Minnesota
Momentum
Success of the Wild, Gophers and Women Bulldogs
Energizes Start of Season
Could it get any better than the Gophers, after
more than two decades of coming up just inches short, winning back-to-back
national championships? Well how about the women Bulldog’s three-peating
as national champions? At home. In front of a near-sellout crowd. In overtime.
Now how could anything possibly top that? How about coming in for shore
lunch on opening of fishing weekend to watch the Wild on TV? That of course
could only mean one thing: NHL Playoffs were back.
It
all came back, all at once in a group of three, just like the superstitious
tell us it will. And the success of the Wild, ’Dog’s and Gophers
created a wave of excitement that rolled right through the summer and
full force into the training regiments of many of Minnesota’s youth
players. Those same kids who watched and wished that someday they would
be those players on the TV playing for it all.
"Watching all of the excitement made me work harder this summer to
be a better player," said little Johnny who was spending a sunny
summer afternoon training at Acceleration Minnesota. "All of those
players having the fun left a lasting impression on me. Hopefully someday
I can be there."
Minnesota has had plenty of success
developing players. According to recent statistics released by the American
Hockey Coaches Association, Minnesota lead the nation again last season
with 206 players on Division I rosters, 17 more than Massachusetts. The
State of Hockey also led the same category for women’s hockey with
117 players coming from Minnesota with Massachusetts again in second with
63.
Will all of this excitement translate into repeat success at the Xcel
Center, Mariucci, the DECC and rinks beyond? Here’s a snapshot of
key departures, arrivals and returnees for the Wild and defending champs:
Wild
Key Losses:
D Curtis Murphy
F Cliff Ronning
Key Returnees:
Marian Gaborik (30-35-65)
Pascal Dupuis (20-28-48)
Andrew Brunette (18-28-46)
Sergei Zholtok (16-26-42).
Key Additions:
• Center Marc Chouinard (3-4-7) while setting career-highs in games
played (70) and penalty minutes (40) with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
last season.
• Left wing Christoph Brandner The 2002-03 Player-of-the-Year in
the German Elite League helped lead the Krefeld Penguins to the playoff
championship. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound winger led the league in goals (28)
and finished 12th in points (28-17=45) during the regular season
• Left wing Mika Hannula netted 30 points (15-15=30) and 72 penalty
minutes (PIM) in 49 games for Malmo IF of the Swedish Elite League in
2002-2003.
• Left wing Chris Bala registered 24 points (6-18=24) in 51 games
with the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL) during
the 2002-03 campaign.
Gophers
Key Losses:
It was looking promising after the 2003 season as the defending champs
graduated only two seniors, Matt DeMarchi (8-9-17) and Nick Anthony (1-4-5).
The off-season decision by incoming senior Paul Martin (9-30-39) to sign
with the New Jersey Devils will require someone to fill some big shoes,
er, skates.
Key Returnees:
Sophomore Thomas Vanek (31-31-62)
Senior Troy Riddle (26-25-51)
Junior Keith Ballard (12-29-41)
Senior Matt Koalska (9-31-40)
Senior captin Grant Potulny (15-8-23 in 23 games).
Key Additions:
Danny Irmen, 6’0", 190-pound forward from Fargo, N.D. via the
Lincoln Stars.
Ryan Potulny, 6’0", 185-pound forward from Grand Forks, N.D.,
via the Lincoln Stars. Jake Taylor, 6’4", 210-pound defenseman
from Byron, Minn., via the Green Bay Gamblers. Mike Vannelli, 6’2",
190-pound defenseman from Mendota Heights, Minn., via the Sioux Falls
Stampede.
Women
Bulldogs
Key Losses:
Senior forwards Erika Holst (34-30-64)
Hanne Sikio (25-30-55)
Maria Rooth (19-35-54)
Senior goaltender Patricia Sautter (1.75/.917).
Key Returnees:
Senior forwards
Jenny Potter (31-57-88) and Caroline Ouellette (31-42-73)
Sophomore defeseman Krista McArthur (15-24-39)
Senior defenseman Tricia Guest (16-18-34).
Key Additions:
Forwards Allison Lehrke (Bloomington, Minn.)
Juliane Jubinville (Edmonton, ALTA)
Noemie Marin (Acton-Vale, QUE)
Defensemen Laura Stosky (Edmonton, ALTA)
Jill Sales (Edmonton, ALTA)
Goaltender Anna-Kaisa Piiroinen (Salo, Finland)
Top 10 National Attendance Leaders:
1 Wisconsin (WCHA) 228,612 20 11,430
2 North Dakota (WCHA) 256,591 23 11,156
3 Minnesota (WCHA) 240,670 24 10,027
4 Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) 174,594 21 8,314
5 Ohio State (CCHA) 142,249 19 7,486
6 Michigan (CCHA) 133,945 20 6,697
7 New Hampshire (HEA) 126,630 19 6,664
8 Colorado College (WCHA) 139,210 21 6,629
9 Michigan State (CCHA) 109,944 17 6,467
10 St. Cloud State (WCHA) 114,004 18 6,333