Photo by: Matt Krohn
Meyers, Faber, Motzko Lead ‘U’ Big Ten Honorees
3/15/2022 11:01:00 AM | Men's Hockey
The Gophers host Michigan on Saturday in the Big Ten tournament title game.
MINNEAPOLIS – As the No. 2/3 Gopher men's hockey program prepares for Saturday's Big Ten title game at 3M Arena at Mariucci, the Maroon & Gold will enter the conference finale with the Big Ten Player of the Year, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the Big Ten Coach of the Year, the league announced on Tuesday.
Big Ten Player of the Year Ben Meyers and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Brock Faber represented Minnesota as First Team All-Big Ten selections while Bob Motzko has now earned his second Big Ten Coach of the Year honor in four seasons at Minnesota. Additionally, Matthew Knies and Jackson LaCombe were named Second Team All-Big Ten with Knies also earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Justen Close, Blake McLaughlin and Sammy Walker each received All-Big Ten Honorable Mention accolades.
"Our guys have just rolled with any punch that got thrown at them, they just roll with it and keep going," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said to Big Ten Network. "It's just been an excellent group of young men to be around. You just count your blessings when you have seasons like this with leadership like this and the group of kids we have."
A native of Delano, Minn., Meyers currently leads the Gophers with career highs of 16 goals and 36 points in 30 games despite missing five contests to compete with the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. After finishing second in scoring among U.S. skaters at the Olympics, the Minnesota captain has tallied 10 points (five goals, five assists) in four games since returning to the Gophers lineup. One of two unanimous picks for All-Big Ten this year, Meyers has notched points in 21 of 30 games this year including 11 multi-point performances and is Minnesota's top man on the draw – winning 306 of 524 faceoffs (.584). He has scored 90 points (38 goals, 52 assists) in 98 career games with the Gophers. A Hobey Baker Award candidate, Meyers is the third Gopher to be named Big Ten Player of the Year (Adam Wilcox in 2013-14, Tyler Sheehy in 2016-17).
A native of Maple Grove, Minn., Faber set a new career high with his 13th point of the season in Saturday's Big Ten semifinal win as the defenseman has two goals and 11 assists in 28 games while also leading a defense that ranks in the top-10 nationally in goals against per game. After being named a finalist for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last season (as well as Big Ten Freshman of the Year), Faber is now the third Gopher to earn the defensive accolade (Mike Reilly in 2013-14 and 2014-15, Jake Bischoff in 2016-17). The Los Angeles Kings prospect has twice been called upon by USA Hockey this year – serving as an alternate captain for the U.S. National Junior Team before competing with the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. In 55 career games with the Gophers, the defenseman has 25 points (three goals, 22 assists) and 68 blocked shots.
Meanwhile, Motzko has now earned his sixth career conference coach of the year honor (WCHA in 2005-2006, 2006-2007; NCHC in 2013-2014, 2017-2018; Big Ten in 2019-20, 2021-21) after guiding Minnesota to the Big Ten regular-season championship and the team's second-straight Big Ten championship game berth. The Gophers are 24-11-0 this season – tied for the most wins in Motzko's four years with the program (2020-21). A native of Austin, Minn., Motzko holds an 82-48-11 record with the Gophers and a 358-40-60 all-time mark in 17 seasons as a Division I head coach. The now two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year joins Don Lucia (2013-14) as Minnesota coaching honorees in the Big Ten era.
A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Knies currently ranks tied for third on the Gophers roster and first among Minnesota newcomers with 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 29 games this season. A unanimous pick for the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect was also a finalist for Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Similar to Faber, Knies has represented the United States twice this year – skating at the IIHF World Junior Championship and the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
A native of Eden Prairie, Minn., LaCombe has now earned his second career all-conference honor after leading Minnesota's defensive group with 51 blocked shots this season as well as career highs of 27 points and 24 assists (LaCombe leads the Gophers in assists this season). A Second Team All-American last year, the Anaheim Ducks prospect has 145 blocked shots and 62 points (10 goals, 52 assists) in 99 career games with the Maroon & Gold.
A native of Kindersley, Sask., Close continues to be one of college hockey's top stories this season as the junior took over starting goaltender duties in January and has gone 12-3-0 including a nine-game winning streak entering this weekend. Close ranks fourth nationally in save percentage (.933, best in the Big Ten) and ranks fifth nationally in goals against average (1.75).
A native of Grand Rapids, Minn., McLaughlin is in the middle of his best statistical season at Minnesota with career highs of 31 points and 19 assists. Meanwhile, his 12 goals this year are tied for his career best. The Anaheim Ducks prospect has tallied 103 points (37 goals, 66 assists) in 138 career games with the Gophers.
A native of Edina, Minn., Walker is the first three-time captain in Minnesota history and has now been recognized by the Big Ten in all four years of his career (Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2018-19, Honorable Mention in 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22). Walker is Minnesota's active-leading scorer with 112 points (48 goals, 64 assists) in 140 career games while the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect has 27 points in 35 games this season including a career-high 14 goals. A finalist for the Senior CLASS Award, the forward was also Minnesota's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Next Up: B1G Tournament Championship
3M Arena at Mariucci will host the Big Ten championship game for the first time as the Gophers host Michigan on Saturday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM). Tickets are on sale now at GopherSports.com.
Big Ten Player of the Year Ben Meyers and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Brock Faber represented Minnesota as First Team All-Big Ten selections while Bob Motzko has now earned his second Big Ten Coach of the Year honor in four seasons at Minnesota. Additionally, Matthew Knies and Jackson LaCombe were named Second Team All-Big Ten with Knies also earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Justen Close, Blake McLaughlin and Sammy Walker each received All-Big Ten Honorable Mention accolades.
"Our guys have just rolled with any punch that got thrown at them, they just roll with it and keep going," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said to Big Ten Network. "It's just been an excellent group of young men to be around. You just count your blessings when you have seasons like this with leadership like this and the group of kids we have."
A native of Delano, Minn., Meyers currently leads the Gophers with career highs of 16 goals and 36 points in 30 games despite missing five contests to compete with the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. After finishing second in scoring among U.S. skaters at the Olympics, the Minnesota captain has tallied 10 points (five goals, five assists) in four games since returning to the Gophers lineup. One of two unanimous picks for All-Big Ten this year, Meyers has notched points in 21 of 30 games this year including 11 multi-point performances and is Minnesota's top man on the draw – winning 306 of 524 faceoffs (.584). He has scored 90 points (38 goals, 52 assists) in 98 career games with the Gophers. A Hobey Baker Award candidate, Meyers is the third Gopher to be named Big Ten Player of the Year (Adam Wilcox in 2013-14, Tyler Sheehy in 2016-17).
A native of Maple Grove, Minn., Faber set a new career high with his 13th point of the season in Saturday's Big Ten semifinal win as the defenseman has two goals and 11 assists in 28 games while also leading a defense that ranks in the top-10 nationally in goals against per game. After being named a finalist for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year last season (as well as Big Ten Freshman of the Year), Faber is now the third Gopher to earn the defensive accolade (Mike Reilly in 2013-14 and 2014-15, Jake Bischoff in 2016-17). The Los Angeles Kings prospect has twice been called upon by USA Hockey this year – serving as an alternate captain for the U.S. National Junior Team before competing with the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. In 55 career games with the Gophers, the defenseman has 25 points (three goals, 22 assists) and 68 blocked shots.
Meanwhile, Motzko has now earned his sixth career conference coach of the year honor (WCHA in 2005-2006, 2006-2007; NCHC in 2013-2014, 2017-2018; Big Ten in 2019-20, 2021-21) after guiding Minnesota to the Big Ten regular-season championship and the team's second-straight Big Ten championship game berth. The Gophers are 24-11-0 this season – tied for the most wins in Motzko's four years with the program (2020-21). A native of Austin, Minn., Motzko holds an 82-48-11 record with the Gophers and a 358-40-60 all-time mark in 17 seasons as a Division I head coach. The now two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year joins Don Lucia (2013-14) as Minnesota coaching honorees in the Big Ten era.
A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Knies currently ranks tied for third on the Gophers roster and first among Minnesota newcomers with 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 29 games this season. A unanimous pick for the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect was also a finalist for Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Similar to Faber, Knies has represented the United States twice this year – skating at the IIHF World Junior Championship and the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
A native of Eden Prairie, Minn., LaCombe has now earned his second career all-conference honor after leading Minnesota's defensive group with 51 blocked shots this season as well as career highs of 27 points and 24 assists (LaCombe leads the Gophers in assists this season). A Second Team All-American last year, the Anaheim Ducks prospect has 145 blocked shots and 62 points (10 goals, 52 assists) in 99 career games with the Maroon & Gold.
A native of Kindersley, Sask., Close continues to be one of college hockey's top stories this season as the junior took over starting goaltender duties in January and has gone 12-3-0 including a nine-game winning streak entering this weekend. Close ranks fourth nationally in save percentage (.933, best in the Big Ten) and ranks fifth nationally in goals against average (1.75).
A native of Grand Rapids, Minn., McLaughlin is in the middle of his best statistical season at Minnesota with career highs of 31 points and 19 assists. Meanwhile, his 12 goals this year are tied for his career best. The Anaheim Ducks prospect has tallied 103 points (37 goals, 66 assists) in 138 career games with the Gophers.
A native of Edina, Minn., Walker is the first three-time captain in Minnesota history and has now been recognized by the Big Ten in all four years of his career (Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2018-19, Honorable Mention in 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22). Walker is Minnesota's active-leading scorer with 112 points (48 goals, 64 assists) in 140 career games while the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect has 27 points in 35 games this season including a career-high 14 goals. A finalist for the Senior CLASS Award, the forward was also Minnesota's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Next Up: B1G Tournament Championship
3M Arena at Mariucci will host the Big Ten championship game for the first time as the Gophers host Michigan on Saturday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: Big Ten Network; Stream: FOX Sports App; Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM/103.5 FM). Tickets are on sale now at GopherSports.com.