U Of M Men's Hockey
The University of Minnesota men's hockey team, also known as the Golden Gophers, is one of the most successful and storied programs in all of college hockey. Since the program's inception in 1921, the Golden Gophers have won five national championships, made 23 Frozen Four appearances, and produced countless NHL stars.
A Brief History of U of M Men's Hockey
The University of Minnesota men's hockey program was founded in 1921, and the team played its first game on January 14 of that year, a 3-0 victory over Hamline University. The Golden Gophers played their home games at various rinks in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area until 1950, when they moved into their current home, the Mariucci Arena.
The Golden Gophers have experienced a tremendous amount of success over the years, winning five national championships in 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, and 2003. The program has also produced numerous NHL stars, including Phil Housley, Neal Broten, Robb Stauber, and Blake Wheeler, just to name a few.
The Mariucci Arena: Home of the Golden Gophers
The Mariucci Arena, named after legendary Golden Gopher coach John Mariucci, is widely considered one of the best college hockey arenas in the country. The arena opened in 1993 and features state-of-the-art facilities, including a weight room, training room, and film room.
The arena also boasts a seating capacity of 10,000, making it one of the largest college hockey arenas in the country. The Mariucci Arena has hosted numerous NCAA tournament games and Frozen Fours over the years, and is a true home ice advantage for the Golden Gophers.
A Look at the 2021-2022 Season
The Golden Gophers are coming off a successful 2020-2021 season in which they finished with a record of 24-7-0 and won the Big Ten regular season championship. The team had high hopes heading into the NCAA tournament, but unfortunately fell to eventual national champions UMass in the regional final.
The 2021-2022 season looks to be another promising one for the Golden Gophers, as they return a number of key players from last year's team, including leading scorer Sammy Walker and top defenseman Brock Faber. The team also added a number of talented freshmen, including forward Kyle Kukkonen and defenseman Jake Boltmann.
The Future of the Golden Gophers
The future looks bright for the Golden Gophers, as the program continues to recruit talented players and build a winning culture. Head coach Bob Motzko, who took over the program in 2018, has done an excellent job of continuing the winning tradition at Minnesota.
The Golden Gophers will continue to be a dominant force in college hockey for years to come, as they strive to add to their storied history and win another national championship.