Want to know more about the Gophers’ first opponent? Here you go … The game can be seen live on FSN, or heard on WCCO-radio. Only a few standing room tickets were left by midweek for tonight’s game at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.

There could be a lot of goals scored. My prediction, nine.

St. Cloud State Huskies

2007-08 record: 19-16-5, 12-12-4 (tied with Minnesota State Mankato for fourth)

Coach: Bob Motzko, fourth season, 63-43-16

Projected finish:Sixth

Key players: F Ryan Lasch, jr.; F Garrett Roe, so.; D Garrett Raboin, jr.; G Jase Weslosky, jr.

Key loss: F Andreas Nodl (18-26-44), so. last season, signed with Philadelphia Flyers.

Outlook: Lasch (25-28-53) and Roe (18-27-45) were the WCHA’s top two scorers a year ago. But the Huskies need other forwards to contribute such as senior John Swanson (8-6-14) and sophomore Aaron Marvin (3-10-13) and four freshmen. On defense, the Huskies lost three seniors on the blue line. But Raboin, the team captain, returns. An intriguing prospect is 6-6, 220-pound Oliver Lauridsen, a defenseman from Denmark. Workhorse Jase Weslosky is back in goal after a solid season; he had a 2.11 goals-against average and a 16-13-2 record.

Statistically: Huskies were third in scoring in WCHA last season, averaging 2.95 goals per game, and had the best power play, clicking at 22.5 percent.

This series: St. Cloud State is 5-2-3 in the last 10 games with the Gophers; that is also Motzko’s record against the U. . … The last time Minnesota won at the National Hockey Center was 3-1 on Oct. 29, 2005. … The Gophers were 1-1-1 against the Huskies last season, beating them 3-2, on Mike Howe’s goal with 13 seconds left, in the first game of the Final Five. … The two teams meet again in the regular-season in a home-and-home series Jan. 16 and 17. The first game in that series is at Mariucci Arena.

THE U TUG

Eight of the 12 Gophers freshmen, when asked why they signed with the U, said it was a long-held dream.

“I watched the Gophers on TV all the time,” defenseman Sam Lofquist said. … “I idolized them all my life,” goalie Jake Kremer said.

“It was a dream of mine to come here,” center Jordan Schroeder said. …. “This is where my heart was,” wing Mike Dorr said. … “Nothing is like playing for the Gophers,” said center Taylor Matson said.

“It has been a dream of mine to play here,” center Nico Sacchetti said. “When I got the opportunity, I took it.” … “I grew up being a Gophers fans,” forward Joey Miller said. “I live 15 minutes away.”

“Growing up, we had season tickets since I was 2 years old,” forward Nick Larson said. “This is the place everybody wants to go to.”

So what did the other four players say?

Defenseman Aaron Ness was sold on the U after visiting the campus. As a youngster, he was a North Dakota Fighting Sioux fan. Hard to blame, he didn’t know any better. His dad played there.

Defenseman Grant Scott is from Pennsylvania. He said when the Gophers offered him a scholarship, he could not turn it down. Why? “The atmosphere,” he said, “the school, the program, the coaching staff.”

Forward Jake Hansen liked where college hockey at the U could take him. “They’ve developed a lot of NHL players,” he said. “That’s what I am looking forward to.”

Goalie Kent Patterson wanted to be close to home. “I’m from Minnesota,” he said. “Being able to play in front of family and friends is a real treat.” He attended Blake before playing in the UHSL.

To hear more of what each of these 12 players have to say, go to www.startribune.com/audio. They comment on their career highlights, their strengths as a player, their favorite Gopher.

SIZE CAN FLUCTUATE

I used to be 5-10. I really was. But the last time I visited my doctor, a nurse measured me at 5-8. How can that be? Age, she said.

It’s a little harder to explain why what players say their height and weight is, varies from what they are listed at in the media guide and programs.

I asked all the freshmen for their height and weight, then compared it to the media guide. The numbers were identical for only five of the 12 players. Here are the results:

The same:

D Aaron Ness   5-10, 170

F Jordan Schroeder … listed at 5-9, 180 … said he was 182 (a recent meal could have added two pounds)

D Grant Scott … listed at 6-3, 219 … said he was 215 (must have skipped a meal)

G Ken Patterson … listed at 6-1, 192 … said he was 190 (close enough)

F Nick Larson … listed at 6-1, 186 … said he was 185 (very close)

Taller and skinnier

G Jake Kremer    … listed at 6-1, 190 … said he was 6-2, 185

Taller and heavier

D Sam Lofquist … listed at 6-1, 190 … said he was 6-2, 193

Shorter and lighter

F Taylor Matson … listed at 6-0, 185 … said he was 5-9, 175 (this listed height/weight is the most suspicious, a 3-inch difference?)

F Joey Miller … listed at 5-11, 195 … said he was 5-10, 190

Shorter and heavier

F Nico Sacchetti … listed at 6-0, 186 … said he was 5-11-1/2, 190 (almost want to put him in the same category, but don’t like writing half-inches) 

F Jake Hansen … listed at 6-2, 182 … said he was 6-1, 185

Shorter 

F Mike Dorr … listed at 5-10, 175 … said he was 5-9, 175

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