Published Monday,  January 5, 1998,  in the Pioneer Press.
 
> Gophers' big guys finally scoring
> GREGG WONG STAFF WRITER
>
> A dozen years ago, while the Twins were struggling early in the season, manager
> Billy Gardner kept saying, ``We'll be OK when the Big Guy gets going.''
>
> The Big Guy, first baseman Kent Hrbek, didn't quite get it going that season, certainly
> not enough to turn around the Twins' slow start. Gardner was fired a month or so later.
>
> Gophers men's hockey coach Doug Woog might have echoed Gardner's words earlier
> this season, saying his team would be all right once the ``big guys'' started scoring.
>
> Finally, it looks as if they have. Fortunately for Woog, unlike Gardner, his job was not
> in jeopardy.
>
> As a group, the Gophers' top returning forwards from last season, the players being
> counted on to score and lead the offense, have been their most productive in the past
> four games.
>
> The Gophers won three of those, all nonconference games, including their first sweep
> of the season against Mankato State over the weekend.
>
> Forget that the opponent was a team playing its first full season of NCAA Division I
> hockey. The Gophers (7-13) were concerned about winning against anyone and about
> getting their offense on track.
>
> In going 4-12 through 16 games, the Gophers averaged 2.56 goals a game; in the past
> four games, they averaged 4.5 goals. That's significant because they are 6-0 when
> scoring at least four goals.
>
> Individually, the big guys on the top two lines -- captain Casey Hankinson, Wyatt
> Smith, Dave Spehar, Reggie Berg and Mike Anderson -- finally are producing as
> expected.
>
> They combined for 15 of the Gophers' 18 goals in the past four games. Hankinson led
> the way with five goals and three assists. Smith was 3-7--10, Spehar 4-2--6, Berg
> 2-1--3 and Anderson 1-2--3.
>
> ``Those guys have the experience, and they've been put in the position to make things
> happen,'' Woog said Sunday. ``They get more shifts, they're on the power play. You
> put your money down on those guys by giving them more ice time, so they should have
> more offensive opportunities. One of their roles is to score.''
>
> If they can continue to score and the Gophers can keep averaging 4 1/2 goals, they
> have a chance to turn around their season and make a run in the playoffs.
>
> ``The guys should start feeling better about themselves because they're finally getting
> rewarded,'' Woog said. ``Once you get a couple (of goals), then things start happening
> a little easier. You get some rhythm and then relax a little bit.
>
> ``That's the formula for us to win, for those guys to do some damage.''
>
> Of course, much of any future success depends on getting healthy.
>
> A sixth key veteran, senior wing Ryan Kraft, was playing his best before suffering a
> broken hand Dec. 19. In the three games before that, he was 1-4--5.
>
> The Gophers hope Kraft will be back when they return to action Jan. 16 against
> Denver in a matchup of the WCHA's co-cellar dwellers.
>
> Also helping will be the return of defensemen Billy Kohn (concussion) and Jason
> Godbout (elbow) from injuries, and having Aaron Miskovich back from the world
> junior championships.
>
> ``This is probably the most adversity we've faced as team since I've been here,'' Woog
> said. ``The losses, the injuries, a difficult schedule . . . these are all the challenges you
> could ask for. It's been a real test, but it's forced us to persevere, which in the long run
> might be good for our kids.''
 
--
            \\\/////
            / ^   _ \
           ( (o) (o) )
 *====oOOO=====(_)=====OOOo====*
 |        Kevin L. Ames        |
 *=============================*
 |     [log in to unmask]     |
 |      [log in to unmask]      |
 *================Oooo.========*
           .oooO  (   |
           (   )   ) /
            \ (   (_/
             \_)
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.