With conference realignments shifting some of the state’s grandest and oldest rivalries, this weekend’s North Star College Cup offers four of the five Division I Men’s programs in the State of Hockey the chance to converge on St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center for four games.

St. Cloud State returns as the Cup’s defending champions, having scored 10 goals in two wins over Minnesota State and Bemidji State last year, by scores of 5-4 and 5-2 respectively.

With three different winners in each of its first three seasons, the Cup has provided fans in the State of Hockey with an entertaining weekend of Minnesota hockey in the state’s capital city. Unfortunately, according to this SB Nation story, this weekend’s fourth annual tournament will likely be the final one.

GAME ONE

Bemidji State vs. St. Cloud State, 4 p.m., Friday

Bemidji State (16-9-3) enters the tournament ranked No. 20 in the latest United States College Hockey Online poll, with the Beavers winning three of their last five games. The Beavers feature eight players with 10 or more points this season, led by junior forward Philip Marinaccio with nine goals and 22 points. The Beavers have also proven effective on the power-play, with a conversion percentage of over 20 percent.

No. 22 St. Cloud State dropped below the .500 mark with a 3-1 loss to No. 3 Denver over the weekend, and the defending champions of the tournament could use their trip to St. Paul to spark a winning streak. Sophomore forward Mikey Eyssimont paces the Huskies with 10 goals and 22 points, and was named the Cup’s Most Valuable Player last season with three goals and five points in two games.

GAME TWO

Minnesota-Duluth vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m., Friday

In the marquee matchup of the evening, No. 2 rated Minnesota-Duluth takes on No. 6 Minnesota, with the Bulldogs drawing the host team in the first round.

A three-game winning streak follows the Bulldogs in the tournament, including an impressive sweep of No. 12 North Dakota last weekend. Senior forward Alex Iafallo leads the Bulldogs (15-5-4) in assists with 15 and is tied for the team lead in goals with 10, but has been held scoreless for nine consecutive games.

The Golden Gophers (14-6-2) have gotten outstanding production from junior forward Tyler Sheehy, who’s 32 points lead all players in the tournament. Sheey’s 15 goals are tops for the Golden Gophers, followed by Justin Kloos and Vinni Lettieri with 11 tallies each. 

Session 1 - Friday, January 27
4 p.m. - Bemidji State vs. St. Cloud State
7 p.m. - Minnesota Duluth vs. Minnesota

Session 2 - Saturday, January 28
4 p.m. - Third Place Game
7 p.m. - Championship Game