Article taken from January 18, 1991 issue of the _Michigan Tech Lode_ (reprinted without permission) Note: This article is outdated a little, the _Lode_ is now delivered on Fridays instead of Wednesdays making it difficult to get articles entered before the weekend series. Updates will appear at the end of the article. "Icers go for Gophers" by: Jeff Peters, Staff Writer The Michigan TEch Hockey Husdies are home again this weekend hosting the league leading University of Minnesota (UM) Golden Gophers. The two game Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) series begins tonight in the Student Ice Arena at 7:05 p.m., with Saturday's faceoff at 7:05 p.m. The games can be heard on WZRK, 93.5 FM, with Bob Olsen calling the play by play, and former Tech coach Darcy Way adding the color. This weekend is Zenith Computer Weekend at the hockey games. Fans will be able to sign up for a chance to win a Zenigth Minisport Computer valued at $2500. The winner will be drawn bwtween the second and third periods of Saturday's game. Other prizes will be given away through the Huskies Magazine souvenir program. Fans must be present to win. The Gophers come into town off a home sweep of St. Cloud State last weekend with a 17-2-3 record with puts them in forst place in the WCHA. They are 20-3-3 overall and ranked number two in the Nation. Minnesota swept the Huskies in Minnesota earlier in the season, 7-1 and 2-0. They also lead the overall series, which began in 1921, 118-66-8. The Golden Gophers are coached by Doug Woog who is in his sixth year at Minnesota and has a 185-67-9 career record. UM is led by defenseman Larry Olimb who has 15 goals and 21 assists in 26 games he is in fourth place in the WCHA. Olimb is followed by wing Grant Bischoff with 29 points, wing Ben Hankinson and center Jason Miller each with 25 points, and defenseman Tom Pederson who has 24 points. In the net for the Gophers is Jeff Stolp who leads the WCHA with a 13-2-2 record. He boasts a 2.65 goals against average and a .898 saves percentage. Pederson and center Chris Johnson are listed as questionable for play this weekend. "Minnesota is a good team, they are speedy, probably the fastest team around and play a high tempo game with a lot of passing," remarked Huskies Coach Newell Brown. "They have had quite a few close games, Colorado and Denver both almost beat them and they aren't known for playing well on the road." The Huskies are led by Senior wing Kelly Hurd with 21 goals and 14 assists. Hurd missed last weekend's games because he had car problems coming from his home in British Columbia, Canada. Junior center John Young also had 35 points, 10 goals and 25 assists. These stats place Young and Hurd in sixth place in the WCHA. Other top scorers for the Huskies are Junior wing Jamie Steer with 21 points, Freshman wing Jim Storm with 19 points and Junior wing Davis Payne with 17 points. Freshman defenseman Layne Lebell will not be playing because of an injury sustained during Christmas bread. Freshman forward Kevin Manninen is questionable for the series and freshman Hugh McEwen, who was injured in last Friday's game will probably play this weekend. "We have to play well defensively this weekend, they have al excellent counter attack and very good puck control," Brown said, "We know what has to be done in order to win." Last weekend the Huskies were swept by Wisconsin 3-1 and 3-2. In Friday's contest goaltender Geoff Sarjeant recorded 27 saves. Junior wing Greg Parnell scored Tech's only goal with assists going to sophomore defenseman Ken Plaquin and John Young. Saturday night, Junior forward Tim Hartnett scored his forst career goal. Freshman Kevin Manninen and Junior Reid Mcdonald tallied assists on the play. Jamie Steer also scored, late in the game, assists went to Senior Jay Luknowsky and Junior Davis Payne. "We played well against Wisconsin and our goalies were exceptional. We've been having tough luck on our power play but it has to turn around," said coach Brown. Update: Friday TECH WINS!!!!!!! 5-2!!! (Very intense and fast game) Saturday Gopher victory 6-2 (Tech lost its defense and UM was playing faster)