The Gophers' hockey schedule for the 2012-13 season -- their last in the WCHA -- has been released.
They will play 36 games, 20 at home. Among the teams coming to Mariucci Arena are nonconference glamor teams like Boston College, the NCAA champion, for the Mariucci Classic, and Notre Dame for one game on Jan. 5.
Among WCHA teams coming to Mariucci are two of the Gophers' biggest rivals, North Dakota on Jan. 18-19 and Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 22-23.
In the four-team conference pod the Gophers are in this season are Wisconsin, as always, and Minnesota State and Alaska Anchorage. That means the 'U' will play those three teams four times apiece, in two games at home and two away. The two series with the Mavericks will both be home and home the same weekend.
The Gophers will open the season with an exhibition game against Lethbridge and will play another exhibition against the U.S. under-18 team on Oct. 26. Michigan State will be the first NCAA opponent, in a nonconference series in mid-October.
Gophers' 2012-13 hockey schedule
10/06: vs. Lethbridge (exhibition)
10/11-12 or 10/12, 14: vs. Michigan State
10/19-20: at Michigan Tech
10/26: vs. U.S. under-18 team (exhibition)
10/28: vs. Canisius
11/2: vs. Minnesota State
11/3: at Minnesota State
11/9-10: at Alaska-Anchorage
11/16-17: vs. Wisconsin
11/23-24: at Vermont
11/30 and 12/1: vs. Nebraska-Omaha
12/7-8: at Colorado College
12/28: Mariucci Classic vs. either Alabama Huntsville or Air Force or Boston College
12/29: vs. either Alabama Huntsville or Air Force or Boston College
01/5: vs. Notre Dame
01/11-12: vs. Alaska-Anchorage
01/18-19: vs. North Dakota
01/25: vs. Minnesota State
01/26: at Minnesota State
02/8-9: at St. Cloud State
02/15-16: at Wisconsin
02/22-23: vs. Minnesota Duluth
03/1-2: vs. Denver
03/8-9: at Bemidji St.