BOSTON (AP) – Boston University said goodbye to Walter Brown Arena on Sunday night with a 2-1 loss to Minnesota.

The Golden Gophers (16-4-0) got off to a strong start, scoring twice in the first period and beating the Terriers (11-7-0) 2-1 for their 13th win in 15 games.

Minnesota’s Gino Guyer and Danny Irmen scored 12 minutes apart in the first period. The Terriers’ Brad Zancanaro scored in the third.

BU’s John Curry saved 29 of 31, and Kellen Briggs saved 23 of 24 for Minnesota.

The two teams will meet for the second of a two-game series tonight in BU’s new 6,300 seat Harry Agganis Arena, the cornerstone of the school’s $225 million John Hancock Student Village.

Before the game, the Terriers paid tribute to the first team to call the arena home, the national champion 1971-1972 Terriers squad, which is the only Boston University team to win back-to-back NCAA titles.

Former Boston University star and 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey captain Mike Eruzione emceed the event. Former coach Jack Kelley and current coach Jack Parker, an assistant under Kelley, were among 18 members of the team introduced to loud cheers from the sellout crowd.

Following the game, dozens of former Terriers who played in Walter Brown Arena joined the current team on the ice for pictures and to salute the crowd.

Walter Brown Arena opened on November 27, 1971, and was the home of Terriers hockey for 34 seasons. With a capacity of just 3,806, a steep seating bowl and its famous low roof, Brown Arena was known as one of the loudest and most intimate venues in college hockey.

Boston University made the most of its home-ice advantage, as the Terriers finished 326-129-37 at Walter Brown.

The rink will still be used by the Boston University women’s team.

as well as by high school teams and for hockey camps.

“What we always like about this building is it can really get going, and the crowd is as loud as any building in college hockey” said Parker. “It will be interesting to see what it’s going to be like in the new building.”

AP-ES-01-02-05 2248EST