Lou Nanne told Sports Headliners that the Minnesota North Stars book which debuted in early October is already in its second printing. A second press run of 10,000 is needed to fill orders (6,000) for Minnesota North Stars: History And Memories With Lou Nanne. Nanne said the coffee table size book has information that “people don’t know” and its pages are filled with “600 great pictures.”
Executive director Bill Lester said the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission’s “Listening Tour” in 10 cities around the state will focus on two meetings in each community, one with local leaders and the other with the general public. The purpose of the tour, which begins next month and ends in January, is to gather and share information regarding a proposed new football stadium for the Vikings on the Metrodome site. Key message points from the commission’s perspective, Lester said, are that the 35W bridge disaster is a recognized priority to stadium building, but that the team’s lease at the dome expires in 2011 and a long term solution is needed to ensure the franchise’s future. In addition, he said, a new football stadium with a retractable roof allows the region to benefit from the variety of events and economic impact that has made the Metrodome so successful.
Royce White, the highly recruited DeLaSalle junior basketball player, likes coach Tubby Smith and is interested in the Gophers, according to a source familiar with Islanders’ athletics. White, 6-7, might play small forward in college basketball. He’s ranked as the 32nd best prep player in the 2009 national class by rivals.com.
Gopher sophomore Eric Decker is the leading receiver in the Big Ten Conference through seven games with 49 receptions and 604 yards. “He’s an extremely prideful young man,” Gopher coach Tim Brewster said recently. “He’s very precise in how he runs routes. He’s physical as a blocker. He just does all the little things well and he’s the leading receiver in the Big Ten. Erik Decker is a heck of a football player and he fits in this system very well because we can motion him, we move him, he can line up inside, outside. …He’s a very valuable young guy.”
Tom Swain, whose career accomplishments include a period as Gopher ticket manager, said that except for one year (1945) his family has had Minnesota football season tickets each season since 1923.
The Gopher hockey team, ranked No. 3 in the country in two different polls, plays Colorado College tonight and tomorrow night in road games. These are the opening WCHA games for both teams and the only series between the schools this season. Gophers’ junior goaltender Jeff Frazee established a new career high with 44 saves in Minnesota’s 4-3 win over Michigan on Saturday. He made 35 saves in the final two periods and surpassed his previous career best of 41 saves set last season against Denver. Frazee ranked second in the country in winning percentage last year with a 14-3-1 record and has a 22-6-3 record for his career.
Concordia-St. Paul’s senior quarterback Kole Goodchild was named the D2Football.com National Co-Offensive Player of the Week following his record setting performance in a 46-41 victory over MSU Moorhead last Saturday. He was also one of three national offensive players of the week honored by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. Goodchild completed 31-46 for 433 yards and five touchdowns (receptions of 11, 12, 18, 50 and 39 yards). He set individual school records in completions, yards and touchdowns while helping the team set new records for first downs (32) and team passing yards (471). Wide receiver Calvin Simon set a school record of four touchdown receptions and career-highs in catches (nine) and yards (198). Goodchild and Simon received NSIC Offensive Player of the Week honors for their performances.