University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers in the Pros: November
12/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Keith Ballard, Vancouver Canucks
The former first-round pick played in only seven games in November and had a tough start to the month before playing a season-high 26 shifts and scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 26. Ballard also had a +2-rating in the game.
Alex Goligoski, Pittsburgh Penguins
After an eight-point October, Goligoski notched five points (2g-3a) in November. Both of the former Gopher's goals were game winners, tying him for second in the league in game-winning goals by a defenseman with three. One came on Nov. 12 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a game in which he also had a +3-rating. The other game-winning goal broke a 1-1 tie in the third period against the Ottawa Senators.
Erik Johnson, St. Louis Blues
Johnson assisted on three Blues goals in November, but has been a key cog defensively in what has been a successful season for St. Louis so far. The defenseman logged at least 30 shifts and 22 minutes of ice time in each of the Blues' 14 games in November and finished the month with a +1-rating.
Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs
The fifth overall draft pick in 2006 and brother of Gopher women's hockey freshman Amanda Kessel tallied five points in November, including a game-winning goal against the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 18. Kessel also recorded his first career shorthanded goal against the Buffalo Sabres eight days later. His two assists helped the Leafs take down the Nashville Predators and end an eight-game Leafs losing streak on Nov. 16.
Jordan Leopold, Buffalo Sabres
Leopold, one of the Gophers' all-time best offensive defensemen, has been one of the NHL's best offensive defensemen so far this season. After recording nine points (4g-5a) in November, Leopold ranks second among NHL defensemen in goals with seven and is tied for ninth in points with 16. In addition to being on pace for the best statistical season of his eight-year career, Leopold is averaging 23:51 of ice time, good for 25th in the league.
Paul Martin, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Elk River, Minn.-native had another solid month for his new team, helping lead the Penguins to a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division. Martin notched five assists in November to up his point total for the season to 12 (1g-11a), three of which came on the power play. He has seen a lot of time on the team's first power-play unit alongside Kris Letang on defense. Martin also leads the team with 42 blocked shots.
Kyle Okposo, New York Islanders
Okposo was sidelined for a second consecutive month in November after having surgery on his right shoulder because of a preseason injury, but looks to return sometime in December.
Ryan Potulny, Chicago Blackhawks
The former first-team All-American played in two games for the Blackhawks before being sent back to Rockford of the AHL.
Thomas Vanek, Buffalo Sabres
The hero of the 2003 Frozen Four for the Gophers in Buffalo was again a hero at HSBC Arena this month-this time for the hometown Sabres. Vanek scored two goals, including an overtime-winner that topped out the next day's Top Ten plays on SportsCenter, to propel the Sabres to their first home victory of the season on Nov. 13 against the Washington Capitals. This two-point performance was part of a career-best seven-game scoring streak, during which he tallied nine points (4g-5a). After the point steak ended on Nov. 26 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vanek scored the game-winning goal for Buffalo in the team's next game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Blake Wheeler, Boston Bruins
After scoring three goals in his first nine games of the month, Wheeler ended November hot with four points (2g-2a) in his final five games, including a goal and an assist in a shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings. In the Bruins' first game of the month, Wheeler recorded the game-winning goal in a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres and on Nov. 15, he played a season-high 20:24 and scored a goal in a 3-0 shutout win over the New Jersey Devils.
Gophers in the AHL
Many former Gophers have also made their mark in the AHL.
A trio of players who used to wear maroon and gold are helping lead the Rockford IceHogs-the affiliate of the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. Two of them have already had brief stints with the big club: Nick Leddy in October and Ryan Potulny in November. Potulny (4g-7a) and Jeff Taffe (5g-4a) are the highest scoring forwards on the team, while Leddy is having a solid rookie season with nine points (2g-7a). He is the only defenseman on the team with multiple goals.
Other former Minnesota players that are enjoying good seasons so far are Jim O'Brien of the Binghamton Senators and Jordan Schroeder of Manitoba Moose. O'Brien has 18 points (10g-8a) and leads the Senators with a +11-rating while Schroeder has 11 points (3g-8a) and is a +2 in his rookie campaign.
After combining for just four points in October, both Mike Carman and Ryan Stoa picked up the play for the Lake Erie Monsters in November. Carman collected five goals and one assist, while Ryan Stoa notched his first goal of the season on Nov. 19 and scored five more before the end of the month to go along with three assists.
In goal, Jeff Frazee has a 6-6-1 record with a 2.92 goals against average and .895 save percentage for the Albany Devils. He recorded a 34-save shutout of the Rochester Americans on Nov. 20.
Elsewhere in the AHL, Ryan Flynn recorded his first professional point, getting an assist on a second-period goal for the Milwaukee Admirals against the San Antonio Rampage on Nov. 19. Jake Taylor (0g-2a) of the Oklahoma City Barons, Derek Peltier (0g-3a) of the Peoria Rivermen, and Wyatt Smith (1g-4a) of the Providence Bruins each recorded multiple points.
Stu Bickel notched assists in his final two games with the Syracuse Crunch before being traded to the New York Rangers affiliate, the Connecticut Whale, where he got an assist in his second game.
Kris Chucko of the Abbotsford Heat and Tony Lucia of the Worcester Sharks were both out of action during the month.
Gophers in the ECHL
Four former University of Minnesota skaters and one goalie are playing in the ECHL. Of the skaters, Ben Gordon of the Reading Royals and defenseman P.J. Atherton of the Victoria Salmon Kings lead the way with five goals and 13 assists apiece on the year.
Defensemen David Fischer (1g-5a) of the Florida Everblades and R.J. Anderson (0g-3a) of the division-leading Elmira Jackals increased their production in November as did goaltender Kellen Briggs, who posted a 2.62 GAA and .915 save percentage in the month.
Gophers playing in Europe
The U of M is also being represented on teams all over Europe. In Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany, Barry Tallackson of the Augsburg Panthers in second on the team with 25 points (11g-14a), while Evan Kaufmann of the DEG Metro Stars has 18 points (9g-9a).
Over in the Serie A League in Italy, Danny Irmen is fourth on Bolzano with 16 points (10g-6a) and Matt DeMarchi continued to fill the enforcer role with Asiago, recording 41 penalty minutes in November. He now leads the team in penalty minutes with 65 on the season and is second among Asiago defensemen with 11 points (2g-9a).
Also playing in Europe are Nick Angell, Andy Sertich, and Dan Welch. Angell is the tied for 20th among Kontinental Hockey League defensemen with 12 points (5g-7a) playing for Metallurg. Welch, playing for the Elite Ice Hockey League's best team, the Belfast Giants, has five goals, 13 assists, and a team-leading 40 PIMs. Sertich has 11 points (3g-8a) for Zagreb Medvescak in Croatia.
Erik Westrum (Ambri-Piotta) and Ben Clymer (Lugano) are both on Swiss A League rosters, but were sidelined for the month of November.
