On rest day, Goehring works himself into shape
 
By Virg Foss
 
Herald Staff Writer
 
On Thursday afternoon at UND's Engelstad Arena, there were few indications
that the Sioux hockey team -- in a week -- will be playing in the NCAA
Frozen Four in Providence, R.I.
 
That's because Sioux head coach Dean Blais banned his players from the
rink. No practice and no hanging around.
 
An exception was made for junior goalie Karl Goehring, who has been UND's
No. 1 goalie and was named to the all-WCHA first team. Goehring, sidelined
since suffering a concussion in practice on March 14, received special
permission to practice.
 
At 3:15 p.m. Thursday, the only people on the ice at Engelstad Arena were
Goehring and athletic trainer Mark Poolman. The ice, normally bustling
with activity during the normal practice time, was nearly silent.
 
The only sound was the whooshing noise of the steady stream of pucks being
fired out of the Boni puck-shooting from the blue line toward Goehring.
 
Goehring, dressed in a red jersey with No. 30 in white letters on the
back, moved smoothly from side to side, stopping the pucks, then helping
Poolman gather them to reload the machine.
 
Blais also will give the Sioux Sunday off. They'll practice at 3:30 p.m.
today, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, at 3:30 p.m. on Monday and at 1 p.m. on
Tuesday before flying out on a charter airflight to Providence.
 
Goehring phoned Blais earlier Thursday and asked if he could work out.
 
"He's not in great condition," Blais said. "If you're off for 10 days, it
normally takes you 10 days to get back in shape."
 
Goehring's concussion has healed to the point where he has permission to
play but conditioning is another matter. "You can see it in practice. He's
staying in there longer than he should, forcing himself to get back in
shape," Blais said.
 
Blais reluctantly gave Goehring permission to work out. "He sees enough
shots in practice," Blais said. "You'd think that would be enough. But he
thinks he needs to be back to 100 percent by the time we get out to
Providence."
 
When the Sioux get there, they will be competing for their second national
championship in four years.
 
Goon em
 
UND's other regular goalie, sophomore Andy Kollar, is nursing a sore neck
from being run over by a Niagara University player in an NCAA West
Regional game, won 4-1 by the Sioux.
 
"What is it with our goalies getting run at this year?," Blais said.
 
When Kollar was knocked down, Sioux tough guy Mike Commodore went after
the guilty Niagara player. Each drew a minor penalty for roughing, with
the Niagara player drawing an additional two minutes for hitting the
goaltender.
 
Blais said incidents such as the hit on Kollar are why he doesn't believe
in college hockey's fighting rule, where a fighting penalty draws an
automatic game disqualification.
 
"I believe that Mike Commodore, or the closest defenseman, should take the
player who does it and just beat the tar out of him," Blais said. "If it
had been less of an important game, he (Commodore) would have definitely
pounded some knots on the guy's head." Ex-Sioux support
 
The list of former Sioux calling UND or e-mailing them this week to
support their success in Providence continues to grow.
 
Among the ex-players checking in Wednesday and Thursday include Ed
Belfour, Teeder Wynne, Brad Berry, Scott Kirton, Cary Eades, Mitch Vig,
Lefty Curran, Phil Sykes, Marc Chorney, Jason Blake, Brad Williamson, Adam
Calder, Mark Pivetz, Steve Johnson, Scott Koberinski, Jeff Ulmer, Todd
Jones and Reggie Morelli. Also calling was Ralph Engelstad, who is
donating $50 million for the new Engelstad Arena under construction at
UND. Engelstad will be in Providence, too. Sabin seeks help
 
When Goehring was facing the puck-shooting machine Thursday, there was
just one spectator other than Poolman, the trainer and one reporter.
 
The spectator was Grand Forks Central star Karl Sabin. He stopped by UND
to see if he could secure a summer workout program from the Sioux coaches.
 
 
Sabin, a junior, said he will play for the Lincoln (Neb.) Stars of the
United States Hockey League next season, rather than finish his high
school hockey at Central.
 
Where he wants to play eventually, he said, is at UND. "I would love to
play for the Sioux," he said. Coaches aboard
 
All three UND coaches were in their offices Thursday afternoon, polishing
off details of the upcoming trip to Providence.
 
Associate head coach Scott Sandelin continues to await word on whether
he'll land the head coaching job at Minnesota-Duluth.
 
"I'd be happy for Scott," Blais said. "It would just be so devastating for
the program to lose him. You just don't replace good people easily. It's
just like in recruiting, when you lose a Tony Hrkac (to the pros). There
might not be another Tony Hrkac around for 10 years." Flight sold out
 
All seats on UND's charter flight to Providence have been sold, said Paul
Collins, UND's associate athletic director. The fund-raiser to send the
25-piece UND band to Providence will begin with a phone-a-thon today.
 
Collins asks for everyone holding seats on the charter flight to call UND
at 777-2236 today to confirm their seats.
 
 
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