Hockey | 2/5/2025 1:28:00 PM
Crookston, Minn. - The Golden Eagles and Blugolds are set to meet in the playoffs for the third time in program history. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire won the first one by a score of 4-3 back in 2021, while the Golden Eagles won the second matchup 4-0 in 2023. The all-time series is 3-2-1 in favor of the Golden Eagles.
This is not the ideal scenario for the Golden Eagles, as they now enter the tournament on a two game skid. As it stands today, the Golden Eagles sit at 12 in the Central Regional Rankings, they will look to improve their standings throughout the WCCHA Tournament and it all starts with their first round matchup against the Blugolds. The Blugolds are coming into this tournament looking to play spoiler. They are currently unranked, so their main priority is going to be to make a run and knock some teams out that are currently in line to make the Regional Tournament.
The Golden Eagles Player to Watch for the game against the Blugolds is the captain, Jackson Fuller (Sr., F, Bloomington, Minn.) who enters this weekend with nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points in 14 games. Fuller has played in both playoff games against the Blugolds, and tallied two assists in the 4-0 win in 2023. His leadership has been a major part of the Golden Eagles success for the last two years both on and off the ice. He will look to propel the Golden Eagles to a win over the Blugolds this Friday.
The Golden Eagles find themselves entering the tournament as the fourth seed in the WCCHA, with the Blugolds lined up as the fifth seed. This is the same seeding that the Golden Eagles faced last year, which means that a win lines them up with a game against the winner of the one seed versus the eighth seed. But, that is not something this team can begin to think about, the Golden Eagles enter the weekend needing to win. Sitting in 12th in the Central Regional Rankings is far from safe, with just 14 teams making the Regional Tournament in each region. That means that the Golden Eagles will have to take everything one day at a time, one game at a time, and one goal at a time.
The Golden Eagles and Blugolds are set for puck drop on Friday, February 7th at 8:15 p.m. at the National Sports Center's Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota.
