THE GAMES: The University of Minnesota-Duluth women's hockey team will host Minnesota State University Mankato in their home and league (WCHA) opener this Friday and Saturday (Oct. 18-19). The games are scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. at the DECC. After winning two NCAA titles UMD is in its fourth season of Division I women's hockey.

BANNER CEREMONY: Before Friday's game the Bulldogs 2001-2002 captain Maria Rooth will receive the championship banner from UMD Athletic Director Bob Corran. The banner will be raised to recognize the Bulldogs second consecutive NCAA title.

RANKED #1: After taking a pair of non-conference wins, the Bulldogs kept the first place in USCHO (U.S. College Hockey Online) Poll in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll.

THE RECORDS: The Bulldogs enter their league opener with a 2-0-0 overall record. This will be the second league series for the Mavericks, who have a 0-2-0 mark in league and overall.

THE SERIES: This series will be the 14th meeting between these two schools in collegiate competition. In the last three season of Division I hockey UMD has won all the games against MSU.

THE BROADCAST: The games will be carried live by WDSM AM 710. The play-by-play announcer is Tom Hansen with former Bulldog captain Brittny Ralph providing the color commentary.

WDSM is streaming the UMD Women's hockey games again on the Internet. You can follow the game by going to the website at www.warpradio.com.

After entering the website, click the search button and search for WDSM.

MILLER HONORED BY FLAMES: Bulldog head coach Shannon Miller was honored by Calgary Flames at a luncheon in Calgary on Tuesday, October 15, 2002. This Thursday (Oct. 17) Miller will also do the ceremonial puck-drop to start the game between the Flames and Boston Bruins on Thursday at the Calgary Saddledome.

LAST WEEKEND: UMD started it's season last weekend (Oct. 12-13) sweeping No. 8 ranked Providence College at the Schnei-der Arena in Providence, RI, with 6-4 and 3-1 non-conference wins.

BULLDOG BITES: Last weekend UMD was led by Erika Holst, who tallied a total of two goals an three assists in the series … in Satuday's game Holst tallied two goals, Jenny Potter had a goal (SHG) and one assist and goaltender Patricia Sautter had 33 saves in net … the other goals were scored by Maria Rooth, Michelle McAteer and Krista McArthur … this was the first goal for freshman defenseman McArthur with the Bulldogs … in the second game UMD forward Erika Holst had a three-point game, assisting all the three UMD goals … the other goals were scored by Jenny Potter, Hanne Sikio and Jenny Hempel, who tallied the game winning goal short handed … the Bulldogs out shot the Friars 37-17 in Sunday's match up … the Bulldogs tallied one short handed goal in each game … Erika Holst leads UMD in scoring with two goals and three assists … two forwards, Joanne Eustace and Caroline Ouellette were missing from the Bulldog lineups this weekend, due to Team Canada Development camp held in Toronto … this Friday's game will be the first game for the Olympic gold medallist Caroline Ouellette in Bulldog jersey … it will also be a first home game for four other newcomers: forward Amelia Hradsky, defenseman Krista McArthur and goaltenders Shannon Kasparek and Lisa Hagen … junior forward Jenny Potter (Schmidgall) last time skated with the Bulldogs at the DECC on February 12, 2000, when UMD played their last home game of the 1999-2000 season against the University of Minnesota … Potter, who missed the last two years with the Bulldogs, due to pregnancy and the Olympics, recorded one goal and an assist in her last home game at the DECC.

UP NEXT: Following this weekends home series the Bulldogs will travel to Madison, WI to play their first WCHA away series against the University of Wisconsin Badgers. The games are scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 25-26).