Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Golden Gophers hosted Ohio State University at Mariucci Arena to open Big Ten Conference play on Friday. I love the fact that the Gophers play on campus in one of the top arenas in division one hockey, but the drive to Stadium Village on a Friday night from the suburbs is a nightmare. The fact that I am not used to seeing more than ten cars on the road at a time only complicates the issue. Starting the drive almost 90 minutes before puck drop, I walked into the arena as the National Anthem started.
Start of first period at Mariucci
I was not the only one to fight traffic and go into combat for a parking spot. It took much of the first period to fill the arena.
Play was fairly even in the first period, with Minnesota having the edge in shots on goal, but OSU led on a goal by Josh Healey. In the second, Minnesota put on a clinic on how to dominate play yet trail. Nick Schilkey scored a power play goal to increase the Buckeyes lead to 2-0, even though the Gophers kept much of the play in the Ohio State end. Since that was the end of the rink my seats were at, I enjoyed a thrilling period of hockey.
Minnesota came out and dominated the third period with a 15-6 SOG advantage. Two PPG’s by Tyler Sheehy and Tommy Novak, both freshmen, tied the score up and the game went into overtime. OT started and the Buckeyes were defending the end I was at. Sitting in the second row, I had a great view of Tommy Novak’s feed to Hudson Fasching for the game winner.
John Mariuuci and other Golden Gopher greats
The win was the 400th for Gopher coach Don Lucia at Minnesota. Tommy Novak and Hudson Fasching both had 2-point nights. Attendance was 9296.
December 6th, 2015 at 6:47 PM
Mike, Sounds like you had a great night (once you got in the building). Gotta love on campus sports facilities. I remember (during the last Frozen Four weekend in St. Paul) our sliding into the back door of Mariucci and having the opportunity to walk on the playing surface (sans the ice) and looking up and around at a great college hockey arena with a tremendous tradition. During that great, long weekend I learned that you can’t spell dumb without UMD, but the Bulldogs had the last laugh as they won the NCAA National Championship that weekend. That trip, I also learned to never let the pride of Central Iowa select the hotel for the Frozen Four. LOL
December 7th, 2015 at 6:24 AM
That was a great weekend in St Paul, made even more memorable by us having survived that hotel.