# 2024–25 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season

The 2024–25 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season will be the 104th season of play for the program and 35th in the Big Ten. The Golden Gophers will represent the University of Minnesota in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, play their home games at 3M Arena at Mariucci and be coached by Bob Motzko in his 7th season.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Bryce Brodzinski | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Ontario Reign) |
| Justen Close | Goaltender | Canada | Graduation (signed with Jacksonville Icemen) |
| Carl Fish | Defenseman | United States | Graduate transfer to Providence |
| Jaxon Nelson | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Boston Bruins) |
| Garrett Pinoniemi | Forward | United States | Transferred to Omaha |
| Rhett Pitlick | Forward | United States | Transferred to Minnesota State |
| Charlie Strobel | Forward | United States | Transferred to Colorado College |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| August Falloon | Forward | United States | 20 | St. Cloud, MN |
| Leo Gruba | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Lake Elmo, MN |
| Beckett Hendrickson | Forward | United States | 19 | Minnetonka, MN; selected 124th overall in 2023 |
| Erik Påhlsson | Forward | Sweden | 20 | Landskrona, SWE; selected 213rd overall in 2024 |
| Liam Soulière | Goaltender | Canada | 25 | Brampton, ON; graduate transfer from Penn State |
| John Whipple | Defenseman | United States | 18 | Morristown, NJ; selected 144th overall in 2024 |
| Matthew Wood | Forward | United States | 19 | Lethbridge, AB; transfer from Connecticut; selected 15th overall in 2023 |
| Brodie Ziemer | Forward | United States | 18 | Carver, MN; selected 71st overall in 2024 |

## Roster

As of September 12, 2024.

## Standings

2024–25 Big Ten ice hockey Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | 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 | OTW | OTL | 3/SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #1 Michigan State † | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 50 | 92 | 60 | 35 | 25 | 6 | 4 | 122 | 70 |
| #5 Minnesota † | 24 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 50 | 87 | 62 | 39 | 25 | 10 | 4 | 150 | 96 |
| #9 Ohio State | 24 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 72 | 62 | 38 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 121 | 94 |
| #16 Michigan | 24 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 36 | 76 | 83 | 36 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 112 | 118 |
| #13 Penn State | 24 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 33 | 78 | 88 | 37 | 20 | 13 | 4 | 130 | 114 |
| Wisconsin | 24 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 64 | 77 | 37 | 13 | 21 | 3 | 108 | 110 |
| Notre Dame | 24 | 4 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 60 | 97 | 38 | 12 | 25 | 1 | 102 | 127 |
| Championship: March 22, 2025 † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated March 15, 2025 |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Rank$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| October 5 | 6:00 pm | at #16 St. Cloud State* | #6 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota (Exhibition) | Fox 9+ | | W 5–1 | | |
| Ice Breaker Tournament ||||||||||
| October 11 | 9:30 pm | vs. Air Force* | #5 | Orleans Arena • Las Vegas, Nevada (Ice Breaker Semifinal) | B1G+ | Airey | W 7–1 | 2,152 | 1–0–0 |
| October 12 | 9:30 pm | vs. #15 Omaha* | #5 | Orleans Arena • Las Vegas, Nevada (Ice Breaker Championship) | B1G+ | Soulière | L 1–2 $^{OT}$ | 1,922 | 1–1–0 |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 18 | 7:00 pm | at Minnesota Duluth* | #6 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota (Rivalry) | Fox 9+ | Airey | W 7–5 | 6,444 | 2–1–0 |
| October 19 | 6:00 pm | at Minnesota Duluth* | #6 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota (Rivalry) | Fox 9+ | Soulière | W 5–1 | 7,066 | 3–1–0 |
| October 25 | 5:30 pm | St. Thomas* | #5 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Airey | W 7–1 | 9,722 | 4–1–0 |
| October 26 | 8:00 pm | vs. St. Thomas* | #5 | Xcel Energy Center • Saint Paul, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Soulière | W 6–2 | 10,104 | 5–1–0 |
| November 1 | 7:00 pm | #18 Penn State | #4 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Airey | W 3–1 | 8,351 | 6–1–0 (1–0–0) |
| November 2 | 7:00 pm | #18 Penn State | #4 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Soulière | W 1–0 | 8,872 | 7–1–0 (2–0–0) |
| November 8 | 7:00 pm | at Wisconsin | #3 | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin (Rivalry) | B1G+ | Airey | W 3–2 | 10,157 | 8–1–0 (3–0–0) |
| November 9 | 7:00 pm | at Wisconsin | #3 | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin (Rivalry) | B1G+ | Soulière | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 11,694 | 9–1–0 (4–0–0) |
| November 14 | 7:00 pm | Bemidji State* | #3 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Airey | W 5–3 | 8,673 | 10–1–0 |
| November 16 | 6:00 pm | at Bemidji State* | #3 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota | Fox 9+, Midco Sports+ | Soulière | L 1–3 | 3,691 | 10–2–0 |
| November 22 | 6:00 pm | at Notre Dame | #4 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Airey | W 6–3 | 5,249 | 11–2–0 (5–0–0) |
| November 23 | 5:00 pm | at Notre Dame | #4 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | Peacock | Airey | W 5–3 | 5,011 | 12–2–0 (6–0–0) |
| November 29 | 7:00 pm | Alaska* | #3 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Airey | T 1–1 $^{OT}$ | 9,580 | 12–2–1 |
| November 30 | 5:00 pm | Alaska* | #3 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Soulière | W 5–2 | 9,933 | 13–2–1 |
| December 6 | 7:00 pm | #6 Michigan | #4 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Rivalry) | FS1 | Airey | W 6–0 | 9,198 | 14–2–1 (7–0–0) |
| December 7 | 5:00 pm | #6 Michigan | #4 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Rivalry) | Fox 9+ | Soulière | W 2–0 | 9,764 | 15–2–1 (8–0–0) |
| December 13 | 7:30 pm | #3 Michigan State | #1 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | BTN | Airey | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 9,713 | 15–2–2 (8–0–1) |
| December 14 | 5:00 pm | #3 Michigan State | #1 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Soulière | L 3–5 | 9,922 | 15–3–2 (8–1–1) |
| January 3 | 7:00 pm | Mercyhurst* | #3 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Airey | W 6–2 | 10,019 | 16–3–2 |
| January 4 | 5:00 pm | Mercyhurst* | #3 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Soulière | W 5–2 | 10,201 | 17–3–2 |
| January 10 | 6:00 pm | at #11 Ohio State | #3 | Value City Arena • Columbus, Ohio | B1G+ | Airey | L 1–5 | 3,315 | 17–4–2 (8–2–1) |
| January 11 | 5:30 pm | at #11 Ohio State | #3 | Value City Arena • Columbus, Ohio | BTN | Soulière | W 6–1 | 5,973 | 18–4–2 (9–2–1) |
| January 17 | 7:00 pm | Notre Dame | #3 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Airey | W 5–2 | 10,362 | 19–4–2 (10–2–1) |
| January 18 | 5:00 pm | Notre Dame | #3 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Soulière | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 10,346 | 19–5–2 (10–3–1) |
| January 24 | 6:00 pm | at #2 Michigan State | #4 | Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan | B1G+ | Airey | L 3–9 | 6,555 | 19–6–2 (10–4–1) |
| January 25 | 5:00 pm | at #2 Michigan State | #4 | Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan | BTN | Soulière | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 6,555 | 19–6–3 (10–4–2) |
| January 31 | 7:00 pm | #17 Wisconsin | #4 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Rivalry) | Fox 9+ | Soulière | W 5–2 | 10,747 | 20–6–3 (11–4–2) |
| February 1 | 5:00 pm | #17 Wisconsin | #4 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Rivalry) | Fox 9+ | Soulière | W 4–1 | 10,894 | 21–6–3 (12–4–2) |
| February 14 | 6:00 pm | at #12 Michigan | #4 | Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan (Rivalry) | B1G+ | Soulière | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 5,800 | 21–7–3 (12–5–2) |
| February 15 | 5:00 pm | at #12 Michigan | #4 | Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan (Rivalry) | BTN | Soulière | T 2–2 $^{SOL}$ | 5,800 | 21–7–4 (12–5–3) |
| February 21 | 7:00 pm | #7 Ohio State | #5 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Soulière | W 4–1 | 10,500 | 22–7–4 (13–5–3) |
| February 22 | 5:00 pm | #7 Ohio State | #5 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Soulière | W 6–3 | 10,565 | 23–7–4 (14–5–3) |
| February 28 | 7:30 | at #15 Penn State | #2 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | BTN | Soulière | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 6,577 | 23–8–4 (14–6–3) |
| March 1 | 7:00 pm | at #15 Penn State | #2 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | BTN | Soulière | W 5–3 | 6,570 | 24–8–4 (15–6–3) |
| Big Ten Tournament ||||||||||
| March 7 | 8:00 pm | Notre Dame | #3 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Quarterfinals Game 1) | B1G+ | Soulière | L 2–3 | 5,551 | 24–9–4 |
| March 8 | 8:00 pm | Notre Dame | #3 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Quarterfinals Game 2) | B1G+ | Airey | W 4–2 | 6,331 | 25–9–4 |
| March 9 | 7:00 pm | Notre Dame | #3 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota (Quarterfinals Game 3) | B1G+ | Airey | L 1–4 | 4,642 | 25–10–4 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Central Time. Source: ||||||||||

## 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 | 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 | 24 | 25 | 26 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 (1) | 4 (1) | 3 (1) | 3 | 4 | 3 (3) | 4 (1) | 1 (38) | 3 (1) | – | 3 | 3 (1) | 3 | 4 (1) | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 (6) | 3 (1) | 5 | 5 | | |
| USA Hockey | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3т | 3т | 4 | 4 (4) | 4 (1) | 1 (29) | 3 (1) | – | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 12. Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award |
| Sam Rinzel | Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year |
| Jimmy Snuggerud | All-Big Ten First Team |
| Sam Rinzel | All-Big Ten First Team |