But remember, everybody wants to play the Gophers

Let's take a look at some non-conference schedules. Home games in bold.

North Dakota
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10/8 at Alaska-Anchorage
10/9 at #12 Alaska
11/22-23 at #7 Maine
11/26-27 #17 Notre Dame
12/30 at #8 Minnesota-Duluth (not included in WCHA Standings, thus it is a non-conference game)
1/8-9 Robert Morris* (unranked)

Minnesota
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10/8-9 UMass (unranked)
11/26 #16 Michigan State
11/28 #5 Michigan
12/31 Union (unranked)
1/1 Ferris State (unranked)

Sure, the Thanksgiving series against Mich St and Michigan will provide quite a challenge for Lucia and his boys, but that weekend is a function more so of tradition...those two teams have been playing in the "College Hockey Showcase" for, um...forever. And by forever, I mean, since before the last time Minnesota was a reputable hockey team.

With the exception of Robert Morris, UND has one very strong non-conference schedule. There's only so much that a WCHA Conference schedule can do for a team. That a team like the Gophers - with the most draft picks, the loudest arena, and highest-paid coach in Division I hockey - can't put together a decent schedule speaks to a lot of things.

Simply put, it's going to be difficult for Minnesota to advance to its first NCAA Tournament in three years (an absence that I'm still laughing about). Minnesota With easily the biggest budget in the WCHA, one would think that the Gophers would be willing to travel to play good teams...but that's not even remotely the case.

In fact, other than the College Hockey Showcase, which rotates between home and away series for the Gophers every other year, Minnesota hasn't played a road non-conference series since October 20-21, 2006, when they traveled to Ohio State. And they don't have one this year, either.

For perspective, the Sioux have played ten road non-conference games since then. And have two more NCAA Tournament appearances.

I think there is some benefit to playing cupcake teams. That is, until it royally screws you over.