SCSU hopes for success, harkens back to sweep at UND...

Here is what Huskies beat writer Kevin Allenspach has to say about this weekend’s series. Hopefully UND will welcome Mike Lee to the WCHA and the REA with hanging a bunch of goals on him this weekend. UND is 4-1-3 in it’s last 8 games against SCSU in the REA. I would really like to see this streak continue.

Just before the Huskies headed to practice at Engelstad Arena, Bob Motzko wanted to know: "How'd we do in my first year up here?"


The quick answer from a reporter's recollection was the first sweep in SCSU history at North Dakota. Who could forget Matt Stephenson scoring 18 seconds into overtime on that Saturday night, Jan. 28, 2006, and proceeding to celebrate by virtually writing his initials in the ice?


It was a good memory for Motzko, and one he'll want to impart to his current players -- none of whom have experienced victory in Grand Forks. In 2006-07, they lost 3-1 and tied 2-2. In 2007-08, they earned home ice on the final regular-season weekend with 1-1 and 2-2 ties. But last year they met with 3-2 and 7-4 losses -- part of the second-ranked Sioux's current 16-game home unbeaten streak.

"We've played pretty well up here," Motzko said. "It's just all in how you (media) perceive it."

The 0-3-3 streak at UND will be on the line Friday night when the Huskies begin a five-week stretch crucial to their season -- including other trips to Denver and Alaska Anchorage and home series against Wisconsin and Colorado College.

Here are the Huskies' expected lines for Friday: (minus Roe Friday)

Forwards
Jared Festler-Aaron Marvin-Ryan Lasch
Tony Mosey-Drew LeBlanc-Brian Volpei
Ben Hanowski-Nick Oslund-Travis Novak
David Eddy-Jordy Christian-Jon Ammerman

Defensemen
Oliver Lauridsen-Garrett Raboind
Sam Zabkowicz-Chris Hepp
Brett Barta-Craig Gaudet

Goalies
Mike Lee starts, backed up by Dan Dunn [Saint Cloud Times]