countdown to kickoff | gophers vs rebels
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Recently in Hockey CategoryMinnesota head coach Don Lucia on Boston University head coach Jack Parker (On Monday, Parker announced that the 2012-13 season will be his last at the reigns of the program after 40 years as head coach of the Terriers): "When you think of BU hockey, you think of Jack Parker. Forty years with one school will never happen again," Lucia said. "Jack is someone who I have respected and looked up to since I started coaching, and he's had a phenomenal career with the program." The Don Lucia Radio Show continues tonight at the Beacon Public House on campus. If you haven't checked out the new restaurant yet, catch tonight's show live starting at 6 p.m. as Coach Lucia and Wally Shaver discuss all things surrounding Gopher hockey. Tonight's show also airs live on 1500 ESPN. Tonight, Lucia and Shaver discuss the thrilling end to this year's WCHA points race -- the tightest race in league history -- that saw Minnesota and St. Cloud State share the MacNaughton Cup as WCHA regular-season champions. Also on the docket for tonight's show is a preview of Minnesota's upcoming WCHA First Round series against Bemidji State this weekend at Mariucci Arena. Fans can also participate in the show via social media by tweeting their questions using the hash tag #PrideonIce. We'll ask the best questions live on the air. The Beacon Public House offers great deals each week for the Don Lucia Radio Show including half price entrees and a happy hour special. The Beacon Public House is located in the new Commons Hotel on campus (615 Washington Avenue SE).
A second round pick by the Devils (38th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Frazee is the 14th former Gopher to play in the NHL this season. The Edina, Minn., native is the eighth Gopher netminder to play in the NHL and the first since Adam Hauser in 2005-06. Noteworthy: *Paul Martin and Phil Kessel combined for five points in Saturday's match up between Pittsburgh and Toronto. Martin had a goal and an assist in a 5-4 shootout win for the Penguins while Kessel notched a goal and two assists. Martin's goal -- his fifth of the year -- tied a career-high for the defenseman, who has 17 points in 24 games this season. *Nick Leddy had an assist in Chicago's 6-5 loss to Edmonton on Sunday.
Former Gopher Thomas Vanek picked up his 12th goal and 28th point of the season with this one-timer in a 3-2 shootout loss for the Buffalo Sabres to the New Jersey Devils.
Former Gopher Chris Harrington has been named the Asia League Ice Hockey Player of the Year after guiding the Oji Eagles to a regular-season title with 32 wins in 42 games.
Now in his third year with the team, Harrington tallied 36 points this season for the Eagles, who open the Asia League Ice Hockey Semifinals on Saturday against Anyang Halla. The former Gophers defenseman helped Minnesota capture the 2003 NCAA title as a All-WCHA Rookie selection and added an All-WCHA Third Team honor in his senior season. In 170 career games, Harrington tallied 109 points (14 goals, 95 assists) -- ranking the blue liner among the top-ten in school history for career points and assists by a defenseman.
Want to watch Saturday's regular-season finale with other die-hard Gopher fans?
Come to the official viewing party of Saturday's Minnesota/Bemidji State game at Buffalo Wild Wings (Station 19) on campus to celebrate the Gophers' final Western Collegiate Hockey regular-season contest and send the team into the league playoffs in style. Saturday's viewing party starts at 6:30 p.m. with tons of Gopher Hockey giveaways and free t-shirts for the first 100 fans to show up. The Gopher Hockey cheerleaders will also be in attendance to help fans cheer on the team as they fight for home ice and the MacNaughton Cup in the tightest league race in WCHA history. Wednesday's practice at Ridder Arena began with a special ceremony as the Gopher men's hockey team was presented with a combat-flown U.S. flag from members of Defending The Blue Line. The Gophers recently helped the organization raise more than $25,000 through an online auction of the team's commemorative jerseys from the OfficeMax Hockey City Classic game at Soldier Field -- Minnesota's first outdoor game in the modern era. The University of Minnesota and Mariucci Arena also hosted a charity game with Defending The Blue Line earlier this season. Defending The Blue Line is a Minnesota-based non-profit organization that ensures children of military members are afforded every opportunity to participate in the game of hockey. The organization accomplishes this by providing free equipment for military kids, hockey camps, special events, and financial assistance for registration fees and other costs associated with hockey. Learn more about the organization at DefendingTheBlueLine.org. Minnesota closes out the regular season with a trip to Bemidji State to take on the Beavers. Members of the team met with the media Wednesday to discuss the key points of this weekend. The Gophers enter the weekend with a realistic opportunity to claim the their second-straight MacNaughton Cup. They sit just two points behind league-leader St. Cloud State, but they are more focused on rounding their own game into shape for the postseason. "We want to play well. We do not control whether we get a piece of (the MacNaughton Cup). You certainly don't want to leave points on the table. Our focus is playing well on Friday night and see where we are at," head coach Don Lucia said. Forward Nate Condon added, "It is about getting our game
going and playing up to the level we can." "It is the most dramatic in my 20 years in the WCHA," Lucia said. "Like many people have said, this is probably the way it should be in the final year of the conference configuration the way it is." Bemidji State plays a style focused on keeping the puck along the boards and chipping the puck off the glass when possible. It can be frustrating to play against for a team predicated on speed and skill, like the Gophers. "The most important thing for us is we have to be patient," Lucia said. The team had a disappointing effort last Friday night against Denver. The team knows they will have to be better, "I think it was a good lesson for us," Justin Holl said. " I think we were more ready to play on Saturday, and it showed what we can do when we are engaged." It is on the players to perform at the level they are capable of. "We do not want to play like we did last weekend. We know we let ourselves down," Condon said. Friday night's game at the Sanford Center is at 7:30 p.m. and will be carried live on Fox Sports North. Saturday's regular-season finale is at 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on Fox Sports North Plus. Story By University of Minnesota Communications Intern Josh
Brennock
Check out Phil Kessel's insurance goal in last night's 4-2 Toronto win over New Jersey -- impressive from one end of the ice to the other.
The Don Lucia Radio Show continues tonight at the Beacon Public House on campus. If you haven't checked out the new restaurant yet, catch tonight's show live starting at 6 p.m. as Coach Lucia and Wally Shaver discuss all things surrounding Gopher hockey. Tonight's show also airs live on 1500 ESPN. Tonight, Lucia and Shaver discuss this year's Western Collegiate Hockey Association points race -- one of the closest ever in the league's history. The pair will also hit on Minnesota's split last weekend with Denver and preview this weekend's series at Bemidji State -- the final WCHA regular-season series ever for the Maroon and Gold. Fans can also participate in the show via social media by tweeting their questions using the hash tag #PrideonIce. We'll ask the best questions live on the air. The Beacon Public House offers great deals each week for the Don Lucia Radio Show including half price entrees and a happy hour special. The Beacon Public House is located in the new Commons Hotel on campus (615 Washington Avenue SE).
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