Recent content from Randy Johnson
College hockey pushed through challenging season to a UMass title
Hockey East claims it's "State of Hockey," but Minnesota can make a strong rebuttal.
St. Cloud State's run ends with shutout loss in Frozen Four title game
UMass gave the Huskies no room to operate on the ice, dominating a 5-0 victory
Ex-Gopher Garrett Wait found right fit on line with UMass star
He had the overtime goal in a semifinal win over UMD.
St. Cloud State's daily focus worked well
Brett Larson and the Huskies navigated a season filled with challenges brought on by COVID-19.
Live from Pittsburgh: Frozen Four pregame
St. Cloud State and Massachusetts meet for the Division I men's championship. The Huskies lineup hasn't changed from the semifinals, while the Minutemen return two key players to their lineup.
Gophers' Jack LaFontaine wins Richter Award, given to nation's top goalie
LaFontaine, who went 22-7 this season, has announced that he will return to the Gophers next season.
Wisconsin's Cole Caufield wins Hobey Baker Award
The nation's leading goal scorer, Caufield has signed with the Montreal Canadiens.
Minnesota Duluth's overtime heartbreak halts an incredible ride
The Bulldogs delivered big moment after big moment in the postseason before getting clipped by Massachusetts on Thursday.
Live from Pittsburgh: Frozen Four Friday
St. Cloud State and Massachusetts are the last teams standings, and Randy Johnson provides updates leading into Saturday's NCAA championship game.
Ex-Gopher sinks UMD's three-peat hopes as UMass wins in overtime
The Bulldogs gave up a one-goal lead in the third period, and lost late in the first overtime when former Gophers player Garrett Wait scored for UMass.
Walker's last-minute goal caps rally; Huskies top Mavericks in semifinals
Nolan Walker redirected a shot from the point with 54 seconds remaining, sending St. Cloud State to its first NCAA title game.
Mavericks captain Zmolek take loss hard, sees better days ahead
Minnesota State Mankato won its first two NCAA Division I tournament games this season and a fourth WCHA regular-season title in a row.
Live from the Frozen Four: Thursday updates
St. Cloud State and Minnesota State Mankato start things off with the first semifinal at 4 p.m. (Central). In the 8 p.m. semifinal, Minnesota Duluth faces Massachusetts and will be without goalie Ryan Fanti.
You Betcha Brigade invades Frozen Four with three Minnesota teams
The semifinals start this afternoon with St. Cloud State vs. Minnesota State at 4 p.m., followed by UMD playing UMass.
Frozen Four: Four top players to watch
When Minnesota State Mankato meets St. Cloud State, and Minnesota Duluth takes on Massachusetts in the Frozen Four semifinals, there will be no shortage of star power.
Frozen Four preview: St. Cloud State vs. Minnesota State Mankato
The Huskies are playing in their second Frozen Four, making their debut in 2013 with a 4-1 semifinal loss to Quinnipiac. The Mavericks are playing in their first Frozen Four.
UMass coach calls having top scorer, goalie out only slight disadvantage
Coach Greg Carvel isn't about to concede anything to Minnesota Duluth in a rematch of the 2019 national championship game.
Frozen Four preview: Minnesota Duluth vs. Massachusetts
The Bulldogs are playing in their fourth consecutive Frozen Four and have won the past two, 2-1 over Notre Dame in 2018 and 3-0 over Massachusetts in 2019.
Live from Pittsburgh: Frozen Four media day
All four teams are practicing Wednesday for the first time since arriving in Pennsylvania on Monday, and virtual news conferences are following the drills. Randy Johnson will be updating throughout the afternoon.
Three in the Frozen Four: Minnesota schools celebrate their success
St. Cloud State, Minnesota State and UMD all qualified for this week's Frozen Four in Pittsburgh. It's a sense of shared accomplishment among the teams and their communities.
UMass without leading goal-scorer, top goalie vs UMD in Frozen Four
Carson Gicewicz and Filip Lindberg are among four Minutemen players who are out of Thursday's semifinal because of COVID-19 contact tracing protocols.
Gophers goalie crossing border, becoming a Badger
Sophomore Jared Moe, who played high school hockey for Holy Family, announced that he's transferring to Wisconsin.
Minnesota State Mankato's Hastings named national coach of the year
Mike Hastings won the Spencer Penrose Award after leading the Mavericks to their first NCAA Frozen Four berth.
From Upper Midwest to the Steel City, three state college hockey teams descend on Frozen Four
But UMass hopes to spoil the Minnesota party.
Gophers goalie LaFontaine announces he'll be back next season
Jack LaFontaine's decision solidified Minnesota's goaltending situation, as backup Jared Moe has entered the transfer portal.
Minnesota's three Frozen Four coaches go to school off each other
Mike Hastings, Scott Sandelin and Brett Larson are good friends chasing the same goal – the national title. Along the way, they haven't been hesitant to share knowledge.
Minnesota State goalie McKay among three Hobey Baker finalists
The goalie joins North Dakota forward Shane Pinto and Wisconsin forward Cole Caufield as finalists for the award that honors the top player in men's college hockey.
8 with Minnesota ties on U.S. women's world hockey championship roster
The team includes 14 members of the gold medal-winning 2018 Olympic team.
It's the State of Hockey in Frozen Four (minus Minnesota)
Three state teams will make Minnesota the dominant presence at the Frozen Four. But Bob Motzko's Gophers went from No. 1 region seed to a spot on the sidelines.
Not all was lost: Minnesota makes big impression on NCAA hockey
Here's a look at the impact of each of the five teams from Minnesota in the NCAA men's hockey tournament, which will feature three state teams in the Frozen Four.
MSU Mankato gives Gophers dose of own medicine, wins region title
The Mavericks played the Gophers' kind of game — grabbing an early lead and controlling the puck — to earn the program's first trip to the Frozen Four.
Hastings, Minnesota State Mankato finally reach Frozen Four
Shutout of Gophers comes a day after Mavericks finally get first NCAA victory.
UMD shows 'winning pedigree' with record-setting five-overtime victory
The Bulldogs advanced to their fourth consecutive Frozen Four when a little-used freshman scored in the longest game in NCAA tournament history.
Frozen Four berth at stake as close friends Motzko, Hastings face off
Bob Motzko's Gophers and Mike Hastings' Minnesota State Mankato team meet in the NCAA West Regional final on Sunday night in Loveland, Colo.
Gophers roll into regional final with 7-2 rout of Nebraska Omaha
The Gophers face MSU Mankato for a Frozen Four berth on Sunday.
MSU Mankato rallies from two goals down, beats Quinnipiac in OT
The Mavericks earned their first NCAA tournament victory in dramatic fashion.
Gophers-MSU Mankato regional final preview
One of these two Minnesota schools will be in the Frozen Four.
All five Minnesota men's teams in action Saturday in NCAA tournament
It begins Saturday with St. Cloud State playing at noon and ends with the Gophers starting at 9 p.m. In between, Bemidji State and Minnesota Duluth are playing for Frozen Four berths.
Motzko wants to join list of U coaches who have captured NCAA hockey titles
When Bob Motzko was introduced as Gophers men's hockey coach three years ago, he didn't shy away from the expectations that go hand-in-hand with the job.
NCAA West Regional preview: Gophers vs. Nebraska Omaha
The Gophers, the lone remaining Big Ten team in the field, face a battle-tested Mavericks team.
UMD wins on forfeit after COVID forces Michigan from NCAA hockey
The Wolverines, like Notre Dame and St. Lawrence, bowed out of the tournament because of COVID-19 issues.
Minnesota State Mankato seeking a long-awaited NCAA hockey breakthrough
The Mavericks have won more games than any other Division I men's program over the past four years, but they are still looking for an NCAA tournament victory.
Updates from Colorado: Gophers, Mankato prepare for NCAA hockey region
The games start Saturday in Colorado, and we'll provide the latest from the West and other NCAA tournament developments.
How many Minnesotans in NCAA hockey? Way more than anywhere else
Players from the state comprise about 26% of the 16 tournament teams, and their presence will be felt in all four regions. Play begins today.
Zmolek brothers aim to make mark in NCAA tournament
Riese, a senior captain for Minnesota State Mankato, and Will, a sophomore for Bemidji State, are in the hockey tournament together for the first time, a thrill for their father, Doug, a former Gophers standout.
COVID-19 issues force Notre Dame out of NCAA hockey tournament
The Fighting Irish were in the tournament as a replacement for another school, St. Lawrence, that also had to bow out because of a coronavirus outbreak.
With big line stifled, Wild looks for scoring support elsewhere
Nick Bjugstad and Ryan Suter chipped in during Monday's victory. which was needed because the Wild's top line has been shut down recently.
Four Ducks added to NHL's COVID protocol as rematch with Wild approaches
Today's 4:30 p.m. game is still on, but Anaheim canceled Tuesday's planned practice. Teams undergo COVID-19 testing on the morning of a game
Starting times changed: Gophers, Mankato pushed back one hour
In the West Regional in Loveland, Colo. on Saturday, Minnesota will play Nebraska Omaha at 9 p.m. and MSU Mankato will now play at 4 p.m.
State of hockey: Thriving. Gophers, all 4 other Minnesota schools in NCAA field
It's the first time all five Minnesota men's hockey programs have qualified for the tournament. The Gophers play Omaha in the first round of the 16-team tournament.
Wild tries to work two bad Colorado losses out of system
The Wild went through a brisk practice in preparation for the start of a three-game homestand.
Final Bracketology: Projecting the NCAA men's hockey field before Sunday night's announcement
This year, projecting the field becomes a lot more of an inexact science because the selection committee's subjective opinions on teams will decide the 10 at-large teams. Here's a stab at what might happen.
Edina's Bowlby, Gophers' Zumwinkle and UMD duo among All-America selections
Grace Bowlby, a defender for Wisconsin, earned first-team honors.
Even in defeat, UMD women showed they belong among hockey's elite
The Bulldogs lost 3-2 late in overtime to top-ranked Northeastern in a thrilling national semifinal, a sign that the program is back among the elite.
Minnesota Duluth loses overtime heartbreaker in Women's Frozen Four
Top-seeded Northeastern overcame a 2-0 deficit and defeated the Bulldogs 3-2 in overtime.
U's Zumwinkle among three finalists for top women's hockey honor
The senior who went to Breck School is up for the Patty Kazmaier Award along with players from Wisconsin and Northeastern.
Soucy draws one-game suspension for hit on Coyotes player
Defenseman Carson Soucy received a five-minute major for a high hit on Arizona's Conor Garland on Tuesday night.
Gophers goalie, top Wild draft pick among 10 Hobey Baker finalists
Goalie Jack LaFontaine of the Gophers and forward Matt Boldy of Boston College, the Wild's top 2019 draft pick, are among four finalists who have Minnesota ties.
Gophers' Steveson determined to dominate the field at NCAAs
The Apple Valley junior is seen as the clear favorite at heavyweight, with the NCAA championships opening Thursday.
Three takeaways from Minnesota's Big Ten hockey championship
Standout performances by Blake McLaughlin and Jack LaFontaine helped Minnesota beat Wisconsin 6-4. A look at what happened and what's ahead for the Gophers.
Champions: U beats Badgers for Big Ten title, makes case for No. 1 NCAA seed
The Gophers led held 5-1 after two periods and then held off a Wisconsin rally, holding off a Wisconsin comeback and winning 6-4. The NCAA men's hockey tournament field will be announced Sunday.
Gophers' Jack LaFontaine named Big Ten Goaltender of the Year
Joining LaFontaine on the All-Big Ten first team were teammates Sampo Ranta and Jackson LaCombe. Minnesota plays Wisconsin tonight for the Big Ten tournament title.
U beats Michigan, reaches Big Ten final with more overtime drama
For the second game in a row, the Gophers were held scoreless until the third period before rallying to win. They play Wisconsin tonight for the title.
U needs OT to put away Spartans, avoid Big Ten playoff shocker
Minnesota averted a huge upset against 7-18-2 Michigan State and moved into tonight's semifinal against Michigan.
Hockey Bracketology: Last call for men's teams to state their NCAA case
Conference tournaments are in full swing this week, and Sunday night the 16-team field for the national tournament will be announced.
UMD women savoring NCAA tourney chance; watch here at 6 p.m.
The fifth-seeded Bulldogs, who finished the regular season with a surge, face No. 4 seed Colgate on Monday night in a quarterfinal in Erie, Pa. We have the link to the live video.
Kaprizov creating a buzz around pro hockey that can't be ignored
Playing in his 25th NHL game, Kirill Kaprizov added to a growing list of jaw-dropping moments by breaking open Friday's scoreless game with a third-period hat trick.
Gophers men's hockey team hits the road for postseason — comfortably
Entering the postseason, the Gophers are 9-1 away from home.
Minnesota State Mankato goalie Dryden McKay named WCHA Player of the Year
The junior set a conference record with a 1.07 goals-against average in league play.
North Dakota, Minnesota State Mankato dominate NCHC, WCHA awards
Fighting Hawks forward Shane Pinto led UND's NCHC haul, while the Mavericks picked up four WCHA honors.
Big Ten hockey award finalists include trio of Gophers
Goalie Jack LaFontaine and defenseman Brock Faber each are up for two awards, and Bob Motzko has a chance to repeat as Coach of the Year.
NHL's unusual schedule makes regular season feel like nonstop playoffs
In this shortened and compressed season, teams are for the most part playing series instead of single games, including four Wild-Vegas battles in 10 days.
Gophers hockey beats Michigan 4-2 but Big Ten title slips away
Before the puck dropped Saturday afternoon, the Gophers already knew they were destined for second place behind Wisconsin.
Gophers hockey falls 5-2 to Michigan and out of first place
The third-ranked Gophers no longer can claim the Big Ten title on their own. By falling to the No. 7 Wolverines, Minnesota ceded control of the Big Ten race to Wisconsin.
Our hockey bracketology: Four Minnesota teams in mix with UND as top seed
The men's conference tournaments will help determine whose bubbles will burst, while the teams at the top are solidifying their positions.
