From an article in the Star Tribune this morning by John Gilbert. The Gophers will play at 7pm Friday, taking on Colorado College, which will be making its first trip to the WCHA final four. Getting here was more than half the fun for the Tigers, who had to overcome Minnesota-Duluth 5-4 in a three-overtime deciding game on Sunday. The teams played three games that consumed a total of seven overtime periods. Friday's first semi-final, at 2pm matches Wisconsin, which also had to survive overtime to get past St Cloud State on Sunday, and defending NCAA, WCHA and WCHA Playoff champ Northern Michigan, which whipped Michigan Tech in the only two-game opening series. There is speculation that the Gophers, by winning the league title by a 12-point margin, are already guaranteed a spot in the NCAA field, and that is probably true, after rebounding from a 5-3 loss in the opener to beat North Dakota 9-2 and 3-1. The Gophers got superb leadership from captain Larry Olimb, who had three goals and five assists in the three games, meaning he was involved in more than half of the Gophers' 15 goals. For the season, Olimb leads the nation with 53 assists in his quest for possible All-America and Hobey Baker consideration. He is fourth in overall college scoring at 24-53--77, one point behind Northern Michigan teammates Jim Hiller and Dallas Drake. Michigan's Denny Felsner leads with 86 points. Being forced to a deciding game was nothing for Colorado College. The Tigers overcame a 5-1 deficit against UMD and won the series opener 7-6 on a goal by Jody Jarszewski at 1:11 of the third overtime. UMD came back in the second game to get the tying goal by Doug Torrel and Derek Plante's second goal of the night won 4-3 for the Bulldogs at 7:29 of overtime. But that was only a SINGLE overtime. Sunday night the teams battled into a third overtime for the second time in three nights. It finally ended at 3:57 when Grant Block deflected Alan Schuler's blue line shot into the UMD net for a 5-4 CC victory. Wisconsin's victory over St Cloud State wasn't as exhausting, but was just as close. The Badgers won 6-5 in overtime in the first game, lost 5-3 the next night, then got a goal from Chris Nelson in the final minute to tie the Sunday's game. Brian Rafalski gave the Badgers a 4-3 victory 21 seconds into overtime. Naturally, any team winning the WCHA playoffs advances, but if the Gophers are set for the NCAA field, it would appear that Wisconsin and Northern Michigan would have to win at least one game this weekend to qualify. For CC, which rose to fourth by going 7-1-1 since losing twice to the Gophers, the project is clear: The Tigers must win the playoff title to advance. Carol U of M GO Gophers!!! 1992 WCHA Champions!!!