Here’s some info on the 25th Mariucci Classic:
The details
Where: Mariucci Arena, Minneapolis
Friday’s schedule: Ferris State (8-8-4) vs. No. 7 Harvard (6-1-3), 4 p.m. CST; Connecticut (5-10-1) at Minnesota (7-8), 7 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule: Connecticut vs. Ferris State or Harvard, 4 p.m. CDT; Ferris State or Harvard at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
TV: Friday’s Minnesota game on Fox Sports North
Notes to know
Consistently inconsistent, Ferris State has not been swept nor has it been swept so far. The Bulldogs have scored 49 goals and given up 54. Junior forward Gerald Mayhew leads the scoring with 18 points, but freshman Corey Mackin is getting the bulk of the attention as the WCHA’s top rookie with a team-leading seven goals among his 16 points.
Offense was never a question for Harvard entering the season, but sophomore Merrick Madsen’s emergence in goal (0.98 GAA, .966 save percentage) has helped Harvard become elite. The Crimson will be without top freshman forward and U.S. World Junior team member Ryan Donato for the tournament.
Connecticut looks to continue the momentum it had before the break when it swept No. 5 UMass-Lowell and tied No. 19 Merrimack. Rookie Tage Thompson scored three goals over that stretch and, along with fellow rookie Max Letunov, is a key part of the Huskies’ attack.
Don Lucia’s young Minnesota team started slow this season, losing its first three games, and the ups and downs continued throughout the first half. The Gophers picked up three wins in their first four conference games and sit atop the Big Ten standings after sweeping Ohio State and splitting at Michigan.
Social snippet
Guys are on the ice for practice at Minnesota. Game 1 of Mariucci Classic vs. @FerrisHockey Friday, 4 pm #GoCrimson pic.twitter.com/d9SuPYFGgG
— Harvard Men’s Hockey (@Harvard_Hockey) December 31, 2015
Contributing: Drew Claussen, Jim Connelly, Shane Frederick, Nate Owen
