Zach Weise graduated from Owatonna High School in 2020 and is currently a freshman reserve goalie for the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team.

Wiese dressed for all 40 of the Gophers’ games this season and was right there during Minnesota’s ride to the NCAA National Championship game where they ultimately fell to Quinnipiac in overtime.

Prior to joining the the Gophers, Wiese spent one season with the Rochester Grizzlies and helped guide the team to the Fraser Cup Title handed out to the North American 3 Hockey League national champion every May.

In his one season in Rochester, he was named the NA3HL Goalie of the Year and made the ultra-rare jump from Tier III juniors to the NCAA Division I level. According to Jason Feldman of the Rochester Post Bulletin, he can remember just one other instance of a Tier III player making such a transition in his long career covering the sport in southern Minnesota.

Wiese recently had a conversation with Jon Weisbrod of The Husky Bulletin.

Enjoy.

JON: As the third string goalie, you had a unique perspective on this year’s incredible Minnesota team. What was that like, and how long did it take to find your stride with your new teammates?

ZACH: “Coming in as the third string, I didn’t really know what to expect from the guys. I didn’t know how they were going to treat me. But after a couple weeks I knew the guys respected me and that was really cool. They didn’t treat me like a third string goalie, and that made everything a lot easier.”

“My roommate was (Big Ten Player of the Year) Matthew Knies. He left about a week ago (for the NHL) and having him around all the time really helped too. He’s a great guy.”

Jon: What was the adjustment like to big-time Division I college hockey, both on and off the ice?

ZACH: “My first month or so, I king of like a kid in a candy store. I was looking around and was like ‘wow, I am really here playing for the Gophers.’ It was pretty crazy. But after a while, it becomes a little more normal and you settle in. That’s really the only way to describe it.”

“There’s really nothing that can prepare you for what it’s like at this level (on the ice). Coming from (junior hockey) I knew what it was going to be a tough transition. A lot of my teammates had played in Division I for years and there was a huge learning curve. I’ve seen the speed of the shots a little before, but the release was so quick and the speed was still there. Then there was even another level. They could also fire it from anywhere. I’m playing with something like 15 NHL prospects, and that took some time to adjust.”

“Travel was pretty crazy. I mean, for me, I went from 10-hour bus rides to flying private all over the country and playing at these huge arenas. Overall, it was an incredible season.”

JON: Not only did you come from southern Minnesota, which isn’t recruited nearly as much as the rest of the state, but you were cut from a team and Texas and ultimately made the jump from Tier III to the Big Ten. That’s almost unheard of. Since the season has ended, have you had time to reflect on how crazy it’s been? What was your plan if you didn’t end up at Minnesota?

ZACH: “Yeah, I definitely went through some adversity, but it’s all led to where I am now. I can remember when I first got the call from Lincoln Nguyen — he’s an Owatonna guy — and he asked: ‘Would you be interested in playing for the Gophers?’ I can remember I was at work and I was like: ‘Yes, of course.’

“The day I took the visit to Minnesota, I knew I was going to commit. I had interest from some good D-III programs like St. John’s and a bunch of schools in the MIAC and the WIAC, but I didn’t really know what I wanted until this opportunity came up. How could I say no? It’s Minnesota.”

JON: What are your memories of the Championship game (against Quinnipiac) and the Frozen Four in general?

ZACH: “It was incredible. I can remember the arena was like 90 percent Gopher fans, so it was basically a home game for us — you could feel it. Everyone wanted us to win.

“But (Quinnipiac) made adjustments and we couldn’t get the puck out of the zone, that was the main thing. We knew it was going to be hard to get shots against them and we just didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we had, especially late. They just played better than us that night.”

JON: What are your plans moving forward?

ZACH: “Next season, it might be the same roll and I’m fine with that. I’ll keep just keep working hard and I will capitalize on the chances that I do get and do everything I can to make my teammates better. Obviously, I’d love to get some playing time, but you can’t take this for granted. I love being a Gopher.”