Number 1 Minnesota State-Mankato Takes on Gophers in North Star Tourney

ST. PAUL (AP) - The second annual North Star College Cup features surging Minnesota State as the favorite.

The Mavericks, ranked first in both major national polls, play Minnesota Friday night at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. They lead the WCHA with a 15-2-1 record and are unbeaten in their last eight games.

Bemidji State faces Minnesota Duluth in the other semifinal. The winners play Saturday night, after the third-place game. St. Cloud State is not part of this year's tournament.

The Gophers won the inaugural event by beating Minnesota Duluth in a shootout, but there's a new protocol this time for the championship game with 20-minute overtime periods until a winner emerges. The other three games will have a five-minute overtime followed by a shootout if there's a tie after regulation.