With nine freshmen and five sophomores on the roster, the University of Minnesota hockey team will learn as it plays but former Minnesota North Stars and Gopher coach Glen Sonmor bubbles with excitement when he talks about the 2006-2007 team.  He describes the Gophers as “exciting and fun every night,” a team deserving of its 11 game winning streak and speculation that it will play for the national championship.  “There’s no question this will be one of the teams you have to contend with,” Sonmor said.

Are there specific things fans can watch to see if the Gophers are progressing toward their full potential?  “That they continue to compete with the intensity they compete with now,” Sonmor said.  “That they can continue to show their depth with four lines, and it always comes down to the goal keeping.” 

Sonmor, who provides color commentary on Gopher games for WCCO Radio, is ecstatic about the “phenomenal freshman crop,” describing the class as talented and deep, the best in school history. That class, of course, is led by defenseman Erik Johnson, “the best 18-year-old player in the world,” according to Sonmor. 

How can Johnson improve?  “Just get used to doing everything quicker than he has done in the past,” Sonmor answered.  He agrees with near consensus discussion that Johnson will play only one season at Minnesota before joining the St. Louis Blues.  Still he sees an upside to playing one more season with the Gophers.  “I think it’s great (for development) if a player can be dominant for awhile,” he said.

Dave Mona wrote a segment regarding football nicknames for the WCCO Radio Gopher football pre-game show.  Mona was looking for a topic prior to the Indiana game and was reviewing the Hoosier media guide. He saw the name Bob Hoernschemeyer but it didn’t look familiar.  Then he remembered Bob was also known as Hunchy Hoernschemeyer. 

Mona wondered whatever happened to football nicknames.  How about the Lonesome End, the Seven Blocks of Granite, the Four Horsemen, Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside? 

Years ago, Mona recalled, football offered up Alan the Horse Ameche, Norm Dutch Van Brocklin, Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, Elroy Crazy Legs Hirsch, Howard Hopalong Cassady, Lou the Toe Groza, Joe the Jet Perry, Hugh the King McElhenny, Dick Night Train Lane, Elwell Doak Walker, Charlie Choo Choo Justice, Byron Whizzer White, Babe Parelli, Red the Galloping Ghost Grange and Floyd Breezy Reid.  From the Gophers came Bronko Nagurski, Leo the Lion Nomellini, Babe LeVoir, W.W. Pudge Heffelfinger, Pug Lund and two of my all–time favorites, Bob Snowshoe Schultz  and Smokey Joe Salem (Mona left  them off his list). 

Sports writers once drooled at the thought of hanging a nickname on a player.  If a writer didn’t come up with something, a relative or friend just might.  In the old days athletes and non-athletes, the famous and the ordinary, had nicknames.  Whether it’s political correctness, or lack of creativity, nicknames today are more unusual but the old timers will not be forgotten.

Tom Jurich, arguably the best athletic director in the country, played football at Northern Arizona when former Gopher quarterback and coach Joe Salem coached there.  Jurich, who became Louisville’s athletic director in 1997, has a contract through 2016.  He and Louisville were in the national spotlight last week when the No. 3 ranked Cardinals football team hosted Rutgers in probably the most prominent game in Big East Conference history.  Jurich hired Rick Pitino as basketball coach, Bobby Petrino as football coach, is talking about expanding the football stadium from 42,000 seats to over 63,000 and has been praised for his support of gender equity in the athletic department. 

It will be a special family and friends Thanksgiving weekend for the Larry Fitzgerald family.  Larry Sr. said when his son Larry Jr. comes to Minneapolis with his Arizona Cardinals teammates to play the Vikings on November 26 he expects 25 or more family and friends from Chicago to attend the game.  While his son grew up here and starred at Holy Angels, dad is from Chicago.  Larry Jr., a 2006 Pro Bowl selection after his second season in the NFL, is 23 years old, while rookie quarterback Matt Leinart is also 23.  “Matt’s a winner,” Larry Sr. said.  “He (Larry Jr.) is excited to grow up with him professionally and help change the (losing) culture of the Cardinals. “ 

Star Tribune writer Judd Zulgad, now on the Vikings beat, lived in Green Bay for two seasons (2003 and 2004) while covering the Packers for the Star Tribune.  The company paid for an apartment and Zulgad enjoyed the experience until the paper reassigned him to cover the Vikings.  “I got fat from all the beer and cheese,” Zulgad said. 

Center Pavol Demitra, goalie Manny Fernandez, right wing Marian Gaborik and center Brian Rolston have been named to the 2006-07 NHL all-star ballot. Players on the ballot were selected by the NHL’s hockey operations department. From November 15 through January 2 fans can vote for Eastern and Western Conference All-Star starters on-line at NHL.com. 

Vern Mikkelsen’s new book (“The Vern Mikkelsen Story,” Nodin Press) reports that the Detroit Gems franchise was purchased for $15,000.00 in 1947 and became the Minneapolis Lakers.  Mikkelsen, the power forward on four world championship teams in Minneapolis, turned down an offer to own 25% of the team from owner Bob Short. The offer was contingent on Mikkelsen relocating with the Lakers to Los Angeles.  Mikkelsen writes that over the years his wife Jean occasionally asked how much money that 25% would be worth.  According to Forbes.com, the franchise is valued at over $500 million but back in 1960 Mikkelsen didn’t think “basketball had much of a chance there” (southern California). 

Bethel’s Natalie Gartner, a junior defenseman, is the daughter of Mike Garnter who played 19 seasons in the NHL including one with the Minnesota North Stars.  Teammate Sandra Felten recently scored five goals in one game, a Division III record. 

Gold Country Stores is adding an eighth Goldy’s Locker Room location with the opening of a store in Rosedale Center on Friday, November 24.  Gold Country Vice President Troy Amundson said sales of Minnesota Wild and Gopher hockey products has been strong this fall.