When Ziemer rejoined the Gophers, the former Shattuck-St. Mary’s standout went on to post 23 points — a team high among rookies — after netting 12 goals before the Gophers’ season ended with an overtime loss to Massachusetts in the NCAA tournament.
He opened the scoring four times, which was tops on the Gophers, and he was responsible for their only overtime goal of the season, Nov. 9 at Wisconsin. The Gophers were 7-2-1 when Ziemer scored a goal and 4-1-1 during the six games he picked up multiple points.
“It was awesome,” said Ziemer, who was at Buffalo’s development camp earlier this summer after the Sabres drafted him in the third round (71st overall) a year ago. “Honestly, I could have been a little bit better but super happy with it, with how everything went freshman year. Plus winning World Juniors with that group last year was super awesome. Would have liked to go further, go to the Frozen Four, but what are you going to do? Just get ready for this year.”
After this camp adjourns, Ziemer will start preparing for Year 2 with the Gophers.
But beyond that is an opportunity to return to the World Juniors in his home state, with Minneapolis and St. Paul playing host to the 50th anniversary of the event when the tournament kicks off Dec. 26.
“Having it at a rink I grew up watching games at, even watching World Juniors on TV growing up, knowing that it’ll be back here in Minnesota,” Ziemer said, “it’ll be super, super special.”