21ST ANNUAL ICE BREAKER TOURNAMENT
What: Season-opening college hockey showcase
Where: Amsoil Arena
Friday's games: Michigan Tech vs. Union, 4:07 p.m.; Minnesota Duluth vs. Minnesota, 7:37 p.m.
Saturday's games: Michigan Tech/Union vs. Minnesota, 4:07 p.m.; Michigan Tech/Union, 7:37 p.m.
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TV: My 9 Sports
Radio: KDAL-AM 610/KDAL-FM 103.9
Internet: KDAL610.com (audio); nchc.tv/umd (video)
Twitter: @mattwellens
MINNESOTA DULUTH BULLDOGS
2016-17 record: 28-7-7
Ranking: No. 6 in USCHO.com poll
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Coach: Scott Sandelin, 18th season, 315-284-82
Outlook: The Bulldogs won an NCHC postseason title and played for a national championship a year ago. They enter Friday's game with a seven-game winning streak against the rival Gophers that dates to the 2014-15 season. The most recent meeting was a 3-2 UMD victory in the semifinals of last year's North Star College Cup in St. Paul. The Bulldogs roster features 10 freshmen, and between 6-8 of those rookies could be in the lineup this weekend. Most of those youngsters will play on the back end where the Bulldogs lost five of their six regular defensemen. All 10 freshmen saw action a week ago in a 4-3 exhibition loss at home to Alberta, with rookie defensemen Dylan Samberg of Hermantown and Scott Perunovich of Hibbing scoring goals.
MINNESOTA GOPHERS
2016-17 record: 23-12-3
Ranking: No. 3
Coach: Don Lucia, 19th season at Minnesota, 438-231-71 (717-386-100 in 30 career seasons)
Outlook: The Gophers' last win over their old WCHA rival came in the 2014 Ice Breaker at Notre Dame, 4-3 in the semifinals. Minnesota has led just once in its seven straight losses - 1-0 for 13:46 during the first period of last year's North Star College Cup semifinal. The Gophers are coming off a Big Ten title and first-round NCAA tournament loss. They return 2016-17 Big Ten Goaltender of the Year, junior Eric Schierhorn, who has made 75 straight starts. Leading scorer, junior Tyler Sheehy, is also back after scoring 20 goals last year. Freshman forward Casey Mittelstadt, the 2016-17 Minnesota Mr. Hockey and a 2017 first-round NHL draft pick, is their top newcomer. The Gophers opened with a 6-2 exhibition win at home over Alberta on Sunday.
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MICHIGAN TECH HUSKIES
2016-17 record: 23-15-7
Ranking: Not ranked
Coach: Joe Shawhan, first season, 0-1
Outlook: The Huskies opened the regular season, falling 3-2 to Wisconsin in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game on Sunday in Madison. Shawhan was elevated from assistant coach to head coach during the offseason when Mel Pearson left after six seasons to become coach at Michigan. Shawhan was an assistant under Pearson at Tech for three seasons. Like UMD, Tech lost its star freshman goaltender, Angus Redmond, to the pros. He signed with Anaheim after leading the Huskies to a WCHA postseason title and NCAA tournament berth. Tech brought in former Vermont and Denver goalie Patrick Munson, who started at Wisconsin. Friday will be the first meeting between Union and Tech.
UNION DUTCHMEN
2016-17 record: 25-10-3
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Ranking: No. 16
Coach: Rick Bennett, seventh season, 137-70-30
Outlook: The Dutchmen opened the regular season Saturday with a 4-1 loss at Boston University. Like the Bulldogs, Union was hit hard by early departures, losing junior forward Spencer Foo to Calgary and junior defenseman Nick DeSimone to San Jose. Junior forwards Cole Maier (15) and Sebastian Vidmar (14) are the team's top returning goal-scorers from last year's squad that shared the ECAC title with Harvard and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Jake Kupskey, a junior and 2015 seventh-round pick by San Jose, got the first crack at replacing graduated senior standout Alex Sakellaropoulos in goal. Kupskey made 39 saves against the Terriers.
