University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Jim Rosvold
Motzko Rounds Out Coaching Staff with Three Gopher Alums
10/1/2018 1:54:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – Gopher Hockey head coach Bob Motzko has announced the addition of three former Minnesota skaters to the University of Minnesota men's hockey coaching staff with Ben Gordon returning to the 'U' as an assistant coach and Ryan Potulny and Stu Bickel joining the program as undergraduate assistants.
"The experience of our alumni is one of our program's greatest strengths, and we are certainly excited to add three former Gopher Hockey players to our staff as we get ready to start the season," Motzko said. "All three of these guys know what it means to be part of this program and what it takes in order to be successful here."
A native of International Falls, Minn., Gordon returns to the University of Minnesota after serving as the associate head coach for the Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2017-18 season. He previously served on the Gophers staff in 2016-17 as director of hockey operations when the Maroon & Gold claimed the 2017 Big Ten Regular-Season Championship and helped the Tri-City Storm capture the 2016 USHL Clark Cup as an assistant coach in 2015-16. Gordon's first foray into coaching came during the 2014-15 season as an assistant coach and later as interim head coach at St. Scholastica in Duluth.
Gordon was a four-year letter winner with the Gophers from 2004-2008 and recorded 98 points (39 goals, 59 assists) in 148 career games. The forward helped Minnesota to back-to-back regular-season conference titles in 2006 and 2007 while the Maroon & Gold added a conference playoff title in 2007. Gordon was named the team's Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero in 2006. Following his college career, he played in 362 professional games with 380 points over six seasons before transitioning to coaching.
A native of Grand Forks, N.D., Potulny returns to the University of Minnesota after concluding a 12-year pro career last season that included NHL stints with Philadelphia, Edmonton, Chicago and Ottawa. In 126 career NHL games, Potulny recorded 49 points (22 goals, 27 assists). On the ice with the Gophers, Potulny skated in 100 collegiate games and recorded 118 career points (68 goals, 50 assists). In his final season at Minnesota, Potulny was a First Team All-American and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award when he led the nation in points (63) and goals (38) as Minnesota won the 2006 WCHA MacNaughton Cup as conference regular-season champions.
A native of Chanhassen, Minn., Bickel joins the Gopher Hockey staff following a 10-year pro career that came to a close in 2017-18. The former defenseman skated in 76 regular-season NHL games with 10 assists between the New York Rangers and the Minnesota Wild along with 18 Stanley Cup playoff games with the Rangers. Bickel skated for the Maroon & Gold during the 2007-08 season, playing in 45 games with seven points (one goal, six assists) on the Minnesota blue line.
The 98th season of Gopher men's hockey will see the Maroon & Gold take the ice for the first time under new head coach Bob Motzko, who returns to the University of Minnesota after helping the program claim back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003 as an assistant coach. Minnesota opens the season against the defending national champions in Minnesota Duluth with a home-and-home series (Oct. 6-7).
"The experience of our alumni is one of our program's greatest strengths, and we are certainly excited to add three former Gopher Hockey players to our staff as we get ready to start the season," Motzko said. "All three of these guys know what it means to be part of this program and what it takes in order to be successful here."
A native of International Falls, Minn., Gordon returns to the University of Minnesota after serving as the associate head coach for the Chicago Steel in the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2017-18 season. He previously served on the Gophers staff in 2016-17 as director of hockey operations when the Maroon & Gold claimed the 2017 Big Ten Regular-Season Championship and helped the Tri-City Storm capture the 2016 USHL Clark Cup as an assistant coach in 2015-16. Gordon's first foray into coaching came during the 2014-15 season as an assistant coach and later as interim head coach at St. Scholastica in Duluth.
Gordon was a four-year letter winner with the Gophers from 2004-2008 and recorded 98 points (39 goals, 59 assists) in 148 career games. The forward helped Minnesota to back-to-back regular-season conference titles in 2006 and 2007 while the Maroon & Gold added a conference playoff title in 2007. Gordon was named the team's Dr. V. George Nagobads Unsung Hero in 2006. Following his college career, he played in 362 professional games with 380 points over six seasons before transitioning to coaching.
A native of Grand Forks, N.D., Potulny returns to the University of Minnesota after concluding a 12-year pro career last season that included NHL stints with Philadelphia, Edmonton, Chicago and Ottawa. In 126 career NHL games, Potulny recorded 49 points (22 goals, 27 assists). On the ice with the Gophers, Potulny skated in 100 collegiate games and recorded 118 career points (68 goals, 50 assists). In his final season at Minnesota, Potulny was a First Team All-American and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award when he led the nation in points (63) and goals (38) as Minnesota won the 2006 WCHA MacNaughton Cup as conference regular-season champions.
A native of Chanhassen, Minn., Bickel joins the Gopher Hockey staff following a 10-year pro career that came to a close in 2017-18. The former defenseman skated in 76 regular-season NHL games with 10 assists between the New York Rangers and the Minnesota Wild along with 18 Stanley Cup playoff games with the Rangers. Bickel skated for the Maroon & Gold during the 2007-08 season, playing in 45 games with seven points (one goal, six assists) on the Minnesota blue line.
The 98th season of Gopher men's hockey will see the Maroon & Gold take the ice for the first time under new head coach Bob Motzko, who returns to the University of Minnesota after helping the program claim back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003 as an assistant coach. Minnesota opens the season against the defending national champions in Minnesota Duluth with a home-and-home series (Oct. 6-7).
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