Friday, October 6, 2017

Pregame Blog: Minnesota vs Minnesota Duluth Ice Breaker Line Combinations


Date: October 6, 2017
Time: 7:30 pm CT
Place: AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, MN
TV: No TV in Twin Cities, My9 (Duluth NBC affiliate) in Duluth
Stream: NCHC.TV ($$$)
Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM (Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco)
Nate is covering for tonight: The Athletic Minnesota

Two extra games. That's where it begins.


The Ice Breaker is one of a few opportunities for college teams to play beyond the maximum of 34 games. Other exceptions include the United States Hall of Fame Game and road games in Alaska.

Consider head coach Don Lucia a fan of more contests.

"Just like going up to Alaska last year, it's the bonus games. Next year we have a bonus game with the Hall of Fame Game (against North Dakota) out in Vegas," he said when asked what he liked about the Ice Breaker.

The Gophers have played additional games each year since college hockey realigned its conferences in 2013-14. This marks the team's third Ice Breaker appearance since realignment. Minnesota hosted the 2013 version and participated, along with tonight's opponent Minnesota Duluth, in the 2014 Ice Breaker. The Gophers won both tournaments, two of the three times it claimed the trophy (2007 being the other).

Minnesota will look to once continue to kickstart the year with its winning ways, and get more games than the maximum.

"We've tried to...I like to take a team up to Alaska every 3 or 4 years because it's a good trip for us, an easy trip for us and those two extra games were a great way for our team to start the year last year," Lucia said. "Same thing with Duluth. Everybody gets to go. We'll take everybody up there for a quick trip and be home by 9:30 at home Saturday night and be rested for Monday."

To get a fourth title the Gophers will first need to snap a seven game losing streak against 2017 NCAA Tournament runner-up Minnesota Duluth. Lines are below.


Line Combinations

Unlike their opponents, Minnesota's freshmen defensemen are not suiting up to open the season.

Both Nate Knoepke and Sam Rossini are the odd players out for Friday's game in Duluth. Minnesota does have the same top-nine combination going as it did during Sunday's exhibition game against Alberta with Jack Ramsey, Darian Romanko and Ryan Norman making up the fourth line. Casey Mittelstadt, Scott Reedy and Brannon McManus will be making their collegiate debut.

So will Tyler Nanne, who after sitting out two complete seasons at two different schools is finally playing in a college game.

The Bulldogs will have 7 freshmen dress, including 4 defensemen. Nick Wolff is the only returning defenseman who played major time last season. Four were seniors while Neal Pionk turned pro and signed a contract with the New York Rangers.

Two UMD names for Wild fans to keep an eye out on are freshman forward Nick Swaney, a 2017 draft pick, and 2013 pick Avery Peterson.


University of Minnesota Golden Gophers


Forwards:
Leon Bristedt (#18) - Tommy Novak (#17) - Tyler Sheehy (#22)
Brent Gates Jr. (#10) - Mike Szmatula (#9) - Brannon McManus (#7)
Rem Pitlick (#15) - Casey Mittelstadt (#21) - Scott Reedy (#19)
Ryan Norman (#23) - Darian Romanko (#26) - Jack Ramsey (#16)


Defense:
Steve Johnson (#4) - Jack Glover (#3)
Ryan Lindgren (#5) - Jack Sadek (#2)
Ryan Zuhlsdorf (#20) - Tyler Nanne (#29)

Goaltenders:
Eric Schierhorn (#37)
Brock Kautz (#1)
Nick Lehr (#34)


University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs


Forwards
Riley Tufte (#27) - Peter Krieger (#25) - Joey Anderson (#13)
Karson Kuhlman (#20) - Justin Richards (#19) - Nick Swaney (#23)
Avery Peterson (#11) - Jared Thomas (#22) - Billy Exell (#16)
Blake Young (#17) - Sammy Spurrell (#28) - Parker Mackay (#39)

Defense
Nick Wolff (#5) - Scott Perunovich (#7)
Mikey Andereson (#3) - Jarod Hilderman (#12)
Dylan Samberg (#4) - Louie Roehl (#6)

Goaltenders
Hunter Shepard (#32) 
Nick Deery (#37)
Ben Patt (#36)

Italics marks starter
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