One thing is certain when the Gophers men's hockey team opens its season on Saturday at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
With 11 freshmen on the Gophers roster and their opponent — Lindenwood, of St. Charles, Mo. — in its first season of Division I hockey, there will be a lot of players making their Division I debuts.
"We like what we've seen so far," Bob Motzko, who is beginning his fifth season as the Gophers coach, said. "Now we get some games to start putting it together. The early season is like putting a puzzle together."
Among the returning players for the Gophers, who were ranked No. 2 in the uscho.com preseason Top 25, are a pair of Olympians: junior defenseman Brock Faber and sophomore forward Matthew Knies.
Others returning are senior defensemen Ryan Johnson and Jackson LaCombe, junior defenseman Mike Koster and senior goalie Justen Close. Close took over the starting role last season after Jack LaFontaine signed with Carolina of the NHL midseason.
"Our D corps is very experienced," Motzko said. "That group is rock solid and will anchor us."
Highlighting the newcomers for the Gophers are center Logan Cooley and right wing Jimmy Snuggerud. Cooley and Snuggerud were both taken in the first round of the NHL draft in July.
Lindenwood is coached by Rick Zombo, who played three seasons at the University of North Dakota before playing 12 seasons in the NHL.
