So long summer. Hello hockey.
The previews and features will be ramping up, both here and with other outlets, the closer it gets to the Ice Breaker. To kick things off, however, I wanted to start with something simple before diving into the deep end. Introduce the new Gopher players. Point out their names, their numbers, their size and maybe find out which junior teams were off in their measurements.
I say new players, not freshmen, because goaltender Mat Robson is officially a sophomore (and sitting out half a year). Connor Hurley, who enrolled this fall at Minnesota to begin classes, is a senior. The size and numbers are below for all except Hurley, who is not included due to sitting out the year as a transfer.
Defense
Nate Knoepke - #24Current listed height/weight: 6'3", 201 lbs
Juniors listed height/weight: 6'3" 201 lbs
Shoots: Left
Knoepke takes over #24 from Hudson Fasching and a line of forwards. The Farmington, MN native is the first defender to wear the number since Ben Tharp in 2000-2001. As rare as it may be, Knoepke won't be the only Gopher blue liner with an attachment to #24. Associate head coach Mike Guentzel also repped it during his days as a Minnesota player.Sam Rossini - #28
Current listed height/weight: 6'3", 198 lbs
Juniors listed height/weight: 6'3", 200 lbs
Shoots: Left
Unlike Knoepke, Rossini replaces Jake Bischoff in number after Bischoff's 4 year Gopher career that has been kind to defensemen over the last decade. Besides Bischoff, Cade Fairchild wore the number. Like Knoepke, Rossini had to find new number from juniors. Both freshmen defenders wore #5, already taken by Ryan Lindgren.
Forwards
Brannon McManus - #7Current listed height/weight: 5'10", 179 lbs
Juniors listed height/weight: 5'9", 181 lbs
Shoots: Right
The first Californian Gopher forward, who wore #15 last season with Chicago (USHL) and #17 with Omaha (USHL), takes on a number exclusively worn by Minnesotans since 1966. Then again, at 5'10", 179 lbs, McManus will fit in with the last player who wore #7, which returns after going unworn since 2015 with the similarly sized Kyle Rau. Other famous players to wear #7? Neal Broten (after wearing #14), Paul Broten, Darby Hendrickson and Rob McClanahan.
Cullen Munson - #13
Current listed height/weight: 5'11", 181 lbs
Juniors listed height/weight: 5'11", 180 lbs
Shoots: Left
Munson goes from #16 at Janesville (NAHL) to #13 with Minnesota. Despite being a freshman taking a number worn by a senior in 2016-17, the 21 year-old is less than a year younger than the last player (Taylor Cammarata). Last year's Director of Operations Ben Gordon also wore #13 with the Gophers, as did longtime NHLer Keith Ballard.
Casey Mittelstadt - #21
Current listed height/weight: 6'0", 201 lbs
Juniors listed height/weight: 5'11", 190 lbs
Shoots: Left
Mittelstadt's new number is another one just used, as Connor Reilly graduated after five seasons. In a way, 21 combines both teams Mittelstadt wore last season. He was #20 at Green Bay and #11 at Eden Prairie (both of which are already taken). Size-wise the 18 year-old continues to grow.
Scott Reedy - #19
Current listed height/weight: 6'1", 202 lbs
Juniors listed height/weight: 6'1", 203 lbs
Shoots: Right
The USTNDP remains the gold standard of accurate size and weight (having players entering their draft season helps, but let's be honest: there are quite a few teams who would add a couple inches to 5'3", 138 lbs now-Wisconsin freshman Sean Dhoogie). Reedy goes from #10 in juniors to #19, a number where the past three players (Jordan Schroeder, Erik Haula and recently graduated Vinni Lettieri) to wear it have all signed NHL contracts. Got to think the Sharks draft pick would like to make four in a row.
The USTNDP remains the gold standard of accurate size and weight (having players entering their draft season helps, but let's be honest: there are quite a few teams who would add a couple inches to 5'3", 138 lbs now-Wisconsin freshman Sean Dhoogie). Reedy goes from #10 in juniors to #19, a number where the past three players (Jordan Schroeder, Erik Haula and recently graduated Vinni Lettieri) to wear it have all signed NHL contracts. Got to think the Sharks draft pick would like to make four in a row.
Goaltenders
Mat Robson - #40Current listed height/weight: 6'2", 170 lbs
Juniors listed height/weight: 6'3", 190 lbs
Catches: Left
I'm not sure where 20 pounds and an inch went from Robson. Maybe the Canadian exchange rate? Either way, the Toronto native will be doing something no one in nearly a century of Gopher hockey has done by wearing the number 40. Robson, whose #20 at Penticton is already taken by Ryan Zuhlsdorf, becomes the second goalie in three years to make number history. Eric Schierhorn is the only player to wear #37.
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