The Minnesota vs Michigan Tech series wraps up Sunday as No. 14 Minnesota visits No. 19 Michigan Tech at John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton, Michigan. Puck drop for Game 2 is 3:07 p.m. ET, and it streams on Midco Sports Plus. Both teams are opening their seasons, and the weekend was pushed back a day after Minnesota postponed the opener because of unplayable ice conditions.
Minnesota vs Michigan Tech game information
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
- Venue: John MacInnes Student Ice Arena, Houghton, Michigan
- Watch: Midco Sports Plus; radio on Mix 93.5 FM
Minnesota vs Michigan Tech: 3 keys to the game
1. A new coach at Minnesota. Brett Larson is in his first season with the Golden Gophers after leading St. Cloud State to four NCAA tournament appearances and the 2021 national championship game, according to Minnesota athletics. Minnesota ended last season with a 6-2 loss to Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, so early signs of a new identity will be worth watching.
2. The goalie matchup. Michigan Tech senior Owen Bartoszkiewicz is a former Gophers goaltender and a Preseason All-CCHA pick. Minnesota counts on Luca Di Pasquo, a Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team selection. Forward Brodie Ziemer earned preseason first-team honors, and defenseman Evan Murr was on the second team, so the Gophers have the offensive punch to test Bartoszkiewicz.
3. Michigan Tech’s home ice. The Huskies are the preseason favorite in the CCHA and went 20-plus wins last season under second-year coach Bill Muckalt, who set a program record with 23 wins as a first-year coach, per Michigan Tech. Tech split with Minnesota in Minneapolis last October, winning the second game 5-2. Even so, the Huskies’ last home win against the Gophers came in 2012.
How the Minnesota vs Michigan Tech weekend was reshaped
The series was originally set for Friday and Saturday. After the postponement, Game 1 moved to Saturday at 4:07 p.m. ET, and Game 2 was set for Sunday at 3:07 p.m. ET. The Minnesota vs Michigan Tech games remain in Houghton, and fans can follow both on Midco Sports Plus and on Mix 93.5 FM with longtime Michigan Tech announcer Dirk Hembroff, who is in his 25th season on the call.
Michigan Tech leans on senior leadership, with captains Isaac Gordon and Max Koskipirtti joining Bartoszkiewicz in the lineup. Minnesota brings back a core led by Ziemer, Di Pasquo and Murr. With a new coach behind the bench in Minneapolis and a veteran group in Houghton, the second game gives each side a chance to adjust after seeing the other for a night.
Series history and what to know
Minnesota holds a commanding all-time edge, with more than 175 wins in the series, and last played in Houghton in 2012. Because both teams are ranked in the preseason polls, the result could carry weight in the national picture. Minnesota is No. 14 in the USCHO poll and No. 18 in USA Hockey’s rankings, while Michigan Tech is 19th and 20th. The games are non-conference games, so neither result counts in league standings, but the Minnesota vs Michigan Tech result will still shape early-season confidence and the polls that follow.
Early-season hockey is hard to predict, with lineups still settling and special teams still finding their rhythm, and this Minnesota vs Michigan Tech matchup is a fine example, since neither team has much game film from this season. For more college hockey openers, read our Quinnipiac opener recap and our Denver vs. Alaska Anchorage series preview. You can also see how the Bobcats started in Quinnipiac hockey at New Hampshire.
