Friday: Bemidji State vs. St. Cloud State, 4 p.m.; Gophers vs. Minnesota Duluth, 7 p.m.
North Star College Cup tournament preview
January 27, 2017 at 4:11AM
Saturday: Consolation game, 4 p.m.; title game, 7 p.m.
Gophers TV/radio: FSN (Fri.),FSN-Plus (Sat.); 1500-AM
Gophers update: The No. 6 Gophers (14-6-2, 6-2 Big Ten) won the first cup in 2014 and face a strong field in the final edition. They are 9-2 in their past 11 games. Sophomore forward Tyler Sheehy leads the Big Ten with 32 points. Senior forward Justin Kloos, second on the team in points (27) and goals (11), is on an eight-game point streak.
Minnesota Duluth: Last weekend's road sweep of North Dakota gave the No. 2 Bulldogs (15-5-4, 11-4-1-1 NCHC) a three-game win streak. The NCHC leaders are 7-1-1 in their past nine games against the Gophers.
Bemidji State: The 20th-ranked Beavers (16-9-3, 16-4-2-2 WCHA) lead the WCHA and enter the tournament with the nation's top defense. They are allowing 1.79 goals per game, and they also have the nation's best penalty kill, with a success rate of 90 percent.
St. Cloud State: The only unranked team in the field, the Huskies (11-12-1, 6-9-1-0 NCHC) have been plagued by inconsistency. The 2016 North Star Cup champions are led by forwards Mikey Eyssimont (10 goals/12 assists) and Blake Winiecki (10 goals/10 assists).
RACHEL BLOUNT
about the writer
The Gophers quarterback believed in himself, and his transfer to the U has led to a winning record this season.
