In addition to junior center Jesse Martin (separated shoulder), senior center Brian Gifford (upper-body injury) and defenseman William Wrenn (hip) will miss Friday’s game against Mercyhurst and Saturday’s contest at Air Force, Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky told me today.

As previously reported, Martin is out for at least the next four games, including next week’s WCHA series against Minnesota. DU is hoping he will be ready for the Feb. 19-20 series against Michigan Tech. Gifford, who has played every game this season, sustained his undisclosed injury last Saturday at North Dakota. Wrenn missed the Sioux series with a hip problem that has gotten worse. Skating has aggravated the injury, so he’s turned to off-ice rehabilitation.

Gwozdecky said the first line of center Tyler Ruegsegger, left wing Rhett Rakhshani and right wing Joe Colborne will remain intact Friday. On the second line, Anthony Maiani will move to center, with left wing Kyle Ostrow and probably right wing Luke Salazar, who has been scratched lately after failing to produce a goal in his first 14 games. The third line will consist of center Drew Shore, Chris Knowlton and Shawn Ostrow, and Brandon Vossberg will center the fourth line with Matt Glasser and Nate Dewhurst.