Sampo Ranta spent last summer back home in Finland sharpening his game, becoming stronger, bigger, faster, more skilled.
All the better for putting the struggling Gophers men's hockey team on his back this season.
"I feel way better now than I did last year," Ranta said. "I feel like I have more impact in the game this year. I've got the ability to really carry our team."
The top-six sophomore winger was the Gophers' leading goal scorer in the first half of the season before leaving for the Czech Republic where Finland finished fourth in the world junior championship. He used the Michigan State series two weeks ago to re-acclimate himself and will now look to help his Gophers against Big Ten-leading Ohio State on Friday and Saturday nights at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
The Buckeyes are the No. 6 team in the country and a team the Gophers have a habit of playing close. Of the six meetings since last season, four have gone to overtime while the other two were one-goal margins. Ranta has two goals and an assist in those games.
Overall this season, Ranta has seven goals and four assists, already surpassing his freshman goal total of six.
Gophers coach Bob Motzko said Ranta has used his 6-2, 205-pound frame to be more physical this season, which has made him harder for opponents to play.
"This has been a big year for him. He's really starting to understand his strengths of size and his puck protection and how he takes pucks to the hole and how he can play a heavy, hard game," Motzko said. "When you're young, you play a skilled, loose game. … He's understanding the harder he plays, the more he takes it into tough areas, he has success. He can't be stopped. He's too big and strong."