The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is the oldest and largest
part of the University of Minnesota school system. Its student
body is the second-largest in the United States according to
autumn 2005 statistics, with 51,175 students.
The University was originally built in 1851 and was located
about a mile upstream of the Mississippi river from where
it stands today. The school had to shut down following a financial
crisis during the American Civil War, but reopened in 1867.
It was upgraded from a preparatory school to a college in
1869.
Today's campus has buildings on both banks of the river,
but the East Bank is the main portion of the campus and covers
307 acres. The West Bank of the campus has been growing rapidly,
first seeing major development in the 1960s. The West Bank
covers 53 acres and is home to many arts buildings and the
business school.
Sports teams associated with the University of Minnesota Twin
Cities campus go by the Golden Gophers moniker. The Gopher
mascot is a tradition as old as the state. Minnesota was tabbed
the “Gopher State” in 1857 and the University
appropriately adopted the animal as its mascot. However, the
“Golden” adjective has not always been a part
of the Gopher nickname. During the 1930s, the Gophers wore
gold jerseys and pants. Legendary KSTP-AM radio announcer
Halsey Hall coined the term “Golden Gophers” in
reference to the team’s all-gold attire on the field.
The term stuck and the University amended their formal moniker
to the Golden Gophers. Despite the golden term, the teams’
colors include maroon, white and gold.
 The
University of Minnesota Gophers Mens Hockey team is a member
of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in the NCAA.
The team plays in Mariucci arena which is located on the East
Bank of the University’s Minneapolis campus. The arena
is basked in the traditional roots of hockey in Minnesota.
The arena has excellent sightlines, beautiful murals of players
past and numerous displays of enormous hockey trophies.
The Golden Gopher Men’s Hockey team began circa 1922
when the University of Minnesota began a hockey dynasty. The
Gophers have had many great players skating on the University
pond including the legendary Herb Brooks, John Mariucci and
Neal Broten. The University of Minnesota gained further recognition
as a hockey stronghold when the team sent numerous hockey
players to the winter Olympics in 1980. The team was truly
a miracle on ice when they defeated the Soviet Union and won
the gold medal. The miracle team included great University
of Minnesota players like Steve Janaszak, Bill Baker, Mike
Ramsey, Neal Broten, Rob McClanahan, Buzz Schneider, Eric
Strobel and Phil Verchota. In addition the University has
had many players play in the NHL including Mike Antonovich,
Bill Baker, Brian Bonin, Aaron Broten, Neal Broten, Paul Broten,
Darby Hendrickson, Jordan Leopold, John Mariucci, Lou Nanne,
John Pohl, Dave Snuggerud, Jeff Taffe, Dean Talafous, Erik
Westrum and Ken Yacke just to name a few.
The Gophers Mens Hockey team won the national division one
championship in 1974, 1976, 1979 and most recently in 2002
and 2003. The team has been the runner up seven other times
since 1950. The team has a history of success and will continue
to be a top contender for many years to come.
Selling out Mariucci arena to a sea of maroon and gold fans
is a regular occurrence for the Men’s Golden Gopher
Hockey team. Minnesota is an enormous school in a huge market,
so Golden Gophers hockey tickets are extremely hot. Seeing
the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Mens Hockey team
take the ice is an experience to remember and one no hockey
fan will want to miss!
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