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Back In the Saddle: After a 27-day break, the Blazer hockey team kicks off 2014 with a road trip to Mequon, Wis. for two games with Concordia University Wisconsin. The Blazers enter with a 3-6-0 record a 1-5-0 mark in the MIAC. They closed the season with a 3-1 stretch, however, and will hope to carry that momentum into the weekend. The Falcons counter with a 5-4 record and 4-3 mark in NCHA play. The puck drops at 7 p.m. on Jan. 3 and at 2 p.m. on Jan. 4.
 
About the Falcons: Like the Blazers, this will be the Falcons' first action since Dec. 6 and 7, where they split with a powerful St. Norbert team at home. After a 3-0 start to the season, they hit a rough stretch, dropping three straight to fall to .500, with just one total goal scored in the three losses. Heading into the break, they won two-of-three, and have not fallen, below .500 all season. They are led in scoring by Veronika Metanova who owns team highs of three goals and six assists for nine points. Emily Heckendorf and Brandi Mueller have also racked up three goals on the season, tying for the team lead. Between the pipes, Jennifer DeGeorge has started every game, holding a 2.44 goals against average and a .916 save percentage.
 
Last meeting: The two teams faced off last season in a lone game in St. Cloud, Minn., with the Blazers coming away with a 2-1 win. After a scoreless first, the Blazers' opened the scoring and took the first lead off the stick of Ali O'Brien. The Falcons came back with 12 shots in the period, but were unable to score. In the third, it was O'Brien again, adding the insurance and putting the Blazers up 2-0. The goal eventually proved to be valuable, as the Falcons got one back with just over six minutes left.
 
The Storyline: Which team will respond best after taking a full month off between games? Whoever can shake off the rust first can grab the early edge and quickly put themselves in the driver's seat. The Blazers were able to take charge last year, but will have to do so on the road this year. The teams are close on paper, leaving the X factor to likely be the layoff. They score at a near equal rate while the Falcons are a goal better on defense. On the power play, the Blazers have been more productive.
 
Who to Watch: Alli O'Brien (Stillwater, Minn.) scored twice in the win last season, on her way to leading the team in goals in 2012-13. With just one goal so far, she is due to break out. She does have three assists as well this season to rank fourth on the team in points. Stephanie Kirk (Wayzata, Minn.) continues to lead the team in goals with six on the season, a mark that stands fourth in the MIAC. Jenna Traut (St. Cloud, Minn.) has taken home all three Blazers wins in the net, and ranks fifth in the MIAC with a .600 winning percentage.

Alli O'Brien	Stephanie Kirk	Jenna Traut

 
Last Time Out: In closing out the first half, the Blazers dropped a 4-0 decision to Augsburg on the road. After entering the night riding a three-game winning streak, the Blazers were shutout for the second time on the season. The Auggies scored twice in each the first and second periods, on their way to the win, despite being outshot by the Blazers. CSB finished the night with a 32-to-23 edge, which included a 13 in the final period. The loss left the Blazers in a split with the Auggies, after beating them 4-1 the night before.