Frustrating Opening Weekend: No. 14 Gophers Swept in Houghton
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The No. 14 Minnesota Golden Gophers opened their 2026-27 campaign with a difficult road trip to the Upper Peninsula, dropping both games against No. 19 Michigan Tech at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. After Friday night’s scheduled opener was pushed back, the Gophers were unable to find their rhythm across the adjusted weekend slate, falling 3-2 on Saturday and 3-1 on Sunday.
Saturday: Late Third Period Strike Sinks Gophers (3-2)
In Saturday’s opener, Minnesota matched Michigan Tech’s intensity and held a 31-28 edge in shots, but opportunistic transition play by the Huskies ultimately proved to be the difference. Tate Pritchard and Beckett Hendrickson provided the offensive spark for the Maroon and Gold, with Hendrickson knotting the game at 2-2 in the second period off a sharp setup.
The turning point came midway through the third frame when a failed clearing attempt by the Minnesota defense left the zone compromised. Michigan Tech’s Matthew Van Blaricom capitalized on the broken play, sliding home his second goal of the night to give the Huskies a late lead. Minnesota pulled netminder Luca Di Pasquo with two minutes remaining and mounted a furious late charge, but Michigan Tech goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz stood tall, stopping seven late shots to seal the 3-2 victory for the hosts.
Sunday: Late Goals Doom Gophers in Matinee (3-1)
Looking to salvage a weekend split in Sunday afternoon’s rematch, the Gophers battled through a tight defensive script but struggled to create high-danger scoring chances. After a scoreless opening period, Michigan Tech broke the ice in the second frame. Minnesota responded early in the third on the power play, where Mason Moe redirected a feed from senior transfer Evan Murr to level the score at 1-1 and gain much-needed momentum.
As the period wore on, the Gophers sustained heavy offensive zone time but could not find the finishing touch. Michigan Tech executed a dagger in the closing minutes of regulation, striking off a quick counterattack to break the deadlock before adding an insurance goal moments later. Despite going 1-for-2 on the man advantage for the afternoon, Minnesota fell 3-1 to complete a tough opening-weekend sweep.
Key Takeaways from a Minnesota Perspective
The sweep highlighted the growing pains of a transitioning lineup. With 13 newcomers joining 13 returning players, head coach Brett Larson acknowledged postgame that early-season chemistry and execution remain work in progress. While the power play broke through on Sunday, giving up game winning goals late in the third period on back-to-back days exposed critical breakdown areas, particularly around puck management near the blue line.
“Unfortunately, we were inconsistent. I guess not totally unexpected with 13 new guys and 13 returners with a very brief time to prepare.” – Brett Larson, Minnesota Head Coach
Up Next
The Gophers (0-2-0) return home to reset before heading back on the road for another high-stakes non-conference series against the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.