Former Gophers captain and Maple Grove native Brock Faber is a State of Hockey guy through and through. He made his NHL debut Monday night for the Minnesota Wild, totalling 1 shot on goal, 6 blocks, 1 giveaway, 24 shifts and 21:49 time on ice in a 4-2 comeback win over Chicago.

Faber and his defensive partner, 37-year-old veteran and former Gophers assistant captain, playing at Mariucci Arena from 2004-07, Alex Goligoski, were able to chat following the 3-1 loss against the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night outside of the Wild’s locker room.

In his career at the University of Minnesota through 97 games Faber scored 7 goals and 46 assists for 53 points.

-Faber-

How cool was it to play with Alex in your first game as a member of the Wild?

“He’s obviously a Gopher legend, so I couldn’t have asked for a better D[efense] partner my first night. Just considering how experienced he is and this league and the path he took to get here, it was pretty special.”

Making that quick jump from college to the pros, was there a big difference?

“The game is a lot faster and more skilled. You also have teammates who are on a different level and communicate so well, each playing in such a unique way, so it’s cool to kind of pick the brains of some of the guys and learn as much as I can.”

Did you expect to have that much ice time with 24 shifts?

“No, not really, I mean it was kind of just rolling the whole game. So, unfortunately, I got caught out there a few times, which might have boosted my numbers a little bit. But I’m glad I was able to contribute and play the best I could.”

What was your biggest “welcome to the big leagues” moment on Monday?

“My first shift. I don’t know how long it was but it was about five minutes. That was kind of where I was like, alright, this is a lot faster than what I’m used to. Thankfully, the guys were there to pick me up and I got back out there the next shift and just kept rolling.”

What’s your biggest goal for the rest of this season?

“To do what I can to help these guys, whether I’m in the lineup or not. If not, just stay ready in case I do get a chance.”

What’s the best advice you’ve received so far?

“Just keep trying to play as confident as you can and keep the nerves out. Play loose and enjoy it.”

Was it really special to play alongside Matt Boldy?

“Yeah, the last time I got to do that was at World Juniors. He’s on a whole different level now, so it’s cool to play with a star like that. It’s a dream come true to be here, being a Wild fan just three weeks ago.”

Got any messages for the fans and students back across the Mississippi?

“I’m gonna miss them. Again, I’m not that far, 10 minutes away, so I’m thankful for that.”

Bob Motzko was an assistant coach when Goligoski last wore the the maroon and gold. The two have reconnected a couple of times since Motzko returned to Minneapolis as the head coach, meeting most recently in the coach’s room a few summers ago at Mariucci Arena. Goligoski said he thinks Motzko has done an “unbelievable job” at turning the program back around into a perennial powerhouse.

-Goligoski-

How cool was it to play with Brock Faber during his debut?

“I’ve played with a couple other Gophers in my career, but no, it was awesome. He played great — he’s gonna have an awesome career in this league. He’s a really solid player. Good to get the win.”

How do you think he settled in so quickly?

“I think he knows his game. You’re not gonna see him change too much — he’s a very cerebral player. He knows where to be at the right time, his positioning is great, communicates very well on the ice. It makes the game easy for him.”

Did you watch him a lot playing for the Gophers?

“A little bit, I did when I could. He was just rock solid back there for them for three years and really led that team, and it’s awesome to see him do it at the NHL level.”

Do you guys on the Wild make rookies like Faber have any special tasks like carrying your bags or stuff like that?

“We’re kind of soft on the rookies. It’s a little different than when I came into the league. We don’t make them do too much. They’re all good dudes, so it makes it easy for us to not pick on them too much.”

How does Faber gel with the guys so far even though he’s only been with the team for a short timeframe so far?

“Really well. He’s a talkative kid, easy guy to get along with.”

Going forward, how much of an asset is Faber going to be on this team?

“Oh he’s gonna play in this league for a long time. His game is so tight and he knows the player he is. Teams today are looking for a defenseman that can skate, play defense, move the puck and get it out of their hands quick. He does all those things.”

This interview has been edited for length, clarity and style.