Caitlin Gregg of Minneapolis and Kyle Bratrud of Eden Prairie won national titles Saturday on the first day of the U.S. cross-country skiing championships in Soldier Hollow, Utah. Gregg won gold in the women's 10-kilometer freestyle, earning her eighth U.S. championship. Bratrud's title came in the men's 15k freestyle, a race he also won in 2015.
5 AHL All-Stars from state
Five Minnesotans have been selected to play in the AHL All-Star Game on Jan. 30 in Allentown, Pa.
They are former Gophers forward Travis Boyd (10 goals, 20 assists), a Hopkins native with Hershey; Woodbury native and former Omaha forward Jake Guentzel (18, 16) of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; Blaine native and former St. Cloud State forward Jonny Brodzinski (9, 13) of Ontario; Thief River Falls native and former North Dakota goalie Zane McIntyre (10-0-0, 1.41 goals-against average) of Providence, and Lakeville native and former St. Cloud State goalie Charlie Lindgren (13-9-1, 2.79 GAA) of St. John's.
Etc.
• Denver beat the Gophers 195.875 to 194.725 in women's gymnastics in Minnesota's season opener at the Sports Pavilion. Bailey Abernathy of the Gophers tied for first in floor exercise with a 9.900 score.
• Natalie Heising of Maple Grove, Taylor Wente of Plymouth and Anneke Linser of Lino Lakes scored goals as the U.S. team beat Russia 6-1 in its first game of the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship in Zlin, Czech Republic.
• Former Gophers Noora Raty, a goalie, and Mira Jalosuo, a defenseman, earned gold medals as Finland edged Canada 1-0 in the Four Nations Cup in Fussen, Germany. Raty made 27 saves for her shutout. Two current Gophers — forwards Lindsay Agnew and Sarah Potomak — and Minnesota alumna Sarah Davis played for Canada.
• St. Cloud State defeated Wheeling Jesuit 35-6 on Friday night in the championship match of the NWCA Division II national duals in Fort Wayne, Ind.
