# 2019–20 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season

The 2019–20 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season was the 99th season of play for the program. They represented the University of Minnesota in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. This season marked the 30th season in the Big Ten Conference. They were coached by Bob Motzko, in his second season, and played their home games at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
On March 12, 2020, the Big Ten announced that the tournament was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

## Roster

As of September 14, 2019.

## Standings

2019–20 Big Ten ice hockey Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | 3/SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #9 Penn State | 24 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 41 | 79 | 70 | 34 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 121 | 88 |
| #10 Ohio State | 24 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 38 | 62 | 62 | 34 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 91 | 80 |
| #17 Michigan | 24 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 38 | 65 | 52 | 34 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 92 | 72 |
| #18 Minnesota | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 38 | 66 | 62 | 34 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 95 | 94 |
| Notre Dame | 24 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 37 | 59 | 59 | 34 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 90 | 91 |
| Michigan State | 24 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 54 | 54 | 34 | 15 | 17 | 2 | 80 | 82 |
| Wisconsin | 24 | 7 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 63 | 89 | 34 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 110 | 124 |
| Championship: March 21, 2020 † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated March 1, 2020 ||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Rank$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| October 7 | 5:00 PM | vs. Mount Royal* | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Exhibition) | | Close | T 2–2 $^{OT}$ | 6,482 | |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 11 | 8:37 PM | at Colorado College* | | Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | FSN+ | LaFontaine | L 2–3 | 3,429 | 0–1–0 |
| October 12 | 8:07 PM | at Colorado College* | | Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Moe | W 4–3 | 3,460 | 1–1–0 |
| October 18 | 7:05 PM | vs. Niagara* | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN | LaFontaine | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 7,294 | 2–1–0 |
| October 19 | 7:05 PM | vs. Niagara* | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN | Moe | W 4–2 | 7,802 | 3–1–0 |
| October 25 | 7:05 PM | vs. #8 Minnesota–Duluth* | #20 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN+ | LaFontaine | L 2–5 | 9,407 | 3–2–0 |
| October 26 | 8:07 PM | at #8 Minnesota–Duluth* | #20 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | | Moe | L 0–2 | 6,655 | 3–3–0 |
| November 1 | 7:33 PM | vs. #5 Notre Dame | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | BTN | Moe | T 2–2 $^{3x3OTW}$ | 7,459 | 3–3–1 (0–0–1–1) |
| November 2 | 4:04 PM | vs. #5 Notre Dame | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN | Moe | L 3–5 | 8,008 | 3–4–1 (0–1–1–1) |
| November 8 | 5:31 PM | at Michigan | | Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan (Rivalry) | BTN | LaFontaine | T 1–1 $^{3x3OTW}$ | 5,373 | 3–4–2 (0–1–2–2) |
| November 9 | 4:01 PM | at Michigan | | Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan (Rivalry) | BTN | Moe | W 3–1 | 5,800 | 4–4–2 (1–1–2–2) |
| November 15 | 7:05 PM | vs. #8 Penn State | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN+ | LaFontaine | L 2–8 | 8,032 | 4–5–2 (1–2–2–2) |
| November 16 | 7:05 PM | vs. #8 Penn State | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN+ | Moe | L 3–6 | 8,203 | 4–6–2 (1–3–2–2) |
| November 22 | 7:05 PM | vs. #16 Wisconsin | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN, FSW | LaFontaine | W 4–1 | 7,903 | 5–6–2 (2–3–2–2) |
| November 23 | 7:05 PM | vs. #16 Wisconsin | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN+, FSW+ | LaFontaine | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 8,612 | 5–6–3 (2–3–3–2) |
| November 28 | 7:05 PM | vs. #3 North Dakota* | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN | LaFontaine | L 3–9 | 8,567 | 5–7–3 (2–3–3–2) |
| December 1 | 7:05 PM | vs. #3 North Dakota* | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN | Moe | L 2–3 | 9,823 | 5–8–3 (2–3–3–2) |
| December 6 | 7:01 PM | at #7 Ohio State | | Value City Arena • Columbus, Ohio | BTN | LaFontaine | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 5,321 | 5–9–3 (2–4–3–2) |
| December 7 | 7:00 PM | at #7 Ohio State | | Value City Arena • Columbus, Ohio | | LaFontaine | T 1–1 $^{3x3OTW}$ | 3,816 | 5–9–4 (2–4–4–3) |
| Mariucci Classic ||||||||||
| December 28 | 7:00 PM | vs. Bemidji State* | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Mariucci Semifinal) | FSN+ | LaFontaine | W 5–2 | 7,615 | 6–9–4 (2–4–4–3) |
| December 29 | 7:05 PM | vs. St. Cloud State* | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Mariucci Championship) | FSN+ | LaFontaine | W 4–1 | 6,772 | 7–9–4 (2–4–4–3) |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| January 10 | 5:00 PM | at #20 Michigan State | | Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan | BTN | LaFontaine | L 1–4 | 6,346 | 7–10–4 (2–5–4–3) |
| January 11 | 6:00 PM | at #20 Michigan State | | Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan | BTN | Moe | W 2–0 | 5,923 | 8–10–4 (3–5–4–3) |
| January 17 | 7:00 PM | vs. USNTDP* | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Exhibition) | | Close | L 1–2 | 6,138 | |
| January 24 | 7:00 PM | vs. #6 Ohio State | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN+ | LaFontaine | W 6–3 | 7,489 | 9–10–4 (4–5–4–3) |
| January 25 | 7:30 PM | vs. #6 Ohio State | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | BTN | LaFontaine | W 4–1 | 8,426 | 10–10–4 (5–5–4–3) |
| January 31 | 7:02 PM | at Wisconsin | | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin | FSN, FSW+ | Moe | W 6–2 | 11,637 | 11–10–4 (6–5–4–3) |
| February 1 | 8:02 PM | at Wisconsin | | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin | FSN+, FSW | Moe | W 4–2 | 13,506 | 12–10–4 (7–5–4–3) |
| February 7 | 7:00 PM | vs. #19 Michigan State | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN+ | Moe | W 4–1 | 8,860 | 13–10–4 (8–5–4–3) |
| February 8 | 5:05 PM | vs. #19 Michigan State | | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN+ | Moe | L 2–4 | 9,661 | 13–11–4 (8–6–4–3) |
| February 14 | 6:10 PM | at Notre Dame | | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | NBCSN | LaFontaine | T 3–3 $^{SOW}$ | 4,854 | 13–11–5 (8–6–5–4) |
| February 15 | 5:05 PM | at Notre Dame | | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | NBC Sports Chi+ | LaFontaine | W 2–1 | 5,804 | 14–11–5 (9–6–5–4) |
| February 21 | 7:30 PM | at #11 Penn State | #18 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | BTN | LaFontaine | T 3–3 $^{3x3OTL}$ | 6,151 | 14–11–6 (9–6–6–4) |
| February 22 | 5:30 PM | at #11 Penn State | #18 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | BTN | LaFontaine | L 2–3 | 6,328 | 14–12–6 (9–7–6–4) |
| February 28 | 7:30 PM | vs. Michigan | #18 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Rivalry) | BTN | LaFontaine | T 2–2 $^{SOL}$ | 8,149 | 14–12–7 (9–7–7–4) |
| February 29 | 5:00 PM | vs. Michigan | #18 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Rivalry) | FSN | LaFontaine | L 1–2 | 9,613 | 14–13–7 (9–8–7–4) |
| Big Ten Tournament ||||||||||
| March 6 | 7:01 PM | vs. Notre Dame* | #19 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Quarterfinal Game 1) | | LaFontaine | L 0–1 | 2,012 | 14–14–7 (9–8–7–4) |
| March 7 | 7:01 PM | vs. Notre Dame* | #19 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Quarterfinal Game 2) | | LaFontaine | W 2–1 | 2,281 | 15–14–7 (9–8–7–4) |
| March 8 | 6:01 PM | vs. Notre Dame* | #19 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Quarterfinal Game 3) | | LaFontaine | W 3–2 | 2,039 | 16–14–7 (9–8–7–4) |
| Minnesota Won Series 2–1 ||||||||||
| Remainder of Tournament Cancelled ||||||||||
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Central Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Sammy Walker | C | 37 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 33 |
| Brannon McManus | C/RW | 37 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 10 |
| Ben Meyers | C/LW | 37 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 8 |
| Blake McLaughlin | LW | 37 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 34 |
| Scott Reedy | C | 35 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 12 |
| Sampo Ranta | LW | 35 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 10 |
| Tyler Nanne | D | 35 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 2 |
| Jackson LaCombe | D | 37 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 14 |
| Bryce Brodzinski | RW | 37 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 16 |
| Jonny Sorenson | F | 35 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 10 |
| Ryan Zuhlsdorf | D | 37 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
| Robbie Stucker | D | 35 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Ryan Johnson | D | 37 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 20 |
| Gerrett Wait | LW | 21 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| Jack Perbix | RW | 35 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 16 |
| Nathan Burke | F | 32 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Jaxon Nelson | C | 33 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| Matt Staudacher | D | 37 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 29 |
| Joey Marooney | RW | 20 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Ben Brinkman | D | 36 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Cullen Munson | C | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sam Rossini | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Justen Close | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jared Moe | G | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack LaFontaine | G | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bench | - | - | - | - | - | 10 |
| Total | | | 100 | 166 | 266 | 258 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Jared Moe | 16 | 829 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 34 | 366 | 1 | .915 | 2.46 |
| Jack LaFontaine | 25 | 1389 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 59 | 671 | 0 | .919 | 2.55 |
| Justen Close | 3 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 0 | .786 | 6.09 |
| Empty Net | - | 11 | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 37 | 2260 | 16 | 14 | 7 | 98 | 1048 | 1 | .914 | 2.60 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | 20 | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
| USA Today | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |

## Players drafted into the NHL
### 2020 NHL Entry Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | NHL team |
| 2 | 45 | Brock Faber† | Los Angeles Kings |
| 3 | 80 | Jake Boltmann† | Calgary Flames |
| 6 | 180 | Joe Miller† | Toronto Maple Leafs |
† incoming freshman