Three past Gophers hockey teams had their reunions on Saturday. Members of those team present at Mariucci Arena on Saturday were introduced between the first and second periods.

The 1960-61 team was back together after 50 years, the 1970-71 and 1980-81 teams were there, too, after 40 and 30 years. Wonder what those grayhairs thought watching the Gophers struggle to finish against Alaska Anchorage?

If only the maroon and gold could have scored, they probably would have won. Minnesota rolled over Alaska Anchorage 5-1 on Friday. The Seawolves countered the second night with their backup goalie who had one college victory and a goals-against average of 4.13. Shake his confidence a bit and roll on, right?.

But the Gophers could not get anything past Chris (The Brick Wall) Kamal. He stopped 30 shots, 16 in the second period. He is only 5-9, 186. Maybe a bit stocky -- Eye (my twitter name is eyeonpuck, it's a bit) should talk, right? -- but there had to be some openings somewhere?

The U actually played well. But if you don't score, you can't win. (There are no shootouts in WCHA regular-season games.) With the loss, the Gophers fall to 6-7-3 at home.

Maybe The Gophers let Kamal get a bit comfortable. They had no shots on him the first five minutes. Every shot they took was wide, high or blocked.

Finally, defenseman Kevin Wehrs put a long shot on net eight minutes into the game and Nate Condon had a rebound chance at the net. Kamal reacted well with two stops; his work for the first 20 minutes was almost done.

Jay Barriball had a chance from deep on the left side, and Jacob Cepis and Patrick White had power-play shots. That was it.

The UAA coaches had to be pleased with a 0-0 tie after one period, anf in those 20 minutes the Seawolves outshot the Gophers 7-5. Uh-oh.

UAA coach Dave Shyiak said the Seawolves gave up 12 odd-man rushes on Friday which resulted in all five of Minnesota's goals. On Saturday, the Gophers had zero odd-man rushes, he said.

Quite the improvement.

Gophers coach Don Lucia and team captain Jay Barriball both said the Seawolves kept four men back on defense. The hockey version of a prevent defense, bend but not break.

Maybe the Gophers didn't have a scouting report on Kamal? Eye am trying to consider all possibilities to explain this shutout. Kamal last started on Nov. 19 and 20 against St. Cloud State, winning 3-2 and losing 4-3 in Anchorage.

His record is now 2-3-1. Bet it won't take another two months before Shyiak gived Kamal the Brick Wall another start.