'U' READY TO RESUME LEAGUE PLAY (John Gilbert from the Star Tribune 12/28)
 
 School break continues for the Gophers hockey team, but its WCHA break ends at
 2:05 p.m. Saturday, when the second half of its conference schedule begins
 with a game against Colorado College.
 
 The Gophers got a couple of early Christmas gifts last week, when St. Cloud
 State swept Northern Michigan just after the Wildcats had moved ahead of the
 Gophers in the standings with a sweep at North Dakota. The Wildcats (13-3-2)
 lead the Gophers (12-1-3) by a point, but it could have been as much as five.
 Northern Michigan, however, has played two more games than the Gophers, who
 will catch up this weekend while the Wildcats play nonconference opponent Ohio
 State.
 
 On paper, Colorado College figures to have trouble at Mariucci Arena in the
 Saturday-Sunday matinee series. Coach Brad Buetow's Tigers stand 2-13-1, last
 in the nine-team WCHA, and now suffer from a lack of depth after the departure
 of three Minnesotans: Chris Hites left for the Madison Capitals of the USHL,
 and Marty Olson and Derek Lamppa are transferring to Minnesota-Duluth.
 
 "We can't afford to slip up at this point," said Gophers coach Doug Woog.
 "They've got a number of Minnesota kids on their team, and they came in here
 early in the week to spend some time and work out here.
 
 Notes: Woog said Sean Fabian was one of the Gophers' best players in the Los
 Angeles tournament. ... Woog's line plans: Jason Miller centering Grant
 Bischoff and Ben Hankinson, and Ken Gernander centering Cory Laylin and Jeff
 Nielsen. Woog also said he was pondering whether to play Larry Olimb at
 defense or at center with Joe Dziedzic and John Brill. ... Defensemen Doug
 Zmolek (hip pointer) and Luke Johnson (back strain) are expected to be ready
 to play this weekend.
 
                             HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!!
 Carol White
 U of M
 GO Gophers!!!