October 7th, 2022: Freshman Jimmy Snuggerud notches his first colligate goal, along with two more. The hat trick helped push the Gophers over Minnesota 4-1.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – Freshman Logan Cooley shocked Gopher fans with his four-point weekend last week against Lindenwood but tonight it was his linemate, Jimmy Snuggerud, with the three-goal performance. Coming into Friday’s game against the Mavericks, Snuggerud was the only one on his line without a point.
In fact, Cooley had two goals and two assists to his name in two games and Rhett Pitlick had three assists in the first two games. But tonight Snuggerud catches up, notching three goals of his own in the 4-1 win against the in-state rival Mavericks.
“He was frustrated last week and I told him frustration is like a bad date, you got to get out of it and start a new day,” Gophers’ head coach Bob Motzko said on Snuggerud’s three-goal night. “Boy did he come through tonight. He can really shoot a hockey puck.”
Snuggerud’s first goal was a jam in front of the net, the other two were a display of his wicked and pro-level release. Keenan Rancier was named the new starting Mavericks goaltender after Hobey Baker winner, Dryden McKay signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. McKay appeared in 149 games for the Mavericks where he notched a 113-20-4 record with a 1.46 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.
Rancier has followed the same path McKay took, a couple of seasons in the NAHL before the NCAA. Rancier is a 22-year-old sophomore goaltender who stopped 21 shots on 24 shots. All three goals allowed to Snuggerud and his wicked shot.
Ryan Johnson’s shot hit traffic along the way before Cooley jammed it into Rancier, Snuggerud fished it out of the six-foot-two goaltender and collected his first collegiate point on the goal giving the Gophers a late 1-0 lead.
Five minutes into period number two, Jaxon Nelson found Johnson at the point. Johnson’s point shot banked off Rancier’s pad landing right on the stick of Snuggerud. The six-foot-one St. Louis Blues’ prospect who was battling for position on Mavericks’ center Ondrej Pavel, ripped home his second of the night, which sent the Gophers into the third up 2-0.
We think we're gonna like this kid. @JSnuggerud you a star. pic.twitter.com/arBlJuJpcY
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) October 8, 2022
This series is a big one for the Gophers, a little revenge on the team that has ended the Gophers’ season in two straight years. But most of the main guys who experienced those defeats to Minnesota State have moved on from the Gophers. In fact, only three current forwards have been a part of those two seasons where Minnesota State has ended the Gophers’ season. So a team full of 11 freshmen, the rookies knew they needed to step up.
“I thought all of our freshmen two weeks in a row have just stood tall to the task,” Motzko said. “We have to play them important minutes, put them in key situations, and key defensive zone draws.”
Johnson, one of four returning top-four defenders who experienced the Mavericks before, notched three assists in the win. Before the season started, Johnson debated signing with the Buffalo Sabers, the team who drafted him 31st overall in 2019 but decided to come back for his senior season with a letter on his jersey. His three-assist night puts him with four points on the season. Those four points leads all Gopher defenders.
For Senior goaltender Justen Close, it’s just more of the same. Stopping 18 shots of the 19 he faced now puts his career goals against average under 2. Close now has a 2-0-0 stat line on the year with a 0.50 GAA and a .971 save percentage.
“He’s been really solid for us this year,” Gophers alternate captain Ryan Johnson said about Close. “Even the story of him stepping up, he’s been one of our best players for sure.”
Something going into the season that some thought to question was the penalty-killing units. Without Ben Meyers, Sammy Walker, and Blake McLaughin the PK units have been put to the test with new forwards. Holding off the dangerous Minnesota State Mavericks is no easy task, but by staying disciplined, the Gophers only gave the Mavericks two chances on the man advantage.
Around the ten-minute mark in period three, Josh Groll took a hooking penalty which sent the Gophers to the power play up 2-1. Cooley’s faceoff win sprung the puck to Mason Nevers who bumped it back to the point for Jackson LaCombe. The Senior defender one-touch passed it to Snuggerud who let a blast go from the point, a shot Rancier didn’t even see. Hats flooded the ice as Snuggerud notched his third goal of the night.
BOMBS (and hats) AWAY!
Have a night why don't you @JSnuggerud! pic.twitter.com/lhQf5HmJxe
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) October 8, 2022
About seven minutes later the Mavericks pulled their goalie down two. But a falling Cade Borchardt meant a loose puck which the Gophers pounced on. Johnson chipped it off the boards with sprung Connor Kurth. The freshman recorded his second goal of the year after the soft chip into the empty net, putting an end to the Mavericks’ night.
The Gophers will travel 85 miles to the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center to finish off the series on the road. The game will be played at 6:00pm. “One night, good win, and now we got to go play them on Saturday.” Motzko said.