Today's (2/16/94) Daily spells out how Olympic players could return to their teams yet this year and gives another summary of the upcoming WCHA action. Headline: Hendrickson unlikely to return to U this year Publish Date: 02/16/1994 David Jackson <W0I>Staff Reporter Gopher coach Doug Woog said he doesn't expect Team USA forward Darby Hendrickson to return to the Gophers this season, but that Hendrickson wants to return for a full junior season next year. Hendrickson could return to the Gophers this year by submitting a waiver to the NCAA's Academic Requirements Committee upon returning from Lillehammer, Norway. The NCAA exempts any player who competes in the Olympics, World University Games or Pan American Games during an academic term from the minimum course load requirement of 12 credit hours during that term, said Dan Dutcher, director of legislative services for the NCAA. Dutcher cited Rule 14.1.6.2.2.2 (b) in the NCAA manual. ``It doesn't make sense to register for classes if you're going to miss half the term,'' Dutcher said. ``That's the reason for the waiver.'' But the player does lose the year of eligibility if he returns to competition, and for that reason Woog does not expect Hendrickson to return this season. ``There are three issues involved,'' Woog said. ``First, he'll be tired, and his biggest goal was the Olympics. Second, he told me the team has been playing together and worked hard, and he doesn't want to upset the chemistry. ``And the biggest thing is that he told me he's coming back (next season) unless he gets a ton of money (from the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs). At this point he's got two years of leverage left. He'd lose one if he came back this year.'' The Olympic hockey tournament concludes Feb. 27. Dress code Missing from the scene in Grand Forks, N.D., this year are the familiar North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey uniforms, with the Indian head logo on the front and crossed tomahawks covering the letter ``S'' on the side. The school changed its uniforms after protests by American Indian groups. Furthermore, the school is not allowed to sell any items with the old logo after this season. Souvenir stands in Engelstad Arena were popular places this weekend, as the Sioux have only two home series remaining this year. <%-2>Before each game at the arena, the public address announcer informs the crowd of the history of the school's nickname, which originated in the 1930s as a tribute to the history of the region, and encourages the crowd not to engage in any cheer that is disrespectful to American Indians.<%0> Team USA update Besides Hendrickson, the Gophers are represented on Team USA by forward Craig Johnson and defenseman Travis Richards. Johnson had an assist in Sunday's 4-4 tie with France. Other ex-WCHA players on the team are defensemen Brett Hauer, formerly of Minnesota-Duluth; Barry Richter, formerly of Wisconsin; and forward Mark Beaufait, who played for Northern Michigan. Beaufait also had an assist against France. And the WCHA is represented in the striped uniforms by referee Jay Borman, who was selected by USA Hockey to join the select group of international officials at the Games. WCHA update This weekend could be the biggest of the season, as the top six teams play among each other. The first-place Gophers host sixth-place Alaska Anchorage; second-place Colorado College travels to fifth-place St. Cloud State; and Northern Michigan and Wisconsin, tied for third, meet in Marquette, Mich. Five points separate the top five teams in the conference. Of those five contenders, the Gophers have the most difficult schedule. After this weekend, Minnesota is the only team to play two of the other contenders. They travel to Wisconsin next weekend and conclude the regular season with a home-and-home series against St. Cloud State. And the Gophers must stay ahead of their closest competition, because they lose the tiebreaker with Colorado College on the basis of the Tigers' series sweep in October. Pam Sweeney Go Gophers!!! [log in to unmask] 1993 WCHA Playoff Champions!!! [log in to unmask] Ski-U-Mah!!!