Monthly Archives: February 2014

Mayasich Honored

Mayasich Honored at Mariucci

Getting in the Olympic spirit, the University of Minnesota honored past Olympian and former Golden Gopher John Mayasich tonight at Mariucci Arena prior to the game vs Michigan. Mayasich, a native of Eveleth, MN, won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, and a Gold Medal at the 1960 Winter Games held at Squaw Valley.

Minnesota responded on the ice by beating the Wolverines 5-3. Listening to the latter half of the internet broadcast, one can already tell that Minnesota vs Michigan in the new Big 10 Hockey Conference is going to turn into a major rivalry. Only the current seniors on the two teams had ever played against the other, and now they will meet four times every year. The series continues at Mariucci tomorrow night, and then conference play ends for both teams with two games at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor.

#8 John Mayasich
John Mayasich during his University of Minnesota days. The only Golden Gopher to have his number retired.


Anticipating Philly

Yellow Jacket Speedway


Disco Puck

An Only in Fairbanks Moment:
The Nanook Hockey Team goes Disco for a good cause…


Believe

Breakup Is Coming:

Ice Classic 2014

Tickets for the 2014 Nenana Ice Classic went on sale Saturday, and will continue to be available through April 5. Starting as a bet between local railroad workers in 1916 on when the ice would go out on the Tanana River, Alaskans have been betting on the outcome every year since then.

In 2013, the ice went out at 3:41pm on May 20, which set a record for the latest breakup. A Kenai couple won the $318,500 pot.


Off and Running

YQ Dog Team

The start of the Yukon Quest Dog Sled Race took place in downtown Fairbanks on Saturday. The race takes place between Fairbanks, AK and Whitehorse YT, with the two cities alternating start years. Normally, the race starts on the Chena River when it takes off from Fairbanks, but poor ice conditions led to a start on 2nd Avenue this year.

Yukon Quest 2nd Ave

Eight mushers made it to the first check point at Two Rivers, which is a 73 mile leg, in 8 hours or less. The trail is fast and icey from all reports.

Yukon Quest Dog Team
Photos courtesy of the Daily News-Miner


The First of Five

1974 National Champion
The 1974 NCAA National Champion Golden Gophers

Tonight at Mariucci Arena, members of the 40th Anniversary of Minnesota’s 1974 National Championship in hockey will be honored. Former players will be on hand in the concourse to rub elbows with fans.

The Golden Gophers were coached by Hall of Famer Herb Brooks and captained by goalie Brad Shelstad – the last Gopher goaltender to captain the team. Shelstad was the tourney and team MVP that year. The Gophers were led in scoring by Mike Polich with 52 points, 19 goals and 33 assists for the season. Minnesota defeated Michigan Tech 4-2 at the Boston Garden for the title.

Minnesota was the first team in 25 years to win the National Championship with a roster consisting entirely of Americans.