Hockey | 1/17/2026 12:10:00 PM
Minneapolis, Minn. - For the first time since November 8th, the Golden Eagles have lost a game. Tonight's loss comes at the hands of The University of Minnesota, a team that swept the Golden Eagles a year ago. Tonight was another close game, something these two are used to when they go head to head, with the Golden Gophers winning 5-4. In net for the Golden Eagles was Tyler Swanson (So., G, Moorhead, Minn.) For the Golden Gophers, Jack Mlodozyniec got the start.
The first period was a tight one, with the Golden Eagles coming out of the opening 20 minutes leading 2-1. But, if you know anything about the way these teams play each other, you would know that it is a rarity for the game to end that low scoring. There were plenty more goals to be scored. It was the Golden Gophers that struck first, with Keegan Johnson putting the puck past Tyler Swanson five minutes in. With 8:25 to go, Brody Nordmark (Fr., D, Souris, N.D.) put home his third of the year with Anthony Foster (Jr., F, Warroad, Minn.) assisting. The Golden Eagles gained their first lead of the night just 30 seconds later when Logan Syrup (5th, F, Park River, N.D.) netted his sixth of the year with Brandon Kelly (Jr., D, Minto, N.D.) and Anthony Foster picking up the assists. The Golden Eagles carried the 2-1 lead into the intermission.
The second period was extremely similar to the first, with the result being a one goal lead for the Golden Eagles at the end of it. This time, it was a 4-3 lead that the Golden Eagles carried into the locker room. Braden Van de Kraats (So., F, Medicine Hat, Alberta) scored a quick one, making it a 3-1 game just 56 seconds into the period, Ben Hines (Jr., F, Detroit Lakes, Minn.) had the only assist. Less than two minutes later, it was a one goal game again when Noah Mogren got his seventh of the year. Logan Syrup got the Golden Eagles back ahead by two at the 6:48 mark with Foster picking up his third assist of the game. But that two goal lead only lasted 16 seconds before Cooper Cirone brought the Golden Gophers back within a goal. 4-3 was the score heading into a massive third period.
The third period was the one period where the Golden Eagles could not put the puck in the back of the net. Unfortunately for them, the Golden Gophers could. The Golden Gophers put their best effort in for what was the final 20 minutes, earning a 5-4 win and snapping the Golden Eagles' nine game win streak. The Golden Gophers' two goals were from Luke Myers and Keegan Johnson, who gave his team the lead with just 2:37 left to play. The Golden Gophers had been ranked #3 in the most recent Central Region rankings, while the Golden Eagles were ranked #11. These two games are some of the most important this season, and the Golden Gophers have a leg up through the first game.
The Golden Eagles and Golden Gophers are back in action tomorrow afternoon at Ridder Arena with a 3:45 p.m. puck drop. The Golden Eagles have just five regular season games left, so they will look to get back into the win column quickly to help their Regional and KRACH Rankings.
