When Matthew Knies and Logan Cooley opted to begin their NHL careers rather than return to the Gophers men’s hockey team for the 2023-24 season, coach Bob Motzko knew replacing the productivity would require plenty of growth from his returning players.
After all, Knies and Cooley were Hobey Baker finalists who combined for 43 goals and 102 points last season — figures that accounted for 25.6% of the goals and 22.5% of the points for last year’s NCAA runner-up.
The growth has come from several players but none more than junior left winger Rhett Pitlick, who leads the team in scoring with 32 points on 17 goals and 15 assists. Pitlick teams with sophomore right winger Jimmy Snuggerud (19-12-31) and freshman center Oliver Moore (7-22-29) on a top line that has produced 39.4% of Minnesota’s goals.
“The great thing about Rhett is, as we’ve seen this growth with him, there’s even another level you can hit,” Motzko said. “He’s such a dangerous player.”
Both dangerous and essential for the Gophers, who close their regular season on Friday and Saturday with a two-game series against Michigan at 3M Arena at Mariucci. While the Gophers’ two-year run as Big Ten regular-season champions will end — either Michigan State or Wisconsin will claim that crown — Minnesota can clinch third place in the Big Ten by securing at least two points.
“It’s crazy to think we’ve got only two regular-season games left, but we’re definitely excited,” Pitlick said. “This is a huge week.”
Pitlick, who had 11 goals and 14 assists last season in a supporting role, endured a slow start this season, with no goals in his first six games and only one goal in his first 10. He heated up with a seven-game streak from Nov. 17-Dec. 8 in which he had eight goals and five assists.
Since Jan. 7, he has eight goals and six assists. He’s teamed with Snuggerud and Moore to form a line that might not be as prolific as the Cooley-Knies-Snuggerud trio, but one that’s just as important to the Gophers’ hopes of making a run to the Frozen Four in St. Paul.