From Sid Hartman's column in today's Star Tribune:
 
NHL scouts say that the best college hockey player in the country is Minnesota-
Duluth's Derek Plante of Cloquet, Minnesota, who leads the WCHA in scoring with
 19 goals and 19 assists in 16 games. The second-leading scorer in the league
is another state product: Chris Marinucci of Grand Rapids and UMD, who has 31
points.
 
The big showdown in the WCHA will come January 8-9 when league-leading UMD
comes to Mariucci Arena to play the Gophers.
 
On reason for the Gophers' success in the WCHA this season has been the
surprising  play of two big freshman defensemen -- Dan Trebil of (Bloomington)
Jefferson, and Greg Zwackman of Edina. Both are outstanding students.
 
The Gophers are taking their last NC$$ imposed week off this week before they
meet the Czech National team on Sunday.
 
Happy Hockey Holidays!!!
-the Christmas Carol