Gophers Take Down Huskies in 5-1 Exhibition Win
St. Cloud, MN – The 2024-2025 Gopher hockey season is underway, and even though it’s only an exhibition game, it always feels good to beat an in-state rival.
Behind goals from Aaron Huglen, Jimmy Snuggerud, Ryan Chesley, August Falloon, and Mike Koster, the #6 Minnesota Gophers scored five unanswered goals in the 2nd and 3rd periods to down the #16 St. Cloud State Huskies 5-1.
The first period was played to a 0-0 draw, before St. Cloud scored on a breakaway early in the 2nd period to take a 1-0 lead. The Gophers answered back soon after, when Connor Kurth created a chance by winning the puck along the benches and finding Aaron Huglen skating up the left wing. Huglen’s wrist shot snuck inside the far post to tie the game 1-1. Jimmy Snuggerud scored a one-timer on the power play to put Minnesota up 2-1.
Minnesota did more damage in the third, with Chesley, Falloon, and Koster each scoring goals to put the game out of reach at 5-1.
The biggest question coming into the season for the #6 Gophers is between the pipes. Justen Close owned the Minnesota net for the last 2.5 seasons, but it’s a new world now, with Nathan Airey and Penn State transfer Liam Souliere sharing the twine this year. Airey started the game and gave up one goal, while Souliere played the final 30 minutes and kept St. Cloud off the board. Both goalies played well from this writer’s perspective. Gopher coach Bob Motzko has indicated that Airey and Souliere will split time until one takes the job.
As an exhibition game, nearly everyone on Minnesota’s roster skated tonight. The Gophers boast a large stable of newcomers, so a lot of my viewing of the game was just learning names and numbers and playing styles. I was impressed with the play of #72 Erik Pahlsson and #74 Brody Ziemer. Ziemer is a big physical forward who skated with Oliver Moore and Jimmy Snuggerud, while Erik Pahlsson is a Swede who looked smooth and quick skating with former USHL teammate Beckett Hendrickson.
A lot of attention has been paid to UConn transfer Matthew Wood this offseason. The former first round pick is wearing #91 and looked big and strong on the puck, but a little disconnected from his linemates. Wood has great hands and solid offensive instincts, so we’ll look forward to seeing his game flourish as the season progresses.