October 2nd, 2022: “Offense is part of our DNA but sometimes you can’t just go play offense, you got to play hockey.” Leadership sparks a late push to secure a 6-4 win over Lindenwood.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – The result was a 6-4 win and a sweep but the Gophers know they have got to play better or next weekend will be a real wakeup call. Freshman forward, Connor Kurth opened the game with a goal but only three minutes later Lindenwood answered. Matthew Knies notched a late first-period goal giving the Gophers a 2-1 lead but two quick goals by the Lions had Minnesota trailing for the first time this year.
With a team full of 11 freshmen you need leadership to step up and guide the team when down a goal in a very sloppy game. Brock Faber the 20-year-old captain took that into account and helped guide the ship, along with two more upperclassman defenders in Jackson LaCombe and Mike Koster.
“Two great goals tonight, you saw those guys [freshmen] coming of age but yet they gave up a big goal,” Gophers Head coach Bob Motzko said about his two freshmen lines. “But that has to happen. They don’t trust coaching until they get burned, then, they are accountable to their own teammates and Faber was letting everyone know.”
Motzko continued, “that’s what I liked, when it got a little dicey our older guys helped point the ship in the right direction.”
Faber, the Minnesota Wild prospect, proved why he was voted captain by his teammates with a strong message to the young group down a goal in a sloppy game. Charlie Strobel and Ryan Chesley took the message and ran with it. Strobel, the undrafted freshman forward, proved his physical game can not only spark energy in the team but also create offensive chances. The 18-year-old defender, Chesley, echoed Strobel’s physical game with a few crushing hits of his own.
Chesley, who now has two assists on the season, found freshman Brody Lamb in the neutral zone. Lamb used Lions’ defender, Aiden Yakimchuk as a screen and ripped a shot under the blocker of Matt Ladd, tying the game at three a piece in the second after the Lions took a 3-2 lead on two quick goals.
Another first goal in Maroon and Gold!
Brody Lamb evens things up for @GopherHockey! pic.twitter.com/9lGBXqcTGw
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) October 3, 2022
Ultimately, the Gophers responded with two goals of their own, outshooting the Lions 14-3 in that span. Aaron Huglen interfered with a Lions defender which sent Lindenwood to the power play on the Gophers’ sixth penalty of the game. Ryan Finnegan scored 52 seconds later tying the game 4-4.
Faber and the upperclassmen’s message was still harped on the younger players and Cade DeStefani’s high-sticking penalty sent the Gophers back on the power-play in a tie game. Bryce Brodzinski notched his first goal of the year off the Mike Koster shot from the point, giving Minnesota the 5-4 lead.
“We aren’t happy with the way we played but we’re happy with the win,” Faber said. “It was good to be in a tight game like that, getting those guys [freshmen] comfortable in pressure situations, but next weekend will be a whole different pace. We will have to get back to work this week and build on it.”
Later in the third, Drew Kuzma was sent to the box for high-sticking. Luke Mittelstadt caught a pass from Huglen in the high slot and mohawked around the dot in front of 5,985 fans, to later find Koster up top for the shot. Koster made no mistake and ripped home a rocket, giving the Gophers a 6-4 lead and eventually ending the game.
“Luke has a great shot on that side and they have to honor that,” Koster said about his third-period power-play goal. “If I get a chance I’m going to rip it. Luke did a great job with selling it and Brodzy [Brodzinski] with a great screen in front.”
Another collegiate debut was seen when sophomore goaltender, Owen Bartoszkiewicz took the net for the Gophers. He stopped 27 of the 31 shots the Lions took, notching his first career win.
“It was a struggle, he hasn’t been in there for a long time but the biggest thing is he got through 60 minutes,” Motzko said on Owen Bartoszkiewicz. “He needed to do that, he needed to fight through it, and he did.”
There are many things the Gophers need to clean up before next weekend’s tilt against the Minnesota State Mavericks, the team that has ended the Gophers season twice in the last two years.
“Those 11 guys haven’t had their season ended by Minnesota State two years in a row but it’s gonna be a competitive week. It’s been circled on the calendar since the frozen four last year,” Faber said. “They understand and are here for a reason. It’s something we are looking forward to but we’re going to need our best if we want to get another sweep.”