If you didn’t know how to spell Minnesota before Friday night’s U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game between the Golden Gophers and the St. Cloud State Huskies, you certainly do now.

The Gophers, ranked No. 3 in the latest U.S. College Hockey Online poll, heard their fight song and traditional post-goal M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A cheer early and often in the 7-0 rout of the Huskies at the Roseville Ice Arena. 

“(There is) a lot of great energy here, a lot of great fans,” Gophers' head coach Brad Frost said after the win. “I know our players wanted to come out and put on a good show for them.”

The show started in the first period, with the Gophers (16-3-0) rattling off three goals, including two by junior forward Kate Schipper.

The fast start also pleased Frost, especially since Minnesota was coming off back-to-back losses to top-ranked Wisconsin.

“It was a good response after last weekend, getting swept,” Frost said.

Senior forward Hannah Brandt also scored in the first period, and said that the arena setting helped bring back memories of her prep career at Hill-Murray.

“It was a great atmosphere, playing at a high school rink,” Brandt said. “It kind of brings us back to the high school days,” Brandt added with a laugh. 

Brandt notched a pair of assists in the second period, as the Gophers got goals from senior defender Milica McMillen, sophomore forward Nina Rodgers and senior forward Dani Cameranesi.

Junior defender/forward Kelsey Cline added a goal in the third period to cement the win for the Gophers.

The atmosphere lauded by Brandt was fueled by the large number of girls’ youth hockey players, who could be seen throughout the arena.

“They’ve probably dreamed of being Gophers one day, just like we all did when we were younger,” Brandt said.

“Hopefully we gave them something to look forward to, and something they can dream about doing.”