University of Minnesota Athletics
Men's Hockey Preview: Offense
9/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
A combination of experienced veterans and exciting fresh faces seek to help the Gophers improve offensively from last season to this year.
In 2009-10, the Gopher offense took a hit after All-American Ryan Stoa departed for the professional ranks. The team was shutout three times in its first four games and three more times after that. The team's leading scorers, Tony Lucia and Jordan Schroeder, each scored 28 points-the lowest point total for a Minnesota leading scorer since the 1961-1962 season. The Gophers, coming off a season where they averaged 3.21 goals per contest, managed 2.72 goals per game in 2009-10. However, there is reason to believe the Gophers' offensive woes may not continue into 2010-11.
The Gopher attack goes through a makeover heading into this year. Surprisingly, this makeover starts with the seniors. After not being able to contribute to the team for most of what was supposed to be his senior year, Jay Barriball returns as the team's captain after receiving a medical redshirt. He brings to the table a team-high 102 career points and 124 games played. Another offensive weapon that comes from the senior class is Jacob Cepis. Cepis, a transfer from Bowling Green, recorded 19 points in the final 21 games of the season after missing all of the games during the fall semester last year due to NCAA transfer regulations. He spent most of his time on the first line and the team benefits from having his services from the start of the season in 2010-11.
Serving as an assistant captain is the leading returning scorer from last year, Mike Hoeffel. Hoeffel had 13 goals and 11 assists last season and also tied for a team-high with three game-winning goals. The other player who potted three game-winners was Patrick White. White is the only senior on the team at the center position and looks to improve his point total for a fourth straight season.
Along with a solid senior class is a promising crop of underclassmen. Joining the team in 2010-11 is a pair of highly touted freshman centers. Nick Bjugstad, the 19th overall draft pick by the Florida Panthers, brings size, speed, and a lethal shot to the Gopher attack, while Erik Haula looks to make the numbers that made him an USHL All-Star last year translate to the scoresheet in his first year of college.
Zach Budish, the team's only sophomore forward, put to rest any doubts about his health after getting injured playing high school football the previous year by putting up 17 points and becoming a regular on the team's top line as a winger. The team looks to him this season for even more production, as well as for a physical presence.
The depth at center continues with juniors Nico Sacchetti and Taylor Matson. Sacchetti looks to up his goal total after scoring four goals in each of his first two collegiate seasons and making a name for himself as a gifted playmaker. Matson hopes to continue his solid productivity without being limited by injury, as he has missed 44 games over his first two seasons. Versatile forward Nick Larson and experienced freshmen Nate Condon and Jared Larson could see time inside and outside the faceoff circle this season, as well.
In addition to a plethora of options at center, the Gophers have plenty of capable players to man the wings. Juniors Jake Hansen and Joe Miller and freshman Tom Serratore add grit to the outside, while former Minnetonka winger Max Gardiner looks to use his well-developed puck skills and ability to drive to the net to create offense in his freshman season, as well.
