Oct. 9, 2004

Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Ryan Potulny tallied his first career hat trick to lead the seventh-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers to a 5-2 win over the sixth-ranked Denver Pioneers in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game tonight before 17,409 fans at the Xcel Energy Center.

Potulny scored Minnesota's first goal on the power play at 3:24 of the first period and answered Denver's first goal with an unassisted shorthanded effort at 10:28 of the second period. He completed his hat trick with an empty-netter with one minute left in the contest.

"Minnesota outplayed us tonight," head coach George Gwozdecky said. "I am disappointed with our effort, but we will respond next weekend in Boston against Boston College and Northeastern."

Senior Jon Foster (Suffern, N.Y) tallied two goals for the Pioneers. Foster lit the lamp at 9:44 of the second period and his power-play tally at 10:56 of the third cut Minnesota's lead to 3-2. However, the Golden Gophers' Brent Borgen sealed the win with a rebound goal at 15:25.

Sophomore goaltender Glenn Fisher (Edmonton, Alberta) played well in net for Denver with 30 saves. Fisher kept the game close for the Pioneers, who were outshot 35-34 by Minnesota. The Golden Gophers went 1-of-6 on the power play, while Denver was just 1-of-10. Sophomore Kellen Briggs got the win for Minnesota with 32 saves.

Denver will continue nonconference play next weekend at Boston College and Northeastern. Puck drop for both games is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

NOTES:

Foster's two-goal effort was the second in season openers during his career at Denver. He has scored a total of six goals in four years on opening night.

Coach George Gwozdecky's longtime friend Bill Goldthorpe met with the team prior to tonight's contest. Goldthorpe was the inspiration behind the legendary 1977 movie Slap Shot character "Oggie" Ogilthorpe.