Just a little more info about Dan Welch.

When Dan Welch was originally recruited, it was by a Coach Doug Woog.  Welch was recruited by Coach Woog along with Jeff Taffe and Ben Tharpe, all being from the same High School.  Tharpe played two seasons under Coach Lucia and transferred to the Miami Redhawks where he is currently a junior.  Taffe has moved on to the next level where he has recently been named to the AHL All Star Game.

Coach Lucia made Dan Welch leave Minnesota after his freshman year because of academics.  Coach Lucia did make him a promise that if he could improve his academics at a Junior College he would gladly give him another chance.  Welch rejoined Minnesota  last January and of course was a part of the National Championship.  Coach Lucia gave a student athlete another chance to succeed at a major university.

So should Coach Lucia be applauded for doing his job as a college coach?  Of course.  I wonder how many coaches in division I hockey would let a academically ineligible player go immediately when grades come out?  It should also be noted that Welch was eligible until the end of January.  It should also be noted that Minnesota was missing two very good players at the World Juniors.  It could have been very easy for Coach Lucia to keep Dan Welch through this past weekend for games against St. Cloud State where Minnesota lost and tied.

Sorry about the long rambling.

Peach