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Pride on Ice Preview: The Gophers Open Ice Breaker Tournament Against Rival UMD
By Grant Erickson
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/434437?referrer_id=388419
PREGAME NOTES
Minnesota Duluth (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 NCHC) vs No. 1 Minnesota (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 Big Ten)
Friday 1:00 p.m. CT – WatchND.TV
RPI (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 ECAC) at No. 13 Notre Dame (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 Hockey East)
Friday 6:30 p.m. CT
Sunday 11:00 a.m. CT or 2:30 p.m. CT
South Bend, Indiana – Compton Family Ice Arena (5,022)
Following a national runner-up finish, the No. 1 Gophers are eager to return to the ice as they look to make another promising run in the NCAA Tournament. Minnesota will start the 2014-2015 campaign with a tough test as they take on their rivals, the UMD Bulldogs, on Friday in the Ice Breaker Tournament. Depending on the results from Friday’s contests, the Gophers could play Notre Dame at 2:30 on Sunday afternoon or will face RPI at 11 a.m.
Minnesota Duluth
2013-2014 Record: 16-16-4 overall, 11-11-2-2 NCHC
Series History
Minnesota holds a commanding 133-73-17 edge over the rival Bulldogs.
Player to Watch
Sophomore Alex Iafallo had a stellar freshman campaign last season. The New York native tallied 11 goals and 11 assists in 36 games and is a major part of the Bulldogs’ rebuilding effort this year.
About the Bulldogs
Gophers fans will certainly be familiar with their Friday opponent, the UMD Bulldogs. Last season, the two top teams in the State of Hockey officially split their three meetings, 1-1-1, with Minnesota winning a shootout over the Bulldogs to win the North Star College Cup. UMD has been rebuilding since their national title in 2009 and have some talented young players including Domonic Toninato, freshman standout Karson Kuhlman, and Minnesota Wild draft pick Carson Soucy. As always with UMD, expect a hard-fought battle as the Bulldogs look to upset the top team in the country.
Notre Dame
2013-2014 Record: 23-15-2 overall, 9-9-2 Hockey East
Series History
Minnesota and Notre Dame have met 41 times with the Gophers holding the 24-14-3 advantage.
Player to Watch
Most hockey fans are know that Don Lucia’s son, Mario, plays for the Irish, but the most intriguing player for Notre Dame is sophomore center Vinnie Hinostroza. During his freshman season, the Illinois native posted eight goals and 24 assists in 34 games. Hinostroza will be looked to this year to fill the void left by a number of big offensive producers that have departed from South Bend since last spring.
About the Irish
Notre Dame made the NCAA Tournament last year but was bounced in the first round thanks to an overtime loss at the hands of St. Cloud State. The Irish lost 10 letterwinners from last season but will bring back a number of impressive returnees. As in years past, Notre Dame will put a big, physical lineup on the ice. While the Irish like to play big, they have no shortage of skill to make plays and put the puck in the net. Last year, Minnesota split a series with Notre Dame as the Irish took one game 4-1 and the Gophers responded with a 5-4 victory the following night.
RPI
2013-2014 Record: 15-16-6 overall, 8-9-5 ECAC
Series History
Minnesota has been nothing short of dominant against RPI with a record of 10-2-0 over the Engineers.
Player to Watch
Zach Schroeder, the younger brother of former Gopher and current Minnesota Wild minor leaguer, Jordan Schroeder, is a senior this season for RPI. The younger Schroeder was a standout at St. Thomas Academy as the Cadets won the 2008 and 2011 state championships. As a junior last season, he tallied just two goals and 12 points but will surely be motivated to perform against his in-state team.
About the Engineers
RPI, based in Troy, New York, has had past success in collegiate hockey; winning national titles in 1954 and 1985. Despite two title banners, the Engineers have made the NCAA Tournament just once (2011) since 1995. Last year, the Gophers met RPI at Mariucci with Minnesota winning 6-2 thanks to two goals from Kyle Rau and three points from Travis Boyd.
By Grant Erickson
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/434437?referrer_id=388419
PREGAME NOTES
Minnesota Duluth (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 NCHC) vs No. 1 Minnesota (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 Big Ten)
Friday 1:00 p.m. CT – WatchND.TV
RPI (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 ECAC) at No. 13 Notre Dame (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 Hockey East)
Friday 6:30 p.m. CT
Sunday 11:00 a.m. CT or 2:30 p.m. CT
South Bend, Indiana – Compton Family Ice Arena (5,022)
Following a national runner-up finish, the No. 1 Gophers are eager to return to the ice as they look to make another promising run in the NCAA Tournament. Minnesota will start the 2014-2015 campaign with a tough test as they take on their rivals, the UMD Bulldogs, on Friday in the Ice Breaker Tournament. Depending on the results from Friday’s contests, the Gophers could play Notre Dame at 2:30 on Sunday afternoon or will face RPI at 11 a.m.
Minnesota Duluth
2013-2014 Record: 16-16-4 overall, 11-11-2-2 NCHC
Series History
Minnesota holds a commanding 133-73-17 edge over the rival Bulldogs.
Player to Watch
Sophomore Alex Iafallo had a stellar freshman campaign last season. The New York native tallied 11 goals and 11 assists in 36 games and is a major part of the Bulldogs’ rebuilding effort this year.
About the Bulldogs
Gophers fans will certainly be familiar with their Friday opponent, the UMD Bulldogs. Last season, the two top teams in the State of Hockey officially split their three meetings, 1-1-1, with Minnesota winning a shootout over the Bulldogs to win the North Star College Cup. UMD has been rebuilding since their national title in 2009 and have some talented young players including Domonic Toninato, freshman standout Karson Kuhlman, and Minnesota Wild draft pick Carson Soucy. As always with UMD, expect a hard-fought battle as the Bulldogs look to upset the top team in the country.
Notre Dame
2013-2014 Record: 23-15-2 overall, 9-9-2 Hockey East
Series History
Minnesota and Notre Dame have met 41 times with the Gophers holding the 24-14-3 advantage.
Player to Watch
Most hockey fans are know that Don Lucia’s son, Mario, plays for the Irish, but the most intriguing player for Notre Dame is sophomore center Vinnie Hinostroza. During his freshman season, the Illinois native posted eight goals and 24 assists in 34 games. Hinostroza will be looked to this year to fill the void left by a number of big offensive producers that have departed from South Bend since last spring.
About the Irish
Notre Dame made the NCAA Tournament last year but was bounced in the first round thanks to an overtime loss at the hands of St. Cloud State. The Irish lost 10 letterwinners from last season but will bring back a number of impressive returnees. As in years past, Notre Dame will put a big, physical lineup on the ice. While the Irish like to play big, they have no shortage of skill to make plays and put the puck in the net. Last year, Minnesota split a series with Notre Dame as the Irish took one game 4-1 and the Gophers responded with a 5-4 victory the following night.
RPI
2013-2014 Record: 15-16-6 overall, 8-9-5 ECAC
Series History
Minnesota has been nothing short of dominant against RPI with a record of 10-2-0 over the Engineers.
Player to Watch
Zach Schroeder, the younger brother of former Gopher and current Minnesota Wild minor leaguer, Jordan Schroeder, is a senior this season for RPI. The younger Schroeder was a standout at St. Thomas Academy as the Cadets won the 2008 and 2011 state championships. As a junior last season, he tallied just two goals and 12 points but will surely be motivated to perform against his in-state team.
About the Engineers
RPI, based in Troy, New York, has had past success in collegiate hockey; winning national titles in 1954 and 1985. Despite two title banners, the Engineers have made the NCAA Tournament just once (2011) since 1995. Last year, the Gophers met RPI at Mariucci with Minnesota winning 6-2 thanks to two goals from Kyle Rau and three points from Travis Boyd.
