O Captain, My Captain

The Gopher Hockey (@GopherHockey) season is a mere 14 days away with their first game and home opener being against Vermont in the 2015 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game. You can find their complete schedule here.

Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control.

- Tom Landry 

Justin Kloos

gophersports.com

Justin Kloos (@jkloos15) was named the 2015-2016 Gopher Hockey captain on August 5th. As a junior, he is the 161st player to wear a letter for the Gophers - following captains Kyle Rau (@KyleRau), Seth Ambroz (@Ambroz17), and Ben Marshall (@BenjaminM_10). 

Justin Kloos, Instagram (justinkloos)
Switzerland

This past May, Kloos spent some time studying abroad with teammates Hudson Fasching and Brady Skjei (@BradySkjei).

Last season, Kloos was the third leading goal scorer behind Rau and Travis Boyd (@Tboyd93). He ranked fourth in points for the Gophers last season as well. In the 39 games that were played last season, Kloos went 13-19--32. Kloos has played in 80 career games as a Gopher and has 64 career points (29-35--64). In his two seasons playing for Minnesota, the Gophers have won back-to-back B1G Ten Conference Championships. Kloos, a Lakeville native, won the Mr. Hockey award in 2012 - an award given annually to the state's top senior skater. During his senior year of high school, Kloos had a state-best 103 points, which was the 10th highest total in state history.

The alternate captains were named on the first day back to school for the University of Minnesota. 

Connor Reilly

http://www.gophersports.com

Connor Reilly (@CReilly81) is a redshirt junior for the Gophers. Reilly played in 24 games last season (11-5--16) before his season was ended with an injury during a game against Wisconsin. At the time, he was the Gophers leading goal scorer. Reilly has played in 61 career games and has 28 total points (17 goals, 11 assists). Connor, along with his brothers Ryan and Mikey, played high school hockey for the Academy of Holy Angels before playing junior hockey for the Penticton Vees and eventually college hockey for Minnesota.

Connor Reilly, Instagram (creilly2121)
Tsinghua University

The three brothers studied abroad in China this past May through the Carlson School of Management. His other two siblings, Shannon and Caitlin, play(ed) Division I hockey as well - Shannon with Ohio State and Caitlin with the Gophers (transferred this year from Penn State). The Reilly's father, Mike, also played for the Golden Gophers.

Hudson Fasching

http://www.gophersports.com

Hudson Fasching (@Hfasching22) is a native of Burnsville, Minnesota. The junior played in 38 games last season and went 12-14--26. Fasching has played in 78 career games and has 56 total points (26 goals, 30 assists). He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft in the fourth round, 118 overall. However, his rights were traded to the Buffalo Sabres during his freshman year. Fasching has played in the IIHF World Junior Championships the last two years, one year under Coach Don Lucia.

Justin Kloos, Instagram (justinkloos)
Baking Class, Germany

Fasching also spent time studying abroad in Europe this summer. The May term is a popular time to go abroad for athletes - it gives them a time to gain their international experience without missing too much training or hockey.

Jake Bischoff

http://www.gophersports.com

Jake Bischoff (@jakebischoff22) is a native of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Aside from Michael Brodzinski (@Mbrodzinski20), Bischoff will have the most defensive experience for the Gophers. He played in 36 games last season and went 3-8--11. Bischoff has played in 64 career games as a Gopher and has 18 career points (6 goals, 12 assists). In the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Islanders selected Bischoff in the 7th round, 185 overall. Similar to Reilly, Bischoff's father played for the Gophers as well. 

http://www.gophersports.com

Aside from their schedule above, their TV schedule can be found here. Single game tickets went on sale September 23rd, you can purchase them here. 

The Gopher Hockey season will soon be underway - many are counting down the days until the puck drops. The 2015-2016 season brings in ten new freshman along with junior, Michael Szmatula (@MichaelSzmatula). The season promises to bring new faces, new goals, and new accomplishments for the Gophers; and the Minnesota captains are ready to lead the team to success.