Huskies Return Home to Renew Rivalry with No. 6 Minnesota Duluth

Friday, January 16

St. Cloud, Minn.

7:00 P.M. CT

St. Cloud State

Minnesota Duluth

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Photo by: Jason Soria

Huskies Return Home to Renew Rivalry with No. 6 Minnesota Duluth

1/15/2026 2:17:00 PM | Men's Hockey

Game Notes

Huskies look to turn its luck around against Bulldogs, who have won seven of the last eight meetings

THE MATCHUP

St. Cloud State Men's Hockey will play a home series for the first time in over a month when the Huskies host No. 6 Minnesota Duluth for a top-20 NPI ranked series this weekend at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. The series begins on Friday at 7:00 p.m. CT and concludes on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. CT with the voice of the Huskies Jim Erickson, Geno Parrish and Zach Rudeen on the call on The CW and NCHC.tv. On the radio, Husky Productions alum Nick Maxson and Dave Reichel will have the call over the airwaves on KNSI (1450 AM / 99.3 FM).
The Huskies are coming off a road split at Omaha, falling 6-2 after scoring the first two goals on Friday before gutting out a 2-1 win on Saturday to earn three conference points. The Huskies have won four of their last five games headed into the in-state rivalry with the Bulldogs, who are coming off a weekend sweep on Lindenwood to close non-conference play last weekend. The Bulldogs doubled up the Lions in the series, outscoring Lindenwood 14-7 in 6-3 and 8-4 wins at Amsoil Arena.

GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS

Tri-County Humane Society Weekend
Friday, Jan. 16: Bring a donation for the Tri-County Humane Society, receive a free ticket.
Saturday, Jan. 17: Paws and Pucks Night

NATIONAL POLLS / POST-SEASON OUTLOOK

SCSU has yet to crack the top-20 in either the USCHO or USA Hockey polls this season, but they are right of the cusp of entering the top-20 and are receiving votes in both polls. Minnesota Duluth enters the weekend ranked No. 6 in both polls and reached as high as No. 3 in both polls earlier this season, its highest ranking since 2021. With the second half of the season in progress, focus has shifted to the NCAA Percentage Index (NPI), which replaces the Pairwise and is the official system for selecting and seeding teams for the NCAA Tournament. In the current NPI, SCSU moved up one spots from a week ago to No. 19 (11-11-0, 0-3 OT) and is in striking distance of an at-large postseason bid with a strong second half. UMD is sitting comfortably in postseason contention as is currently ranked No. 4 in the NPI (16-6-0, 2-2 OT).

SERIES HISTORY

SCSU and UMD continues its rivalry with its second meeting of the 2025-26 season after the Bulldogs swept the first series of the season and earned five of six conference points with a 4-0 win and 3-2 OT win on Nov. 7-8 in Duluth. The Huskies hold a 84-70-11 advantage in the all-time series, but UMD is 7-1-0 against the Huskies in the last eight meetings and 7-3-0 in the last 10. In St. Cloud, the Huskies are 47-30-7 all-time against the Bulldogs.
UMD outshot the Huskies 13-5 in the first period and 29-18 overall in the 4-0 win in the Friday game. On Saturday, the Bulldogs scored first, but two second period goals from junior forwards Barrett Hall and Tyson Gross gave the Huskies a 2-1 lead before UMD scored in the third and overtime for the win.

TERRIFIC TRIO

Junior forward Tyson Gross (28 points / 1.27 ppg), sophomore forward Austin Burnevik (24 points / 1.09 ppg) and junior forward Barrett Hall (23 points / 1.05 ppg) have led the way offensively for the Huskies through 22 games, all averaging more than a point per game. SCSU is one of 13 teams in the NCAA to have 3+ players averaging 1.00+ points per game. SCSU has not had three players average 1.00+ ppg over a full season since 2018-19 when Patrick Newell (1.17 ppg), Blake Lizotte (1.08 ppg) and Robby Jackson (1.05 ppg) all reached the mark.
Gross' current mark of 1.27 ppg is the best mark by a Husky since Kale Kossila posted 1.32 points per game in 2015-16 (54 points in 41 games). In 38 seasons of Division-I hockey, SCSU has had three or more players average 1.00+ ppg in 14 seasons and just four times since 2003-04.
Additionally, among the 73 skaters to be averaging 1.00+ ppg this season, seven will be on the ice this weekend with UMD have four players averaging more than a point per game.

LEAGUE PLAY LEADERS

Junior forwards Tyson Gross and Barrett Hall are among the league's leaders in goals and points in conference play, scoring nine and seven goals, and 15 and 14 points, respectively. Gross' nine goals put him in a three-way tie for the most in the NCHC (tied with UMD's Max Plante and UND's Ben Striden), while his 15 points rank fourth. Hall's seven goals ranks fourth while his 14 points ranks fifth.
SCSU is the only team in the conference to have a pair of skaters rank in the top-five for both goals and points.

GROSS ALL AROUND

Junior forward Tyson Gross has been dominate in the faceoff circle this season and is quickly shooting up the nation's leaders with his offensive production. He has won an NCAA-best 319 draws this season with a 62.8 percent (289-189) success rate and an NCAA-high 20 wins in both games of the Alaska Anchorage series (Oct. 24-25).
The Husky junior has won 10+ faceoffs in 21 of 22 games this season and 15+ faceoff wins in 11 games.
Gross has scored a point in 18 of 20 games this season, collecting 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points, ranking 10^th nationally in points and 16^th in assists. He is the only play in the nation to have multiple streaks of 8+ games with a point, owning an nine-game streak to start the season and eight-game streak from Nov. 21 to Jan. 3. His streak to begin the season extended to 10 games dating back to March 15, 2025, as he became just the seventh Husky since 2002-03 to record a point streak of 10+ games.
The Husky junior captain is currently producing 1.27 points per game, the best mark in program history since Kale Kossila scored 1.32 points per game (54p/41g) in 2015-16. Gross' current mark would rank ninth all-time in program history if the season were to end today.
When he scored his 20^th point with an assist against North Dakota on Dec. 6, Gross became the 23rd player in program history to begin their SCSU career with three consecutive 20-point seasons.

CACTUS CUP CHAMPIONS

SCSU won the Cactus Cup championship, beating Yale (6-2, Jan. 2) and UMass Lowell (3-2, Jan. 3) at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs to earn its first in-season tournament title since 2016. Junior forward Tyson Gross was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after scoring four points (1-3—4) and a 73.7 mark (28-10) in the faceoff dot.
In the Yale win, Gross and sophomore forward Austin Burnevik each produced three points, with Burnevik netting two goals in the victory.
Three different Huskies scored in the championship game win over the River Hawks, including Gross with his 11th goal and sixth power play tally of the season in the first period. Sophomore goaltender Patriks Berzins earned both wins in net for the Huskies, posting a 2.00 goals-against-average and a 92.3 percent save percentage in the tournament.
SCSU won its first in-season tournament since winning the 2016 North Star Cup on Jan. 30-31, 2016, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
With the wins, SCSU moves to 2-0-0 against Yale with its first win coming on Oct. 30, 2004, in a 10-0 win in New Haven, Ct. SCSU improves to 1-1-0 against UMass Lowell with its only other previous matchup coming on Dec. 1, 1987, a 7-4 win for the River Hawks in SCSU's first season as a Division-I program.

SHORT-HANDED SPECIALIST

Over his career, senior forward Grant Ahcan has been a threat for the Huskies when the team is most vulnerable, on the penalty kill. Ahcan scored a shorthanded goal, his fourth career shorty, in the Huskies 3-2 Cactus Cup championship win over UMass Lowell on Jan. 3 in Palm Springs.
The shorthanded score moved Ahcan into an 11-way tie for the 13th-most career shorthanded goals in program history, joining the ranks of Dave Paradise, Robby Jackson, Matt Cullen and others.
Among the 23 Husky skaters to score four or more career shorthanded goals, Ahcan's four goals are the highest among percentage of total goals at 28.57 percent (14 total goals). Only two other Huskies have scored have 20 percent or more of their total goals coming shorthanded, as Ahcan is joined by Mike Noterman (1987-91, five SHG, 22 goals) at 22.73 percent and Jason Stewart (1994-98, five SHG, 20 goals) at 20.00 percent.

DANGEROUS ON THE POWER PLAY

The Huskies have been dangerous at times on the man advantage this season, scoring 26 of its 70 goals on the man advantage with at least one power play tally in 17 of 22 games this season and six games with multiple power play goals.
The Huskies began the season at a scorching rate, converting 39.5 percent (17-of-43) in its first nine games and has produced a power play score in each of its last five games with a 33.3 percent (5-of-15) success rate.
SCSU's 29.5 percent success rate (26-of-88) ranks third in the NCHC and fifth nationally while its 26 power play goals rank third in the NCAA, trailing only Michigan and Minnesota Duluth's 27 on the man advantage.
The Huskies' four power play goals against Vermont on Oct. 18 were its most since scoring four against St. Thomas on Oct. 7, 2023 while sophomore forward Austin Burnevik netted two of the four power play tallies to become the first Husky to score two power play goals in the same game since Grant Cruikshank scored two at Omaha on Feb. 24, 2023.
Burnevik's seven power play goals rank fourth in the NCAA while junior forwards Tyson Gross and Barrett Hall both rank ninth with six.

NO STOPPING BURNEY

After becoming the first freshman in program history to lead the team in both goals and points in 2024-25, sophomore forward Austin Burnevik is picking up right where he left off a season ago. The rising sophomore ranks among the nation's best among goal scorers, ranking in the top-15 in goals, power play goals and game-winning goals.
Burnevik returned to the score sheet after a season-long six game drought against Yale (Jan. 2), netting two goals for his third two-goal performance of the season. Burnevik has recorded a point in 17 of 22 games this season, and has scored at least one goal in 10 games.
Burnevik scored a goal in five consecutive games between Oct. 18 and Nov. 1, the longest streak since Veeti Miettinen scored in six straight games between Oct. 20 – Nov. 11, 2023.
Burnevik opened the season with a nine-game point streak, the second-longest streak in the nation this season. He also scored in the last two games of last season to move his point streak to 11 games, the longest point streak by a Husky since Jonny Brodzinski had an 13-game point streak from Dec. 12, 2012 - Feb. 2, 2012. Since 2002-03, only six Husky skaters have recorded seven point streaks of 10+ games. Burnevik is joined by Garrett Roe (14, 2007-08), Jonny Brodzinski (13, 2012-13), Drew LeBlanc (13, 2012-13), Ryan Lasch (11, 2007-08; 10, 2007-08) and Tyson Gross (10, 2025-26).

STATEMENT WINS

St. Cloud State is 2-7-0 against ranked teams this season, but its two wins have been statement wins that will look real good on its resume once postseason play comes around.
First, SCSU beat dthe efending National Champions and then-No. 3 Western Michigan, 5-1, on Nov. 1 to snap a five-game losing streak to the Broncos. The win was SCSU's first over a top-three ranked opponent since Jan. 7, 2023 when the Huskies beat No. 3/1 Minnesota, 3-0, in St. Cloud.
SCSU then erased a two-goal deficit to beat No. 6/5 Denver, 4-3, on Dec. 13. The Huskies win was the Pioneers first loss in regulation in conference play this season. The Huskies overcame a two-goal deficit and won for the first time since winning 3-2 in overtime over Minnesota Duluth on March 7, 2025. The last time SCSU overcame a two-goal deficit and won in regulation was Dec. 3, 2022, when the Huskies trailed North Dakota 3-0 before winning 6-3.

STEADY IMPROVEMENT FOR HALLSY

Junior forward Barrett Hall has made steady strides in each of his three seasons in the black and red. Hall began his collegiate career with 16 points (8g/8a) in his 2023-24 freshman season before 22 points (7g/8a) in his sophomore campaign.
The Apple Valley native has elevated his production to more than a point per game this season, producing 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 22 games. Hall has already set career-highs in points (23), goals (10), power play goals (six) and game-winning goals (two), and is two assists away from his career-high for assists (15, 2024-25).
Hall has been known to make the highlight play for the Huskies, with his shorthanded goal against North Dakota on Dec. 5 reaching Sportscenter's Top-10 plays.

QUICK START HUSKIES

Good things seem to happen to the Huskies when they score first. SCSU is 10-2-0 when scoring first opposed to 1-9-0 when its opponent scores first
The Huskies have been good at keeping leads as well, posting a 9-0-0 mark when leading after one period and 9-1-0 record when leading after two periods.
Sophomore forward Austin Burnevik has scored three first goals for the Huskies, while junior forward Tyson Gross, junior forward Barrett Hall freshman forward Nolan Roed have each scored two first goals.

A LOOK BACK AT LAST SERIES

SCSU earned a split against Omaha in its last time out, falling 6-2 on Friday before winning 2-1 on Saturday.
The loss on Friday was just the second time in 12 games this season when the Huskies scored the game's first goal after junior forward Barrett Hall and sophomore forward Gavyn Thoreson both netter first period goals.
SCSU was able to bounce back in the series finale, winning 2-1 after falling behind 1-0 when Omaha scored the game's first goal at the 4:24 mark of the second period. The Huskies tied the game at 1-1 just under three minutes later when senior forward Ethan AuCoin scored his first goal of the season with an extra attacker on the ice with a delayed penalty coming. The Huskies then took the lead in the third period when Hall scored his second goal of the series on the power play at the 7:04 mark of the final frame, as he was assisted by line mate junior forward Tyson Gross and sophomore forward Austin Burnevik. In addition to being a brick wall between the pipes with 20 saves, freshman goaltender Yan Shostak began the play on the game-winning goal, moving the puck back up the ice to start the rush play on Hall's goal.

NOTES FROM LAST SERIES:

GAME 1 - 6-2 loss at Omaha (1-9-26)
- SCSU moves to 2-5-0 on the road, 10-2-0 when scoring first, 0-3-0 when tied after the first period and 1-10-0 when trailing after two periods.
- The Huskies went 1-for-2 on the power play to improve to 29.4 percent (25-of-85) on the man advantage this season.
- Junior forward Barrett Hall netted his fifth power play goal of the season and ninth goal overall with his first period power play goal. His ninth goal is a new career high for the most in a season for the Husky junior, surpassing the eight goals he scored as a freshman in 2023-24.
- Sophomore forward Austin Burnevik recorded his 10th assist of the season while recording a point for the 15th time in 21 games.
- Junior forward Tyson Gross went 18-8 in the faceoff dot, marking the 20th time in 21 games he's won 10+ faceoffs and the 11th time he's won 15+ faceoffs.
- Junior forward Verner Miettinen went 15-7 in the faceoff dot, marking the fourth time this season and 19th time in his career he has recorded 10+ faceoff wins.
GAME 2 - 2-1 win at Omaha (1-10-26)
- With the win, SCSU improves to 31-21-4 all-time vs. Omaha and 12-12-2 against the Mavericks in Omaha.
- The win was the Huskies first of the season when its opponent scored first, improving to 1-9-0.
- This season, SCSU moves to 3-5-0 on the road, 8-3-0 in Saturday games, 1-2-0 when tied after one period, 1-0-0 when tied after two periods and 4-6-0 in one-goal games.
- The Huskies went 1-for-3 on the power play to improve to 29.5 percent (26-of-88) on the man advantage this season. SCSU has scored a power play in five consecutive games and in 17 of 22 games this season. Over the last five games, SCSU is 33.3 percent (5-of-15) on the man advantage.
- SCSU was called for a season-high eight penalties in the game, but went 5-of-6 on the penalty kill to improve to 72.7 percent (48-of-66) on the season.
- Junior forward Barrett Hall scored his second goal of the weekend and 10th of the season, marking the first time in his career he's reached 10 goals in a season. His score was on the power play as well, his sixth marker on the man advantage this season.
- Senior forward Ethan AuCoin scored his first goal of the season in just his fifth game of the season while recording his ninth career goal.
- After being held off the scoresheet for the first time in nine games on Friday, junior forward Tyson Gross returned with an assist on Hall's goal. He's now scored a point in 19 of 22 games and is averaging 1.27 points per game.
- Gross went 12-11 in the faceoff dot, marking the 21st time in 22 games he's won 10+ faceoffs.
- Freshamn goaltender Yan Shostak made 20 saves and earned his first win in net since Oct. 24 against Alaska Anchorage. It marks eighth time this season he's recorded 20+ saves.