Gophers open with tournament play: The 2013-14 Gopher hockey season begins this evening as Minnesota hosts Mercyhurst at Mariucci Arena. I hope you’ll join former Gopher Tom Chorske and me for the call along with ex-Gopher coach Doug Woog and the rest of our mob.
The Minnesota-Mercyhurst game is the second of day one of the Ice Breaker Tournament, in which the Gophers will also play next year at Notre Dame. Clarkson and New Hampshire complete the field.
Gophers preview: It’s a new look, a new conference and a lot of new faces this season. With the departure of a fistful of juniors, arguably the heart of the team, to the pros last spring, head coach Don Lucia is reloading around a core of veterans and a squad of highly-touted youngsters.
Adam Wilcox will start in net this season.Coxie At the Helm: To me, the key to the whole season is goalie Adam Wilcox. As a freshman, Wilcox stepped in and took over in a big way. He backstopped Minnesota to an NCAA berth by aggressive play between the pipes and fearless cruising into the corners and behind the net. Wilcox’s 38 starts produced 25 wins and five ties, a 1.88 goals against average and two shutouts. If he can stay the course, especially if he can adapt to the new defensemen in front of him, that half of the ice will be strong.
Witnesses For the Defense: Wilcox will have Brady Skjei and Mike Reilly, both standout freshmen last season, on the blue line along with veterans Jake Parenteau, Ben Marshall and Justin Holl. Newcomers on defense include Islanders draft pick Taylor Cammarata, Mike Brodzinski and another Isles pick, Jake Bischoff, a more physical version of his old man, former Gopher Grant Bischoff.
Breakout Year For Mike Reilly? I’m predicting a breakout year for Reilly, who started unevenly last year, got some valuable international experience with Team USA at midseason, then really seemed to grow into his role as an offensive defenseman. He needs to jack up the defensive part of his game and he knows that.
Guns Up! Up front, Kyle Rau and Nate Condon – with 71 points between them last season – lead the way. A healthy Sam Warning, who was hurt late last season and sat out as recently as last weekend when Minnesota won an exhibition game against Lethbridge, will be welcome. Tom Serratore’s speed and playmaking smarts should also create a lot of fireworks.
As for everyone else, let me say this: this is a terrific time to be a young Gopher. Jobs are available and head coach Don Lucia has made it clear that he’ll give everyone a chance. Just don’t expect fixed lines anytime soon.
"Guys are going to be given an opportunity, whether it is playing the first line or the fourth line, and it is what (the players) do with it," head coach Don Lucia said. "We are going to have to do a lot of moving guys around during the early part of the season to figure out what the best combinations are going to be."
Hear that, Taylor Cammarata, Vinni Lettieri, Hudson Fasching, Justin Kloos, Gabe Guertler?
I’m really looking forward to the new-look Gophers. The lid lifts tonight!
ELSEWHERE: HOW THE SHUTDOWN NEARLY BLEW OUT SOME COLEGE HOCKEY SERIES
Among the bizarre side effects of the government shutdown: its effects on college hockey. Air Force, which is set to play in a tournament in Alaska this weekend, almost couldn't go because the Falcons in the past have flown there in an Air Force plane. No funding for that but an Alaska-Anchorage tournament sponsor is Alaska Airlines, which found enough seats to get the team there. ALSO: Penn State nearly lost opening weekend at its brand new facility, Pegula Arena. That's because the Lions are scheduled to play Army, which for awhile had no funds to get there. Someone at West Point put it together, though, so that series will also happen. Odd how far-reaching and unexpected the shutdown is.
DOUG McLEOD begins his 18th season as voice of Golden Gopher hockey tonight. Jump aboard for our coverage of the Minnesota-Mercyhurst tilt at 6:30 on FSN!
