University of Minnesota Athletics
2003-04 Golden Gopher Men's Hockey Season Outlook
9/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
"Our sights are set on becoming the best team that we can possibly be when the end of the year rolls around," Head Coach Don Lucia said. "Our goal is to get to the NCAA Tournament and then take our swings at it like every other team. That's what we've done in the past and I don't think our charge will be any different this season. We're not going to change our routine or our thought process on what we're trying to do. We're going to worry about us and become the best hockey team this group is capable of becoming. Every time you lose some pieces of the puzzle, you have to start over. Just because we won it last year doesn't guarantee us anything this year."
Any player or coach that has won a national championship will profess to the difficulty in reaching the top year after year. The path for the Golden Gophers is daunting, no doubt, but Minnesota's Pride on Ice stands in excellent position to remain atop the college hockey world. Minnesota returns 88% of its goal scoring and 85% of its point production from 2002-03, including 11 of the top 12 scorers from last season. In addition, with the exception of graduated senior Nick Anthony, Minnesota's forward corps returns intact, led by WCHA Rookie of the Year and nation's leading rookie scorer in Thomas Vanek. Add to all that one of the nation's best recruiting classes and the Maroon and Gold will certainly be on the short list of schools with the pieces in place for a run at the 2004 NCAA Championship.
Of course, challenges do exist for the Golden Gophers as they enter the 2003-04 campaign. Most notably, Minnesota bids adieu to three defensive stalwarts in blueliners Paul Martin and Matt DeMarchi, and goaltender Travis Weber. Martin, a second-team All-American last season, decided to forego his senior year of eligibility for the NHL, joining defensive linemate DeMarchi on the New Jersey Devils. Weber, meanwhile, withdrew from school and the Golden Gopher hockey program for personal reasons. The losses will clearly affect the defensive side of the ice, but Lucia is confident in the abilities of his current players to fill in the necessary roles.
"What we lost were our go-to defensemen," Lucia said. "Martin and DeMarchi were the ones that were out there in the last minute of the game, trying to protect a one-goal lead. Now we need to have some of the other players emerge into those roles - noticeably Keith Ballard and Chris Harrington. Then we have to have other players move up into their roles. In goal, we didn't anticipate losing Travis. That was a big loss at the end of the summer, but now Justin Johnson or Kellen Briggs is going to have to step forward and show that they can be the No. 1 goaltender at this level. I think the play of our defensemen and our goaltending will play a huge role in the type of year that we'll have."
From top to bottom, the Golden Gopher roster is stacked with leadership, talent and experience. Now the consensus preseason No. 1 team in the nation looks to live up to the lofty expectations and ensure that the NCAA crown stays in Minnesota.
FORWARDS
No question the strength of the 2003-04 Golden Gophers will reside up front with the forwards. All 12 that played in the 2002 Frozen Four return this season with the addition of prized recruits Ryan Potulny and Danny Irmen. The group will be led by four seniors who have combined to play in a total of 488 games.
"At forward, we should be deeper, more talented and more experienced than what we were going into last year," Lucia said. "What's going to be important is how the players accept the roles they're given. I do believe we're going to have four very balanced lines that are capable of scoring. We're going to be a team that can roll with four lines and not worry about what line is on the ice against anybody else."
Senior captain Grant Potulny (15-8--23) returned from an injury in late January and the team responded with a 16-2-4 finish. He had 15-8--23 in the last 22 games and his outstanding leadership is evidenced by him becoming just the second three-time team captain in school history. Assistant captain Troy Riddle (26-26--52) had a career-high 52 points last season, including 26 goals, as he was named third-team All-WCHA. Matt Koalska (9-31--40) centered the first line last year for Minnesota and responded with a career-high in points. After returning from hernia surgery, he finished with a point in 13 of his last 16 games. With his effort each and every night, Jon Waibel (9-8--17) has been a fan favorite throughout his career and will look to build on last season's career-high nine goals.
"The senior class is a special group for me because they are the first class that I recruited here at Minnesota," Lucia said. "They were the ones that believed in what we were going to try to do here. They've played a very integral part of our success since their freshman year. They basically walked in and have been regulars since day one. All four have played very significant roles in our success of the last three years."
Sophomore Thomas Vanek surprised many by returning for his sophomore season. Drafted fifth overall by the Buffalo Sabres this past summer, he put together one of the greatest freshman seasons in school history. Vanek has the second-highest point total of any returning player in the country and will attempt to become the first sophomore All-American at Minnesota since Mike Crowley in 1995-96. He finished just one goal shy of John Mayasich's freshman school record of 32.
"Probably a lot of people felt that Thomas would leave before Paul Martin, but I think it was in Thomas' best interests to come back this year," Lucia said. "He needs to continue to mature as a player and as a person. This will be an important year for Thomas to continue in his development in becoming an all-around player."
Expectations were high for junior Barry Tallackson (9-15--24) entering last season. But with injuries and a stint with the U.S. Junior Team, he had just three assists in his first 17 games. Tallackson broke out in the second half and was key to the title run with 9-12--21 in his last 15 games. Jake Fleming (10-9--19) increased his goal total by seven during his sophomore season and had a knack for scoring big goals for Minnesota. Jerrid Reinholz (3-9--12) was a solid contributor at center for the Golden Gophers after transferring from UMD, while Garrett Smaagaard (2-7--9) had five of his nine points in the postseason. Brett MacKinnon (1-3--4) has appeared in 36 career games in his first two seasons.
"I think Barry is the one guy that has the chance to really emerge and be a front-line player," Lucia said. "He had a difficult season with injuries and didn't seem to get going until mid-February. We need him to get out of the gate much more quickly than he did a year ago. Jake has been a great penalty killer for us. His play on the line with Smaagaard and Waibel energized our team and was an integral part in us winning the national title. Smaagaard finally looked like the player we thought he would be at the end of last year. We need him to step forward this season. We have a lot of depth up front. It's going to be a battle for playing time night in and night out."
The talent in the sophomore class does not end with Vanek as Gino Guyer (13-16--29), Tyler Hirsch (9-15--24) and Andy Sertich (5-9--14) each return for their second year after posting double-digit point totals in 2002-03. An offensive threat throughout the season, Guyer had a career game in the NCAA Regional game against Mercyhurst, tying the school and NCAA Tournament record with five assists. Hirsch played in all but two games on the season, finishing third on the team with seven power-play goals, while Sertich saw action in 44 games as a rookie, finding a home at Mariucci with 10 of his 14 points coming on the home ice.
"There's a lot of skill in our sophomore class," Lucia said. "All four of them have tremendous stick skills. I think all four are going to develop into front-line players. They're all guys that can play on our power play. We think Andy and Tyler can especially step up the offensive part of their game this year."
Two freshmen, Ryan Potulny and Danny Irmen, join the Golden Gophers in 2003-04 with impeccable credentials and outstanding talent. Potulny, younger brother of senior captain Grant Potulny, will don the Maroon and Gold as one of the top recruits in the nation at forward. The 2003 USHL Player of the Year, Potulny had 135 points in 114 career games with the Lincoln Stars. Irmen, a teammate of Potulny in high school and with the Stars, was a second-team All-USHL selection in 2002-03, finishing second in the league behind Potulny with 1.22 points per game. Both highly-regarded forwards are expected to give the already-potent Minnesota offense some additional firepower this season and beyond.
"They've both proven themselves in the USHL," Lucia said. "One, Ryan, was the MVP during the regular season and the other, Danny, was the MVP of the playoffs. That shows what kind of players they are. Ryan is a great playmaker and passer. Danny is more of a foot soldier who's going to go in the corners and knock some people around. They both have a good work ethic and are going to be very, very good players here."
DEFENSE
The battle for playing time at the blueline became more competitive in early August when second-team All-American Paul Martin opted to sign with the New Jersey Devils. With Martin (9-30--39) and departed senior Matt DeMarchi (3-9--12) out of the picture, junior assistant captain Keith Ballard (12-29--41) will be asked to anchor the defensive corps. Ballard, a second-team All-WCHA selection, established himself as one of the premier blueliners in the country in the second half of last season. He overcame an inconsistent start to finish third on the team in scoring with 12-29--41. A first-round NHL pick in 2002, Ballard already has 22 career goals.
"Keith has to emerge as the No. 1 guy on defense," Lucia said. "He's played behind Jordan Leopold and Paul Martin - now it's Keith's turn to carry the torch. He has to be an All-American which I think he's capable of doing. He'll quarterback our power play and probably have the most minutes on our team back on the blue line."
Joining Ballard as returnees are senior Joey Martin (3-4--7), junior Judd Stevens (3-7--10) and sophomores Chris Harrington, P.J. Atherton and Peter Kennedy. A physical presence, Martin appeared in a career-high 24 games last season, including his first action in the postseason, and found his scoring touch with the first three goals of his career. Stevens has appeared in 85 of a possible 89 career games in his two seasons, a total which ranks second only to Ballard's 86 games among returning defensemen.
Following in the footsteps of Jordan Leopold, Paul Martin and Ballard, Harrington earned WCHA all-rookie honors last season and will look to make an even greater impact this season. A talented performer at both ends of the ice, he finished with four goals and 18 points. He had one game-winner and one shorthanded tally in his first season. Atherton (2-2--4) played in 20 games in 2002-03 and will look to have a bigger contribution in his sophomore campaign. Kennedy (0-2--2) appeared in 10 contests, but has added 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason and will be in the mix for playing time.
Joining the returnees is a pair of newcomers in Jake Taylor and Mike Vannelli. Taylor, a two-time USHL All-Star Game selection with the Green Bay Gamblers, brings a physical presence to the Minnesota lineup with his 6-4, 225-pound frame. Vannelli, one of the nation's top recruits at defenseman, was a first-team All-USHL pick with the Sioux Falls Stampede, tying for the league lead in defenseman scoring with 13-34--47 in 60 career games.
"Stevens is a two-year regular who has played in two national title games, Harrington was outstanding at the end of last year and Joey Martin worked himself into the lineup at the end of last season," Lucia commented. "Atherton and Kennedy have worked hard in the weight room. Peter has put on 15 pounds - and that was the one thing he was lacking last year. I think a key is going to be the play of our two incoming freshmen in Vannelli and Taylor - how quickly they can get used to the college game. How well our blueliners play this year is going be a big determining factor on how good a season we have."
GOALTENDERS
Unlike last season when Minnesota had to replace a four-year starter, the Golden Gophers return an experienced upperclassman in junior Justin Johnson (10-2-2, 2.90, .885). Freshman Kellen Briggs comes to Minnesota as a capable netminder who will give Johnson competition for playing time. The Maroon and Gold was dealt a blow when Travis Weber left the team, but the coaching staff is confident Johnson and Briggs can shoulder the goaltending load for the Golden Gophers in 2003-04.
After platooning with Weber to start the season and then during the month of February, Johnson was in goal for the turning point to Minnesota's season. Following a 6-2 loss at Colorado College on Feb. 7, Johnson was named the starter and made 18 saves as the Golden Gophers rebounded for a 3-2 win. After Weber was injured in the first round of the WCHA Playoffs, Johnson stopped 50 of 54 shots in two games at the WCHA Final Five as Minnesota claimed its first league playoff title in seven years. He made 36 saves in the title game as he picked up his second-straight win against the top-ranked Tigers.
"Justin needs to now become consistent," Lucia said. "We won the Final Five with him. He's won games at North Dakota. He's won games at Colorado College. He's won big games at home. But he has not been the No. 1 goaltender here. Now we have to find out if he's ready to accept that responsibility and have that consistency. He'll be given the first opportunity to do that. "
Briggs, a three-year USHL veteran with the Sioux Falls Stampede, joins the Golden Gophers with solid credentials. The holder of 11 season, playoff and career goaltending records with the Stampede, Briggs compiled a 54-45-5 record and a .901 saves percentage during his time in Sioux Falls. With the loss of Weber, Briggs will compete for starts with Johnson and give Minnesota quality depth in the nets in 2003-04.
"A lot of coaches in the USHL felt that Kellen was the top goalie in the league. He saw 500 more shots than anybody else in the USHL last year. He certainly has the experience and has played in a lot of tough venues coming out of that league. We'll be working him in as the year progresses and as ice-time is warranted. Whether we play the older guy to begin and work the freshman in, or rotate the two as we did last year and let one guy emerge remains to be seen. One of them has to emerge and become that go-to guy for us."
SCHEDULE
Minnesota will face its usual challenging schedule in 2003-04. In a rematch of the 2002 NCAA Championship game, the Golden Gophers will open against Maine in the Maverick Stampede in Omaha, Neb. Wisconsin and host Nebraska-Omaha will also participate. Minnesota will take part in the 11th annual College Hockey Showcase as it travels east to face Michigan State and Michigan. The 12th annual Dodge Holiday Classic will feature 2003 NCAA finalist New Hampshire, Princeton and Miami (Ohio). The Golden Gophers will open the second half at Mariucci Arena against Boston University and will resume its rivalry with Bemidji State in a two-game home series in February. Minnesota will not face Colorado College or Minnesota State, Mankato at home, and St. Cloud State and Michigan Tech on the road.
"We probably are going to have one of the toughest schedules in the country - not only within our own league with how tough the WCHA is, but also with our non-conference schedule," Lucia said. "The strength of schedule component will be very strong for us this year. It's one of those things that helps get us ready for the end of the season."
OVERALL
With two consecutive NCAA titles under their belt, the Golden Gophers know they'll play the 2003-04 season with targets on their backs. Nevertheless, with a dangerous forward lineup, a solid defensive corps and a wealth of experience to boot, Minnesota is poised for a run at a third straight championship. Lucia has returned the Maroon and Gold to the top of the college hockey world and he looks to ensure that the road to the NCAA Championship continues to go through Minnesota.
"We're not going to let the players back-slide," Lucia said. "That's our responsibility as coaches to keep pushing the players. I think we have tremendous leadership. I think the guys know what's at stake. We have to remember it's a long season - there are ups and downs. There's periods of a six-month season where you're not playing all that great. We have to try to not get too high or too low. We'll try to continue to improve during the course of the season, so we're playing our best hockey at the end of the year." High expectations have always surrounded the University of Minnesota hockey program, but after becoming the first team to repeat as NCAA Champions in 31 years, those expectations may be raised to a whole new level in 2003-04. With the return of all but three regulars from last year's title team, the Golden Gophers have their sights set on becoming just the second team to ever win three NCAA Championships in a row.
"Our sights are set on becoming the best team that we can possibly be when the end of the year rolls around," Head Coach Don Lucia said. "Our goal is to get to the NCAA Tournament and then take our swings at it like every other team. That's what we've done in the past and I don't think our charge will be any different this season. We're not going to change our routine or our thought process on what we're trying to do. We're going to worry about us and become the best hockey team this group is capable of becoming. Every time you lose some pieces of the puzzle, you have to start over. Just because we won it last year doesn't guarantee us anything this year."
Any player or coach that has won a national championship will profess to the difficulty in reaching the top year after year. The path for the Golden Gophers is daunting, no doubt, but Minnesota's Pride on Ice stands in excellent position to remain atop the college hockey world. Minnesota returns 88% of its goal scoring and 85% of its point production from 2002-03, including 11 of the top 12 scorers from last season. In addition, with the exception of graduated senior Nick Anthony, Minnesota's forward corps returns intact, led by WCHA Rookie of the Year and nation's leading rookie scorer in Thomas Vanek. Add to all that one of the nation's best recruiting classes and the Maroon and Gold will certainly be on the short list of schools with the pieces in place for a run at the 2004 NCAA Championship.
Of course, challenges do exist for the Golden Gophers as they enter the 2003-04 campaign. Most notably, Minnesota bids adieu to three defensive stalwarts in blueliners Paul Martin and Matt DeMarchi, and goaltender Travis Weber. Martin, a second-team All-American last season, decided to forego his senior year of eligibility for the NHL, joining defensive linemate DeMarchi on the New Jersey Devils. Weber, meanwhile, withdrew from school and the Golden Gopher hockey program for personal reasons. The losses will clearly affect the defensive side of the ice, but Lucia is confident in the abilities of his current players to fill in the necessary roles.
"What we lost were our go-to defensemen," Lucia said. "Martin and DeMarchi were the ones that were out there in the last minute of the game, trying to protect a one-goal lead. Now we need to have some of the other players emerge into those roles - noticeably Keith Ballard and Chris Harrington. Then we have to have other players move up into their roles. In goal, we didn't anticipate losing Travis. That was a big loss at the end of the summer, but now Justin Johnson or Kellen Briggs is going to have to step forward and show that they can be the No. 1 goaltender at this level. I think the play of our defensemen and our goaltending will play a huge role in the type of year that we'll have."
From top to bottom, the Golden Gopher roster is stacked with leadership, talent and experience. Now the consensus preseason No. 1 team in the nation looks to live up to the lofty expectations and ensure that the NCAA crown stays in Minnesota.
FORWARDS
No question the strength of the 2003-04 Golden Gophers will reside up front with the forwards. All 12 that played in the 2002 Frozen Four return this season with the addition of prized recruits Ryan Potulny and Danny Irmen. The group will be led by four seniors who have combined to play in a total of 488 games.
"At forward, we should be deeper, more talented and more experienced than what we were going into last year," Lucia said. "What's going to be important is how the players accept the roles they're given. I do believe we're going to have four very balanced lines that are capable of scoring. We're going to be a team that can roll with four lines and not worry about what line is on the ice against anybody else."
Senior captain Grant Potulny (15-8--23) returned from an injury in late January and the team responded with a 16-2-4 finish. He had 15-8--23 in the last 22 games and his outstanding leadership is evidenced by him becoming just the second three-time team captain in school history. Assistant captain Troy Riddle (26-26--52) had a career-high 52 points last season, including 26 goals, as he was named third-team All-WCHA. Matt Koalska (9-31--40) centered the first line last year for Minnesota and responded with a career-high in points. After returning from hernia surgery, he finished with a point in 13 of his last 16 games. With his effort each and every night, Jon Waibel (9-8--17) has been a fan favorite throughout his career and will look to build on last season's career-high nine goals.
"The senior class is a special group for me because they are the first class that I recruited here at Minnesota," Lucia said. "They were the ones that believed in what we were going to try to do here. They've played a very integral part of our success since their freshman year. They basically walked in and have been regulars since day one. All four have played very significant roles in our success of the last three years."
Sophomore Thomas Vanek surprised many by returning for his sophomore season. Drafted fifth overall by the Buffalo Sabres this past summer, he put together one of the greatest freshman seasons in school history. Vanek has the second-highest point total of any returning player in the country and will attempt to become the first sophomore All-American at Minnesota since Mike Crowley in 1995-96. He finished just one goal shy of John Mayasich's freshman school record of 32.
"Probably a lot of people felt that Thomas would leave before Paul Martin, but I think it was in Thomas' best interests to come back this year," Lucia said. "He needs to continue to mature as a player and as a person. This will be an important year for Thomas to continue in his development in becoming an all-around player."
Expectations were high for junior Barry Tallackson (9-15--24) entering last season. But with injuries and a stint with the U.S. Junior Team, he had just three assists in his first 17 games. Tallackson broke out in the second half and was key to the title run with 9-12--21 in his last 15 games. Jake Fleming (10-9--19) increased his goal total by seven during his sophomore season and had a knack for scoring big goals for Minnesota. Jerrid Reinholz (3-9--12) was a solid contributor at center for the Golden Gophers after transferring from UMD, while Garrett Smaagaard (2-7--9) had five of his nine points in the postseason. Brett MacKinnon (1-3--4) has appeared in 36 career games in his first two seasons.
"I think Barry is the one guy that has the chance to really emerge and be a front-line player," Lucia said. "He had a difficult season with injuries and didn't seem to get going until mid-February. We need him to get out of the gate much more quickly than he did a year ago. Jake has been a great penalty killer for us. His play on the line with Smaagaard and Waibel energized our team and was an integral part in us winning the national title. Smaagaard finally looked like the player we thought he would be at the end of last year. We need him to step forward this season. We have a lot of depth up front. It's going to be a battle for playing time night in and night out."
The talent in the sophomore class does not end with Vanek as Gino Guyer (13-16--29), Tyler Hirsch (9-15--24) and Andy Sertich (5-9--14) each return for their second year after posting double-digit point totals in 2002-03. An offensive threat throughout the season, Guyer had a career game in the NCAA Regional game against Mercyhurst, tying the school and NCAA Tournament record with five assists. Hirsch played in all but two games on the season, finishing third on the team with seven power-play goals, while Sertich saw action in 44 games as a rookie, finding a home at Mariucci with 10 of his 14 points coming on the home ice.
"There's a lot of skill in our sophomore class," Lucia said. "All four of them have tremendous stick skills. I think all four are going to develop into front-line players. They're all guys that can play on our power play. We think Andy and Tyler can especially step up the offensive part of their game this year."
Two freshmen, Ryan Potulny and Danny Irmen, join the Golden Gophers in 2003-04 with impeccable credentials and outstanding talent. Potulny, younger brother of senior captain Grant Potulny, will don the Maroon and Gold as one of the top recruits in the nation at forward. The 2003 USHL Player of the Year, Potulny had 135 points in 114 career games with the Lincoln Stars. Irmen, a teammate of Potulny in high school and with the Stars, was a second-team All-USHL selection in 2002-03, finishing second in the league behind Potulny with 1.22 points per game. Both highly-regarded forwards are expected to give the already-potent Minnesota offense some additional firepower this season and beyond.
"They've both proven themselves in the USHL," Lucia said. "One, Ryan, was the MVP during the regular season and the other, Danny, was the MVP of the playoffs. That shows what kind of players they are. Ryan is a great playmaker and passer. Danny is more of a foot soldier who's going to go in the corners and knock some people around. They both have a good work ethic and are going to be very, very good players here."
DEFENSE
The battle for playing time at the blueline became more competitive in early August when second-team All-American Paul Martin opted to sign with the New Jersey Devils. With Martin (9-30--39) and departed senior Matt DeMarchi (3-9--12) out of the picture, junior assistant captain Keith Ballard (12-29--41) will be asked to anchor the defensive corps. Ballard, a second-team All-WCHA selection, established himself as one of the premier blueliners in the country in the second half of last season. He overcame an inconsistent start to finish third on the team in scoring with 12-29--41. A first-round NHL pick in 2002, Ballard already has 22 career goals.
"Keith has to emerge as the No. 1 guy on defense," Lucia said. "He's played behind Jordan Leopold and Paul Martin - now it's Keith's turn to carry the torch. He has to be an All-American which I think he's capable of doing. He'll quarterback our power play and probably have the most minutes on our team back on the blue line."
Joining Ballard as returnees are senior Joey Martin (3-4--7), junior Judd Stevens (3-7--10) and sophomores Chris Harrington, P.J. Atherton and Peter Kennedy. A physical presence, Martin appeared in a career-high 24 games last season, including his first action in the postseason, and found his scoring touch with the first three goals of his career. Stevens has appeared in 85 of a possible 89 career games in his two seasons, a total which ranks second only to Ballard's 86 games among returning defensemen.
Following in the footsteps of Jordan Leopold, Paul Martin and Ballard, Harrington earned WCHA all-rookie honors last season and will look to make an even greater impact this season. A talented performer at both ends of the ice, he finished with four goals and 18 points. He had one game-winner and one shorthanded tally in his first season. Atherton (2-2--4) played in 20 games in 2002-03 and will look to have a bigger contribution in his sophomore campaign. Kennedy (0-2--2) appeared in 10 contests, but has added 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason and will be in the mix for playing time.
Joining the returnees is a pair of newcomers in Jake Taylor and Mike Vannelli. Taylor, a two-time USHL All-Star Game selection with the Green Bay Gamblers, brings a physical presence to the Minnesota lineup with his 6-4, 225-pound frame. Vannelli, one of the nation's top recruits at defenseman, was a first-team All-USHL pick with the Sioux Falls Stampede, tying for the league lead in defenseman scoring with 13-34--47 in 60 career games.
"Stevens is a two-year regular who has played in two national title games, Harrington was outstanding at the end of last year and Joey Martin worked himself into the lineup at the end of last season," Lucia commented. "Atherton and Kennedy have worked hard in the weight room. Peter has put on 15 pounds - and that was the one thing he was lacking last year. I think a key is going to be the play of our two incoming freshmen in Vannelli and Taylor - how quickly they can get used to the college game. How well our blueliners play this year is going be a big determining factor on how good a season we have."
GOALTENDERS
Unlike last season when Minnesota had to replace a four-year starter, the Golden Gophers return an experienced upperclassman in junior Justin Johnson (10-2-2, 2.90, .885). Freshman Kellen Briggs comes to Minnesota as a capable netminder who will give Johnson competition for playing time. The Maroon and Gold was dealt a blow when Travis Weber left the team, but the coaching staff is confident Johnson and Briggs can shoulder the goaltending load for the Golden Gophers in 2003-04.
After platooning with Weber to start the season and then during the month of February, Johnson was in goal for the turning point to Minnesota's season. Following a 6-2 loss at Colorado College on Feb. 7, Johnson was named the starter and made 18 saves as the Golden Gophers rebounded for a 3-2 win. After Weber was injured in the first round of the WCHA Playoffs, Johnson stopped 50 of 54 shots in two games at the WCHA Final Five as Minnesota claimed its first league playoff title in seven years. He made 36 saves in the title game as he picked up his second-straight win against the top-ranked Tigers.
"Justin needs to now become consistent," Lucia said. "We won the Final Five with him. He's won games at North Dakota. He's won games at Colorado College. He's won big games at home. But he has not been the No. 1 goaltender here. Now we have to find out if he's ready to accept that responsibility and have that consistency. He'll be given the first opportunity to do that. "
Briggs, a three-year USHL veteran with the Sioux Falls Stampede, joins the Golden Gophers with solid credentials. The holder of 11 season, playoff and career goaltending records with the Stampede, Briggs compiled a 54-45-5 record and a .901 saves percentage during his time in Sioux Falls. With the loss of Weber, Briggs will compete for starts with Johnson and give Minnesota quality depth in the nets in 2003-04.
"A lot of coaches in the USHL felt that Kellen was the top goalie in the league. He saw 500 more shots than anybody else in the USHL last year. He certainly has the experience and has played in a lot of tough venues coming out of that league. We'll be working him in as the year progresses and as ice-time is warranted. Whether we play the older guy to begin and work the freshman in, or rotate the two as we did last year and let one guy emerge remains to be seen. One of them has to emerge and become that go-to guy for us."
SCHEDULE
Minnesota will face its usual challenging schedule in 2003-04. In a rematch of the 2002 NCAA Championship game, the Golden Gophers will open against Maine in the Maverick Stampede in Omaha, Neb. Wisconsin and host Nebraska-Omaha will also participate. Minnesota will take part in the 11th annual College Hockey Showcase as it travels east to face Michigan State and Michigan. The 12th annual Dodge Holiday Classic will feature 2003 NCAA finalist New Hampshire, Princeton and Miami (Ohio). The Golden Gophers will open the second half at Mariucci Arena against Boston University and will resume its rivalry with Bemidji State in a two-game home series in February. Minnesota will not face Colorado College or Minnesota State, Mankato at home, and St. Cloud State and Michigan Tech on the road.
"We probably are going to have one of the toughest schedules in the country - not only within our own league with how tough the WCHA is, but also with our non-conference schedule," Lucia said. "The strength of schedule component will be very strong for us this year. It's one of those things that helps get us ready for the end of the season."
OVERALL
With two consecutive NCAA titles under their belt, the Golden Gophers know they'll play the 2003-04 season with targets on their backs. Nevertheless, with a dangerous forward lineup, a solid defensive corps and a wealth of experience to boot, Minnesota is poised for a run at a third straight championship. Lucia has returned the Maroon and Gold to the top of the college hockey world and he looks to ensure that the road to the NCAA Championship continues to go through Minnesota.
"We're not going to let the players back-slide," Lucia said. "That's our responsibility as coaches to keep pushing the players. I think we have tremendous leadership. I think the guys know what's at stake. We have to remember it's a long season - there are ups and downs. There's periods of a six-month season where you're not playing all that great. We have to try to not get too high or too low. We'll try to continue to improve during the course of the season, so we're playing our best hockey at the end of the year."
