Staff
Sam Ekstrom
Sam Ekstrom is an executive producer and host at Locked On Sports Minnesota. He's previously covered the Vikings for 105 The Ticket, Zone Coverage, Purple Insider, and the Associated Press. He grew up in Vermillion, S.D. rooting for the USD Coyotes (not SDSU) and graduated from Dordt (not "dork") University in Sioux Center, Iowa.
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FIRST REPORT: Gophers Suspend Three Players For Season
By Sam Ekstrom - Mar 1, 2016
A nightmarish Gophers basketball season took yet another downward turn Tuesday when sophomore Nate Mason and freshmen Dupree McBrayer and Kevin Dorsey, Jr., were suspended for the […]
Gophers’ Release Statements Regarding Basketball Suspensions
By Sam Ekstrom - Mar 1, 2016
Prior to Minnesota’s game at Illinois Sunday night, the team suspended three players and released the following statement: The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team announced that […]
How Did the Gophers Beat Maryland?
By Sam Ekstrom - Feb 18, 2016
After 14 consecutive losses – including an 0-13 start in Big Ten play – the Minnesota Golden Gophers finally got their highly-coveted first conference win with a […]
Morris Dismissed from Men’s Basketball Program
By Sam Ekstrom - Feb 17, 2016
The University of Minnesota released a statement prior to their Thursday matchup with the Maryland Terrapins. “The University of Minnesota men’s basketball program has dismissed senior Carlos […]
Analyzing the Gophers’ Chances of Getting a Big Ten Win
By Sam Ekstrom - Feb 11, 2016
The Golden Gophers basketball team hit the two-thirds mark of the Big Ten season without a win Wednesday night when their comeback against the Michigan Wolverines fell […]
Winless Gophers Can’t Get Over the Hump
By Sam Ekstrom - Jan 28, 2016
After getting dropped by the Purdue Boilermakers 68-64 on Wednesday night, the Golden Gophers now sit at 6-14 overall and 0-9 in the Big Ten with nine […]
Gophers Pulling Out All the Stops to Stay Motivated in Disappointing Season
By Sam Ekstrom - Jan 19, 2016
The Minnesota Golden Gophers hit rock bottom with their 84-59 loss at Nebraska last Tuesday – a 25-point defeat in which they trailed by as many as […]
What is the Official Name for Blair Walsh’s Miss?
By Sam Ekstrom - Jan 15, 2016
When memorable plays happen – for better or for worse – fans take it upon themselves to name the play in a way that will immortalize it […]
Vikings’ Devastating Loss a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
By Sam Ekstrom - Jan 11, 2016
Be honest. You never really thought the Minnesota Vikings would win Sunday’s game. Not when they held a 3-0 lead at halftime. Not when they led 9-0 […]
Next Step For Gophers is Learning to Finish Games
By Sam Ekstrom - Jan 8, 2016
Entering Big Ten play with a 6-6 record, not many folks expected the Gophers be competitive, and their 0-3 conference record generally supports that premise. While winning, […]
10 Defining Moments of the Vikings Journey to Their NFC North Title
By Sam Ekstrom - Jan 5, 2016
The Vikings are headed to the postseason as a No. 3 seed after winning the NFC North outright with a 20-13 win over the Green Bay Packers […]
The Key Word is ‘Patience’ With Gophers Basketball, Pitino
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 2, 2015
The first year of Richard Pitino’s tenure as Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball coach was a year of unexpected over-achievement, culminating in an NIT Championship. That built great […]