Weekly Preview Toss Up Weekend

This weeks slate of games are indeed a toss up, starting with #2 Minnesota where the Gophers have a home and home series against St. Cloud State.

Tyler Hirsch (pictured above) is the leading scorer on the Gophers with two goals and 12 assists for 14 points. After being a medical redshirt last season, Hirsch has picked up where he left off two years ago where he had 44 points (11 g, 33 a). While Hirsch is leading the team in scoring, the team has six other players who have 10 or more points and we are just nine games into the season.

After the loss to Maine, the Gophers have not lost a game since. In the last eight games, the Gophers have outscored the opposition 41-12. While you got the goal scorers in Kyle Okposo, and Jay Barriball one of the best one two Freshman punches in the country, the goaltending has the same type of one two punch. Senior Kellen Briggs has only allowed four goals and has a shutout to his credit. While Sophomore Jeff Frazee has played in more games and is doing quite well, expect to see both goaltenders this weekend.

On the other side St. Cloud State has started off a little slow at 2-3-1. Bobby Goepfert has not regained his game yet, but again we are still early in the season. This team could give Minnesota fits like they have in years past. Expect St. Cloud to play with a little desperiation and don't be surprised if the Huskies get the offense going against Minnesota.

Other Big Games include:

Maine will face New Hampshire on Sunday. The inter-state rivals will play their only meeting at Alfond Arena this Sunday. Both teams have important games before Sunday UNH has Boston University at the Whittemore Center, and Maine hosts UMASS-Lowell. Expect this game to be fast paced with a lot of oppurtunities.

After their first win of the season, the Harvard Crimson will look to get a hot streak going, but they will have to do it on the road as Harvard goes to upstate New York to face Cornell and Colgate.

Denver and Wisconsin will face each other as both games will be held at the Kohl Center in Madison.

A key CCHA series will feature Alaska and Northern Michigan (both games at Northern Michigan).

And Sacred Heart will face Holy Cross in an Atlantic Hockey showdown for a two game home and home series.

These games and more will be featured in the weekly wrap-up. But until then enjoy this toss up weekend in the world of college hockey.