Kirk Ahlberg wrote:
 
>Back in the 50s, nearly everyone playing college hockey was Canadian.
>John Mariucci was the first coach to change this trend.  He filled his teams
>at Minnesota with Americans and, more specifically, Minnesotans.  At that
>time, Minnesota produced a large percentage of the hockey talent in the U.S.
>
>When Woog began coaching the Gophers, he started the trend of recruiting
>nobody but Minnesotans.  Ten years ago, Minnesota and UMD were the only D-I
>puck schools in MN and Woog had easy pickings of the top talent every year.
>At that time, Minnesota still produced a substantial percentage of American
>hockey talent.  Now there are 5 D-I schools in MN and other states
>(California?!) are beginning to produce hockey players.
>
>Another reason that Woog always states for his recruitment of locals, is that
>the scholarships don't cost the University as much.  The scholarship is worth
>the cost of an in-state tuition which is quite cheaper than an out-of-state
>student would pay.  I'm not sure who pays the difference?  We, the people, I
>suppose.
>
>Also, through the Woog era, Gopher boosters have begun to take pride in the
>fact that the team is entirely made up of Minnesotans.  The state still
>produces plenty of talent, but it is not always easy to judge which 5 or 6 of
>the many D-I caliber players will turn out to be the best college hockey
>players.   This, coupled with the fact that other states are catching up in
>player production, makes it tougher to compete with the all-local strategy.
>
>
>kirk out.
 
 
Herb Brooks, who was at Minnesota until 1979 (the last year the Gophers won
the NCAA Division I championship), recruited almost all his players from
Minnesota. The lone exception was a defenseman from Sault Ste. Marie, ON,
Perry Ardito, who left school midway through his sophomore year. When the
Gophers signed Ardito, much was made of the fact that they recruited a
player from outside the state.
 
Dave Geringer
Sports Information Director
Alfred State College
Parish Hall
Alfred, NY 14802
607-587-4563
 
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