94 University of Minnesota
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1~~~~94 University of Minnesota <[fll~~n GOpher Hockey Prospectus UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA QUICK FACTS GENERAL Founded: 1851 Enrollment: 39,000 NCAA AmUation: NCAA DiviSion I Conference: Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) School Colors: Maroon and Gold Nkkname: Golden Gophers Arena: Mariucci Arena (9,130) Rink Size: Olympic (100 x 200 feet) University President: Nils Hasselmo Director of Athletics: Dr. McKinley Boston Faculty Representative: Dean Robert Stein HOCKEY Head Coach: Doug Woog (Minnesota '67/career record 250-97-19/8 years) Assistant Coaches: Bill Butters (Minnesota '74), Mark Mazzoleni (Michigan State '80) Hockey Athletic Trainer: Bob Broxterman Equipment Supervisor: Harry Broadfoot Manager: Tom Thurston Hockey Secretary: Patti Babcock AU--American CtuUIUloJe Chris McAlpine . Hockey Omce: 612-625-2886 Mariucci Arena Manager: Scott Ellison 1993-94 TENTATIVE HOCKEY SCHEDULE Ellison's Number: 612-625-8860 Hockey Promotions Assistant: Nancy Hagenson October 15 ··.·. HAll.OFPAMEGAME Hagenson's Number: 612-625-4559 ••· ]V./Mkhigm Tech) October 22·23 .·.·.·. •·•·•·• ltcoiOndo<:onege October'l:l ·u.s Oiyrrq:G;Team (Target Center) TEAM October29 at St. Cloud SJate 1992-93 Overall Record: 22-12-8 October30 ST. C.OUD STATE November 5-6 at Northern Midrigan 1992-93 WCHA Record: 16-9-7 (2nd/WCHA Tournament Champions) November 12~13 at Mimesota·Duluth Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 17/6 November 19-20 DENVBR Key Returnees: Chris McAlpine, Jeff Nielsen, Justin McHugh, Brian Bonin November 26-27 WCJW<X:HA Cltal~nge (Micl&., Micll. St.) Key Losses: Travis Richards, Tom Newman, John Brill, Craig Johnson, Darby December 11·12 NORTII DAKOTA Hendrickson December 17-18 at Alasb·Anchorage Top Newcomers: Nick Checco, Dan Hendrickson, Brent Godbout, John December 31· MARJUCCI CLASSIC Hillman, Brett Abrahamson and Brian LaFleur. January 2 (Maine, Lake Sup. St., Cornell) January 8-9 WISCONSIN (1,9 game played at Target Center) SPORTS INFORMATION January 14-15 MICHIGAN TECH Interim Director: Marc Ryan January 21-22 at Denver Football SID: Bob Peterson January 28-29 NORTIIERN MICIDGAN Assistant Directors: Bill Crumley (Hockey SID), Carlos McGee February 4-5 MINNESOTA-DULUTH February 11-12 at North Dakota Crumley's Home Number: 612-425-5886 February 18-19 AlASKA-ANCHORAGE omce Number: 612-625-4090 "'-" February 25-26 at Wisconsin Omce FAX Number: 612-625..()359 Man:h4 ST. C.OUDSTATE Address: 208 Bierman Building, 516 15th Ave. SE, Minneapolis, Minn. 55455 MardiS at St. Cloud Slllte 8115193 Mariuccl Arena Press Box: 612-626-0844 -·-·---·----··.. ----------·---·--·-·-------------' MINNESOTA HOCKEY 1993-94 OUTLOOK new age has dawned in Golden Gopher hockey and Athe excitement and anticipation that fans and players have about. moving into the New Mariucci Arena has been growing daily. The new facility opens August 21 with the Alumni Legends Game. The 1993-94 edition of Minnesota's Pride on Ice will play their first game vs. Michigan Tech in the U.S. Hall of Fame exhibition same. followed two weeks later by the regular season home opener vs. St Cloud State. The team that Doug Woog will put on the ice in '93-94 will mirror the new $21 million facility in many ways. It will be a very young team, but loaded with sparkling new talents. These are statanents that has been echoed often in recent years. The Maroon and Gold has not returned more than five seniors since the 1 91 season when seven relllmed. This year, there are five returning seniors and just five juniors. The other 18 rostered players are sophomores and freshmen with just seven lettermen in AU-American tfJIIIdU.rote McAlpine year. that group. In all, the Golden Gophers year. Dan Trebil (2-11·13) headlines that group. The stand -out return 17letterwinners from a year ago. performer made a lasting impression on WCHA coaches with his The early departures of Craig Johnson and Darby Hendrickson to steady defensive play and pinpoint passing last year. He is coming the U.S. Olympic Team have robbed the team of two of its top off a solid performance at the U.S. Olympic Festival. Joining Trebil returning veterans. In addition, the missed presence of outgoing are fellow sophomores, Charlie Wasley (2-5-7), Mike McAlpine seniors Travis Richards, John Brill and Tom Newman will leave (Chris's cousin/0-3-3) and Greg Zwakman (0-1-1). All three of these some holes to flll. players played regularly last year. Zwakman is a big, strong, "We'll be a young team, but I really like the makeup of this physical defenseman who challenges opposing players to stop him group," said Head Coach Doug Woo g. "Our from bringing the puck out of the defensive zone. defense looh solid, we've got some talented The ease with which he adapted to the speed of goalies ba· ·d there is some outstanding "Chris is one of the tl)e WCHA last year was a pleasant surprise. forwards c roster. The challenge will be best all-around Wasley and Mike McAlpine split time much of getting the ) players to compete at the level last year, and each brings some different they are capau1.: of. If we do that, we will be defensemen that we attributes to the table. Wasley is a fluid skater right in the thick of things." who has good offensive skills and is very good The team lost many key players, but the have ever had at passer. McAlpine is a physical player, who is a cupboard however, is not bare. The team has a veteran of the USHL and has the size and strong nucleus of returning talent led by pre Minnesota," strength to clear the area in front of the net season All-American defenseman Chris Joining these veteran corps will be incoming McAlpine (14-9-23). The tough, high-scoring Asst. Coach freshmen Brett Abrahamson and Brian LaFleur. McAlpine combines strong defensive play in his Both of these players have the skills to challenge zone with a knock-out punch scoring ability Bill Butters for playing time and are a welcome addition to inside the opponents' blue line. the Golden Gopher defense. · Last year, McAlpine led the WCHA in goals scored by a The all-importantjob of goaltender will be a battle between a pair defenseman with 14, and if he equals that mark he will become the of talented underclassmen. Junior Jeff Callinan (10-6-5, 3.77) and top scoring defenseman in the school's history. sophomore Jeff Moen (0-3-1, 3.96) will come into camp with the job "Chris is one of the best all around defensemen that we have ever on the line. Both of these two young goalies are rated very high by had at Minnesota," said Assistant Coach Bill Butters. "His ability to USA Hockey and are ready to take over the goaltending duties. provide offense, while being such a dominant force in the defensive Callinan has a slight edge in games played, but Moen looked very zone, sets him apart from most of the others." good as a pure freshman when he was thrown into some big games. Joining McAlpine in the deiensive zone will be fellow senior Eric Both are verv agile athletes IUld intense competitors. Mearu; (2-6-8) ar..d four-seasoned sophomores who all lettered last OUTLOOK Up front, the Golden Gophers will return their serond leading scorel' from a year ago in All- r American candidate Jeff Nielsen. The speedy Grand ~apids, Minn., product tallied 21 goals and added 20 -. "--JSSists to rank 20th in the WCHA in scoring. He ranks in the top 10 in retmning scorers in the league. ~ An Olympic camp finalist, he. has tremendous speed ( and size and he will be a key fixtUJ'e in the Minnesota offense. ..·-._ Fellow senior Joe Dziedzic (11-14-25) and junior ~ Jed Fiebelkorn (8-5-13) are a pair of big wingers w~ came on strong 11 the end of the '92-93 season. ~ need to step forward and become goal scorers for the ~ team and establish a physical JX'eseDCe in the opponents' zone. Feeding them the puck will be centers Justin McHugh. Tony Bianchi, Steve Magnusson, Brian Bonin, Andy Brink and Bobby Dustin. McHugh (13-15-28) has demonstrated the ability to set up his wings with nice passing. while nOtching a few goals himself. He is a solid defensive player .., and it is hoped he will take his offensive skills to the ~ next level this year. _JA-- Bianchi (3-6-9), the only senior of the group, is a solid performer. One of the best on the team at winning face-offs, he needs to provide more offense .. · ..._.1.. ,•••• to finish his career in style. Bonin was the fifth- Jeff Nielsen is the top nturning sconr on the team with 21 goals and 20 assists in '93-94 leading scorer on the team last year and an All-WCHA Freshmen (1-0-1) add a physical dimension with their hard checking and fearless Team selection when he scored 10 goals and added 18 assists. A smart attitude and are the unsung workers in the lineup. There are six player who handles the puck very well and has great vision of the ice, freshman forwards who will battle for time in the lineup, including he wili be an important element on the Golden Gopher power play. redshirt freshmen Jim Hillman and Dan Woog. The newcomers arrive Brink joined the team aftea- the Christmas lreak last year and added with long resumes that will be tested immediately by the veterans. big spark to the offense. His skating and passing ability will make Nick Checco, Brent Godbout, Dan Hendrickson (Darby's brother) and .,_ him a natural for the John Hillman (Jim's brother) have all been big winners in their hockey ..,ll:llYIJnJ)ilc-sized sheet careers, and they all have the potential to be impact players for the Maroon and· Gold this year.