The Gophers men's hockey team reclaimed No. 1 in the United States College Hockey Online poll on Monday.

Notre Dame's weekend upset of Boston College (25-5-4) cleared the way for the Gophers (23-4-5), and they took care of the rest with a sweep of Penn State at Mariucci Arena.

"It closes a chapter of our home ice this year, and to go through 20 games with only one loss, it shows how well we played at home all season long," Gophers coach Don Lucia said.

Boston College, who held the top spot for the past three weeks, drops to No. 2 after its 2-1 overtime home loss to the Irish, BC's only game of the weekend. Union is No. 3. St. Cloud State and Wisconsin each climbed a spot to Nos. 4 and No. 5, respectively.

Minnesota State Mankato climbed two spots to No. 17 and Minnesota Duluth returned to the top 20 at No. 19.

Up next for the Gophers is two weekend game at Ohio State, who has been on the verge of the top 20 for several weeks. The Gophers' final opponent of the regular season, Michigan, jumped a spot to No. 12.

JASON GONZALEZ

Minn. runners at worlds

Team USA Minnesota runners Gabe Grunewald and Heather Kampf will be competing for the United States at the world indoor track championships Friday and Sunday in Sopot, Poland.

Grunewald won the women's 3,000-meter race at the U.S. championships Feb. 23. Kampf was third in the women's 1,500 that day, but gained a spot on the American team when winner Mary Cain withdrew because of injury.

The preliminary heats for both runners, who are former Gophers standouts, are Friday.

Etc.

• Sam Daly of St. Olaf and Courtney Pahl of St. Thomas won the MIAC Elite 22 Award, given for combined excellence in athletic and academic achievement in men's and women's basketball. Daly, a senior forward, helped the Oles to their first MIAC playoff championship and is a double major in chemistry and psychology. Paul, a sophomore guard, is part of the Tommies' third consecutive MIAC playoff title team and carries a 4.0 grade-point average while double majoring in biochemistry and biology.

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