Podcast: That Gopher Hockey Puckcast Episode 31

On episode 31 of That Gopher Hockey Puckcast, we kick off season 3 of podcasting about college hockey.

Fresh off attending the University of Minnesota men's hockey media day, Nate Wells and Drew Cove break down the 2018-19 Gophers. From players to watch to expectations for the season to new sweaters and more, the two answer all the questions you have about how the team will do in Bob Motzko's first year as Minnesota head coach. They also preview this weekend's opening home-and-home series against Minnesota Duluth. Plus: Some Joe Mauer and Gritty talk.

Those who get nervous meeting Neal Broten for the first time can directly download here.



Since the feed is new, it'd help us out to leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. You can subscribe on iTunes here.

Plugs and stuff

-Drew can be found on Twitter @covedrew and is the sports editor for the Minnesota Daily. His byline can also be found 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.

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

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.

Podcast: That Gopher Hockey Puckcast Episode 19

On Episode 19, the Gopher offense comes alive in Madison.

Nate Wells, Drew Cove and producer Tom Schreier discuss all of Minnesota's road sweep over Wisconsin. Offense gets a lot of discussion - well deserved with the Gophers winning 7-1 Saturday and seeing several scoring droughts snapped - but Mat Robson and the Minnesota blue line get their fair shake, as well. So does Nick Seeler making his NHL debut, the latest Gopher alum to do so.

They then turn their attention to this weekend's opponent, Ohio State. Plus: The Big Ten race for home ice and Minnesota's NCAA Tournament standing (spoiler: it's good) are topics of discussion before opening the mailbag.

Those trying to move around in the Joe Louis Arena press box without running into anyone can directly download here.



As a reminder, if you subscribed to our old podcast, that feed will no longer work. You need to subscribe to the 'Cast In Gold feed wherever you listen to podcasts. Here it is on iTunes. While you're at it, please leave a review and give us five stars. It helps out the podcast.

Plugs and stuff

-Drew can be found on Twitter @covedrew and covers Minnesota men's hockey and football for the Minnesota Daily. His latest story is on forwards Darian Romanko and Jack Ramsey thriving in their defensive roles.

-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.

BLOG: Tyler Sheehy named Big Ten first star & NCAA second star

Tyler Sheehy's weekend earned the Minnesota captain some national honors.

Sheehy earned the Big Ten first star of the week and NCAA second star of the week for his performance in Minnesota's road sweep over Wisconsin. The Burnsville, MN native led the conference over the weekend with five points (3G-2A) in two wins. Sheehy twice put the Gophers ahead in Friday's 4-2 win before getting a goal and two assists Saturday. His 12 goals now lead the Gophers, who entered the weekend without a player in double digits.

Still, Sheehy's 23 points are off the pace of last season's sophomore campaign where his 53 were the most by any Gopher in over a decade.

One of the oddities this year is that the junior has found success in the states of Michigan and Wisconsin and struggled elsewhere. In five games in those two states Sheehy has 14 points (7G-7A) and five multi-point games. In every other state he has 9 points (5G-4A) in 25 games and is without a multi-point performance.

To compare, he had 19 multi-point games as a sophomore.

The Gophers do not play in Michigan or Wisconsin for the rest of the season, which means Sheehy will have to add a new state to the total. The Gophers host Ohio State this weekend, a team that in four games last season Sheehy had 10 points (5G-5A).

In addition, goaltender Mat Robson was named the Big Ten third star of the week. The sophomore stopped 61 of 64 shots on the weekend, including a career-high 38 in Saturday's 7-1 victory.

Game Story: Tyler Sheehy leads the way for Minnesota in Border Battle win (Zone Coverage)

Minnesota’s captain led the way in the third period when the team needed him most.

In front of a hostile Kohl Center crowd, Tyler Sheehy twice put the Gophers ahead of Wisconsin to help Minnesota return from an idle weekend with a 4-2 road win.

“Coming into this weekend we knew it was going to be high emotions with a rival like Wisconsin so it felt great to play a really, really good game,” Sheehy told reporters postgame. “We competed for 60 minutes and completed it there at the end.”

The Gophers entered the game with a struggling offense having scored four goals in its last three games. The struggles continued before erupting for three goals in the third period alone.

Playing on a line with Tommy Novak and Brent Gates Jr., Sheehy scored the game-winning goal with 4:48 remaining in regulation.

“Fortunately for us, our captain came through,” head coach Don Lucia told reporters.

Click here to read the rest!

Pregame Blog: Minnesota vs. Michigan State Super Saturday Line Combinations & More

Greetings from Madison Square Garden!

I'm here for the Big Ten's Super Saturday where the Gophers (5-4 winners Thursday in the opening game) will face Michigan State (technically the home team) later tonight in the second game of a hockey-hoops doubleheader. Minnesota basketball already played, losing 67-49 to Ohio State.

That's right. On Hockey Day Minnesota, I was in New York covering my first college basketball game.

Records: #13/14 Minnesota (14-12-1, 5-9-1-1 Big Ten), Michigan State (9-15-1, 3-11-1-1 Big Ten)
Date: Saturday January 20th
Time: 7:00 pm CT
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: 1130 KTLK AM in Twin Cities
Stream: BTN2Go/Fox Sports Go/TSN Go
Nate is covering for tonight: Zone Coverage/The Athletic

Game Story: Gophers hold players-only meeting after being swept (Zone Coverage)

MINNEAPOLIS- Minnesota needed two goals to come back against Michigan in the third period.

Instead, the Gophers finished with two shots.

Defeated, distraught and looking for answers, frustration boiled over Saturday. The mood inside the Minnesota locker room was quite different than six days earlier when the team emerged with a shutout win over the No. 1 team in the nation.

Michigan (10-10-2, 5-7-2-1 Big Ten) left 3M Arena at Mariucci with a 3-1 win and the first-ever Big Ten sweep over the Gophers by a visiting team. Early goals doomed the home team once again. The Wolverines scored twice in the opening 3:06, digging a hole too deep for Minnesota (13-12-1, 4-9-1-1 Big Ten).

Believing what they’re doing is not working and needing to get on the same page, Gopher players held a 15-minute meeting postgame once the coaches left.

“We addressed each other. We have to hold each other accountable and hold ourselves accountable,” said Minnesota captain Tyler Sheehy.

A night after the Gophers gave up a goal on the very first shift, Michigan’s Brendan Warren scored on the second. Josh Norris wasted no time on a Jake Slaker pass to beat Eric Schierhorn on the power play.

Click here to read the rest!

BLOG: Tyler Nanne at forward, Mittelstadt/Lindgren status, playing MN teams & more

Before the blog begins, here's a reminder this weekend's series is Saturday/Sunday. Minnesota and St. Cloud State do not play tonight. This is due to Huskies head coach Bob Motzko also being the US World Juniors head coach and both teams having players in the tournament. 

Don't worry. I'll remind you again at the bottom. 

It wouldn't be another snap decision. According to head coach Don Lucia after Saturday's 3-1 win over Arrmy, the only way Tyler Nanne would be playing forward this weekend is if he spent the week practicing as a forward.

That's exactly what Nanne has been doing.

The sophomore defenseman has been practicing on the right wing in preparation for Minnesota's series against St. Cloud State. Known for his offense from the blue line, he had been a forward at Edina until his junior year of high school.

"We'll never know until the weekend, but wherever I end up come the weekend I'll play it and play hard," he said.

Game Story: Minnesota opens second half with shutout win (Zone Coverage)

MINNEAPOLIS- Minnesota captain Tyler Sheehy wanted to prove to himself that him and his team could work harder than the service academy visiting 3M Arena at Mariucci.

At the end of the night he was happy. Having lost five of six to close out the first half, the Gophers returned home from the holiday break by outpossessing, outworking and opening with a 3-0 shutout win over Army.

Sheehy began the game with his sixth goal of the season. Fellow junior Eric Schierhorn stopped all 13 shots faced for his 11th career shutout.

“For the majority of the game tonight we were working pretty hard and getting pucks back, things like that and doing the little things that coaches really like us doing,” Sheehy said. “It ended up working out for us.”

Missing forward Casey Mittelstadt and defenseman Ryan Lindgren due to the World Juniors, Minnesota (11-9-1, 4-7-1-1 Big Ten) juggled some lines against the Black Knights from West Point. The defense spent all week in practice rotating defensive pairings so that everyone would be familiar with one another.

Click here to read the rest!

Game Story: Tyler Sheehy scores in OT as Gophers sweep Harvard (Zone Coverage)

On shot No. 44, Merrick Madsen made his first mistake.

He didn’t make many Saturday night in a game where Minnesota continuously tested the Crimson defense. Unfortunately for Madsen, Rem Pitlick made him pay for it on shot No. 45.

Minnesota outshot the 13th-ranked Crimson 50-16 at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The Gophers needed all 50 shots to solve the Harvard goaltender, who made few mistakes Saturday. Junior captain Tyler Sheehy set off the home crowd with his game-winning goal 35 seconds into overtime in a 2-1 win and series sweep.

“That one felt good. That was one of my favorite goals I’ve scored just because we deserved to win tonight and so coming out with anything less than a win would have been unacceptable,” said Sheehy.

Madsen stopped a Tommy Novak redirection early in the first period to set the tone for Saturday’s game. No. 7 Minnesota (9-4-1, 3-2-1-1 Big Ten) outshot the Crimson 16-7 in the first period, but neither team was able to score a goal.

“It was one of those games where sometimes the goaltender has something to say about who is going to win the game,” Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said about Madsen, who finished with a career-high 48 saves. “He’s an elite goalie. He’s been that his whole career.”

Click here to read the rest!

Pregame Blog: Minnesota-Harvard Friday Line Combinations, TV, Radio & More

Harvard (2-3-0, 2-3-0 ECAC) at #7 Minnesota (7-4-1, 3-2-1-1 Big Ten)

Date: November 17, 2017
Time: 7:00 pm CT
Place: 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, MN
TV: Fox Sports North PLUS/TSN5 in Canada
Stream: BTN2Go/Fox Sports Go
Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM (Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco)
Nate is covering for tonight: The Athletic/Zone Coverage/Wellsociated Press

Pregame reading: Gopher hockey loses its finishing touch in disappointing weekend at Michigan (The Athletic), Harvard 1989 shocker still haunts Gophers 28 years later (The Athletic)

Pregame listening: That Gopher Hockey Puckast Episode 8

"That's the million dollar question."

Said by Don Lucia earlier this week, the Gopher head coach was responding to the question "how do you pull the positives all together?" Minnesota has found success on defense, allowing 2 and 1 goals against in back-to-back weekends, as well as offense, scoring 10 goals in 2 games.

However, the two have yet to go together in the same weekend.

Feature: Gopher hockey loses its finishing touch in disappointing weekend at Michigan (The Athletic)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — If Minnesota needed a reminder of the cliché “you’re only as good as your last game,” the team got one this past weekend.

Entering a two-game series against Michigan and new head coach Mel Pearson, the Gophers were 7-1-0 on the season when leading after two periods, with seven consecutive wins. Consistently finishing close games had been a point of pride for head coach Don Lucia.

That all went out one of Yost Ice Arena’s many windows this weekend. Any goodwill built up over seven wins was lost in a span of two nights.

Minnesota left Ann Arbor back at square one in closing out games. Twice Minnesota jumped out to at least a 3-0 lead. Twice the Wolverines were able to come back, winning 5-4 in overtime Friday and tying 6-6 Saturday.

“That’s not the result that we want,” Minnesota captain Tyler Sheehy told The Athletic. “Eleven goals (given up) on a weekend is not Gopher hockey. We have to get back to Gopher hockey as a whole.”

Click here to read the rest! (Subscription Required)

Game Story: Strong Start Propels Gophers to Sweep of Michigan State (Zone Coverage)

MINNEAPOLIS- Aware of the quick turnaround Saturday afternoon, Minnesota worked to avoid an early letdown against Michigan State in the team’s second game in less than 24 hours. The Gophers were prepared early and used a strong start to propel the team to a series sweep.

Minnesota scored twice in the game’s opening 10:15 while Eric Schierhorn made 21 saves to help lead his team to a 4-0 shutout win over the Spartans at Mariucci Arena.

With the victory, the Gophers (7-3-0, 3-1-0-0 Big Ten) have won four straight games after beginning the season with three split weekends. They are the first team this season to sweep a two-game series in Big Ten conference play.

“It feels good,” said Schierhorn, who got his 10th career shutout in his 50th career win. “We haven’t played the best in these four games, but if you’re winning nothing else matters. It’s good to know that we can win and not play our best. It’s good for our confidence.”

Click here to read the rest!

Pregame Blog: Minnesota-North Dakota Line Combinations, Game Time, TV Schedule & More

Ralph Engelstad Arena (Photo: Nathan Wells)

#8 Minnesota (3-2-0, 1-1-0-0 Big Ten) at #4 North Dakota (3-1-1, 0-0-0-0 NCHC)

Date: October 21, 2017
Time: 7:00 pm CT
Place: Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, ND
TV: Midco SN where available (not available in Twin Cities)
Stream: NCHC.TV ($$$)
Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM (Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco)
Nate is covering for tonight: Zone Coverage and The Athletic Minnesota

Pregame reading: "On the long road to the NHL, Casey Mittelstadt stands out" by Eric Vegoe and "Chilling tales from old rink lore add color to Minnesota-North Dakota" by Jess Myers, both over at The Athletic (subscription required) 

Pregame listening: That Gopher Hockey Puckcast Episodes 2 & 3

Friday's game story: Schierhorn stops 34 in 2-1 Gophers win

The decision Friday to play Tyler Sheehy came from Tyler Sheehy.

Minnesota's captain returned to the Gopher lineup after missing both games against Penn State. The Gophers had an extra skater in Sam Rossini skate warmups, but Sheehy felt he could play and did.

"(Sheehy) skated Wednesday and felt good. Then he skated Thursday and still felt really good after practice," said head coach Don Lucia after Friday's 2-1 win. "At that point we felt - he made the call - but he said he felt really good."

Sheehy played on a line with Rem Pitlick and Casey Mittelstadt, helping start Minnesota's opening goal. He also took 10 faceoffs Friday night in an attempt to give the Gophers a righthanded draw. (All four of Minnesota centers shoot left.) Lucia thought he did a good job.

In other injury news, Scott Reedy missed his second consecutive game Friday. He did make the trip to Grand Forks after practicing Wednesday, however, Reedy will not play Saturday either.

Gopher hockey has another rollercoaster weekend against Penn State (The Athletic)

MINNEAPOLIS — Don Lucia walked into his postgame press conference Friday night and opened by saying his Minnesota team is not yet a finished product. The same holds true after Sunday’s game against Penn State, although the Gophers could take solace in their best 60-minute performance of the young season coming two days after their worst.

Two weekends into 2017-18 has seen Minnesota twice struggle Friday night before bouncing back in the weekend’s second game to earn a victory.

This has created plenty of teaching moments for Lucia in the early going. Repeatedly in practices Monday through Thursday, players have been told to focus on staying disciplined and starting off the first 10 minutes strongly.

Neither happened Friday night.

Click the link for the full story (Subscription Required)

Pregame Blog: Minnesota-PSU line combinations, Big Ten Hockey in October, Schierhorn ties record

Eric Schierhorn (pictured after Saturday's 2-0 win) makes his 78th consecutive start for Minnesota (Photo Credit: Nathan Wells)

#11 Penn State (1-1-0) at #7 Minnesota (1-1-0)

Date: October 13, 2017
Time: 7:00 pm CT
Place: Mariucci
TV: Fox Sports North (Doug McLeod and Ben Clymer)
Stream: BTN2Go/Fox Sports Go
Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM (Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco)
Nate is covering for tonight: The Athletic Minnesota

Pregame Reading: Tyler Nanne living his dream with Gophers after long recovery (The Athletic - subscription required)
Follow along for live tweeting @gopherstate

As the old promo that got greeted by Minnesota fans with boos goes, Big Ten hockey...is here.

In October. Yes, this weekend features a Big Ten conference series.

Pregame Blog: Minnesota vs Union Line Combinations, UMD Loss & More

Eight is not great when it comes to Minnesota's losing streak against its in-state neighbor 150 miles north.

Minnesota Duluth's Parker Mackay scored 1:45 into overtime to hand the visiting Gophers a season-opening 4-3 loss in the Ice Breaker tournament. It's the eighth straight defeat to UMD dating back to October 2014.

"It sucks to say, but right now the numbers don't lie. They got our number these last few years. We were really hoping to change that tonight," Tyler Sheehy said after Friday's loss. "We tried to play with a chip on our shoulders. That was something that has been going on these past few years. We weren't able to come out on top tonight." 

Minnesota now faces Union today in the tournament consolation game.

As a reminder, today's game is NOT on television in the Twin Cities. Here's why. I'm in Duluth and you can follow me on Twitter @gopherstate.

Tyler Sheehy 1 of 2 unanimous picks on Big Ten Preseason Watch List

Gopher junior captain Tyler Sheehy is one of two players chosen by all seven Big Ten coaches on the annual preseason watch list.

The reigning Big Ten Player of the Year was joined by three teammates on the watch list. Minnesota, meanwhile, was picked to five-peat in the conference by winning its seventh consecutive regular season title dating back to 2011-2012.

Joined by Wisconsin sophomore forward Trent Frederic as a unanimous selection, Sheehy's 53 points as a sophomore (20G-33A) were the most by any Minnesota player since Ryan Potulny in 2005-2006.

In addition to Sheehy, freshman forward Casey Mittelstadt, sophomore defenseman Ryan Lindgren and sophomore forward Rem Pitlick were among the 17 players named to the preseason watch list. Mittelstadt, one of three freshmen named, comes in as the 8th overall draft pick in June's NHL Draft. Lindgren was one of the top young defenders in the conference last year before his season was cut short due to injury and Pitlick finished strong, scoring 11 goals over the final two months of the season while playing on a line with Sheehy

Don Lucia's team picked to finish first in the conference in preseason marks the second consecutive year the Gophers were chosen to win and third time in the five seasons Big Ten has sponsored men's hockey.

Newomer Notre Dame was chosen second coming off of a season where the Fighting Irish made the Frozen Four. Wisconsin is third followed by the team who dashed the Badgers' NCAA hopes, Penn State. Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State round out the list.

Preseason Watch List

Quinn Hughes, D, Michigan
Will Lockwood, F, Michigan
Josh Norris, F, Michigan
Ryan Lindgren, D, Minnesota
Casey Mittelstadt, F, Minnesota
Rem Pitlick, F, Minnesota
Tyler Sheehy, F, Minnesota***
Jake Evans, F, Notre Dame
Jordan Gross, D, Notre Dame
Andrew Oglevie, F, Notre Dame
Mason Jobst, F, Ohio State
Matthew Weis, F, Ohio State
Peyton Jones, G, Penn State
Denis Smirnov, F, Penn State
Trent Frederic, F, Wisconsin***
Kyle Hayton, G, Wisconsin
Cameron Hughes, F, Wisconsin
***Unanimous Selection

Coaches Poll

1. Minnesota
2. Notre Dame
3. Wisconsin
4. Penn State
5. Ohio State
6. Michigan
7. Michigan State

Tyler Sheehy named 2017-18 Gopher Hockey Captain

(Author's note: Been extremely busy of late so I'm doing some catching up on news that happened last week/early this week. Thanks all for being patient and understanding.)

First team All-American forward Tyler Sheehy can add University of Minnesota team captain to his growing list of honors.

Needing to replace its entire leadership core for the third time in six seasons, Minnesota announced Monday (April 24, 2017) that Sheehy would be the next player to wear a "C" for the Gopher men's hockey team.

BLOG: News & Notes You & I May Have Missed

I spent this past week in Chicago covering the Frozen Four for SB Nation. While that didn't stop me from being able to put up a couple stories on players leaving and decommitting, a few pieces of news slipped through the blog.

This post is to quickly catch up on any news you may have missed.

In addition, I will also get to continuing the "What's Next" series later this week.