Obviously the Gophers hockey team has a tough early WCHA schedule, playing defending conference champion North Dakota and preseason favorite Denver the first two weeks.

The Fighting Sioux were picked to finish second by the coaches and the media in preseason polls. And Wisconsin, who the Gophers play on the road on Nov. 6-7 were tabbed to be third just ahead of the Gophers.

But the U also plays eight non-conference games, so let's take a look at those opponents:

* Bemidji State at Mariucci, Nov. 14-15: The Beavers are off to a 3-0-1 start and are rated No. 14 or 15 in the national polls. Coaches in College Hockey America picked Bemidji State to win the four-team league and forward Matt Read was named to the preseason all-CHA team.

* at Michigan on Nov. 27: The Wolverines were picked to win the CCHA in the coaches' and media's preseason polls. They are 2-2-0 so far but still ranked No. 5 nationally. And this is a scary game for those who remember recent history. Two years ago against Michigan, Ryan Stoa suffered a season-ending knee injury. Last season Taylor Matson suffered a nearly identical ACL injury and his season was done. Two other players, Jay Barriball and Mike Carman, also suffered knee injuries but they only missed a few games.

* at Michigan State on Nov. 28: The CCHA coaches picked the Spartans to finish ninth in the 12-team league, the media had them placing eighth. Michigan State is 4-2 and ranked No. 20 in the uscho.com poll this week.

* Bowling Green in Gophers' Dodge Holiday Classic on Jan 2: The Falcons were picked 12th in both CCHA preseason polls. This is a softie.

* Gophers opponent on second day of Holiday Classic will play one of these two teams:

Northern Michigan was picked to finish fifth in both CCHA polls.

Clarkson was picked to finish 11th in the coaches' ECAC poll. The conference has 12 teams, so the Golden Knights are another softie.

* Harvard on Jan. 8-9 at Mariucci: The Crimson were picked to finish fourth in the coaches and media ECAC preseaon polls.