Huskies vs Gophers is a premier rivalry

There is a little extra buzz around SCSU this week. While the agonizing midterm has brought many tests, once Friday rolls around the school will be rallying behind one cause.

That's because the Minnesota Golden Gophers travel up I-94 for a bout with the Huskies.

While I'm a junior now and have never been to an SCSU hockey game as a fan, there is none I'd rather cover than the Gophers.

The press box is packed with Twin Cities media and NHL scouts. The National Hockey Center is loaded with an intense atmosphere.

I've been to Vikings-Packers games, I've been to playoff baseball and I've been to state tournaments.

Nothing has yet to top the atmosphere of the game against the Gophers.

It's the "Dog Pound's" time to shine.

The "Dog Pound" has gained reputation among hockey players across the nation. Players are repeatedly said that the National Hockey Center and Wisconsin's 17,000-seat Kohl Center bring the toughest fan presence.

And the Gopher game is the best of them all.

It has all the pertinent details for a great rivalry.

The whole community gets behind it.

I mean, people who don't watch hockey, watch this game. People either get tickets, watch the game downtown or watch the game at a party.

It has tradition.

It takes awhile to get down all of the "Dog Pound" chants, but once they are mastered, they add to the drama of the game.

Also there is the dead gopher throwing. This amuses me most.

It takes a lot to trap a gopher, freeze it for months and bring it out to the game to throw on the ice. I'm sorry PETA, but it's brilliant.

And while it may not actually intimidate the players, it certainly shows passion and that is the best part about being a fan in sports.

Without the passion of fans, sports just aren't interesting.

It has competition.

While the Gophers own a wide series lead (42-23-12), SCSU has had their number of late.

The Huskies have lost just once in their past 10 games against their arch nemisis (6-1-3).

It has respect.

SCSU players have a ton of respect for the Gophers players. They annually have some of the top recruits and are loaded with talent.

And Minnesota players have the same mutual respect for the Huskies. They know that they aren't "Gopher rejects" like Minnesota fans would have you to believe.

But instead SCSU has developed to an elite college hockey school and can now recruit with the best in the nation.

Also, both coaches have great respect for each other.

They had better, since Huskies head coach Bob Motzko served under Don Lucia from 2001-05 and they won national titles together in 2002 and 2003.

Overall, the Husky-Gophers game has it all. And both sides want to beat each others' brains out, but know it's no easy task.

But as fans, SCSU fans need to give more.

There are plenty of opportunities to be apart of Husky hockey, that doesn't just include the Gophers game.

Too often SCSU becomes a ghost town on weekends. Instead, fans should go out and fill the National Hockey Center.

They should make it that every game has to get tickets in advance.

Motzko has built a program that's worthy. They are recruiting better then they ever have and winning consistently.

A Minnesota State-Mankato or a Minnesota-Duluth would love to have this much consistent success.

Let's not miss the chance to be part of something really special.