Opponent: Clarkson (3-2-1)
Date: Friday, Oct. 28, 2016
Location: Cheel Arena | Potsdam, N.Y.
Puck Drop: 6:00 p.m. CT
Stream: ClarksonAthletics.com
Radio: 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network
Opponent: No. 18 St. Lawrence (3-3-0)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016
Location: Appleton Arena | Canton, N.Y.
Puck Drop: 6:00 p.m. CT
Stream: SaintsAthletics.com
Radio: 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
The Gophers are 3-0 all-time against Clarkson with all three meetings coming in the NCAA Tournament.
Minnesota isn’t quite as strong against St. Lawrence at just 2-2. The two teams haven’t met since 1998, the same year Gopher freshman Ryan Lindgren was born.
It’ll be Minnesota’s first trips to either opposing arena.
Gopher sophomore Tyler Sheehy is on a tear to start the season. The Burnsville native has three goals and eight points while generating a team-high 17 shots.
If Sheehy’s shot totals look impressive, Gavin Bayreuther of St. Lawrence has been outstanding. Bayreuther has put up 27 shots this year and is second on the team with seven points in six games.
Hockey fans might notice a familiar name on Friday. Clarkson’s Ben Dalpe is the brother of current Minnesota Wild forward Zac Dalpe.
As is usually the case, the Gophers will be playing some Minnesotans who might be playing with a chip on their shoulder against the home-state team. AJ Fossen of Maple Grove and Jake Kielly of Eden Prairie play for Clarkson.
STORYLINE CENTRAL
In a week where it’d seem like storylines would be tough to come by, Joshua Seguin of College Hockey News comes through. Seguin profiles new coach Mark Morris and how he’s led SLU to a 3-1 start before going 0-2 last weekend.
Some Gopher fans might be overlooking this weekend, but they won’t be playing cupcakes. Last weekend, Clarkson tied Providence and topped No. 5 UMass-Lowell. Nathan Fournier of USCHO has a good story on the Golden Knights’ impressive weekend.
The Watertown Daily News has a write up the (very) unexpected win by Clarkson over UMass-Lowell. The tie and victory last weekend have earned Clarkson a number of votes in both major college hockey polls.
QUOTES
Don Lucia
On the weekend opponents:
“A lot of tradition in those programs. I thought it’d be a good trip for our guys in an area of the country they’ve never been–much like Vermont a couple of years ago. Some good ole rinks and good programs. Both teams are NCCA-caliber opponents. They’ve shown that last year and certainly this year.”
On Tyler Sheehy’s hot start:
“Tyler is a really good offensive player. You can really put him with anybody, he’s just going to kind of do his thing. He’s one of those guys that, when he gets the puck in a scoring area, that he can finish. Not everybody can do that, but he’s shown he can do that. He’s off to a nice start.”