This November, Gopher Men's Hockey will launch its 100th season, with the first games of the year at 3M Arena at Mariucci. While the season will be anything but ordinary, the team is finding unique ways to celebrate this milestone and make the year truly memorable.
Hockey in times of COVID-19
This fall, the Gopher Men's Hockey team received much-anticipated news about 2020-21 when they learned that they were approved to play during the first half of the season.
The first game of the year will be on November 19 at 3M Arena at Mariucci, where the Gophers will host Penn State. While players are eager to hit the ice, the season will look a little different due to the pandemic. Some of the changes include:
No ticket sales for home games due to limits on indoor gatherings
New medical protocols such as daily antigen testing and enhanced cardiac screening
Enhanced, data-driven approaches to making decisions about practice and competition
"It's great to finally have a date to circle on the calendar after waiting so long to hear about the season," Minnesota junior forward Sammy Walker said. "I don't think any of us have ever had so much anticipation going into a season as we have for this one. We're ready to go."
Pride on Ice: 100th anniversary festivities
Since the first puck dropped in 1921, the Gopher Men's Hockey team has won five national championships, seen some 200 players drafted into the NHL, and had four Hobey Baker Award winners. What’s more, the team has been tabbed as the favorite to win the Big Ten Conference this year.
Although in-person celebrations have been put on hold, the team has some virtual fun in store for fans across the state, including the chance to:
Vote for the top 100 Gopher Hockey players of all time
Download phone wallpapers
Purchase 100th anniversary merchandise
Submit cutouts to appear at the home games
The impact of 3M support
As Gopher Men's Hockey launches its 100th season, we thank 3M for its strong support for the team and, ultimately, for its remarkable partnership with the University for well over a century. We could not be more grateful for your commitment.
Thank you, 3M! As we celebrate 100 seasons of Gopher Men's Hockey, we also celebrate 100+ years of a rich and meaningful partnership between our two organizations.