Normally, HU junior men's hockey forward Brandon Zurn might be making plans to watch his alma mater, Mahtomedi, play in the MSHSL hockey tournament this week.
But this is not a normal week. Zurn and his teammates will be busy practicing as the Pipers, one of the best stories in college hockey this year, prep for Saturday's MIAC championship game at St. Mary's.
Zurn is one of the reasons why HU, which is 13-10-4 this year after winning just three games the previous two seasons, is still skating. Last week, he had two goals and two assists as Hamline won road games at Augsburg, 4-3 and St. Thomas, 6-3, to advance to their first final since 2011.
Zurn is tied with his fellow Mahtomedian, Charlie Adams, for the team lead in points with 32 on 14 goals and 18 assists. At Augsburg, his third period goal tied the game at 2. He then fed Adams twice for the goals that eventually won the game. On Saturday, he iced the Tommies with a booming shot that upped the HU lead to 5-3 late in the game.
It was the most goals UST has allowed in a game in five seasons. Saturday's game in Winona starts at 7:00 p.m.
