University of Minnesota Athletics
2001-2002 Golden Gopher Men's Hockey Outlook
10/2/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
| Senior Hobey Baker Candidate Jordan Leopold |
In just his third season at the helm, Head Coach Don Lucia has accumulated a mix of both young and old. With the return of an All-American, a three-year starter in goal and the WCHA's most productive freshman class, Minnesota looks for its first MacNaughton Cup since 1996-97.
The offseason also witnessed the arrival of another highly-regarded freshman class, Lucia's second full rookie class at Minnesota. That group hopes to duplicate the contributions made by last year's newcomers, which featured three WCHA All-Rookie selections.
While this year's freshmen will not be expected to score at the prolific rate of last year's rookies, Minnesota's lineup, especially the forwards, will have a decidedly younger feel.
"We relied a great deal on our freshmen last year and with a larger group coming in, my biggest concern is that we are going to be very young," Lucia said. "I don't think this incoming group will match last year's point total, because last year1s group was a little bit older. I'm confident that our veterans will guide the new players, similar to what happened last season."
Forwards
Replacing the point production of Erik Westrum (26-35--61) will be a difficult, yet not impossible task for the Golden Gophers. With all but three forwards returning from a team which finished second in the nation in scoring, there are many candidates capable of stepping up.
| Senior Captain John Pohl |
Junior Jeff Taffe (12-23--35), a 2000 first-round NHL Draft pick, looks to have a breakout season in 2001-02 and will be expected to compete for postseason WCHA honors. He showed his explosiveness last season as he had five games with three or more points.
"There is no question that we expect Jeff (Taffe) to step up this year," Lucia said. "He's been working very hard this offseason and I know he's excited to get started. With Jeff and a healthy John Pohl, I think we have a very good chance to be even more productive up front. We have better depth at forward this year, even though we will be younger."
Four rookies made impressive contributions last season and with a year of experience, great things are expected from the quartet. Grant Potulny (22-11--33) put together one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in recent memory. He led the nation in power-play goals (16) and consistently produced all season long. Troy Riddle (16-14--30) joined Potulny on the WCHA All-Rookie team and showed the potential to be one of the league's top offensive threats. Matt Koalska (10-14--24) had a quiet season in comparison to Potulny's and Riddle's offensive totals, but clearly established himself as one of the top freshmen in the league last year. Jon Waibel's contributions (1-7--8) may have been lost in the box
| Sophomore Jon Waibel |
Several upperclassmen will also play important roles with all of the youth in the lineup. Pat O'Leary (5-4--9) has been a regular on the ice for three years for the Maroon and Gold, and has appeared in 80 career games. Erik Wendell (5-2--7) was limited during the beginning part of the year due to injury, but is a valuable veteran with a strong work ethic. Junior Chad Roberg got his first taste of action last season and stepped in admirably when the team fell victim to injuries. Fellow junior Nick Anthony (5-12--17) is a talented player that increased his point total from his freshman season and will be looked upon to do the same in 2001-02.
A quartet of newcomers will also compete for playing time. Rated the top incoming freshman in college hockey by the Red Line Report, Barry Tallackson will be an imposing presence among the forwards. Jake Fleming from Omaha of the USHL, along with Eden Prairie (Minn.) High School teammates Mike Erickson and Garrett Smaagaard, will also look to contribute immediately.
"There will be some real battles for playing time this upcoming season," Lucia said. "I like the idea of players having to compete for ice time and that will be the case with the group of forwards we have coming in and the players we have coming back. We will miss the leadership of Erik, Aaron (Miskovich) and Stuart (Senden), but I feel we have a very good nucleus returning."
Defensemen
With the return of All-American Jordan Leopold (12-37--49), Minnesota will potentially have one of the nation1s top defensive units. Leopold not only led the nation in defenseman scoring, but was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Year. He will anchor a unit that has the potential to be one of the best in recent
| Sophomore Defenseman Paul Martin |
"Obviously when a player of Jordan's caliber returns for his senior season, expectations will be high," Lucia said. "I believe the group of Jordan, Matt, Paul and potentially Keith, is as talented a foursome as there is in the country. We also have a number of guys that will fight it out for the fifth and sixth spots. I'm pleased with the amount of quality depth that we will be able to work with this season." Among the players vying for increased playing time is a pair of seniors in Nick Angell and Mark Nenovich. Angell (3-5--8) is a big, strong blueliner and has been in the lineup for the majority of his three seasons at Minnesota. Nenovich saw his playing time decrease last season, but has played in 51 career games. Sophomore Joey Martin (0-2--2) appeared in 18 games during his rookie campaign, but split time between defense and forward. He is a physical presence on the ice and is expected to play a bigger role as he develops. The list of blueliners will also include newcomers Brett MacKinnon and Judd Stevens, both Wayzata, Minn., natives.
Goaltenders
The Golden Gophers will have the best of both worlds in goal this upcoming season. With a three-year starter in Adam Hauser returning, and the addition of two top freshman netminders, the goaltending should be a strength for the club.
| Senior Goaltender Adam Hauser |
For the first time in his career, Hauser will be pushed for playing time by a pair of rookie netminders. Travis Weber, a much-heralded recruit from the U.S. National Development Team, led the national team in goal with a 20-15-1 record with a 2.69 goals-against-average and .904 saves percentage. Included in Weber's wins was a 6-4 upset of nationally-ranked Michigan State. Justin Johnson led the Lincoln Stars of the USHL to the Clark Cup Finals and ranked second in the league with a 2.35 goals-against-average and an 18-3 record.
"Goaltending should be stronger than it was last year," Lucia said. "Adam will be pushed for playing time, get some nights off and I think that will benefit him. Going into the year, Adam is still our number one goaltender. I'd like to see him get two-thirds of the minutes and someone else to get the other third. I think that will keep Adam mentally and physically fresh throughout the season."
Special Teams
Once again, Minnesota's special teams should be among the best in the nation. With the return of the nation's top two power-play goal scorers in Potulny and Pohl, and the return of point man Leopold, the Golden Gopher power play will still be a threat. Last year, the power-play percentage stood at 29.5 percent in mid-February, but a late-season slump brought it down to 25.4, still second in the nation. The penalty-kill unit, which finished fifth in the nation, will remain strong with Minnesota's core of blueliners and strong skaters up front. The biggest obstacle will be replacing several key contributors, including Westrum and Miskovich.
"We set a team penalty kill record a year ago, but we lost three of our six forwards that could kill penalties," Lucia said. "That's an area that we will have to get some new people to step in. Our power-play should still be strong with Jordan and the other players returning. We will have a lot of skill in that area."
Schedule
The 2001-02 season opens on Fri., Oct. 5, with a rare non-conference matchup with North Dakota in the Hall of Fame Game at the new Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D. The home slate opens two weeks later, Oct. 19-20, as Minnesota hosts Bemidji State at Mariucci Arena. The Golden Gophers open WCHA play on Nov. 2-3, in Houghton, Mich.,
| Sophomore Forward Grant Potulny |
"I believe it will be a very demanding schedule," Lucia said. "From the Mariucci Classic to the College Hockey Showcase, the schedule features teams from all of the major conferences. Add to that a full slate of games against the toughest league in Division I hockey and we certainly will be challenged."
| Senior Hobey Baker Candidate Jordan Leopold |
In just his third season at the helm, Head Coach Don Lucia has accumulated a mix of both young and old. With the return of an All-American, a three-year starter in goal and the WCHA's most productive freshman class, Minnesota looks for its first MacNaughton Cup since 1996-97.
The offseason also witnessed the arrival of another highly-regarded freshman class, Lucia's second full rookie class at Minnesota. That group hopes to duplicate the contributions made by last year's newcomers, which featured three WCHA All-Rookie selections.
While this year's freshmen will not be expected to score at the prolific rate of last year's rookies, Minnesota's lineup, especially the forwards, will have a decidedly younger feel.
"We relied a great deal on our freshmen last year and with a larger group coming in, my biggest concern is that we are going to be very young," Lucia said. "I don't think this incoming group will match last year's point total, because last year1s group was a little bit older. I'm confident that our veterans will guide the new players, similar to what happened last season."
Forwards
Replacing the point production of Erik Westrum (26-35--61) will be a difficult, yet not impossible task for the Golden Gophers. With all but three forwards returning from a team which finished second in the nation in scoring, there are many candidates capable of stepping up.
| Senior Captain John Pohl |
Junior Jeff Taffe (12-23--35), a 2000 first-round NHL Draft pick, looks to have a breakout season in 2001-02 and will be expected to compete for postseason WCHA honors. He showed his explosiveness last season as he had five games with three or more points.
"There is no question that we expect Jeff (Taffe) to step up this year," Lucia said. "He's been working very hard this offseason and I know he's excited to get started. With Jeff and a healthy John Pohl, I think we have a very good chance to be even more productive up front. We have better depth at forward this year, even though we will be younger."
Four rookies made impressive contributions last season and with a year of experience, great things are expected from the quartet. Grant Potulny (22-11--33) put together one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in recent memory. He led the nation in power-play goals (16) and consistently produced all season long. Troy Riddle (16-14--30) joined Potulny on the WCHA All-Rookie team and showed the potential to be one of the league's top offensive threats. Matt Koalska (10-14--24) had a quiet season in comparison to Potulny's and Riddle's offensive totals, but clearly established himself as one of the top freshmen in the league last year. Jon Waibel's contributions (1-7--8) may have been lost in the box
| Sophomore Jon Waibel |
Several upperclassmen will also play important roles with all of the youth in the lineup. Pat O'Leary (5-4--9) has been a regular on the ice for three years for the Maroon and Gold, and has appeared in 80 career games. Erik Wendell (5-2--7) was limited during the beginning part of the year due to injury, but is a valuable veteran with a strong work ethic. Junior Chad Roberg got his first taste of action last season and stepped in admirably when the team fell victim to injuries. Fellow junior Nick Anthony (5-12--17) is a talented player that increased his point total from his freshman season and will be looked upon to do the same in 2001-02.
A quartet of newcomers will also compete for playing time. Rated the top incoming freshman in college hockey by the Red Line Report, Barry Tallackson will be an imposing presence among the forwards. Jake Fleming from Omaha of the USHL, along with Eden Prairie (Minn.) High School teammates Mike Erickson and Garrett Smaagaard, will also look to contribute immediately.
"There will be some real battles for playing time this upcoming season," Lucia said. "I like the idea of players having to compete for ice time and that will be the case with the group of forwards we have coming in and the players we have coming back. We will miss the leadership of Erik, Aaron (Miskovich) and Stuart (Senden), but I feel we have a very good nucleus returning."
Defensemen
With the return of All-American Jordan Leopold (12-37--49), Minnesota will potentially have one of the nation1s top defensive units. Leopold not only led the nation in defenseman scoring, but was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Year. He will anchor a unit that has the potential to be one of the best in recent
| Sophomore Defenseman Paul Martin |
"Obviously when a player of Jordan's caliber returns for his senior season, expectations will be high," Lucia said. "I believe the group of Jordan, Matt, Paul and potentially Keith, is as talented a foursome as there is in the country. We also have a number of guys that will fight it out for the fifth and sixth spots. I'm pleased with the amount of quality depth that we will be able to work with this season." Among the players vying for increased playing time is a pair of seniors in Nick Angell and Mark Nenovich. Angell (3-5--8) is a big, strong blueliner and has been in the lineup for the majority of his three seasons at Minnesota. Nenovich saw his playing time decrease last season, but has played in 51 career games. Sophomore Joey Martin (0-2--2) appeared in 18 games during his rookie campaign, but split time between defense and forward. He is a physical presence on the ice and is expected to play a bigger role as he develops. The list of blueliners will also include newcomers Brett MacKinnon and Judd Stevens, both Wayzata, Minn., natives.
Goaltenders
The Golden Gophers will have the best of both worlds in goal this upcoming season. With a three-year starter in Adam Hauser returning, and the addition of two top freshman netminders, the goaltending should be a strength for the club.
| Senior Goaltender Adam Hauser |
For the first time in his career, Hauser will be pushed for playing time by a pair of rookie netminders. Travis Weber, a much-heralded recruit from the U.S. National Development Team, led the national team in goal with a 20-15-1 record with a 2.69 goals-against-average and .904 saves percentage. Included in Weber's wins was a 6-4 upset of nationally-ranked Michigan State. Justin Johnson led the Lincoln Stars of the USHL to the Clark Cup Finals and ranked second in the league with a 2.35 goals-against-average and an 18-3 record.
"Goaltending should be stronger than it was last year," Lucia said. "Adam will be pushed for playing time, get some nights off and I think that will benefit him. Going into the year, Adam is still our number one goaltender. I'd like to see him get two-thirds of the minutes and someone else to get the other third. I think that will keep Adam mentally and physically fresh throughout the season."
Special Teams
Once again, Minnesota's special teams should be among the best in the nation. With the return of the nation's top two power-play goal scorers in Potulny and Pohl, and the return of point man Leopold, the Golden Gopher power play will still be a threat. Last year, the power-play percentage stood at 29.5 percent in mid-February, but a late-season slump brought it down to 25.4, still second in the nation. The penalty-kill unit, which finished fifth in the nation, will remain strong with Minnesota's core of blueliners and strong skaters up front. The biggest obstacle will be replacing several key contributors, including Westrum and Miskovich.
"We set a team penalty kill record a year ago, but we lost three of our six forwards that could kill penalties," Lucia said. "That's an area that we will have to get some new people to step in. Our power-play should still be strong with Jordan and the other players returning. We will have a lot of skill in that area."
Schedule
The 2001-02 season opens on Fri., Oct. 5, with a rare non-conference matchup with North Dakota in the Hall of Fame Game at the new Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D. The home slate opens two weeks later, Oct. 19-20, as Minnesota hosts Bemidji State at Mariucci Arena. The Golden Gophers open WCHA play on Nov. 2-3, in Houghton, Mich.,
| Sophomore Forward Grant Potulny |
"I believe it will be a very demanding schedule," Lucia said. "From the Mariucci Classic to the College Hockey Showcase, the schedule features teams from all of the major conferences. Add to that a full slate of games against the toughest league in Division I hockey and we certainly will be challenged."
