It’s been close to four years since Minnesota – perhaps college hockey’s most storied program – has made the NCAA Tournament. A slew of around .500 seasons and a head coaching change has handicapped the team. The struggles have come despite Minnesota consistently garnering its usual top-end talent.
So far in 2020-21, Minnesota has put it back together. At 8-0-0, the Golden Gophers are ranked No. 1 in the country, and will be ASU’s first No. 1 ranked opponent in program history.
“It’s exciting,” head coach Greg Powers said. “We’ve watched a lot of their games both live throughout our 36 day trip and with film. (Golden Gophers head coach) Bob (Motzko) and his staff have done an incredible job getting that team ramped up. It’s going to be a huge challenge.”
The Sun Devils have more battles to face than just their opponent. ASU hasn’t played since Dec. 18, when it beat Ohio State 3-2 to close out the first half of its schedule. The team went home to Tempe for the holidays and is still recovering from its month on the road.
“I wouldn’t say everybody’s 100 percent,” Powers said. “We’ll be good enough to field a competitive lineup. After 12 games all on the road, we’ve got some banged up guys but I don’t suspect anybody being hurt to the point where they’ll be out of the lineup.”
The last time ASU played the Golden Gophers, things did not go so hot. With a NCAA Tournament spot all but wrapped up, the Sun Devils folded in March of 2019 against Minnesota where they were out-scored 10-3 in a two game set. The sweep left a bad taste in ASU’s mouth heading into Qunnipiac, where it eventually fell 2-1.
This time, the Golden Gophers are more daunting. The talent and big Olympic ice sheet at Marricui Arena that gave the Sun Devils all sorts of trouble two years ago isn’t just still there and producing, but is manufacturing wins as well this year.
Minnesota’s current best players weren’t all around for the matchup in 2019, but some of those who stung ASU are. Forward Sammy Walker – now a junior who Powers said had a bright future after ASU’s first loss to Golden Gophers in the two game set – is tied to be Minnesota’s fourth-leading scorer on the year. Senior forward Brannon McManus, who also was a handful for ASU in 2019, represents Walker’s counterpart.
Talent exists outside of those two as well. Sophomore forward Ben Meyers and senior forward Scott Reedy lead the Golden Gophers with nine points each. Reedy is the team’s leading goal-scorer with six in eight games.
“They were good then, and now they’re obviously borderline juggernaut with how they’re playing,” Powers said.
Minnesota is missing some top talent, too. Three of its top defensemen – freshman Brock Faber and sophomores Ryan Johnson and Jackson LaCombe are currently playing in the 2021 World Junior Championship in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and will be out for the series against ASU. The Golden Gophers are 2-0-0 without their main men on the back-end.
“Those three are fantastic,” Powers said. “You’ve seen how good Brock Faber is with the way he’s playing up at the World Juniors – it’s incredible. We’re cheering for the U.S. up there, but if we have to face those kids for two less games it’s great for [ASU].”
Minnesota has gone undefeated this year with a well-balanced approach. Out of teams that have played eight games, the Golden Gophers rank second in goals scored. They’ve allowed just eight goals across the same amount of contests this season. Goaltender Jack LaFontaine’s save percentage clocks in at 96.5 percent and the senior has a GAA of 1.00.
Minnesota figures to be an immense challenge for ASU. The Sun Devils are coming off a long time away from hockey and could be without senior forward Johnny Walker – whose status has improved according to Powers but isn’t solidified for the two game set yet – heading into a bout with the best team in the country on big ice.
That’s tough sledding for an ASU team that is looking to begin the second half of its season strong after entering it below .500, but confidence is still high.
“We’re really looking forward to it and are excited,” senior defenseman Jacob Wilson said. “We know we’ve got a great team and are going to compete so we just have to play our game and stick to it.”
