Are Gophers really underdogs to Bemidji State this weekend?

Gophers coach Don Lucia and Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore go back a long, long ways.

"You know what is interesting," Lucia said on his weekly Monday radio show, "Tommy Serratore was my first in-house visit as a hockey coach. When I was coaching up in Alaska [Fairbanks], I went up in 1981-82 -- we were Division II at the time -- we did a lot of recruiting in Minnesota.

"I remember flying in and watching games in northern Minnesota," Lucia said. "I went into Serratore's house and tried to make the pitch. He ended up going to Mankato. Actually, I think he was Troy Jutting's roommate at Mankato, if you can believe that, and then he transferred to Bemidji State."

Jutting is the Minnesota State Mankato hockey coach now.

"[Serratore] is a good hockey guy," Lucia said. "He was a good, crafty, smart centerman. I told him, it was a good thing he played hockey. He did not have great feet, but he had good hands. And he has done a terrific job at Bemidji. He is back at his alma mater.

"He was always one of the top recruiters in college hockey. And he did a great job at St. Cloud before he left and kind of built those teams in the early 2000s when St. Cloud had their run. He was the one finding those guys. So he is a guy that can go find that kid who nobody else seems to be able to find and turn up.

"He has done a great job at Bemidji and with their new facility. I actually saw him on Sunday and they are excited about the new facility and where their program is going and rightfully so. They have done a great job in that CHA [College Hockey America conference, they had a great run in the NCAA tournament last year and they are certainly carrying that forward this year where they are undefeated."

"They gave Miami a great run in the semifinals too," Lucia said. "And Miami was a minute away from winning a national title a year ago. They have proven they are not going to be intimidated by any situration. They been playing North Dakota, they have been playing St. Cloud, Mankato, UMD just about every season.

"Boy, I think they have had UMD's number a lot the last few years and beat St. Cloud and Mankato. They are going to walk in and be real ready to be a WCHA member next year. And they are going to be all we could ask for this weekend."

Pinch me, is that the coach of the Gophers really saying that and meaning it? Are the Gophers, with 18 NHL draftees the underdogs this weekend to the Beavers? BSU has one.

The U actually has 20 players drafted by NHL teams -- the most in college hockey -- but two are injured, Jay Barriball and Nick Leddy and won't play.

The Beavers are 7-0-1 and ranked No. 7 nationally. The Gophers are nowhere to be found in the ratings.

"Bemidji State has an unbelievable tradition in hockey with Bob Peters going back 40 years," Lucia said. "And they have won countless Division II titles, NAIA titles, and All-Americans, NHL, Olympians. I think it's great that there is going to be another [WCHA] team in the state of Minnesota. They are going to have a great facility to play in.

"And you are right. I was a huge proponent of Bemidji State being a member of the WCHA because it is good for college hockey. We always have to be looking at the big picture and what is good for college hockey.