December 18, 2003
Dodge Holiday Classic
Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, Minn.

Holiday Tournament Preview

THE FIELD

Saturday, December 20
Miami vs. New Hampshire, 5 p.m. ET
Minnesota vs. Princeton, 8 p.m. ET

Sunday, December 21
Minnesota's game will be at 8 p.m. ET; the other game, regardless of whether it is the championship or third-place game, will be at 5 p.m. ET

LAST YEAR

Troy Riddle's overtime goal gave Minnesota a 2-1 win over Boston College in last year's championship game. The Gophers also faced an Ivy League team in the opener last year (Yale), while Boston College defeated Bowling Green in the semifinals.

INTERESTING HISTORICAL FACT

While all four of these teams have appeared in the Dodge (nee Mariucci) Holiday Classic, only two have captured titles before. Minnesota’s an easy guess, with seven titles including the last four in a row. The other is the team that looks like the weak sister in this year’s event, Princeton. The Tigers took the title in the 1998-99 season, when current Washington Capital Jeff Halpern and All-American defenseman Steve Shirreffs were seniors.

WHO TO WATCH

Gopher fans will want to keep an eye on flashy Steve Saviano, who leads UNH with 12 goals.

Gopher fans – when they weren't toasting Thomas Vanek or rescuing cheerleaders who had fallen off the bar – got a good look at the talents of Steve Saviano in Buffalo last April. The diminutive UNH wing has been even better this year, showcasing a scorer’s touch to go with his elite playmaking ability. He still works his magic alongside his childhood linemate Sean Collins, with junior Justin Aikins enjoying a breakthrough season while skating between them.

Also worth keeping an eye on is Miami’s all-senior first line of Derek Edwardson (26 points), Mike Kompon (23) and Greg Hogeboom (21), the highest scoring trio in the nation.

HOW WE SEE IT

Miami – former home of Minnesota A.D. Joel Maturi, by the way – has the best chance to prevent a rematch of last year’s national championship game in Sunday’s main event. The RedHawks enter on a four-game winning streak, and are probably the hottest team in the tournament. They face a struggling New Hampshire team in what could be the most entertaining game of the weekend (subtle hint: get there early on Saturday, Gopher fans. With the Vikings playing the Chiefs across the river at the Metrodome, parking shouldn't be a problem). Both teams like offense, although you can expect UNH to emphasize a stronger commitment to team defense as it tries to break from its 4-4-1 funk.

The Gophers have won five out of six and appeared to be hitting their stride before a loss at Alaska Anchorage in their last game (not counting an exhibition win over Latvia's HC Riga 2000). Two more wins this weekend would lift the Gophers over .500 for the first time this year. They’ll have to contend with a Princeton team in the first round that makes its second trip of the young season to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The Tigers, led by skilled, smooth skating Plymouth, Minn., native Steve Slaton on defense, dropped two close games at St. Cloud State to open the season. They beat Harvard for the second time this year on Tuesday night.

Expect special teams to play a big factor in the outcome, since Minnesota, Miami and New Hampshire rank third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the nation on the power play (Princeton is tied for 42nd), and none of the four teams are particularly strong on the penalty kill (Miami, tied for 26th, is best). The team that puts together the best defensive weekend, while keeping its own power play going, could have a big edge.