I know what you're thinking.  You're waiting for the other shoe to drop.  You're
saying to yourself, "Pam's posted Gopher previews from the St. Paul Pioneer
Press and the Minnesota Daily, but where's the one from the Minneapolis paper?
Two Gopher hockey previews just aren't enough for me.  I NEED MORE!"
 
Have no fear.  In Sunday's (10/2/94) Star Tribune, John Gilbert added his
preview to the pile.  Although he uncharacteristically got a couple facts wrong
[my corrections in brackets], his is probably the most complete:
 
'U' has depth as Woog starts 10th season
By John Gilbert
Staff Writer
 
The Gophers hockey team will begin practice Monday with some key departures, a
lot of returnees, some exceptional recruits and the obvious expectations of
contending for the WCHA championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament.
 
Wait a minute...isn't this the same outlook for the Gophers as last year at this
time?  And the year before?...and the year before?
 
It is.  This will be Doug Woog's 10th year as Gophers coach, and in his first
nine the Gophers have finished first in the WCHA three times and second six
times.  They also have been invited to the NCAA postseason party all nine years.
 
And this season should be more of the same.  Defending regular-season conference
champion Colorado College has almost everybody back, but many observers are
overlooking the Tigers in favor of the Gophers as the preseason favorite.  St.
Cloud State and Northern Michigan also should contend.
 
The Gophers earn their rank because they have few holes to fill.  They have two
goaltenders, five defensemen and 13 experienced forwards returning from a team
that went 25-13-4, tied for second in the WCHA [no, they were alone in 2nd
place], won the WCHA playoff title and lost to eventual runner-up Boston
University in the NCAA quarterfinals [should say semifinals].
 
The Gophers' strength will be defense.  Chris McAlpine and Eric Means graduated,
but four steady veterans return: juniors Dan Trebil, Charlie Wasley and Greg
Zwakman, and sophomore Brian LaFleur, who was last season's top freshman.  On
top of that, transfer Jay Moser is ready to step in.
 
The flashiest news on defense, though, is that those five steady performers will
get a jump-start from two freshmen -- Mike Crowley and Jason Godbout -- who
could immediately go to the head of the class.
 
Crowley, who played for Bloomington Jefferson's three-time state champions, has
been called the best defenseman from Minnesota since Phil Housley, and if it
wasn't for Crowley, those accolades might go to Godbout.  Hill-Murray's
four-year star isn't as flashy as Crowley but is tougher physically, a
characteristic the defense will need with McAlpine gone.
 
That gives the Gophers seven prime defensemen, and junior Andy Brink could make
it eight -- and be among the best -- except that he will play center because of
the depth on defense.  All of that should make the goaltending duties of Jeff
Callinan and Jeff Moen easier, even if the competition in goal from Steve DeBus
could provide a new challenge.
 
The question of goal scoring remains, although it didn't seem to hinder last
season's Gophers on their second-half surge to the top of the standings.  Junior
Brian Bonin has been projected as a potential All-America candidate based on his
strong finish last season, but senior co-captain Justin McHugh is the only other
proven scorer among the returnees.
 
Bonin had 24 goals and 20 assists for 44 points, McHugh was at 15-21-36.  The
only other returning forward to hit double figures in goals was Bobby Dustin
with 10.  That brings up the club's secret weapon -- Scott Bell.  Always a
hustling igniter, Bell played though his junior year despite serious back
problems.  He sat out last season to let his back heal after surgery and is now
back as co-captain.
 
"I think Scott Bell is going to help us a lot,"  Woog said.  "We don't have much
size, and we need a guy who will step forward with some physical character. We
don't have to knock people over, so much as make sure that the pile-ups don't
all lean one way."
 
Brink could augment the scoring, as could Dave Larson, Nick Checco and Dave
Larson [sic], but as with the defense, a freshman might steal the show.  Ryan
Kraft, a winger with explosive skating speed who scored 45 goals and 40 assists
for Moorhead last season, could pump life into the team's goal totals.
 
Clint Johnson from Duluth East, Casey Hankinson from Edina, Jason Seils from
South St. Paul and Joe Pankratz, who spent his last two high school seasons with
the USHL's Omaha Lancers and St. Paul Vulcans, also could augment the offense.
They must fill the void left by graduated seniors Jeff Nielsen, Joe Dziedzic,
and Tony Bianchi.
 
Furthermore, brothers Jim and John Hillman, who were freshmen last season, are
gone.  Jim dropped out of hockey for personal reasons, and John became
academically ineligible and will play for the Vulcans and attend community
college to try to reestablish his grades.  And defenseman Mike McAlpine has
dropped hockey while trying to recover from shoulder injuries.
 
That many departures could stagger some programs, but Woog hasn't even had time
to complain.  He's too busy trying to figure out where to use all the players at
his disposal.
 
 
Pam Sweeney                            Go Gophers!!!
[log in to unmask]      1993 & 1994 WCHA Playoff Champions!!!
                                  1994 NC$$ PHinal PHour!!!
                                        Ski-U-Mah!!!