Author: David Shama

Frustration and criticism, two words associated with Gopher hockey this season, will either increase or lessen after this weekend’s games at Michigan Tech.  Coach Don Lucia’s team needs to win tonight and tomorrow evening to earn home ice in the WCHA playoffs that begin next weekend.

Like a spring thaw, the Gophers have the opportunity to bring some relief to their fans and themselves in a season that has been disappointing and unusual.  Last fall the 6-0-4 Gophers were ranked No. 1 in the country.  Last weekend at home they had to piece together a tie and win over UMD (tied for fifth place in the WCHA standings along with St. Cloud State and the Gophers) to put themselves in position for this weekend’s important series against last place Tech, 5-22-7 overall, 1-18-7 in the WCHA.

The Gophers, 14-11-7 overall and 11-10-5 in the WCHA, have struggled with goal scoring.   Six times in 14 games dating back to January 9 they have scored two goals or less, with a record of eight losses, four wins and two ties.

Goalie Alex Kangas, who had 51 consecutive starts, was replaced last Friday night against by Kent Patterson, his first college start.  Minnesota had a 2-2 tie in that game with Kangas back in goal for the Gophers’ 5-3 win over the Bulldogs on Saturday night.  A Gopher hockey source suggested to Sports Headliners before the UMD games that Kangas be replaced.

The source is close to the program which is slumping for a second consecutive season.  After winning the WCHA regular season and Final Five titles in 2007, the Gophers were 19-17-9 (9-12-7 in the WCHA) last season.   The source said “recruiting has fallen off” and the Gophers need more size and goal scoring even though Ryan Stoa and Jordan Schroeder are tied for the scoring lead in the WCHA, each with 33 points in league play.

Lucia, who won consecutive national titles for the Gophers in 2002 and 2003, has experienced a season he assuredly could have done without, struggling with both his team and health.  He’s been dealing with sarcoidosis, a disease characterized by inflammatory nodules with symptoms that can include lack of energy.  Facing fatigue and a failing team has made this a miserable winter.

Lucia has been the Gophers coach since 1999.  Athletic Director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners there have been a lot of factors impacting this season including injuries, goal tending and the coach’s illness.  “I think this is the most frustrating (season),” Maturi said.

Maturi also mentioned the program needs to “regroup.”  The opportunity starts tonight.

In a performance worthy of Bobby Jackson, the Gophers’ Lawrence Westbrook scored the team’s final 10 points during the last two minutes in a come from behind 51-46 win over Wisconsin on Wednesday night at Williams Arena.  Jackson, a small guard like Westbrook, routinely led his 1997 Big Ten championship team in scoring, and almost always in late game heroics.  Westbrook does it all much less frequently but on a team without an offensive leader and high scoring guard, he’s the best alternative. The Gophers need a win over Michigan at Williams Arena to continue a possible move toward the NCAA tournament and another 15 point game by Westbrook probably will be vital.

Among the attendees at Wednesday night’s game were Wisconsin fan and pro golfer Andy North, the Wolves’ Kevin Love and Cretin-Derham Hall junior offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson who could be a consensus prep All-American next fall.

The Gophers’ athletic department has mailed a post season ticket request form to men’s basketball season ticket holders.  The form includes request options for both the NCAA and NIT tournaments, and needs to be submitted by today.

Count the NBA among businesses concerned about the economy.  The empty seats seen in league arenas on TV games is startling.  Ric Bucher writing in ESPN The Magazine reports that because of declining team revenues the NBA is projecting a luxury-tax level of $69 million for next season, a decline from the current number of about $71 million.  That means franchises will have less to spend on player salaries and may find themselves over the tax.

The Wolves, who have been losing money in recent seasons, will try to hold on to customers and increase attendees, rather than raise ticket pricing.  To their credit the Wolves announced ticket pricing for next season that includes these highlights: The average lower-level season ticket is 11.4% cheaper next season and upper level tickets 44.3% less expensive.  Over 75% of the available season ticket plans are priced at $35 or under, including more than half of the packages in the lower level.  Over 4,700 upper-level tickets are priced at $5.  Lose your job after buying season tickets?  The Wolves will provide a refund.

Former KFAN producer and talk show host Darren “Doogie” Wolfson is working for the MLB Network.

In his book Wins, Losses and Lessons, former college football coach Lou Holtz lists Harvey Mackay, the Minneapolis businessman and New York Times best selling author, as one of his three best friends.

Ashley Ellis-Milan, who finished 14^th among Big Ten players in scoring average and second on the Gophers, has a reputation for being a role model to children.  Ellis-Milan, who averaged 11.8 points per game, has been involved with volunteer activities and wants to become an elementary school teacher.  She and her teammates play their opening Big Ten tournament game tonight in Indianapolis against Iowa.

The Gopher women finished fourth in attendance among conference teams for all games.  The Gophers averaged 5,833 while Purdue was the leader at 8,971. Michigan State was second at 6,024, followed by Wisconsin, 5,980.

Right wing Pierre-Marc Bouchard leads the Wild with 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in the last 28 games.  Bouchard also leads the Wild with 18 points in 17 games since the All-Star Break in late January.

The Wild, who will end a six-game road trip at Anaheim on Sunday, could win a second Jennings Trophy (fewest goals against in the NHL).  The Wild has allowed 151 goals in 63 games, second to Boston with 148 goals against in 65 games.  The Wild won the Jennings Trophy in 2007, allowing 184 goals, seven fewer than Detroit.

Bethel senior Tim Madson and Hamline senior Tony Thrasher are two of the 10 finalists for the Jostens Trophy honoring the most outstanding men’s and women’s Division III basketball players of the year, according to an announcement from the Rotary Club of Salem, Va. The award recognizes basketball ability, academic prowess and community service.

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