ICE BREAKER TOURNAMENT
The Gophers started off the season with some hardware. They are two-time Ice Breaker Tournament champions. Last season, Minnesota hosted the tournament against Clarkson, Mercyhurst, and New Hampshire. This year the tournament was in South Bend at Coach Don Lucia's alma mater, Notre Dame. Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, Notre Dame, and Rensselaer competed in the tournament and Minnesota came out on top. Minnesota defeated Duluth 4-3 and went on to defeat Rensselaer 3-0 two days later.
HUDSON RIVER FASCHING
Hudson Fasching (@Hfasching22) was named the Ice Breaker Tournament Most Valuable Player after going 2-1--3 over the weekend. He scored the eventual game winning goal against Duluth. Many people thought Fasching would turn pro after his freshman year, but along with many others, he believes there's unfinished business to take care of. One of the aspects that could have contributed to his decision to stay with the Gophers was having his NHL rights traded from the LA Kings to the Buffalo Sabres last season. Fasching will still have a dominant role with the team up front after his impressive freshman year (14-16--30).
FRESHMEN
The freshmen class brings in three drafted players. Jack Glover (@JackGlover8) is drafted to the Winnipeg Jets, Steve Johnson (@Steviej5) is drafted to the Los Angeles Kings, and Ryan Collins (@Ryan_Collins_6) is drafted to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Along with these NHL draftees, there are two Swedish players on the roster. Leon Bristedt (@Leonbristedt) and Robin Höglund (@Hoogi29) are the first two Swedish players to play for the University of Minnesota. Freshman goalie Nick Lehr (@LehrBear) is a native of Roseville, Minnesota and has spent the last three years with the Austin Bruins in the NAHL. This freshmen class brings in a ton of talent, similar to last year. The freshmen will have a different role than last year's freshmen did, but they will have a significant role nonetheless.
B1G TEN
Friday night's game against Bemidji State will also be the unveiling of the 2014 Big Ten regular season championship banner. Last season was the inaugural season for the Big Ten Hockey League and Minnesota was able to win their 15th regular season championship, which was also their third straight.
MIKEY REILLY
Saturday night's game against Bemidji State will honor Mike Reilly (@mreilly93) who was named First Team All-American last season. Not only was he named First Team All-American, but he was also named to the First Team All-Big Ten team and was named the Big Defensive Player of the Year. The last Minnesota player to be named First Team All-American was Ryan Stoa in 2009. M. Reilly went 9-24--33 last year during his sophomore season.
FAMILY AFFAIR
This weekend will be the first time the Reilly's (Connor, Ryan, and younger brother Mikey) will face three other siblings in college hockey all at once. Leo, Gerry, and Myles Fitzgerald are all freshmen on the Bemidji State hockey team. Although this is the first time the Reilly's have faced three siblings in college hockey, it is not the first time they have played the Fitzgerald's. As a part of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), the Reilly's who were a part of the Penticton Vee's faced the Victoria Grizzlies, or the former team of the Fitzgerald's.
BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY
Bemidji State is 1-1-0 so far this season after splitting a series with University of North Dakota. Bemidji won the first game 5-1 and lost the second game 1-2. Last season when the Gophers played the Beavers, Minnesota was able to sweep them on their home ice. The scores were 6-3 the first night and 5-1 the second night. As a freshman, Justin Kloos (@jkloos15) went 1-4--5 in that series. Kloos hopes to continue that streak this weekend.
Good luck to the Gopher Men's Hockey team as they face the Bemidji State University Beavers this weekend. They play Friday night at 8:00pm and Saturday night at 7:00pm. Friday night's game will be broadcasted (watch) on BTN and Saturday night's game will be on FSN+.
