GRAND FORKS-University of North Dakota rookie defenseman Gabe Bast could make his college debut this weekend for the rivalry series against the University of Minnesota.
Fighting Hawks coach Brad Berry said Wednesday that Bast should be available for Friday's series opener after missing the first four games of the regular season recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
"He'll be ready," Berry said.
Bast gives the defensive corps more depth and some offensive ability.
Although the Red Deer, Alberta., product was often injured during his junior career in the British Columbia Hockey League, he received rave reviews when he was in the lineup for the Penticton Vees.
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He is a right-handed shot, something UND lacks on the back end. He has extensive experience running the point on the power play, something that could help UND produce offense. And he has been described as having Troy Stecher-like competitiveness, a defining trait for the program.
Bast, 5-foot-10, 195, would be the eighth defenseman to play for UND this season.
Berry sounded less optimistic that senior center Johnny Simonson would be able to play. Simonson left Saturday night's game against St. Lawrence with an injury and didn't return.
"He's still going through a process here of rehab," Berry said. "He's getting better every day. He's day to day."
Sheehy, Reedy 'doubtful'
Minnesota also could be without two key players.
Tyler Sheehy, the Gophers' top-returning scorer from last season, and rookie forward Scott Reedy missed Sunday's game against Penn State.
Sheehy and Reedy both practiced Wednesday.
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"I doubt they'll play this weekend," Minnesota coach Don Lucia said. "We're going to take a long-term approach. Unless we feel really comfortable, we're preparing like they won't play."
Lucia said he was pleased by the team's performance Sunday without Sheehy and Reedy. The Gophers beat Penn State 6-3.
More tickets available
A small number of tickets for the UND-Minnesota series will be on sale at 10 a.m. today.
Minnesota returned some from its ticket allotment, usually reserved for players' families, .
The series sold out instantly this fall at $99 per seat. It is Minnesota's first trip to Grand Forks since January 2012.
