Roseau, which started the week with Monday’s 3-0 road win over Thief River Falls, hosts the top team in North Dakota on Thursday as it tries to reclaim interstate bragging rights. Grand Forks Red River is 3-0-0 against Minnesota competition this season, having twice defeated No. 5-1A East Grand Forks (7-1 on Dec. 22 and 3-2 on Jan. 3) and topping No. 19-2A Holy Family 6-3 (with an empty net goal) on Jan. 6.
Red River (12-2-1) sits atop the latest North Dakota coaches poll, having received 15 out of a possible 18 first-place votes. Senior forward Mike Coleman leads the North Dakota team in scoring with 49 points. The Rough Riders have four players in the top eight in the state in scoring.
Up-and-down Roseau (14-7-1) is in an up cycle, having won four straight. Junior forward Noah Urness leads the Rams with 66 points, 10th most in the state. His 32 goals are tied for ninth-most statewide. Junior goaltender Atreyu Jones earned the shutout against Thief River Falls, and has lost just one of his last seven starts.