By: Andrew Erickson / @CarvellMedia / sports@kvsc.org / Photo by SCSU Athletics

The St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey team (6-7-4) flew into the Mariucci Classic Championship game against the host Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-9-4).

The Huskies battle the Gophers close for the first 20 minutes but in the second is where the wheels fell off for SCSU.

The Golden Gophers flew out to a three goal lead in less then two minutes on goals from Sammy Walker, Tyler Nanne and Bryce Brodzinski.

Scott Reedy made it four with an empty netter in the third but sophomore Micah Miller broke the shutout with his third of the year for a final score of 4-1.

Special teams was story of the night as the Huskies went 0-4 and the Gophers went 1-3.

Shots finished at 33-25 and face offs were 32-24, both in favor of the Gophers.

Freshman Jaxon Castor started the game and was on the receiving end of the first two goals before he was pulled in favor of junior David Hrenak.

The Huskies have a weekend off before traveling to Denver to face the Pioneers. They will return home in three weeks when the two time defending national champion University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs come to the National Hockey Center.