Despite disappointing end to season, this year’s Tigers garnered national respect, further set foundation for future championship aspirations

By Joe Paisley

This past season should be remembered for more than 0.0004, the Pairwise rankings margin that Massachusetts had over CC to secure the final at-large berth in this weekend’s NCAA Tournament.

Consider how Tigers fans and those around the program had to pay attention to the Pairwise rankings for the first time in more than decade. That’s telling when considering the progress made by this program in three seasons under coach Kris Mayotte and his staff.

“We got as close as we can to reaching our potential and I truly believe we became one of the best teams in the country,” Mayotte said during the season-ending media conference. “It’s always going to be a tough pill to swallow when you are that close and it doesn’t go your way. It cannot take away from the work that was done and the progress that was made.”

One step forward for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference program was a changed national perception of the 21-13-3 Tigers, who were ranked in the Top 10 for the first time since Feb. 2012 and will likely finish the season in the Top 20.

“The biggest thing we talked about with our guys is the respect they were able to bring to the program,” Mayotte said. “That is probably the hardest thing to get and it is certainly something that people don’t give freely. The way people will talk about this program moving forward is a lot different than it has been in recent memory and that is all due to their work.”

It showed as this season continued. which featured the 11^th most difficult schedule in the nation.

“It’s gotten the fans back,” Mayotte said. “We can all say the second half this this season had a completely different feel and energy playing games here. It was a true home-ice advantage.

That changed perception both locally and nationally should help in the future for a program that is well supported by the college and has a newer facility in Ed Robson Arena.

“I think it’s about when you talk about on the recruiting trail, we are a have program,” Mayotte said. “We are not a have-not program. We are not a middle-of-the-road program.

“We present a package on why you should come here that’s as good as anybody’s,” he added. “What we haven’t been able to show is recent success. So, the student athletes we have been recruiting have had to take a leap of faith that the success was going to come. The guys who are here right now have done that.

“It’s not going to be easier for the next guy but it’s not just us telling them why we think this will be successful. You can look around and see what we have built and how we have built it without using the transfer portal (heavily), investing in our recruits, investing in our player development.  They can see how it plays out instead of it just sounding like a pitch.”

The future

For next year’s team –about a third of the current roster will graduate, go pro or leave via the NCAA transfer portal – 0.0004 won’t provide additional motivation. The freshman class will be defenseman-heavy to balance out the roster after forward-laden classes in Mayotte’s first three years.

“It is going to be a good class, there just won’t be as much asked of it,” Mayotte said. “We don’t need to. We’ll see if that changes but as of right now, we don’t need a first-line center or a No 1 defenseman. We have that in our program. We think we have a lot of quality and depth coming in.”

Whether they or any possible transfers will be called on to replace NY Rangers draft pick Noah Laba or free-agent goalie Kaidan Mbereko remains to be seen. Both are rightfully getting scouts’ attention and they will spend the next several weeks considering whether leaving now for the pros would pave a path to the NHL.

The eight graduating seniors have one year’s eligibility remaining due to the pandemic so all might consider a return to CC or hit the transfer portal to start graduate school elsewhere. Six – Nicklaus Andrews, – Ray Christy, Tyler Coffey, Chase Foley, Danny Weight and captain Logan Will – have entered the portal.

Senior defenseman Jack Millar said he will either go pro or return to CC.

“It’s pretty much deciding whether I want to sign a contract and go somewhere or come back and play,” Millar said. “I am just weighing those options.”

And while the individual Tigers consider their futures, CC fans can look back on the 2023-24 season as another positive step towards becoming a program that can win a national title, something that seemed quite unlikely three short years ago.

“I have said it from the day I got this job,” Mayotte said. “This is a championship program. This is a top-five program in the country and I believe that as much today as I did then. But (now) I think it will be easier for others to see what we have been talking about for three years.”

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Most wins since 2011

First winning record since 2012

Tied for third in NCHC, best finish since joining league in 2013-14

Tied for NCAA lead with nine wins over 2024 NCAA Tournament teams

Ten wins versus ranked teams most since the 20078-08 season

Mayotte named NCHC Coach of the Year

Mbereko named NCHC Goaltender of the Year and finalist for Mike Richter Award as nation’s best

Laba named NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year

First four-game season sweep of North Dakota in program’s 85-year history-

Ranked in Top 20 for first time since December 2012 and first time in Top 10 since February 2012

Surging Hawks, Tigers back for rematch of pivotal December series as playoff race heats up

By Joe Paisley

The December National Collegiate Hockey Conference series between Colorado College and North Dakota could be viewed as the turning point for both programs’ seasons as they jockey for playoff position entering this weekend’s rematch.

The Tigers pulled off a historic road sweep, the school’s first at Ralph Engelstad Arena and the first since Thanksgiving 1993 in Grand Forks, to reinvigorate the team, winners of nine of their last 12 games (8-2 league), that pushed them into fourth place in the NCHC and the NCAA Tournament hunt.

It cemented a growing team confidence, further solidified by a subsequent road win at Minnesota when the second half of the season began. In short, this year’s CC team is a good one and they garnered the results to prove it to themselves and others.

“That weekend definitely added something to us,” said sophomore Gleb Veremyev. “Coming out of there with two wins gave us the belief that we can win those hard games and win against anyone.”

“Every win you get reconfirms and allows you to believe in it a little more,” CC coach Kris Mayotte said. “The way we played Saturday (against North Dakota) showed that (confidence) was growing. College hockey is so good, winning one game somewhere happens all the time. Your ability to stack wins is really about belief, confidence and good play.”

Which sets the stage for a highly anticipated league series between two teams playing good hockey when the second-ranked Fighting Hawks take on the No. 15 Tigers (16-9-1) this weekend at Ed Robson Arena.

That December series result, hard as it was to swallow for the team and its fans, proved beneficial for North Dakota (20-6-2), judging from subsequent results, with an 8-1-1 record since to vault into first place in the league.

“That was a good punch in the face. That’s something we needed,” defenseman Bennett Zmolek said during UND’s weekly media conference.

“We learned a lot as far as ourselves and a lot about what (CC) brings to the table as well,” said coach Brad Berry who recorded his 200^th win at UND earlier this month. “They are a patient team. They try to capitalize on miscues or errors. Puck management (will) be a key. You have to force them into bad situations.”

The series pits strength against strength with a fast-skating Hawks offense looking to punch holes though CC’s frustrating defensive structure, which has it as the top-ranked defensive team in NCHC play (2.44 goals per game) with just 12 allowed in the last seven games.

A major reason behind CC’s surge is the foundation of that team defense — sophomore goalie Kaidan Mbereko, who became the NCHC’s lone semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award on Wednesday. The Aspen native stopped 54 of 58 shots (.931 saves percentage) against UND in December and is now 16-9-1 (2.52 goals against, .912 saves) overall and even better in NCHC play (2.25 goals, .924 saves).

He has more offensive support this season thanks to sophomore center Noah Laba’s breakout season (24 points, 15 goals, 7 game-winners) and linemate Veremyev (18, nine goals), who ended an eight-game scoreless streak in a home series split against second-place St. Cloud State two weeks ago.

Overtime bodes well for CC. Laba has four of the team’s five OT game winners with Veremyev collecting the fifth at UND in December. UND has gone 21-straight games without a loss in regulation (Nov. 3 at Boston University) but own a 3-5 record when playing the extra period.

To get there, the Tigers will need their secondary scorers to produce timely goals. That group is led by senior captain Logan Will (17, 11 assists), sophomore Ryan Beck (15, team-high 12 assists) and 12 points each from junior Stanley Cooley (eight assists) and freshman Evan Werner (eight assists).

The CC defenseman corps is producing as well, led by freshman Max Burkholder (11, three power-play goals) and seniors Nicklas Andrews (11, eight assists) and Jack Millar (10, seven assists). Freshman forward Bret Link is the 10th Tiger in double figures with 11 points (eight assists).

The Fighting Hawks are paced by Jackson Blake with team-highs in Points (39), goals (17) and assists (22) as part of a 10-game points. UND also has 29 points each from Cameron Berg (15 goals) and Owen McLaughlin (20 assists) and a solid goaltender in Miami transfer Ludvig Persson (17-6-2, 2.38 goals, .907 saves), especially behind an improved defensive corps paced by Alaska transfer Garrett Pyke (22, 19 assists).

Ice chips

UND owns a 173-86-12 all-time series lead against CC with 173 victories the most against any one program in North Dakota history.  … UND is 61-60-4 all-time in Colorado Springs. … The Tigers are one victory away from matching their best season win total since going 17-20-4 during the 2018-19 season. Those 16 wins are the best after 26 games since the 2007-08 season (started 18-7-1). … CC’s five OT wins are the most since the 1979-80 season (six).

Tigers winger Ryan Beck’s sophomore development one reason why CC enters this weekend’s series against Huskies on win streak

By Joe Paisley

Tigers sophomore Ryan Beck learned perhaps the most important lesson a talented forward can absorb in college hockey.

Controlled defensive tenacity leads to more offensive chances. Understanding that has paid off for the Colorado College winger, who surpassed his first-year offensive output (13 points, 11 assists) by mid-January (14 points, 11 assists) already.

The Michigan native plays at a consistent high level alongside freshman linemate Bret Link (11, eight assists) and senior captain and center Logan Will (17, 11 assists), who is enjoying a strong season of his own.

“Ryan Beck is playing the best hockey he has played since being here,” CC coach Kris Mayotte said. “I think Link is doing the same. You can see his confidence growing every game. Becker the same thing. His desire to create turnovers and his ability to create turnovers just keeps getting better and better because he is a dynamic stick.”

Beck’s improvement started in practice and video sessions.

“There is always something when you watch it back where I could have done better in that area or this area,” Beck said. “I do feel like I have taken strides in different parts of my game, especially defensively, and kind of earned the trust of the coaches, more so this year.”

It’s a good sign for a successful college career when an offene-oriented freshman learns to be a two-way player, typically by or during their sophomore season. It’s vital to do so in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

“Everyone plays hard-nosed hockey,” Beck said. “You can’t get away with anything. That first year was a big learning year. This year, things started to click, especially with the line that I am on. They know how to play that style of game very well, which helps me out, helps me fit in more. It’s really my linemates and the coaches helping me through that this year.”

Mayotte credited Beck’s improved game management. That often comes with experience and better familiarity of the CC systems you expect from a sophomore.

“Ryan Beck is probably as talented guy as we have with the puck on his stick,” Mayotte said. “He uses it in the right moments. He knows when it is time to hang onto it for the extra second. He knows when it is time to try and beat a guy to the inside. He knows when it is time to just advance the puck and move forward.

“That’s where he has really grown, which is allowing him to get the points and be the impact player that he is becoming.”

Thanks to that simple lesson.

“When you don’t cheat for offense. you actually get more offense,” Beck said. “That’s been the biggest learning curve and that has paid off the most.”

The Link-Will-Beck line are one of the reasons not named Noah Laba or Kaidan Mbereko why the 14^th-ranked Tigers (15-8-1, 9-5-0-5-1-0, 23 points NCHC), tied for third with Denver, are on a five-game winning streak.

This weekend’s home series against second-place St. Cloud State (11-8-5, 7-3-4-0-1-2, 28 points) is the only one scheduled between the league foes this regular season.

The talented Huskies started off NCHC play 7-0-1 but have since come down to Earth — in large part due to the weekly grind of the NCHC schedule. SCSU has not won a league game in regulation in 2024 with former Tigers goalie Dom Basse looking to rebound from a rough personal stretch (0-3-1, 4.67 goals against, .835 saves percentage).

Regardless, the 16^th-ranked Huskies are more than capable of sweeping the Tigers, who are 6-5-1 at Ed Robson Arena.

“They are good defensively,” Mayotte said. “Their D corps has changed a lot. They have some younger guys back there, but they play such good team hockey that it is hard to create advantages. It’s going to come off of our structure and our pursuit to create turnovers and putting our guys in spots where we can attack off of those.”

The importance of each game grows as the NCHC playoffs near. CC shows signs of developing into a team built for the postseason, including the NCAA Tournament, which the program has not reached since NHLer Jaden Schwartz led the Tigers to the 2011 West regional final.

The Tigers are 6-1 this season in tied games when entering the third period, supported by an improved offensive output with 21 goals scored in the last eight games, in contrast with the 8-game run CC ended last season on when they managed just 10.

“We are building the characteristics of teams that win down the stretch,” Mayotte said. “But what we have done has no bearing on what is ahead of us. This team has a good focus, a good hunger and a good drive, so I trust we will be ready to play.”

Saturday setbacks take toll on CC’s Pairwise rankings

By Joe Paisley

Entering this weekend, Colorado College is ranked 29^th in the Pairwise rankings, which are used by the NCAA to determine the top 15 teams in the 16-team tournament (Atlantic Hockey qualifier garners final berth). 

Reversing the Saturday losses (at Air Force, Princeton and at St. Lawrence) would put CC in 14^th, in the NCAA tourney, albeit on the bubble. But those losses mean the Tigers will need to win the NCHC postseason title and automatic qualifier, which would be a program first. 

“I think if you look at the schedule those are probably games where you could say CC has a good chance of winning those,” CC coach Kris Mayotte said. “There are a lot of teams hovering around the .500 mark. You look at the bottom five (in the top 20 polls) and those receiving votes and any of them can be out anywhere. At this point, Pairwise is fairly accurate and we’re 29th.” 

Weekend reading: Bjugstad, Prosser, Parise, Suter, faceshields, Penn State scandal, Union, UMass, NHL Draft, NCAAs

Minnesota standout Nick Bjugstad, pictured, likely will announce if he will return this season sometime this weekend. UPDATE: He said Sunday night he and his family will decide over the next two weeks.

Former Tiger Nate Prosser, an Elk River native, is excited, like much of Minnesota, about the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter signings.

The NCAA continues its slow saunter toward 3/4 face shields.

This Penn State fan blog talks about how the recent scandal may affect hockey.

Here is the top reported remaining candidates for the open UMass coaching job.

Lake Superior State lost an undrafted forward after he excelled in the Rangers development camp. A goal in all four scrimmages apparently caught the scouts’ attention.

The 2013 NHL Draft should be as loaded as the famed 2003 picks. Five are future collegians as the Grand Forks Herald reports.

If that is not planning far enough ahead for you here are the 2013 NCAA regionals:

Northeast, Manchester, N.H., on March 29-30;

East, Providence, R.I., on March 30-31;

Midwest, Toledo, Ohio, on March 30-31;

West, Grand Rapids, Mich., on March 29-30.

UPDATED NCAA first round: Michigan, Denver fall; UMass-Lowell survives

All of Friday’s four games are over. Here are the recaps.

Midwest  Region

No. 2 Ferris State 2, No. 3 Denver 1

GREEN BAY — Simon Denis scored his first goal this season and it proved to be the game-winner for No. 2 seed Ferris State over third-seeded Denver.

Drew Shore scored less than three minutes after to trim the CCHA regular-season champion Bulldogs’ lead to 2-1. But senior goalie Taylor Nelson (19-6-3) made seven saves in the third period to hold on for the win.

No. 4 Cornell 3, No. 1 Michigan 2 OT

GREEN BAY — Cornell’s Rodger Craig scored 2:25 into overtime off a rebound to lift the Big Red to the first upset of the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan’s Kevin Lynch scored with 4:01 remaining to force overtime. Cornell’s Joakim Ryan put the Big Red ahead 2-1 with a shorthanded goal 40 seconds into the second period.

Saturday

Region final — Ferris State vs. Cornell, 7 p.m. Mountain ESPNU

East Region

No. 1 Union 3, No. 4 Michigan State 1

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Jeremy Welsh scored only 3:20 into the second period for the game-winner and goalie Troy Grosenick made 20 saves to pace the top-seeded Dutchmen past the Spartans.

No. 3 UMass-Lowell 4, No. 2 Miami 3 OT

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. —  Riley Wetmore scored 2:13 into overtime as the RiverHawks battled back after squandering a 3-0 lead. Wetmore put UMass-Lowell, coached by former CC assistants Norm Bazin and Jason Lammers, up 3-0 only 2:21 into the second period before Miami rallied.

The RedHawks tied the game at 3-3 on a goal by Alden Hirschfeld with 10:04 left in the third. Miami got back into the game with scores 14 seconds apart by Trent Vogelhunter and Austin Czarnick with 16:54 and 16:40 left in the second.

Saturday

Regional final — UMass-Lowell vs. Union, 4:30 p.m. Mountain, ESPNU

Thursday reading: NCAA TV schedule, previews

Here is the TV schedule with available preview links, etc for each game following each match-up.

As always, check your local listings. Schedule copied from Kevin Pates’ Rink and Run blog,  with times adjusted:

ALL TIMES MOUNTAIN

East Regional (Friday, March 23-Saturday, March 24) Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, Conn.
• No. 1 Union (24-7-7) vs. No. 4 Michigan State (19-15-4), 1 p.m. Friday, ESPNU. ESPN analyst Barry Melrose, who lives in the area, gives hometown Union a lotta love.
• No. 2 Miami (24-12-2) vs. No. 3 Massachusetts-Lowell (23-12-1), 4:30 p.m. Friday, ESPNU. Former CC assistant Norm Bazin, the Hockey East Coach of the Year, is also CHN’s national honoree. Here are multiple notes and links courtesy of the RiverHawks sports information staff.
• Semifinal winners, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPNU.

Midwest Regional (Friday, March 23-Saturday, March 24)
Resch Center, Green Bay, Wis.
• No. 2 Ferris State (23-11-5) vs. No. 3 Denver (25-13-4), 3:30 p.m. Friday, live on Altitude (tape delay ESPNU, 10:30 p.m. Friday).DU freshman Joey LaLeggia is CHN’s Rookie of the Year. Here is a pdf of DU’s NCAA media guide which includes an injury update.

• No. 1 Michigan (24-12-4) vs. No. 4 Cornell (18-8-7), 6 p.m. Friday, ESPNU. Here’s the Wolverine fan blog’s take on the Big Red. The Cornell web site provides preview notes for both teams.

• Semifinal winners, 7 p.m. Saturday, ESPNU

West Regional (Saturday, March 24-Sunday, March 25)
Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn.
• No. 1 North Dakota (25-12-3) vs. No. 4 Western Michigan (21-13-6), 11:30 a.m.  Saturday, FS North (tape delay ESPNU, 11:30 a.m. Sunday). Note that the UND beat writer contradicts the FS North availablity. The Broncos are enjoying another good season, this time under new coach Andy Murray. UND will unveil their new jerseys along with other team notes.

• No. 2 Minnesota (26-13-1) vs. No. 3 Boston University (23-14-1), 3 p.m. Saturday, FS North plus, NESN (tape delay ESPNU, 2 p.m. Sunday). Here’s Don Lucia’s take on the Gophers and the NCAA field.
• Semifinal winners, 3:30 p.m.Sunday, ESPNU

Northeast Regional (Saturday, March 24-Sunday, March 25)
DCU Center, Worcester, Mass.
• No. 1 Boston College (29-10-1) vs. No. 4 Air Force (21-10-7), 2 p.m. Saturday, ESPNU, 1300 AM in Colorado Springs.  The Falcons will have to contain BC 150-pounder Johnny Gaudreau.
• No. 2 Minnesota Duluth (24-9-6) vs. No. 3 Maine (23-13-3), 5:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN3.com, FS North-plus (tape delay ESPNU, 9:30 p.m. Saturday). Here are multiple previews.
• Semifinal winners, 6 p.m. Sunday, ESPNU

More Tuesday reading: UW’s Schultz weighs pro options

Wisconsin standout defenseman Justin Schultz has a lot to mull over this offseason.

This reporter managed to get a short interview with former Tiger Jaden Schwartz in this article.

Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth are both assured of spots in the NCAA Tournament.

MSU Mankato hopes to build off a strong finish when the purple Mavs played their best hockey.

St. Paul is the place to be this weekend with the WCHA Final Five and St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Saturday. Here’s more pertinent info for travelers.

Here are Inside College Hockey’s power rankings.

Thursday reading: Sioux nickname, ECAC capsules, weekend previews and features

Colorado College goalie Josh Thorimbert (39) made a save in the second period as Denver wing Chris Knowlton looks for the rebound during a college hockey game in Denver, Friday night, Feb. 3, 2012. The Denver Post, Karl Gehring

The NCAA ruled Wednesday that North Dakota would forfeit its NCAA postseason games if any team members, cheerleaders or band member wore the Sioux nickname or image during an event.

Bernard Franklin, an NCAA executive vice president, said in a letter to university provost Paul LeBel that the university “must forfeit competition” if “it has not adhered to this requirement” in any postseason games that UND teams have been invited to play in.

“We ask that the university take measures to minimize or eliminate the presence of the imagery or nickname brought to an NCAA championship venue,” Franklin’s letter says.

That’s a dose of reality for the fans still fighting to keep the nickname, but North Dakota may not have to worry about that if their NCAA Tournament bubble bursts. The letter does not affect the home playoff series or the WCHA Final Five.

North Dakota also continues to struggle to field a full lineup due to injuries.

Here’s a link to the America One video streaming for college hockey around the country. You can always watch the Tigers via a link on CCTigers.com, but wouldn’t you rather watch them live?

Here’s a capsule preview of the Michigan Tech at No. 19 Colorado series. If the Tigers win Friday or Saturday night, more than 1,000 home playoff game tickets go on sale immediately. WCHA Final Five tickets go on sale on Monday.

MSU Mankato heads to North Dakota with a player returning from injury.

The Gophers are focused on beating Wisconsin, not the league title; along with other injury updates, etc. The Badgers’ Jason Clark is featured. Here’s a look at a big week in the Wisconsin-Minnesota rivalry.

Another Colorado Thunderbird commits to Denver, which travels to fifth-place Nebraska Omaha this weekend. The Pioneers will be without Beau Bennett and David Makowski.

St. Cloud State hosts No. 2 Minnesota Duluth in another series that will affect home playoff ice possibilities.

Bemidji State goes to Alaska Anchorage with both teams want to build momentum before going on the road in the league playoffs.

Here’s Bruce Ciskie’s take on the WCHA’s top forwards, including Jaden and Rylan Schwartz.

Former Minnesota captain Frank Sanders has died.

Here are Without a Peer’s ECAC first-round playoff capsules. Here’s the Pairwise rankings to see which series bear watching for WCHA fans.

The Patty Kazmaier finalists (women’s Hobey Baker award) were announced and six WCHA players made the 10-player list.

Here’s a rink the CC players will be familiar with after October 2012: the Cornell arena.

Former Tiger Brian Connelly is victorious in his return to AHL Rockford after being traded to Abbotsford a month ago.

This weekend’s schedule courtesy WCHA.com:

Games for Friday, March 2: Denver at Nebraska Omaha (WCHA), 6:37 pm CT; Wisconsin at Minnesota (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota Duluth at St. Cloud State (WCHA), 7:37 pm CT; Minnesota State at North Dakota (WCHA), 7:37 pm CT; Michigan Tech at Colorado College (WCHA), 7:37 pm MT; Bemidji State at Alaska Anchorage (WCHA), 7:07 pm AT.

Games for Saturday, March 3: Denver at Nebraska Omaha (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota Duluth at St. Cloud State (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota State at North Dakota (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Wisconsin at Minnesota (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Michigan Tech at Colorado College (WCHA), 7:07 pm MT; Bemidji State at Alaska Anchorage (WCHA), 7:07 pm AT.

Saturday reading: UNO goalie tweets he’s OK; Pairwise update; more CC info

UNO goalie Ryan Massa, who was carried off the ice on a stretcher after a collission during overtime, tweeted from his motel room later Friday night that he was OK.

Nebraska Omaha goalie Ryan Massa, pictured at left, is okay after being taken from the ice on a stretcher in Omaha’s 2-1 overtime win Friday. That’s wonderful news.

Think those nonconference games are important? Consider that Minnesota, which is tied for the WCHA lead but played some soft nonleague foes (Sacred Heart, Niagara), would not make the NCAA Tournament if it started this morning according to the Pairwise rankings. No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth, No. 12 CC and No. 13 Denver would. Don’t get too excited, it’s Jan. 21.

Here’s more on Michael Morin’s foot injury and a video interview of Tim Hall, who scores his first career gamewinner Friday night. The Gazette says Charlie Taft will take Morin’s place on Saturday.

Here’s the Gazette’s game story, rightfully giving goalie Josh Thorimbert and the skaters in front of him their due.

Minnesota bemoans its lack of offense in the 2-1 loss while the stink from last weekend’s handshake line scuffle against North Dakota continues. Here’s the GF Herald game story on UND’s road loss at SCSU.

Penn State released the architects’ renderings for their new arena.