25th annual Mariucci Classic
Friday
Harvard vs. Ferris State, 4 p.m.
Gophers vs. UConn, 7 p.m. (TV: FSN; 1500-AM)
Saturday
UConn vs. Harvard/Ferris State, 4 p.m.
Gophers vs. Harvard/Ferris State, 7 p.m. (Stream: BTN-Plus; 1500-AM)
The teams
Gophers update: This is the 25th Mariucci Classic, and Minnesota has won 13 of them, including eight in a row starting with Don Lucia's first season as Gophers coach in 1999-2000. … The Gophers are 6-1 when scoring first this season, 1-7 when their opponents get the first goal. … The junior class has scored 22 of Minnesota's 42 goals and had 61 of the team's 119 points. … Freshman forward Tommy Novak has a six-game points streak (one goal, six assists). … The Gophers are second in the nation in faceoff success, winning 55.8 percent of their draws.
Opponents notes: UConn sophomores Spencer Naas and Johnny Austin played together at Benilde-St. Margaret's and are key players for the Huskies (5-10-1). … Harvard (6-1-3), at No. 7, is the top-ranked team in the Classic. Jacob Olson (Oakdale native) and Jake Horton (Hill-Murray) are from Minnesota and have played in all 10 Crimson games. … Ferris State (8-8-4) has been hot and cold. It split a weekend home series against Bemidji State last month.
Fun fact
Once the Gophers play Connecticut, they will have played 56 of 59 possible Division I opponents. Arizona State, Bentley and American International are the only D-I programs Minnesota has not played.
STAFF REPORTS
