University of Minnesota Men's Hockey 2019-20 Full Preview

Throughout the summer, a building under construction greets me each morning, smiling with glass windows for teeth as it stands over the rest of the skyline.

It’s surrounded by some of the nicest buildings in town, many of which are newly completed. A pair have seen their best days after being recently overhauled, reaching new heights and reputations. One is making the most of its latest name change. Another nearby building seems to be the envy of the neighborhood and town. That one is an old friend who keeps winning awards and enjoying being considered the model building of both the area and town. All of them are moving on yet continue to judge themselves against the one currently under construction.

As the neighborhood continues to undergo changes, it joins a town where new, splashy buildings making an immediate impact on the scene mixed with some forgotten ones finding a renaissance, growing in favor.

Construction has made the skyline unrecognizable from the beginning of the decade. Many of the ones who perennially grab attention have been overshadowed and dropped off lists as new tastes emerge, challenging the old guard. Several of those buildings are making cosmetic and wholesale changes to keep up with the rest of the neighborhood.

That’s been the case for the building which greets me. Scaffolding exists, along with a crane and an observation deck devoid of people in its second year of renovations. Signs of change slowly appear on its young face.

Obviously, 600 words are not enough to preview Minnesota’s 2019-20 season and the job Bob Motzko is doing in Dinkytown. The Gophers enter Motzko’s second year as head coach still a work in progress with 12 newcomers in a group that’s largely of his own choosing. By age the youngest D1 men’s hockey team on average and by size the biggest, they add to a team which finished 7-2 over its final 9 games and third in the Big Ten. At the same time, Minnesota missed its second consecutive NCAA Tournament and third in the past four years after a run of six straight Big Ten and WCHA regular-season championships.

Let’s break it down more in-depth.

Podcast: That Gopher Hockey Puckcast Episode 30

On episode 30 of That Gopher Hockey Puckcast, we reach a milestone: recording an episode without Tom.

With Tom Schreier away, Declan Goff takes over the producing the rest of the squad for a July offseason update. Nate Wells and Drew Cove - back from a giant Midwest road trip - catch up over mics. Topics include NHL Draft highlights, Gophers at NHL Development camps (one of which Drew covered), Minnesota getting a pair of Mittelstadts, what it's like being pampered in first class, "Jersey Shore," Da Beauty League and much, much more. Plus: We answer your mailbag questions and solve college hockey's OT problem.

As a reminder, this offseason episode is on our new podcast feed. You'll have to (re-re) subscribe to get updates as the old feed(s) will no longer update with college hockey content. Here it is on iTunes.

Those discovering Kirby Puckett only played in two postseasons can directly download here.


Since the feed is new, it'd help us out to leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Plugs and stuff

-Drew can be found on Twitter @covedrew and is the sports editor for the Minnesota Daily. His byline was recently featured in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

-Nate can be found here on this website and at The Athletic (as well as every other website if the various links here don't make clear). You can follow him on Twitter @gopherstate and like/subscribe to his Facebook page.

-Declan covers hockey for Minnesota Hockey Magazine and other outlets in addition to producing. He can be followed on Twitter @dexstweets.

-Tom can be found on Twitter @tschreier3. He is the Founder and President of Zone Coverage.

Jared Moe commits to Minnesota

New Prauge, MN's Jared Moe verbally committed Wednesday (November 15, 2017) to Minnesota.

Proud and excited to announce my commitment to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota. Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way! #Gophers 〽️

— Jared Moe (@MoeJared) November 15, 2017

The 1999 born Moe, currently playing goaltender for Waterloo of the USHL where he's teammates with commits Sam Huff and Garrett Wait, fills a need in the Gopher pipeline. Prior to Wednesday, Minnesota did not have a goalie verbally committed for the future.

Listed at 6'3", 205 lbs, Moe is splitting time in net with Philadelphia Flyers draft pick and former UND goaltender Matej Tomek. When he plays, he has been one of the USHL's top goaltenders in the opening two months of the season. (One scout I spoke with called him a "top-three goalie in the league this season.") Moe is second in the league behind Tri-City's Filip Larsson in both save percentage (.946%) and GAA (1.44 goals per game). He has two shutouts for the Black Hawks in seven appearances.

Moe played high school hockey at Holy Family prior to Waterloo. He is expected on campus in fall 2019 once current starting goaltender Eric Schierhorn graduates.

Recent Gopher men's hockey verbal commitments:
-Joe Miller - Minneapolis
-Noah Tussey - Stillwater
-Nick Williams - Edina
-Rhett Pitlick - Chaska
-Jake Braccini - Buffalo
-Chaz and Cruz Lucius