bought Mercado some Gopher merchandise, and the rest is history.

“Last year was a dream come true. Going to the Frozen Four my first year here, I had a big smile on my face,” Mercado said. “Mariucci alone this year has been amazing. Last year, the games toward the end had been selling out, but this year it seems like every one is sold out.”

Having never sat front row at a hockey game, Mercado’s dream quickly became reality after enrolling at the University of Minnesota.

During the first home hockey series against Mercyhurst in 2021, his mullet (at the time at a longer length) was featured on Bally Sports North, and people started to call him “the mullet guy.” Soon after that, he was front row at a plethora of Minnesota’s home matches leading up to this season where other fans can’t miss him.

In October 2019, “the mullet guy” actually got a buzzcut. Mercado made a bet against his father, a Los Angeles Kings fan, to see which one could last longest without a haircut. Big Merc is at year four with the mullet. His dad lasted two weeks.

“In January 2020, I nearly retired the mullet, but Teddy Gallagher, football player from California, had a blonde mullet, and I saw it and I thought ‘what if I bleach my hair,’ Mercado said. “If I ruined it, I would’ve shaved it, but I loved the way it turned out.”

Following Mercyhurst, at the next Gopher home game against St. Cloud, two of Mercado’s current roommates met him by recognizing him as the “mullet guy” on TV.

“I had no friends at the time other than my roommate,” Mercado said. “They were like, ‘hey do you want to sit with us?’ and I agreed. They’re a bunch of goofballs, and we started hanging out every weekend.”

Big Merc’s optimistic Frozen Four predictions

Matthew Knies’ game-winning overtime goal against North Dakota earlier this season was Mercado’s favorite Gopher hockey memory.

On Thursday, and possibly Saturday, in Tampa Florida, that experience could be beat out.

Big Merc predicts the Gophers will secure their first national championship in 20 years with a 3-2 win over the Michigan Wolverines after they defeat the Boston Terriers 4-2 and Michigan beats the Quinnipiac Bobcats 4-1.

The Gophers will play Boston Thursday at 4 p.m. CT. Michigan and Quinnipiac are scheduled to play Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CT. The winners of these matches will play for the national title on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.

Inside a Stadium Village apartment overflowing with hockey jerseys, including a customized Connor McDavid Minnesota Wild sweater, lie four hockey fanatics. Three from Rogers, Minnesota, and one from Pico Rivera, California. The west coast kid is the most famous of the foursome.

Andrew Mercado, aka “Big Merc” on Twitter, is one of the most well-known figures in the student section for Gophers men’s hockey games.

In fact, last Saturday he was approached by hockey players Brock Faber, Carl Fish, Mike Koster and Mason Nevers after their Frozen Four prep-practice to ask how he was doing. This is a common occurrence for Mercado; one of the first people he met at a Minnesota bar in fall 2021 was former Gophers forward Blake McGlaughlin, who kindly bought him a drink.

“He was a Ducks prospect as well, so I started fanboying over him,” Mercado said. “I got to meet him and he then introduced me to the rest of the team.”

Much of Mercado’s love for the game comes from following the Anaheim Ducks and the Long Beach Ice Dogs ECHL team before they disbanded in 2008.

Back home in Southern California, many of his friends did not watch hockey. Mercado makes sure to tell his roommates how much he loves them because back home, the only people who he can chat puck with are his father and older brother.

“The first time I met LaCombe I told him, ‘you’re going to win me a Stanley Cup one day,’” said Mercado, who is all in on the 39th overall pick in 2019 by Anaheim and the Gophers’ highest scoring defenseman. “One of the best players on the team is going to be a future Duck; it’s great to see that.”

A game presence that’s hard to miss

Easy to spot at Mariucci Arena, Mercado’s maroon and gold Pit Viper sunglasses combined with his bleached mullet make him stand out in the sea of students.

His love for the Gophers goes back to the early 2010s, when his dad traveled to Minnesota for a business conference. Knowing his son was a huge hockey fan, he bought Mercado some Gopher merchandise, and the rest is history.

“Last year was a dream come true. Going to the Frozen Four my first year here, I had a big smile on my face,” Mercado said. “Mariucci alone this year has been amazing. Last year, the games toward the end had been selling out, but this year it seems like every one is sold out.”

Having never sat front row at a hockey game, Mercado’s dream quickly became reality after enrolling at the University of Minnesota.

During the first home hockey series against Mercyhurst in 2021, his mullet (at the time at a longer length) was featured on Bally Sports North, and people started to call him “the mullet guy.” Soon after that, he was front row at a plethora of Minnesota’s home matches leading up to this season where other fans can’t miss him.

In October 2019, “the mullet guy” actually got a buzzcut. Mercado made a bet against his father, a Los Angeles Kings fan, to see which one could last longest without a haircut. Big Merc is at year four with the mullet. His dad lasted two weeks.

“In January 2020, I nearly retired the mullet, but Teddy Gallagher, football player from California, had a blonde mullet, and I saw it and I thought ‘what if I bleach my hair,’ Mercado said. “If I ruined it, I would’ve shaved it, but I loved the way it turned out.”

Following Mercyhurst, at the next Gopher home game against St. Cloud, two of Mercado’s current roommates met him by recognizing him as the “mullet guy” on TV.

“I had no friends at the time other than my roommate,” Mercado said. “They were like, ‘hey do you want to sit with us?’ and I agreed. They’re a bunch of goofballs, and we started hanging out every weekend.”

Big Merc’s optimistic Frozen Four predictions

Matthew Knies’ game-winning overtime goal against North Dakota earlier this season was Mercado’s favorite Gopher hockey memory.

On Thursday, and possibly Saturday, in Tampa Florida, that experience could be beat out.

Big Merc predicts the Gophers will secure their first national championship in 20 years with a 3-2 win over the Michigan Wolverines after they defeat the Boston Terriers 4-2 and Michigan beats the Quinnipiac Bobcats 4-1.

The Gophers will play Boston Thursday at 4 p.m. CT. Michigan and Quinnipiac are scheduled to play Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CT. The winners of these matches will play for the national title on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.

Inside a Stadium Village apartment overflowing with hockey jerseys, including a customized Connor McDavid Minnesota Wild sweater, lie four hockey fanatics. Three from Rogers, Minnesota, and one from Pico Rivera, California. The west coast kid is the most famous of the foursome.

Andrew Mercado, aka “Big Merc” on Twitter, is one of the most well-known figures in the student section for Gophers men’s hockey games.

In fact, last Saturday he was approached by hockey players Brock Faber, Carl Fish, Mike Koster and Mason Nevers after their Frozen Four prep-practice to ask how he was doing. This is a common occurrence for Mercado; one of the first people he met at a Minnesota bar in fall 2021 was former Gophers forward Blake McGlaughlin, who kindly bought him a drink.

“He was a Ducks prospect as well, so I started fanboying over him,” Mercado said. “I got to meet him and he then introduced me to the rest of the team.”

Much of Mercado’s love for the game comes from following the Anaheim Ducks and the Long Beach Ice Dogs ECHL team before they disbanded in 2008.

Back home in Southern California, many of his friends did not watch hockey. Mercado makes sure to tell his roommates how much he loves them because back home, the only people who he can chat puck with are his father and older brother.

“The first time I met LaCombe I told him, ‘you’re going to win me a Stanley Cup one day,’” said Mercado, who is all in on the 39th overall pick in 2019 by Anaheim and the Gophers’ highest scoring defenseman. “One of the best players on the team is going to be a future Duck; it’s great to see that.”

A game presence that’s hard to miss

Easy to spot at Mariucci Arena, Mercado’s maroon and gold Pit Viper sunglasses combined with his bleached mullet make him stand out in the sea of students.

His love for the Gophers goes back to the early 2010s, when his dad traveled to Minnesota for a business conference. Knowing his son was a huge hockey fan, he bought Mercado some Gopher merchandise, and the rest is history.

“Last year was a dream come true. Going to the Frozen Four my first year here, I had a big smile on my face,” Mercado said. “Mariucci alone this year has been amazing. Last year, the games toward the end had been selling out, but this year it seems like every one is sold out.”

Having never sat front row at a hockey game, Mercado’s dream quickly became reality after enrolling at the University of Minnesota.

During the first home hockey series against Mercyhurst in 2021, his mullet (at the time at a longer length) was featured on Bally Sports North, and people started to call him “the mullet guy.” Soon after that, he was front row at a plethora of Minnesota’s home matches leading up to this season where other fans can’t miss him.

In October 2019, “the mullet guy” actually got a buzzcut. Mercado made a bet against his father, a Los Angeles Kings fan, to see which one could last longest without a haircut. Big Merc is at year four with the mullet. His dad lasted two weeks.

“In January 2020, I nearly retired the mullet, but Teddy Gallagher, football player from California, had a blonde mullet, and I saw it and I thought ‘what if I bleach my hair,’ Mercado said. “If I ruined it, I would’ve shaved it, but I loved the way it turned out.”

Following Mercyhurst, at the next Gopher home game against St. Cloud, two of Mercado’s current roommates met him by recognizing him as the “mullet guy” on TV.

“I had no friends at the time other than my roommate,” Mercado said. “They were like, ‘hey do you want to sit with us?’ and I agreed. They’re a bunch of goofballs, and we started hanging out every weekend.”

Big Merc’s optimistic Frozen Four predictions

Matthew Knies’ game-winning overtime goal against North Dakota earlier this season was Mercado’s favorite Gopher hockey memory.

On Thursday, and possibly Saturday, in Tampa Florida, that experience could be beat out.

Big Merc predicts the Gophers will secure their first national championship in 20 years with a 3-2 win over the Michigan Wolverines after they defeat the Boston Terriers 4-2 and Michigan beats the Quinnipiac Bobcats 4-1.

The Gophers will play Boston Thursday at 4 p.m. CT. Michigan and Quinnipiac are scheduled to play Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CT. The winners of these matches will play for the national title on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.