Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page C4

C4 SPORTS STAR TRIBUNE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2006 college hockey GOPHERS HOCKEY WEEKEND PREVIEW DODGE HOLIDAY CLASSIC Today and Saturday, 7 p.m., Mariucci Arena Today Alabama-Huntsville (5-12-1) vs. Gophers (15-1-3), 7 p.m. Ferris State (4-11-2) vs. Massachusetts (8-5-2), 4 p.m. Saturday Ferris State or UMass vs.

Gophers, 7 p.m. Ferris State or UMass vs. Alabama-Huntsville, 4 p.m. FSN (Sat. only), 830-AM (tape-delayed at 10 p.m.

today) Quick fact: The Gophers have won the Holiday Classic seven years in a row and 10 out of 15 years. Classic at a glance: The Gophers take an 18-game unbeaten streak into game. Ferris State is 0-3-1 in its past four games. The Gophers are 3-0-0 all-time against Alabama- Huntsville, outscoring the Chargers 26-3. The Gophers are 8-0-2 at Mariucci this season.

UMass is ranked 16th in the USCHO.com poll. DEAN SPIROS is a few guys short but not shorthanded The Gophers will play their next three games without leading scorer Kyle Okposo, centers Ryan Stoa and Mike Carman, defenseman Erik Johnson and goaltender Jeff Frazee, with the goal of adding to their unbeaten streak of 18 games. got to pick up the slack for Wheeler said. guys are all over there doing their thing. got to take care of business at home so when they come back still got this thing The plan going into game is to go with three centers, with each of them double shifting for one period.

wings could get a different center each Gophers assistant coach John Hill said. are just going to have to adapt. The most important thing is communication, and making sure we get our signals crossed, especially in the defensive zone. we get the puck a free-flowing team Wheeler is expected to remain on the first line between Ben Gordon and Jay Barriball, at least at the start of the game and on the first power- play unit. Tyler Hirsch will give the Gophers another top offensive player on the second line.

Jimmy and Evan Kaufmann will be the other two centers. Both will be counted on to produce offensively, as will Justin Bostrom, Mike Howe and Ryan Flynn. would be good for some of these guys to produce some offense for their own Hill said. all capable. We realize as coaches that they see as much time on the power play as some other guys.

where you can get some momentum as a line and as an individual because you are handling the puck and Gordon missed the last game Dec. 9 at Michigan Tech after suffering a slight shoulder separation against the Huskies the night before. The break in the schedule came at a good time for him and the Gophers. pretty close to 100 Gordon said. did a lot of work over the break to try to strengthen it back Gordon and Wheeler said the Gophers want to prove they still are a top team despite the diminished lineup.

is talented in that Wheeler said. might be a little bit of an adjustment at the beginning, but everyone can move the puck and make plays. long as that is going on that is all that HOCKEY FROM C1 GOT TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME SO WHEN THEY COME BACK STILL GOT THIS THING ROLLING. Blake Wheeler, Gophers forward MARLIN LEVISON Gophers forward Blake Wheeler, scoring an empty-net goal against Wisconsin in November, will be counted on for offense because five teammates are playing in the World Junior Championship. 6 1 36 6 94 Ma ple ood I mpo rts 2780 North Hwy.

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