The AHL Calder Cup final is now set. The Philadelphia Phantoms finished off the Providence Bruins on Sunday, winning by a score of 4-1 to claim the Eastern Conference title and the Richard F. Canning trophy.  Edina's Ben Stafford was scoreless with an even rating. The Phantoms now meet the Chicago Wolves, who knocked off the Manitoba Moose to win the Western Conference Crown. The Calder Cup finals begin Thursday June 2nd.
 
Former Minnesota Wild prospect and UND standout Travis Roche is one of the top defenseman on the Chicago Wolves.

Officiating the Eastern Conference finals was Roseau's Aaron Lundbohm, a product of the USA Hockey/USHL development program for officials.  Lundbohm worked last year's Calder Cup finals.

Another Lundbohm, David, a rookie with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL, helped the team to victory Saturday night in Game 4 of the Kelly Cup Finals with two goals, the Blades won 6-3 after beating the Titans 5-4 in overtime Friday. He leads the playoffs with 11 goals and is tied for the lead in overall playoff scoring with 23 points (12 assists). 

Lundbohm appeared in a large photo on the front page of the USA Today sports section last week.  The photo accompanied a story about broken bats in baseball. During a spring training game for the Minnesota Twins earlier this year in Florida Lundbohm was caught by the photographer dodging a broken bat that flew into the stands.

Casey Hankinson is know as a perennial jokester and loves nothing more than a good gag. At a recent team dinner for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Hankinson asked what the dress code would be for the meeting. When the coach responded, 'anything goes', the former Gopher showed up in a women's one piece bathing suit, and nothing else. To top that, at a later dinner Hankinson showed up in a two piece women's bikini! 

The Kelly Cup playoffs were tied at two games each going into Monday's game. Lundbohm opened the scoring for the Blades.  FLorida took a 2 goal lead into the third period but the Titans surged back in the third, tallying 5 unanswered goals. It was BJ Abel who was the hero for the Titans, scoring the third goal, the game-winner and giving Trenton a 3-2 series edge in the playoffs.  Reggie Berg had two minor penalties for Florida.

Reggie Berg has 7 goals and 6 assists in 17 games for the Blades in the playoffs. Keith Anderson has 3 goals and 4 assists in 13 playoff games. Matt Hendricks is scoreless in the 4 playoff games he's played for Florida.

BJ Abel has 3 goals and 8 assists in 18 playoff games for the Titans.

The Muskegon Fury won their second consecutive Colonial Cup Championship after defeating the Fort Wayne Komets. Rookie Clay Wilson, from Sturgeon Lake, had two assists in the playoffs for the Fury.

Kevin Hartzell's Sioux Falls Stampede will be conducting tryouts for the USHL team Thursday and Friday at Ridder Arena. 85 players competing for 23 roster spots will be in attendance.

Monday marks the one year anniversary of the last NHL game played, The Tampa Bay Lightning's 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames in Game 7 of the 2004 Stanley Cup final.

According to the Canadian Press a research and development camp is being held in Toronto this week. Organized by the league to test new rule change concepts including larger nets and smaller goalie equipment participants will include overage juniors who are free agents plus a handful of college skaters. Players will conduct tests and play scrimmages and the league has invited General Managers to observe.

The NHL and NHLPA have met ony 16 times since commissioner Gary Bettman cancelled the season on Feb. 16. The two sides resume talks on Wednesday in Toronto.

The Iowa Stars, the new AHL farm team of the Dallas Stars, just announced season ticket prices. Package prices are $336, $504, $714 and $840. Season ticket holders receive a 20% savings over gate prices. More than 1300 people have reserved tickets to date according to a team release. The team will play in the new Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

With both the Philadelphia Phantoms and Trenton Titans vying for Champ-ionships this week, the future looks bright for their NHL parent Philadelphia Flyers. Minnesota's Paul Holmgren, Assistant General Manager of the Flyers, is primarily responsible for assembling the talent of both teams as he oversees the minor-league and scouting departments.
 
Quick Speculation

Look for John Hill, former Gopher assistant now head coach at Alaska-Anchorage, to return to Minnesota as an assistant should Bob Motzko leave to take a coaching position with St. Cloud State.

A recent story about 6'7" 240 pound defensive prospect Joe Finley from Edina is sure to spark renewed speculation on where he will play college hockey. Finley is accelerating his high school education and could graduate this year. Other big defensemen whose names will be tossed as Gopher prospects include Carl Sneep, Nick Canzanello, Tyson Dowzak and David Fisher. Sneep, Canzanello and Fisher can be seen this fall playing in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, Dowzak plays for Shattuck. Click here for the story on Finley.
 

Quick Quotes

"We came out flat in the first two periods. We have been in this situation before. We just had to get the puck deep and move our feet. We all knew what to do. Everybody stepped up, did their thing and got it done."

- BJ Abel on his Trenton Titans coming back from a three goal deficit to defeat the Florida Everblades in Game 5 of the Kelly Cup Finals.(Trenton Times)

"It gives proof that Holmgren and his staff are doing a good job and the (minor league) coaches are doing a good job." 

-Philadelphia Flyers GM Bobby Clarke on both the AHL and ECHL affiliates of the NHL team playing for championships (TrentonTimes).

Former Gopher and Hobey Baker winner Brian Bonin retired from professional hockey this season after playing a few games of a tryout contract with the AHL Worcester Ice Cats. He has now taken a position as a mortgage banker with Edina Realty in Maplewood and according to Bonin, he's 'loving the new challenge." Bonin will still be involved in hockey mostly with youth development.
 
The ECHL Kelly Cup Championships will pit Reggie Berg, David Lundbohm and Matt Hendricks and the Florida Everblades against BJ Abel and the Trenton Titans. Lundbohm has averaged 1.46 points per-game and leads the playoffs with nine goals and 19 points in 13 games. Hendricks was just activated from the IR after playing only the first two games of the playoffs. Playoffs begin Saturday.

Keith Ballard will not be playing in Utah next season. The Utah Grizzlies have been granted a suspension for the franchise next season by the Board of Governors. There is no official word on where the Phoenix Coyotes will place their prospects next season. There is a possibility that they could place some prospects in Houston to take the places of the Dallas prospects who had been assigned there this year. Dallas will have their own AHL affiliate in Des Moines next season. Utah is expected to announce an ECHL franchise will move into the E Center to replace the AHL team. The ECHL has more teams in the West.

Also placed on voluntary suspension were the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks franchise, where Casey Hankinson was captain last season. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks have signed a new affiliation agreement with the Portland Pirates for next season. 

The Minnesota Wild have not yet announced who their ECHL affiliate will be next season. Their previous affiliate, the Louisiana Ice Gators, have folded.

Casey Hankinson is know as a perennial jokester and loves nothing more than a good gag. At a recent team dinner for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Hankinson asked what the dress code would be for the meeting. When the coach responded, 'anything goes', the former Gopher showed up in a women's one piece bathing suit, and nothing else. To top that, at a later dinner Hankinson showed up in a two piece women's bikini! 

There is a chance that former Edison star and NCAA Champion goaltender with Boston University Derek Herlofsky could retire this year. Herlofsky has spent the last several years playing in Wales and Denmark. His contract with the Odense Bulldogs of the Danish League expired at the end of this season. Herlofsky may work with Robb Stauber and his goalie training programs.

Jeff Worlton has a team-high 36 PIMs for the Fort Wayne Komets in the Colonial Cup playoffs. Muskegon leads the Komets two games to one in the playoffs.

Former Gopher Scott Bell will be helping at the annual Model Camp in the Twin Cities. Bell was recently named head coach of Hamline University.

Former Wild prospect Cory Larose, a Calder Cup semifinalist in 2002 and 2004, leads the Chicago Wolves with six goals and 10 points in the playoffs, and scored five goals in the series against the Mighty Ducks. He will face the Manitoba Moose in the Conference Finals this week.

Former UND standout Lee Goren has been Manitoba’s top playoff scorer tying for the league lead with nine goals, including four goals in the last three games. Goren is a +10 in the playoffs.

The Red Line Report has the Golden Gophers recruiting class ranked 4th amongst NCAA Division I colleges. Michigan, Boston University and North Dakota were ranked ahead of Minnesota, respectively. The UMD Bulldogs' freshmen were ranked 5th by Red Line.

After a month hiatus, Quick Facts has returned!  Thanks for your patience!

Former Gopher Thomas Vanek's Rochester Americans swept their first round of the Calder Cup playoffs but Vanek suffered a groin injury in practice prior to the North Division final against the Manitoba Moose.  He returned in Game 3 of the series but has been knocked out of the lineup again with a likely concussion.  The Amerks are on the brink of elimination Friday with the Moose leading the series 3-1.  Former UND star Lee Goren is the leading scorer for the Moose in the playoffs.
 
Casey Hankinson, Captain of the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, has another chance to play hockey this season.  He and fellow former Gopher Chris McAlpine beat the Chicago Wolves Wednesday to avoid the sweep.  Chicago still leads the series 3-1. 

Edina native and former Yale standout Ben Stafford is helping the Philadelphia Phantoms in their intrastate battle against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  The Phantoms can clinch a berth to the Conference Final with a win on Friday.

Stafford was named the first recipient of the Unsung Hero Award by the Phan Club, the booster club for Philadelphia, this season.  He was also named the team's winner of the Man of the Year award for his community service.

Former Denver netminder Adam Berkhoel lost his uncle, a pilot, in a plane crash last year.  Now his cousin, Marine Corps Capt. Kelly Hinz has lost his life in a fighter-jet crash in Iraq.  Quick Facts expresses deepest sympathies to the Berkhoel and Hinz families.  Berkhoel has returned from Chicago for the memorial service in Minnesota Friday.

Craig Sarner will join Kevin Hartzel on the coaching staff for the USHL Sioux Falls Stampede.

Word is that Cade Fairchild, who will play for the National Development Team in Ann Arbor this year, will be a Gopher when he is allowed to commit.

Reggie Berg and David Lundbohm have helped the Florida Everblades to a 3-2 series lead against the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL.  Lundbohm leads postseason with 19 points and nine goals and is tied in plus-minus (+9). Berg's four game goal streak was stopped on Wednesday.

Everblades rookie forward Matt Hendricks is with the team in Alaska after being cleared by team doctors to play after suffering a deep thigh contusion in the first game of the playoffs. Whether Hendricks will play is expected to be a game-time decision.

BJ Abel is playing for the Trenton Titans of the ECHL in their Kelly Cup playoff battle.

Lakeville's Ryan Moren scored his first professional playoff point for the Alaska Anchorage Aces against the Trenton Titans Sunday.

Inver Grove Heights native Eric Rud, who worked with his alma mater Colorado College last season, is expected back in the Twin Cities in June.  He is not likely to return to the Tigers next season.

Ken Gernander now has another record to claim.  On April 26th Gernander skated in his 121st career Calder Cup Playoff game, surpassing Fred Glover for the all-time league lead in that category. He has 26 goals and 29 assists for 55 points in his 121 career AHL playoff games.

After playing two seasons in Norway former Gopher Nick Angell will play in Sweden next year with Bofors IK.

TJ Guidarelli has signed to play for EHC Munchen next season.  He played this year for SC Riesersee, also in Germany.

Derek Plante will not return to Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga next season.

The Muskegon Fury will meet the Fort Wayne Komets for the Colonial Cup Championship of the UHL.  Clay Wilson of Sturgeon Lake is a rookie with Muskegon.  Jeff Worlton from Rochester and Steve Rodberg of Twig play for the Komets.  Worlton had 372 PIMs in the regular season for Fort Wayne.

Chris Hartsburg, son of former North Star Craig Hartsburg, was named the Most Valuable Player for the Central Hockey League's Ray Miron President's Cup Championships.  Hartsburg had three goals and nine assists in the post season and was a key component in the strong defense that won the Colorado Eagles the league title over the Laredo Bucks. 

The US was knocked out of the World Championships Thursday when the Czech Republic won the game, which was tied 2-2 after overtime, in a shootout.  Brett Hauer set up both US goals, the first to Mike Modano, the second was a 3M goal, three Minnesotans had all the points;  Mark Parrish buried the pass from Zach Parise after Hauer set up the play.  Paul Martin and Jordan Leopold were scoreless in the tournament.  Matt Cullen was replaced in the lineup after suffering a knee injury in practices.  David Tanabe and Jason Blake, who had initially agreed to play, pulled out of the tournament prior to the start.  Richard Park was replaced by Kevyn Adams on the roster late in the tourney.


Quick Quotes

"He’ll do anything he can to help the hockey team. He’s played first line for us, he’s played fourth line, right wing, center — he’d probably play net if you asked him to. It really helps, from a coach’s perspective, when you have guys who can be utility guys like Ben has been for us all year.  He’s a quiet leader.  He’s the kind of guy they all gravitate to. He’s certainly a pleasure to have around and he’s part of the glue of our locker room”

- Phantoms coach John Stevens
on Ben Stafford (Phantomshockey.com)

Former Gophers accept coaching positions

Former Gopher Captain Kevin Hartzell has been named the new Head Coach and General Manager of the United States Hockey League Sioux Falls Stampede.  Hartzell brings a winning tradition and an incredible leadership track record to the Stampede.
 
Hartzell captained the Saint Paul Vulcans of the USHL to league and playoff championships under head coach Doug Woog from 1977-78.  He captained the University of Minnesota to the National Championship in 1979 under head coach Herb Brooks.  After playing briefly in the minor leagues Hartzell returned to the Vulcans as head coach leading the club to the Anderson Cup and Clark Cup Championships in 1988-89.
 
Hartzell has been vital in the development of the Upper Midwest High School Elite League and has served as coach of the Northwest team the last several seasons.  Most recently Hartzell coached the Minnesota team to the title in the Chicago Showcase.
 
He will be officially introduced at a press conference next Tuesday, May 2nd at 3:30 PM at the Sioux Falls Arena. Hartzell along with the Stampede staff will also be hosting a social gathering starting at 4:30 PM next Tuesday at the Arena for season ticket holders, housing families, sponsors and fans who would like to meet Kevin and his family.

Former Gopher Scott Bell has accepted the head coaching position at Hamline University in Saint Paul.  The Inver Grove Heights native played four seasons at the University of Minnesota.  He went on to a minor-league career that included stops with the Minnesota Moose, Columbus chill, Providence Bruins, Quad City Mallards and Missouri River Otters.  Bell served as an assistant coach in 1999-2000 with the Otters.  He was named Head Coach of the UHL Rockford Ice Hogs the following season.  After two seasons Bell returned home with his wife Jaci and son Ramsey to Minnesota. 
 
In Minnesota Bell has been an assistant coach at Saint Thomas University and at Augsburg College as well as Head Coach of Team Northwest for the Upper Midwest High School Elite League.  He has been working as a financial planner since returning to the Twin Cities from Rockford.
 
Bell takes the reigns of the Pipers from Chris Brown who stepped down last week to pursue other career opportunities.  Hamline is expected to have a strong team this season with a good recruiting class and returning veteran players.

Candidates to replace Bell and Hartzell with the Upper Midwest High School Elite League include Brad Willmar the former assistant coach at Saint Cloud who was released in January as well as former Gophers Joe Dzeidzic and Chris McAlpine.

Barry Tallackson agreed to terms with the New Jersey Devils' affiliate Albany River Rats on an Amateur Tryout Agreement Wednesday.  He will leave for New York on Monday and will play the Rats' final four games of the season Wednesday, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Albany has been eliminated from Calder Cup playoff contention.  Tallackson will join fellow Gopher Matt DeMarchi as well as former Sioux players David Hale and Zach Parise who are playing in Albany.  Tallackson was drafted in the second round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, 53rd overall.  Without an NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, however, he has signed an ATO with the River Rats.

Parise has missed several games after having his wisdom teeth removed. 

Congratulations to Joey Martin who scored his first professional goal on Friday night.  The goal would have been the game-winner had the Storm not given up a goal with a just over a minute left in the game. Ironically his former roomate Jake Riddle screened the goalie which allowed the Martin shot to go through, Martin thanked Troy's little brother for that. Carl Mallette nabbed the puck for Joey. The win allowed the Storm to make the playoffs, which gives the players a nice monetary bonus as well. 
Goaltender Adam Hauser was named ECHL Alumnus of the Month for March. 

Kelly Fairchild suffered a thigh muscle injury in the first game of the DEL semifinals for Berlin Eisbaren after scoring a goal.  He will not return to the playoffs this season.  Berlin, coached by Pierre Page, is tied with Ingolstadt at one game each in the series.

The Storm win also knocked the Rivermen out of the playoffs.  Riddle did have a goal for Peoria in the loss.  Next season the Rivermen will cease operations to allow the AHL to enter the market.  Peoria was the previous home to the St. Louis Blues' IHL affiliate Rivermen but they folded in 1996 and the ECHL entered the market the following year. 

There was a lot of worry on Saturday when Thomas Vanek, who has 35 goals for the Rochester Americans, slowly made his way to the bench in the second period where he collapsed.  He was taken to the dressing room but returned and finished the game.  Vanek was speared and was none too happy that it wasn't called.

Reed Larson, who just returned from a hockey trip in Russia, is on his way to another two-week playing tour, this time to Italy.

Sunday would have marked the final regular season game for the Minnesota Wild, the end of a home-and-home series against the Detroit Red Wings.
 
Troy Riddle remains out of the Worcester Ice Cats lineup with a back injury but is expected back for the final weekend of the regular season.  Jake Taylor is also out for the Wolf Pack but is expected back.  Wyatt Smith missed another weekend of games with a rib injury and Keith Ballard is still out for the Utah Grizzlies with a high ankle sprain.  Ryan Kraft of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers has begun rehabilitation on his ankle following surgery to repair a fracture.

Adam Berkhoel was returned to Gwinnett by the Chicago Wolves.

Beau Geisler was returned to the Reading Royals by the Manchester Monarchs.

Former Gopher Nick Checco, fondly known as Mr. March, is working in medical sales in the Twin Cities at the same firm as former Gopher/actor Nate Miller.  He still skates with the group of NHL players and former pros at Blake School weekly.

Berlin Eisbären, coached by Pierre Page, is returning to the DEL Finals after beating ERC Ingolstadt in four games.  Kelly Fairchild remains out of the Polar Bears' lineup with a thigh muscle injury.  Jamie Langenbrunner was knocked out with Ingolstadt and could be added to Team USA for the World Championships.  The Frankfurt Lions have forced Adler Mannheim to a deciding game 5 on Tuesday with each club earning two wins.

Brett Larson has signed with EC Bad Nauheim of the Bundesliga Div 2 in Germany next year.  He played with the Odense Bulldogs in Denmark the last two seasons.


Quick Quotes:

 “I cut into the middle and I got speared right in my stomach. (No penalty was called) like most of it today.”

- Thomas Vanek on Referee Jeff Smith's poor officiating on Saturday.(Democrat & Chronicle)

Reed Larson, who will be named a recipient of the Lester Patrick Award, just returned from two whirlwind weeks in Russia playing seven games in ten days with several Red Wings alumni including Igor Larionov.  He was told of the award in February but was sworn to secrecy.

Andy Hedlund of the Binghamton Senators and Ben Stafford of the Philadelphia Phantoms were named individual team winners of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year awards, given to one player from each AHL member team for his outstanding contributions to his local community and charitable organizations during the 2004-05 season. From the list of 28 finalists, representatives from American Specialty and the AHL will choose the winner of the 2004-05 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the late Dupre who died of Leukemia at age 24. Hedlund's mother is a special needs teacher and his sister is a social worker.  Stafford has won the award two times in the last three years for the Phantoms for his work with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. 

Former Fighting Sioux Lee Goren scored a hat trick for the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday.  Goren was also named the individual team winner of the AHL Man of the Year for the Moose.

Goaltender Adam Hauser was named ECHL Alumnus of the Month for March. 

Kelly Fairchild suffered a thigh muscle injury in the first game of the DEL semifinals for Berlin Eisbaren after scoring a goal.  He will not return to the playoffs this season.  Berlin, coached by Pierre Page, is tied with Ingolstadt at one game each in the series.

Derek Plante's Adler Mannheim is one game away from clinching a berth to the DEL Finals.  They are up two games to none in their semifinal series against Frankfurt.

Adam Berkhoel has been recalled to the Chicago Wolves.
 
Brian Gornick was recalled to the Syracuse Crunch.

Tom Reimann has been suspended by the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies.
 
Joe Motzko had two goals and an assist Wednesday evening as his Syracuse Crunch beat the Manitoba Moose 3-2.  Karl Goehring earned the win for the Crunch.

Minnesota players named to Team USA for the IIHF World Championships in Austria this spring include Paul Martin, Matt Cullen, Mark Parrish and Jordan Leopold.  Erik Westrum is likely to be named to fill one of the remaining three roster spots.  Mike Modano, the oldest player named to the team, and Richard Park will also play for the US who are looking to improve on their Bronze Medal performance of last season.

The AHL All Rookie team was announced today.  Named to the team were Thomas Vanek of the Rochester Americans, Brandon Bochenski of the Binghamton Senators,and Rene Bourque of the Norfolk Admirals, all former WCHA players. 

42% of the players participating in the Frozen Four NCAA Division 1 Hockey Championships hail from Minnesota.  Of the 107 players on the four teams 45, or 42%, came through the Minnesota hockey system.

North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol was the former captain of the Minnesota Moose.  Hakstol suffered a gruesome knee injury in Detroit against the Vipers that ended his career.  He first stepped behind the bench as a player coach following that injury, assisting Head Coach Frank Seratorre.  Hakstol later worked with Glen Sonmor and Mike Antonovich behind the Moose bench before moving onto the USHL and eventually returning to the University of North Dakota.


Quick Speculation:

Quick Facts predicts that former UND forward Brandon Bochenski of the Binghamton Senators will be named the winner of the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as the Rookie of the Year. 
 
Defenseman Travis Roche, who was not re-signed by the Minnesota Wild last year, is having an outstanding season with the Chicago Wolves and is a favorite for the Eddie Shore Award for Defenseman of the Year in the AHL.  He is among the league leaders in +/- with a +25 rating and is ranked as the third best defensman in the league in scoring with 12 goals and 38 assists in 71 games.


Quick Quotes:

 "It's a pretty cool thing.  A lot of guys help out around here. It's not like it's work. I enjoy it. At Christmas time, when you go to an orphanage and give away presents, everybody would enjoy doing that."

- Andy Hedlund on being named the Binghamton Senators Man of the Year. (Binghamton Press)


 "When the Phantoms go out into the community. Stafford is one player that everyone always asks for"

- Philadelphia Phantoms Head Coach John Stevens on Ben Stafford's community work. (Philadelphia Inquirer)


 "It's tough, we're in first place (with a commanding lead), but if you think that way, you're going to be in trouble and it showed in our last three games."

- Thomas Vanek on his Rochester Americans ending a three game skid to clinch the North Division title. (ROchester Democrat & Chronicle)


Special to Quick Facts:
 
Quick Facts would like to salute and thank all servicemen and women, especially Minnesota hockey fans, across the world for their service to our country and wishes them a safe return home.  What follows is a special message from Technical Sergeant Randy Smith of the 133rd Airlift Wing of the Minnesota Air Guard for the Minnesota Golden Gopher Men's Hockey Team.
 
We are proud to be a part of the Gopher Hockey Tradition in whatever form.

We are currently deployed to Ramstein AB, Germany.  We are a c-130 airlift unit stationed with the 133rd Airlift Wing, St. Paul, MN.  We support missions for Bosnia/Kosovo and the European theatre.

We would like to pass along a good luck to the Gopher Mens Hockey Team on their quest for a 6th National Title.  If we were home we would be gathered with the Gopher Hockey faithful in support of your run for a National Championship this year.

Though we can't be there we are looking, once again, to find a TV or Radio to hear the game.  We always bring a Gopher Flag and our hockey jerseys to proudly wear them on game days on our time off. We do our best to recognize the Gophers even though we are away from home.

So best of luck once again to Coach Lucia and all the players looking to add history to the best hockey tradition we know GOPHER HOCKEY.

Thanks,
Randy W. Schmidt, and all the Pilots and Mechanics from the deployed 133rd Airlift Wing

Frozen Four Gophers Coverage:
• Gophers vs. Cornell
• Gophers vs. Maine
• Gophers Seniors Last Run

Erik Westrum scored the game-winner in the shootout against Grand Rapids on Friday. He remains the leading goal scorer for the Grizzlies. Keith Ballard remains out with a high ankle sprain.

Matt Koalska is on a goal scoring tear toward the end of the season, he had another goal Saturday night, his 7th of the season, 5th in the last three weeks, in Bridgeport's 7-2 victory over Rene Bourque and the Norfolk Admirals.

Jake Taylor remains out of the Wolf Pack lineup with a minor injury.

Troy Riddle also sidelined for the Worcester Ice Cats, he's missed the last two games with a back injury. He missed games prior to that with tonsilitis.

Travis Richards is likely to miss the remainder of the season with his back injury, a disc herniation. He may investigate surgical options this summer if no relief is found through physical therapy and other treatment.

John Pohl, Jeff Taffe and Ryan Kraft all had their seasons ended by injury and subsequent surgery this year.

Wyatt Smith needs 9 points to match his career high of 55 points in the pros (2001-2002 with the Springfield Falcons). His Milwaukee Admirals have clinched a playoff spot.  Smith missed Saturday's game against Edmonton.
 
Andrew Canzanello was recalled to the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks where he is playing with Casey Hankinson and Chris McAlpine.

Adam Hauser earned yet another win for the Manchester Monarchs, his 18th of the season.  But according to a Monarchs' release Hauser almost blew the game with a third period miscue.  He attempted to clear the puck up the left boards but Spingfield Falcons' left wing Derek Bekar anticipated the play, stole the puck and deposited it into the vacated Monarchs net 1:02 into the third period evening the score at 2 goals each.  The Monarchs won the game in overtime, inching closer to clinching home ice for the Calder Cup playoffs.
 
Jamie Langenbrunner scored the first goal of the game Liga as his ERC Ingolstadt shocked Berlin Eisbären 5-3 in Game 1 of the DEL semifinal series.  Kelly Fairchild scored for Berlin in the loss.

Carolina Hurricanes' winger Erik Cole has been suspended 6 games by the German Elite League.  Cole, playing for Berlin, was assessed a six-game suspension.  Berlin head coach Pierre Pagé called it "the best bodycheck I've seen in 20 years", but the league regarded it as an attack to the head. Rekis was hospitalised with a major concussion. (prohockey.de)

The Frankfurt Lions knocked out Craig Johnson's 8th seeded Hamburg Freezers in the first round of the DEL playoffs.  Johnson, a USA hockey veteran, may get the nod for the World Championships in Austria this spring.

UMD Bulldog seniors Marco Peluso, Tim Hambly and Nick Anderson  all signed with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL.  All three are only signed through the end of the season, April 9th, as Wranglers have been eliminated from Kelly Cup contention.  Peluso has a goal and four assists in eight games, Anderson scored his first goal on Tuesday against Fresno, and Hambly, a defenseman, has two assists in eight games.

The Minnesota Wild is currently investigating possible exemptions for their smoking room in the 'Fishing Lodge' at Xcel Energy Center, in light of the new smoking ban that went into effect for Ramsey County this week.  The Fishing Lodge, located under the seats of the arena, is a bar for premium seat patrons of the Wild and features a glass-enclosed smoking room.  According to Wild officials they will know more next week about the possible exemption.

Joel Otto watched his alma mater Bemidji State take on Denver in the NCAA Regionals last weekend from his home in Calgary.  He became frustrated, however, when Fox Sports regional coverage switched to the Gopher vs. Maine game rather than showing the Beavers and Pioneers' overtime session.  He quickly made it to a computer to check the score to see that his club had lost. Otto, a former NHL standout who now lives in Calgary, maintains ties to the Beavers' program.  He put a call into head coach Tom Serratore prior to the weekend to wish them luck.  He will be back in Bemidji this summer for the Galen Nagle Memorial Golf Tournament, that honors the former Beavers goaltender, to be held this year on July 15th.  Otto is also a member of the Calgary Flames Alumni Association and will participate in their charity golf event on May 26th.

Joey Martin's Toledo Storm may not play next season.  The franchise is seeking approval from the ECHL's board of governors to suspend operations for 2005-06 after 14 seasons of operations citing a dwindling season-ticket base that now numbers approximately 750.

Matt Hendricks is having an outstanding rookie season, scoring 23 goals and 24 assists in 53 games with the Florida Everblades.

The most recently posted betting lines for the NCAA Frozen Four have Denver and Minnesota being deemed the underdogs. Las Vegas has
the odds of winning the Championship
posted as:
 
Colorado College 8/5
Denver 8/5
Minnesota 5/2
North Dakota 5/2


Quick Quotes

"They've played very well and they're a welcome addition for us. It's refreshing to coach these young guys. They're good kids and they're eager to learn. Nick Anderson is real strong on the puck and in the corners. Peluso's got some grit and some finesse, and Hambly's just a real heady defenseman."

- Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan on the trio of UMD Bulldogs who recently joined the team for the end of the season.  (ECHL)


 "They've been so close the last couple of years, to finally make it to the NCAA's is a big shot in the arm for the program.  They played really well.  In one game anything can happen.  They were missing their best player, Andy Murray, but they played well.  They definitely have something to be proud of."

- Joel Otto on his alma mater Bemidji State Beavers taking the Denver Pioneers to overtime in their first NCAA tournament appearance.