I'm appending here some excerpts from today's (8/12/93) Star Tribune. There's some stuff about the Minnesotans named, and some comments by Doug Woog on the effects on the Gophers, but there are also some comments on the general nature of the team and the trials that should be of more general interest. Pam Skating closer to Olympics Six Minnesotans picked for final '94 hockey pool By Jay Weiner Staff Writer (Reminiscences of 1980 Olympics omitted) ...Gophers forwards (Darby) Hendrickson and (Craig) Johnson and defenseman (Brett) Hauer of Minnesota-Duluth were three six Minnesotans named to the final pool of 25 players who will become Team USA at the 1994 Winter Olypmics in Lillehammer, Norway. The other Minnesotans selected after a one-week camp at Cromwell, Conn. were: defenseman Chris Imes of Birchdale and the University of Maine; center Derek Plante of Cloquet and Minnesota-Duluth, and defenseman Travis Richards of Crystal and the Gophers. The announcement by Olympic coach Tim Taylor is more meaningful than similar decisions in 1988 and 1992, when Team USA was coached by Dave Peterson. Unlike Peterson, Taylor has no plans to make wholesale roster changes before the Games begin on Feb. 12. For the Olympics, 23 players are allowed into the athletes' village; three must be goalies. Taylor named only two goalies yesterday - 1992 Olympian Mike Dunham and Garth Snow, both from NCAA champion Maine. So, 20 of the 23 skaters selected yesterday will get to Lillehammer. "It's not my intention to have a six-month trial," said Taylor, Yale's coach. "It's my intent to develop a team over six months." Gopher Jeff Nielsen of Grand Rapids was one of 15 players cut yesterday - even as coach Doug Woog began thinking of how to fill the holes left by Hendrickson and Johnson. Richards, property of the Dallas Stars, completed his eligibility last season. Woog said he hopes that, at least, either Hendrickson or Johnson will return to play for the Gophers after the Olympics end in late February; neither was willing to make that commitment yesterday. Woog expressed special concern over the loss of Johnson, a crafty center with good defensive skills. "We'll be looking for a center who can play late in the game to take faceoffs," said Woog, who said he will be looking for stepped-up contributions from Nielsen, who scored 21 goals last season, junior Justin McHugh and sophomore Brian Bonin. It is Hendrickson who perhaps personifies Taylor's team: young, fast- skating with international experience and knowledge of the more fluid, puck-control style employed in Europe on long, wide ice sheets. (more 1980 reminiscences omitted) The "Dream Team" concept was scuttled by the NHL, so Taylor must use college players, with some minor heaguers, and Ted Drury and Peter Ciavaglia thrown in for good measure. Drury will play for the Calgary Flames and join Team USA in February. Forward Ciavaglia will play professionally in Sweden before joining Team USA. "We have to accept some change, but it doesn't mean we can't keep that youthful enthusiasm, that romantic image of what the Olympics are all about," Taylor said. "It's what we have to use to motivate our players." Team USA will play at Target Center on Oct. 27 against the Gophers and Nov. 28 against Team Canada. Monday the squad leaves for Finland and its first games as the road to Lillehammer begins.