Nearly three years have passed since the Gophers men's hockey team skated at Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato.
Only two players on the current roster have played in front of Minnesota State Mankato's home crowd, so Friday's first stop in the home-and-home series is a renewal of the rivalry in a sense. The Mavericks won the last meeting between the two teams last season in the North Star College Cup, but the Gophers won their last meeting in Mankato.
The rivals have faced off only three times in their last 10 games at Verizon Wireless Center with the Mavericks holding a 2-1 record during this stretch. Since those two Minnesota State victories, the Mavericks have matured into one of the top programs in college hockey and the new WCHA.
Now fans want to see the Mavericks at home instead of wondering when the next time the Gophers will be in town, Minnesota State coach Mike Hastings said.
"It's always great when they're here," Hastings said. "When I first got here the question was 'When are the Gophers coming to town?' and I can tell you I think that's changed. Now it's 'When are you playing at home again?' "
Gophers freshman goaltender Eric Schierhorn, an Alaska native, is new to all the in-state rivals, but is quickly learning the magnitude of each matchup.
"I don't know a whole lot. I learned [Wednesday that the Gophers] kind of had a chance to get [the Mavericks] last year when they were the No. 1 team and they didn't really come through," Schierhorn said. "It's an in-state rivalry, so we take a lot of pride in winning these games."
The Gophers left the Twin Cities Thursday and spent the night in Mankato so they could practice at the Verizon Wireless Center on Friday morning.
