Minneapolis – Freshman Kyle Okposo’s first collegiate hat trick sparked Minnesota’s 8-1 rout of Colorado College in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game Saturday.
Okposo, who was picked by the New York Islanders in the first round of last June’s NHL draft, took over the team lead in goals with seven as Minnesota swept the two-game series. It was the sixth consecutive win for the third-ranked Gophers (6-1-0, 2-0-0 WCHA).
Scott Thauwald had the only goal for the Tigers (3-4-1, 0-2-0), who have lost four in a row.
It was the most lopsided loss by the Tigers since they were beaten 9-1 at home by Wisconsin last January.
NOTRE DAME 2, AIR FORCE 0 at Tampa, Fla.: Irish goalie David Brown earned a shutout with 28 saves to lead the Fighting Irish (5-1) over the Falcons (3-5) in the championship game of the Lightning College Hockey Classic.
