Watch: Gophers' Pitlick scores, throws stick into stands

Originally posted on FanNation Bring Me The Sports
By Joe Nelson | Last updated 10/22/22

Rhett Pitlick, part of the No. 1 Minnesota Gophers' star-studded freshman class, celebrated a goal in a way that has maybe never been before.

After ripping a wrist shot by North Dakota's goalie to put the Gophers up 2-0, Pitlick celebrated by chucking his stick into the stands. A North Dakota fan caught it and immediately threw it back on the ice, similar to how baseball fans throw an opposing team's home run ball back onto the field.

While fans got a kick out Pitlick's celebration, the officials didn't.

Pitlick was slapped with a 10-minute misconduct penalty, which sparked a North Dakota rally – and the Fighting Hawks went on to win 5-4 in overtime.

Jackson Blake scored on the ensuing power play 2 minutes, 9 seconds later. And Riese Gaber's power-play goal tied the game 2-2 54 seconds later, and Mark Senden gave the Fighting Hawks a 3-2 lead just 18 seconds later.

Less than three minutes after that UND scored again to take a 4-2 lead.

Minnesota battled back with a goal from Mason Nevers with 34 seconds left in the second period, and the Gophers tied the game 4-4 on freshman Jimmy Snuggerud's goal 6 minutes, 30 seconds into the third.

Senden, who went to Wayzata High School in the Twin Cities, scored in overtime to help UND split the weekend series against Minnesota.

This article first appeared on FanNation Bring Me The Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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