http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/36983184.html

Gophers' Lucia could miss game because of an undisclosed illness

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune

January 1, 2009

Gophers men's hockey coach Don Lucia never has missed a game because of 
illness in 22 seasons as a head coach at three colleges.

That streak might end tonight when the Gophers play Brown at 7:07 p.m. 
in the second game of the Dodge Holiday Classic at Mariucci Arena.

Lucia has made only one brief appearance this week at the rink because 
of an undisclosed medical problem. Whether Lucia returns tonight depends 
on how well he feels, said Jim Strick, the men's hockey sports 
information director for the university.

"He is planning on being there, hopefully," Strick said, "probably 
coaching from the press box if he is."

In that scenario, Strick said, Lucia most likely would be in the locker 
room before the game and come down to the locker room between periods 
and make adjustments.

If Lucia is upstairs or not at the game at all, John Hill would be the 
bench coach, Strick said. Hill is in his fourth season as an assistant 
coach.

Why the lack of details on Lucia's medical condition?

"He is trying to stay kind of private on this," Strick said. "That does 
not necessarily mean it is serious. It is just because he doesn't know 
yet. ... He is not exactly sure what his illness is."

Lucia also has told his staff and players to refrain from commenting on 
his situation if asked. "He wants the players and other coaches to focus 
on this weekend and the games and not his health," Strick said.

After a two-week break for the holidays, the Gophers resumed practices 
on Monday.

Lucia made his first appearance at Mariucci on Thursday. He attended the 
one-hour video session, then left without going on the ice for the 
regular practice.

"He talked to the team during that session," Strick said.

Lucia, who turned 50 in August, has coached in 869 consecutive games 
since becoming the head coach at Alaska Fairbanks for the 1987-88 
season. He stayed there for six seasons, coached at Colorado College the 
next six seasons and at Minnesota since 1999-2000. So this is his 10th 
season as the Gophers coach.

Lucia has coached from the press box once before. After spinal surgery 
near the end of the 2003-04 season, he was upstairs for a home series 
against St. Cloud State on March 5-6. A week later, Lucia was back on 
the bench.

The neck surgery fused cervical vertebrae to relieve numbness and 
weakness in his right arm and hand.

Strick said Thursday he did not know if Lucia's present medical problems 
were related to that previous condition.