Here is an article from the Minnesota Daily on the Gophers game against their
former teammates on the Olympic team this evening.
 
Headline: Minnesotans chase Olympic gold
Publish Date: 10/27/1993
:RM138PT:By David Jackson
Staff Reporter
 
Last year Craig Johnson and Darby Hendrickson skated at the old
Mariucci Arena in their maroon and gold uniforms. On Tuesday they
skated at the new Mariucci wearing red, white and blue.
 
Johnson and Hendrickson, along with former Gopher defenseman Travis
Richards, are playing for Team USA, which meets the Gopher hockey
team at 7 p.m. today at the Target Center.
 
Both have become integral parts of the team that will play for the
gold medal in Lillehammer, Norway, in February.
 
In 24 games, Johnson is fourth on the team in scoring with 12 goals
and seven assists, playing on a line with Maine's Peter Ferraro and
Clarkson's Todd Marchant. His 12 tallies rank second in the club
behind Marchant's 13.
 
"Craig has had a very good tour," Olympic coach Tim Taylor said.
"He's one of our bigger, stronger players, and we don't have a lot of
size up front. We need him in the corners and in front of the net
putting pressure on the other team's defense."
 
Johnson says his game is developing better than even he expected.
 
"Even in practices you improve," he said. "And playing against the
(St. Louis) Blues and the (Detroit) Red Wings -- you're playing
against guys like (Steve) Yzerman and (Brett) Hull, guys you've
idolized."
 
Hendrickson has played in 23 games, scoring six goals and six
assists.
 
Taylor says Hendrickson is one of the most improved players on the
team, getting physically stronger to the point that he now calls him
"The Incredible Hulk."
 
"We don't want to take away his creativity and flair," Taylor said.
"But now he can get around the body checks and the stick checks."
 
Hendrickson attributes his improved strength to working with the
team's strength and conditioning coach Jack Blatherwick.
 
"Plus we get good money for meals," he added.
 
Johnson appears certain to make the final team of 23 players that
will go to Norway. While Hendrickson's status is less certain, Taylor
says continued improvement can only help his chances.
 
Final cuts will be made shortly before the team leaves for the
Olympics, which begin Feb. 12.
 
The Gophers knew they would miss the talents of Johnson and
Hendrickson when their season began. As coach Doug Woog said: "We
wish they were playing for us. We could use the punch that they would
provide."
 
Indeed, the scoring abilities of Johnson and Hendrickson, who
combined for 73 points last season, would be welcomed on a team that
lacks high-scoring forwards.
 
The question that remains is whether or not the two would like to put
on the maroon and gold uniforms when the Olympics end in February.
Johnson would be a senior and Hendrickson a junior this year.
 
Both have been drafted by NHL teams -- Johnson by St. Louis and
Hendrickson by Toronto -- and could sign with those teams after the
Olympics. Both will face tough decisions when the time comes.
 
Johnson saw advantages to returning -- the chance to finish his
degree and the chance to play college hockey again.
 
"And playing for Coach Woog," he added. "I've learned a lot from
him."
 
Hendrickson said: "It's a matter of if you're ready to move on to the
next level. There are a lot of advantages to the pro game and to the
college game."
 
But right now, neither one is concerned about that decision. They are
teammates on a quest to bring the United States its first hockey gold
medal since 1980.
 
"You have to constantly improve on your game to improve your shot at
the ultimate goal of a gold medal," Johnson said.
end quoted material.
 
I'm looking forward to the game tonight!
GO Gophers!!!   Go U.S.A.!!!
-Carol
 
Carol S. White                            BITNET: c-whit@uminn1
University of Minnesota        internet:[log in to unmask]
Office of the Registrar
(612) 625-8517                                    GO Gophers!!!