Vanek Tops CSS Rankings Among College Players

Minnesota forward Thomas Vanek, the Most Outstanding Player of this year’s Frozen Four, remains the top-ranked NCAA player by the Central Scouting Service, headed into this June’s NHL Entry Draft. Vanek is ranked third among North American skaters, as the top three was unchanged from the midseason rankings. No. 1 is Eric Stahl, a center … Read more

Felony Charges Against Minnesota Rioter

Authorities in Minneapolis filed felony charges against one man who was arrested during rioting Saturday night following Minnesota’s second straight national championship. The Associated Press reported that prosecutors charged Travis J. Hinck, 19, with a felony after he allegedly damaged a police booking van from the inside. Police said they took him into custody after … Read more

Youth Serves Up Victory for Minnesota

So that’s where Thomas Vanek was hiding. Minnesota’s freshman phenom was noticeably absent from the Minnesota Golden Gophers’ attack for most of their national semifinal game. He had an assist on their first goal, but didn’t have the room to make the kind of impact he did in the West Regional. Then No. 26 got … Read more

Minnesota’s Lucia Gets Contract Extension

Minnesota coach Don Lucia will earn one of the five highest salaries among college hockey coaches under a contract extension that carries through 2009, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported. Lucia, who coached the Gophers to the national title in 2002, will make a base salary of $150,000 this season and earn more each subsequent … Read more

Brodt’s Long, Strange Trip

In 1996, she won Minnesota’s first Ms. Hockey. It’s been a strange ride since, but Winny Brodt has earned many plaudits along the way.

Gophers’ Koalska Out Three Weeks

Minnesota center Matt Koalska is expected to be out three weeks after surgery to repair a hernia. The Gophers expect him to return for their Feb. 7-8 series at Colorado College. Koalska has been playing for the past few weeks with the hernia under the approval of team doctors, who recommended surgery soon. With Minnesota … Read more

Welch Dismissed by Gophers

Minnesota junior forward Dan Welch has been released from the team for academic reasons, the university announced Friday. Welch, who had previously missed a year and a half of collegiate playing time due to academic trouble, had played in all but one game with the Gophers this season. “He signed a contract with the university … Read more

Minnesota Unanimous Pick In Women’s Poll

With two wins over a ranked opponent, Minnesota captured all 15 first-place votes for the unanimous selection at the top of the USCHO.com Division I Women’s Poll. The Gophers defeated No. 5 St. Lawrence in two straight games, 5-2 on Friday and 7-2 on Saturday. The losses were the first of the year for the … Read more

UMN Tops Women’s Poll

After a thrilling weekend between top teams, Minnesota emerged with two wins and first-place in this week’s USCHO.com Division I Women’s Poll. With a 5-3 victory over No. 6 Brown and a 4-3 win over No. 2 Harvard, Minnesota ascended into the top spot. The Gophers earned 14 of 15 first-place votes. Harvard delivered an … Read more

Gophers Pursue Bulldogs in Women’s Poll

Minnesota-Duluth’s lead in this week’s USCHO.com Division I Women’s Poll slipped to just five points over No. 2 Minnesota, after the Bulldogs won and tied against No. 6 Wisconsin in a weekend set. Minnesota earned a sweep over Ohio State, and vaulted into first place in the WCHA standings. 10 of the 15 first-place votes … Read more

Potulny Injury More Severe Than Thought

Minnesota forward Grant Potulny, who scored the game-winning goal in the 2002 NCAA championship game, will miss up to four months after breaking his leg and tearing ligaments in his ankle. Potulny Potulny was injured in Saturday’s game against Ohio State, but the severity of the injury was not known until X-rays were taken Monday. … Read more

2002-03 Minnesota Season Preview

Last season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Minnesota. The Gophers had struggled the year before after winning a national championship, and Laura Halldorson’s inaugural recruiting class graduated at the end of the season. The Gophers returned just three seniors for the 2001-02 season and were woefully thin on defense as well as … Read more

Minnesota Claims Preseason No. 1

Minnesota, last year’s NCAA Champion, was selected first in the Preseason USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll with 22 of a possible 40 first-place votes. Minnesota will attempt to overcome the losses of seniors like Hobey Baker winner Jordan Leopold on defense and goaltender Adam Hauser, as well as underclassmen like Jeff Taffe, who left school … Read more