University of Minnesota Athletics
GOLDEN GOPHERS SIGN FOUR TOP RECRUITS TO HOCKEY TENDERS
11/14/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Gino Guyer is a 5'11", 190-pound forward from Greenway High School in Coleraine, Minn. Guyer was the Associated Press Minnesota Player of the Year after leading the state in scoring as a junior last season. An All-State selection, he was also named the 2001 Duluth News Tribune Player of the Year. In 27 games, Guyer collected 38 goals and 49 assists for 87 points as he helped lead Greenway to a third-place finish at the Minnesota State Class AA Tournament. He was named to the All-Tournament Team. Guyer was also a member of the 2000 USA Under-18 Select Team, as well as the 1999-2000 USA Under-17 Select Team. A standout tailback on the gridiron as well, he will compete in the State Class AAA Semifinals this Saturday at the Metrodome. Guyer carries a 3.9 grade-point-average and ranks second in his class at Greenway High School.
Chris Harrington, a 6'0", 180-pound defenseman from St. Cloud, Minn., is spending this season with the Omaha Lancers in the United States Hockey League (USHL). Elected team captain, he has tallied three goals and four assists through 14 games this season with the Lancers. Last season at Omaha, Harrington collected nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points in 60 games as the Lancers won the Junior "A" National Championship. He was selected to participate in the Four Nations Tourney in 2000, as well as the 2001 USA Hockey Prospects Tournament. Harrington carried a 3.2 grade-point-average while attending St. Cloud Apollo and is the son of current St. John's University Head Coach and 1980 U.S. Olympian John Harrington.
Andy Sertich, a 5'11", 164-pound forward from Greenway High School in Coleraine, Minn., joins teammate Gino Guyer in signing with the Golden Gophers. Sertich earned Duluth News Tribune All-Area First-Team honors last season after amassing 35 goals and 45 assists for 80 points in 28 games played. He was named to the All-Tournament Team as Greenway captured third-place at the Minnesota State Class AA Tournament. Sertich was a member of the 2000 USA Under-18 Select Team. An outstanding receiver on the football team, he has 34 catches for 750 yards and 17 touchdowns as Greenway has advanced to this weekend's State Class AAA Semifinals at the Metrodome. Sertich carries a 3.6 grade-point-average at Greenway High School.
Thomas Vanek, a 6'2", 205-pound forward from Graz, Austria, is in his third season with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League. Current Golden Gopher assistant coach Bob Motzko served as head coach and general manager during Vanek's first two years with the team. This season, Vanek leads the USHL in scoring with 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points in just 15 games. Vanek also leads the league in goals, power-play goals and game-winning goals. Last year with the Stampede, Vanek had 19 goals and 10 assists in 20 games, and was selected to participate in the 2001 USHL All-Star Game. He is currently attending O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, S.D.
"We are extremely pleased with the quality of student-athletes we are bringing into this program," said Golden Gopher Head Coach Don Lucia. "All four of these recruits have impressive credentials, not to mention, all are excellent students. These four individuals are all highly skilled and extremely competitive and will play with great work ethic and character every night. We expect all to make immediate contributions to the program next season."
