From today's (10/30/95) Minnesota Daily
http://www.daily.umn.edu/~online/daily/10301995/sports/kohn/>=20
 
> SPORTS
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> First shift proves to be unforgettable for Kohn
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> Kristian Pope - Staff Reporter
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> Bill Kohn might have been the last of the highly touted Gophers
> freshmen to play this year, but as Minnesota's 5-1 triumph over
> Alaska demonstrated Saturday, good things come to those who wait.
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> "It was unreal! What a rush," said Kohn following the Gophers series
> sweep with the Seawolves.
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> One of five Minnesota freshmen, Kohn, a defensemen from Roseville
> high school, had yet to play for the deep-at-defense Gophers.
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> Like many of the young men from Minnesota's high school hockey
> programs who get a chance to play for the hometown Gophers, Kohn's
> chance was 20 years in the making.
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> "It really has been a dream," Kohn said. "I grew up watching this
> team. This team is special. You come here and play with other Mr.
> Hockeys. There are stars from every hometown. But here we come
> together and jell.
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> "There's pressure to perform here, but there's two sides to that.
> When you win at home, it's a rush."
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> Gophers coach Doug Woog alerted Kohn on Saturday morning that it was
> time to slip on his No. 24 jersey for real.
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> "Actually, I did (get to sleep the night before)," Kohn said. "I
> thought I might play, but I wasn't sure. When I came to practice
> (Saturday), Coach (Woog) told me.
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> "It didn't really hit me until later that afternoon when we had our
> pre-game meal. I did have trouble sleeping during our afternoon nap
> though. That's when it hit me."
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> Kohn waited nearly all his life for Oct. 28, 1995, to come. The
> Roseville star always dreamed of playing for the Gophers. Saturday,
> at seven minutes after 7 o'clock, the dream was fulfilled.
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> "I was just concentrating on being ready," said Kohn, who added that
> his pre-game nap was filled with fits of anxiety. "I didn't want to
> come out, and, well, I don't know what to say."
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> He didn't want to screw up. Twenty years went into that moment, and
> he wanted it to be special. "Just as soon as I stepped out onto the
> ice, it was unreal," he said. "I've waited all this time."
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> A minute or two after the opening faceoff, Kohn hopped onto the ice
> during the Gophers' third defensive line change for his first shift
> ever.
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> He lined up at center ice during a stoppage of play and chased after
> the puck as the Gophers won the faceoff. There, he fired a crisp
> pass to winger Ryan Kraft. A few seconds later he skated by Alaska's
> bench and was crunched into the boards by the Seawolves' Jeremy
> Mylymok. A couple seconds later, the Gophers freshman skated back to
> his team's bench.
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> Kohn's first shift was complete. He got to handle the puck, made no
> major mistakes and got slammed into the boards.
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> OK, Kohn, you can breathe.
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> "That check kind of woke me up," Kohn said. "You know they say you
> like to get hit or hit somebody. That was kind of a wake-up call.
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> "It was just a regular game after that."
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> Maybe it seemed like a regular game -- and Kohn is sure to see many
> of them in the future with the defensive-minded Gophers -- but this
> one was special.
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> Not only was it his first game for Minnesota, Kohn also scored his
> first point as a Gopher. It came on the power play minutes into the
> game.
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> Kohn fired a shot that would have gone in the net had goalkeeper
> Chris Davis not made the save. Kohn took the rebound and passed it
> to Andy Brink at the left point. Brink's shot deflected off the
> goalpost but Kraft was there to tip it in past Davis.
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> At 3:27 of the first period, it was there on the scoreboard: assist
> to Kohn, his first of the year.
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> "I didn't envision my first point coming on the power play," Kohn
> said. "It was great. I got a point and a penalty tonight."
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> Woog was pleased with the freshman's performance. "I think people
> didn't know he was out there, which is a good compliment," he said.
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> "We didn't keep him out, which is a compliment to him," Woog said.
> "There were no big mistakes, and he got better as the game went on."
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> After the game, Kohn reflected on finally achieving something he's
> worked hard to be a part of for so long.
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> "I've paid my dues," he said. "I played a year of junior last year
> with the (St. Paul) Vulcans. I played 65 games last year to get
> prepared for this." Not to mention the 20 years of preparation.
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> After the Gophers converged at center ice following the game to make
> a circle for their victory ritual, the band played and Kohn skated
> to the exit, alone. It was at that moment when he shook his fist in
> excitement.
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> Perhaps it was in enjoyment over his team's win, or maybe it was
> because the end result on Saturday night made all his work seem
> worth it.
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> [Image]
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> =A9The Minnesota Daily
 
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