It’s Gopher Week, which is a much-anticipated time for the Minnesota State men’s hockey team.

The Mavericks will take on the

No. 1-ranked Gophers Friday in Minneapolis and will host them in Mankato for the first time since the 2004-05 season Saturday.

Senior forward Kurtis Kisio said he looks forward to playing Minnesota. The 10,000-strong crowd at Mariucci Arena is crazy and the Midwest Wireless Civic Center, as usual, is expected to be sold out.

“It’s always a good time,” Kisio said.

But one matchup that Kisio likes even better is the series against Nebraska-Omaha. That’s because his brother, Brent, skates for that team.

“We always look forward to that visit,” Kurtis said. “It’s good for us and good for our family, too.”

The Kisios, both college seniors, are the sons of former National Hockey League player Kelly Kisio, who played in 761 games between 1982 and 1995 and scored 229 goals and 658 points.

Kurtis has played in 101 games for MSU, scoring 14 goals and 49 points. Brent, who is 1 1/2 years older, has played in 69 games for Omaha, scoring seven goals and 20 points.

Each played right wing on his team’s fourth line last Tuesday when the Purple Mavericks and Red Mavericks tied 4-4 at the Civic Center. Although there was no winner, Brent got the best of his brother by scoring the game’s first goal. It was also his first goal in two seasons.

“To get a goal is special, especially playing against my brother,” Brent said afterwards. “I don’t know how much longer I’ll get to do that.”

Kurtis said he was happy that his brother’s scoring drought finally ended. He just wish it didn’t happen against his team.

“I dropped my head, that’s the first thing I did,” said Kurtis, who watched the play from the bench. “It made me want to get one back.”

Kurtis never did score, but he still hasn’t lost to his big brother, either. Minnesota State is 6-0-1 against Omaha since the Kisios started college hockey. That means the Spirit of the Maverick Trophy has been housed in Kurtis’ rink the entire time, something the little brother’s not afraid to rub in from time to time.

“They’ve had our number the last few years, so it was nice to get a tie,” Brent said. “My freshman year, we lost 9-1.”