Rink and Run blog: Game Day, Bulldogs vs. Gophers

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association weekend started a bit early Thursday as No. 10-ranked Nebraska-Omaha defeated Michigan Tech 5-2 in Omaha.

No. 2 Minnesota Duluth is in Minneapolis for two 7:07 p.m. games with Minnesota at Mariucci Arena (both on FSN North). The Bulldogs typically drive back after Saturday’s game, but could get an extra night in the Twin Cities with the forecast of 9-plus inches of snow Saturday.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune takes a look at UMD’s top line in a story here.

The News Tribune has a story on UMD captain Mike Montgomery here.

Some game notes from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune here and the News Tribune here

No. 5 North Dakota is at Minnesota State-Mankato and the Mankato Free Press profiles goalie Phil Cook here and the Grand Forks Herald takes a look at the surging Mankato Mavericks here.

No. 16 Wisconsin is home and for the first time takes on Bemidji State. The Badgers are looking for a more balanced attack in a Wisconsin State Journal story here and the Bemidji Pioneer has a preview here.

Colorado College is at St. Cloud State and the Colorado Springs

Gazette looks at senior winger Tyler Johnson of Cloquet in a story here and the St. Cloud Times profiles senior defenseman Chris Hepp here.

No. 9 Denver is on the road to Alaska Anchorage and the Denver Post notes that goalie Adam Murray, an Anchorage native, will get a start for Denver after freshman Sam Brittain had started 15 straight games. That blog post from the Denver Post is here.

Also the life of former Denver coach Murray Armstrong, who won an NCAA title in Duluth in 1968, is profiled by the Denver Post here.

The Anchorage Daily News talks about the Seawolves playing 14 of 16 games decided by two goals or less (actually much like UMD) in a story here.

The Omaha World-Herald has a recap of Thursday’s UNO win over Michigan Tech here.

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