I'm off today, but that doesn't mean I still don't check out the area daily papers for some tidbits. Here is what I found, and some links to some interesting stories on teams Hutchinson will face this season: Marshall boys' hockey preview http://www.marshallindependent.com/Sports/articles.asp?articleID=17343 Marshall point guard is hurt, still the Tigers are No. 9 in the preseason rankings http://www.marshallindependent.com/Sports/articles.asp?articleID=17331 New Ulm Journal All-Area http://www.nujournal.com/Sports/articles.asp?articleID=9960 Note: We had our All-Area Team in Tuesday's paper. Here is a recap on the New Ulm girls' basketball opener - the Tigers play them next Tuesday on the road http://www.nujournal.com/Sports/articles.asp?articleID=9940 Ridgewater wrestling won over Itasca http://www.wctrib.com/articles/index.cfm?id=27627§ion=sports Preview on the Willmar boys' hockey team http://www.wctrib.com/articles/index.cfm?id=27505§ion=Sports Preview on the Willmar girls' basketball team http://www.wctrib.com/articles/index.cfm?id=27403§ion=Sports Red Wing girls hockey is improved http://www.republican-eagle.com/articles/index.cfm?id=45986§ion=sports Red Wing boys hockey dropped a 3-0 decision to St. Thomas Academy http://www.republican-eagle.com/articles/index.cfm?id=45984§ion=sports Northfield girls' basketball preview http://northfieldnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=27&SubSectionID=452&ArticleID=21508&TM=43356.89 Northfield boys' hockey preview http://northfieldnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=27&SubSectionID=452&ArticleID=21509&TM=43356.89 All-State Football list http://www.startribune.com/preps/story/1579295.html -Other news- * The St. Cloud State baseball program will start the 2008 season on Feb. 9, with a banquet featuring former Husky and major league standout Jim Eisenreich, along with SCSU graduate and Minnesota Twins announcer Dick Bremer. The event will help raise funds for the SCSU baseball program and the battle against Tourette's Syndrome. The banquet will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held at the Holiday Inn in St. Cloud. Tickets for this event are $50 per person or $75 per couple and can be purchased in advance by calling the baseball office at 320-308-3541 or by e-mailing head coach Pat Dolan at pldolan@stcloudstate.edu. Corporate tables of eight can be purchased for $350. The event will include a keynote address by Eisenreich, who played at St. Cloud State from 1978-80 and later enjoyed a 15-year career in the majors with stops in Minnesota, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Florida and Los Angeles. Eisenreich helped Florida win a World Series title in 1997 and batted .290 during his career, which included 52 home runs and 477 RBI. Bremer will serve as the event's master of ceremonies. The banquet will also honor Coach John Kasper and the 1958 St. Cloud State team, which was the first Husky baseball squad to gain a national tournament bid.