There’s a growing sense of anticipation for University of St. Thomas men’s hockey fans, excitement that suffering a series sweep Sunday against future conference rival North Dakota dampened only mildly.

The 10th-ranked River Hawks broke a first-period tie and cruised to a 5-2 victory over the No. 19 Tommies on Sunday at Grand Casino Arena. St. Thomas, a current Central Collegiate Hockey Association member that will join UND in the stronger National Collegiate Hockey Conference next season, suffered a 6-2 loss to the same foe Friday night in Grand Forks, N.D.

Still, with the first game in their $175 million Lee and Penny Anderson Arena scheduled for October 24 against Providence, St. Thomas backers are happily anxious despite early-season setbacks against one of college hockey’s blue bloo

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