Here's today's (1/4/96) Minnesota Daily article. Contents: Next two weeks critical in WCHA race Gophers rated first on RPI Juniors return this weekend Injury Update Next two weeks critical in WCHA race Jeff Sherry - Staff Reporter The WCHA title races will heat up this weekend when the league's top four teams face off to open the second half of the season. Through 16 games, Colorado College, Denver, Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth have established themselves as the league's best teams. The Tigers lead the WCHA with 29 points, with the other three teams at 25, 24 and 23 points, respectively. The next-closest team is North Dakota, which has 17 points. With Minnesota playing in Denver this weekend and Colorado College traveling to Minnesota-Duluth, the complexion of the league's upper-division could change considerably. Gophers coach Doug Woog said the importance of this weekend is clearly shown by considering what the standings would look like if his team gets swept and Colorado College sweeps Minnesota-Duluth. If that happens, the Gophers will be nine points behind the Tigers and five points behind the Pioneers. "And we'd never see them again," Woog said. Next weekend should have similar importance to the league standings, with all four teams facing off again. Minnesota-Duluth will come to Mariucci Arena while Colorado College and Denver play a home-and-home series. One advantage Minnesota has heading into the second half of the season is its schedule. This weekend's series in Denver is the Gophers' last road trip to one of the other top three teams' arenas. After hosting the UMD series, the Gophers' only remaining matchup against other top teams will be Feb. 9-10, when Colorado College comes to Mariucci Arena. The Tigers have eight games left against the top teams, six of which are on the road. Six of Denver's eight remaining games against the top teams are at home. UMD must travel to Denver on Feb. 9-10 after hosting Colorado College and coming to Mariucci the next two weekends. Gophers rated first on RPI Minnesota took over first place from Boston University on the most recent Ratings Percentage Index. The RPI, which measures a team's power rating by comparing records, strength of schedule and strength of opponents' records, is a tool used by the NCAA when selecting and seeding teams in the NCAA tournament. Juniors return this weekend =46orwards Casey Hankinson, Reggie Berg, Wyatt Smith and Erik Rasmussen will all play for the Gophers this weekend, despite playing their final game for the U.S. Junior National Team this afternoon in Massachusetts. The players will have a tight schedule. The U.S. plays Finland in the fifth-place game today at noon. The four Gophers must then pack and fly back to Minneapolis, where their flight arrives at 8:20 p.m. At 9:45 p.m., they leave on a flight for Denver, where they will join the rest of the team. Injury Update Despite some recent bumps and bruises, all of Minnesota's players have been cleared medically to play this weekend. A hand specialist determined that junior winger Nick Checco's bruised hand will not require surgery, Gophers trainer Bob Broxterman said Wednesday. Checco played last weekend and should play at Denver. =46reshman forward Mike Anderson, who slightly separated his shoulder Friday against Harvard, can play this weekend, although Woog isn't sure if he will use him. "If I give him another weekend off it will completely heal," Woog said. Woog also said there's a good chance senior forward Jay Moser will play this weekend, either in addition to or in place of Anderson. Woog said he would like to reward Moser for his strong play last weekend. The other injury question mark this weekend comes on defense, where Jason Godbout may play for the first time since being injured on a hard check Dec. 16 at Alaska-Anchorage. Godbout experienced frequent headaches and dizziness but was able to practice again Tuesday. Woog said he was more concerned about Godbout's conditioning after the two-week layoff than he was about the sophomore's injury, which was cleared by doctors Wednesday. Freshman Bill Kohn might play instead of him this weekend. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- =A9The Minnesota Daily Pam Sweeney Go Gophers! HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.