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MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM // DECEMBER.2015 20 5 NATIONAL STORYLINES Will the Gopher Women Continue Their Dominance? All Gopher women's hockey does is hang banners. Can anyone stand in their way? Boston College, Wisconsin, North Dakota and an upstart Bemidji State team all pose as serious threats. Every team in women's college hockey is gunning for the Gophers. Goal-Scoring Trends According to the American Hockey Coaches Association, goal scoring has decreased from 6.67 to 5.48 per game since the 2002-03 season. The NCAA rules committee continues to meet and discuss ways to increase these numbers. Possible solutions include tighter officiating, reducing the size of goaltending equipment, increasing the size of the net and even prohibiting players from intentionally leaving their feet to close off passing and shooting lanes. Welcome, Arizona State Arizona State is enjoying its inaugural season at the Division-I level. How long will it take for them to contend? Will it lead to a West Coast wave of new programs? And will Minnesota's elite players be tempted by Tempe? First Time for Everything Providence, Union, Yale—three of the last four men's titles have been captured by first-time winners. Will the trend continue? Quinnipiac, Nebraska-Omaha, Miami, Minnesota State and St. Cloud State could be knocking on the door. Eyeing the Wild Prospects The Wild front office believes in the college hockey development model. Keep an eye on Minnesota's prospects around the country. Alex Tuch, Boston College Avery Peterson, Nebraska-Omaha (Grand Rapids) Louis Belpedio, Miami Jordan Greenway, Boston University Mario Lucia, Notre Dame (Wayzata) Carson Soucy, Minnesota-Duluth Nicholas Boka, Michigan Nolan De Jong, Michigan John Draeger, Michigan State (Edina) Adam Gilmour, Boston College Louis Nanne, RPI (Edina) Jack Sadek, Minnesota (Lakeville) Nick Seeler, Minnesota (Eden Prairie) Wild draft pick and fomer Mr. Hockey Avery Peterson. PHOTOS BY: BRAD REMPEL/GOPHER ATHLETICS, SUN DEVIL ATHLETICS, GETTY IMAGES, RICHARD T. GAGNON, BEVERLY SCHAEFER, UND ATHLETICS, BRAD OLSON, BGSU ATHLETICS, MADDIE MACFARLANE