BleedGopher
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Per Randy:
“I hate to say it, but I don’t think we’re going to miss a beat,” said Motzko, whose team last season advanced to the Sioux Falls Regional final and finished 23-11-5 in their first year since 2000 without Faber, Johnson and LaCombe. “That’s a compliment because of how outstanding that group was. This is the strongest defensive corps in a cycle that I’ve ever been through.”
The group that Motzko praises includes sophomore Sam Rinzel, a first-round Chicago Blackhawks pick; sophomore Luke Mittelstadt, a seventh-round Montreal selection; senior Mike Koster, a fifth-round Toronto pick; and junior Cal Thomas, a sixth-round Arizona pick.
Add in freshmen John Whipple, a fifth-round Detroit pick from the U.S. National Team Development Program, and Leo Gruba, a 6-2, 209-pounder who had 22 goals and 35 assists with Fargo of the USHL last season, and the Gophers will be stacked on the blue line.
“This one’s actually got a little more size, little more nastiness,” Motzko said of his ‘D’ corps.
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
Motzko is extremely high on his defensemen
The defensive trio of Brock Faber, Jackson LaCombe and Ryan Johnson — two second-round NHL picks and a first-rounder — helped the Gophers earn back-to-back NCAA Frozen Four trips and come within a whisker of winning the 2023 national championship before embarking to the pro ranks. Motzko said he believes he might have a better group of defensemen this season.“I hate to say it, but I don’t think we’re going to miss a beat,” said Motzko, whose team last season advanced to the Sioux Falls Regional final and finished 23-11-5 in their first year since 2000 without Faber, Johnson and LaCombe. “That’s a compliment because of how outstanding that group was. This is the strongest defensive corps in a cycle that I’ve ever been through.”
The group that Motzko praises includes sophomore Sam Rinzel, a first-round Chicago Blackhawks pick; sophomore Luke Mittelstadt, a seventh-round Montreal selection; senior Mike Koster, a fifth-round Toronto pick; and junior Cal Thomas, a sixth-round Arizona pick.
Add in freshmen John Whipple, a fifth-round Detroit pick from the U.S. National Team Development Program, and Leo Gruba, a 6-2, 209-pounder who had 22 goals and 35 assists with Fargo of the USHL last season, and the Gophers will be stacked on the blue line.
“This one’s actually got a little more size, little more nastiness,” Motzko said of his ‘D’ corps.
Bob Motzko finds plenty of reasons for optimism as Gophers men’s hockey season approaches
Gophers coach Bob Motzko looks over his roster and sees a deep and talented group of defensemen, forwards with offensive flair and youngsters with grit.
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!