Here's the season wrap-up from the Minnesota Daily. I think it's actually more of a preview of next season's team than the headline indicates, however. I also couldn't resist adding a few notes about next year's recruits (including their high schools, for you Bob Norton fans!). Headline: Hockey season was a roller coaster ride Publish Date: 04/06/1994 David Jackson <W0I>Staff Reporter To say the Gopher hockey season was one of peaks and valleys would be an understatement. The season began with Minnesota in search of a win and continued to a stretch where the Gophers seemingly could not lose. The roller coaster ride ended with a NCAA tournament semifinal loss last Thursday to Boston University. The 4-1 loss was the last collegiate game for six seniors: Jeff Nielsen, Chris McAlpine, Tony Bianchi, Eric Means, Joe Dziedzic and Steve Green. During the season, the Gophers learned to live without Dziedzic, who broke his arm twice, and Green was strictly a backup, but the other four players will be difficult to replace. McAlpine is the biggest loss, because his departure leaves Minnesota with no dominating physical presence. While the Gophers are a skating team, they've always had at least one player able to physically intimidate opponents. Nielsen leaves and takes 29 goals with him, leaving the Gophers with only Brian Bonin as a proven sniper. His physical play in the corners and in front of the opponent's net will be sorely missed. At 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9 respectively, Bianchi and Means probably don't have the size to play in the NHL, but they will be missed in the Gopher lineup. Both were excellent passers who made up for their lack of bulk by making smart decisions with the puck. They were invaluable on the power play. On the positive side, since Nielsen, Dziedzic and Bianchi played on the same line, and McAlpine and Means on the same defensive pairing, most of the Gophers' lines remain intact. That's important, especially up front, where Bonin, Justin McHugh and Dave Larson formed the Gophers most effective line late in the season. All three return next year. With Nick Checco's emergence in the playoffs and the improved play of Andy Brink, Bobby Dustin and Dan Woog, the Gophers retain that feeling of a group of gnats swarming the opposition. Incoming forwards Ryan Kraft, Joe Pankratz and Jason Seils play the classic Gopher style, using great speed and hands to generate scoring chances. Clint Johnson, who will attend Minnesota on an Evans Scholarship, is a 6-foot-3-inch, 200-pounder who gives the Gophers another big guy to go with Larson and Jed Fiebelkorn. {Kraft is from Moorhead, Seils from South St. Paul, Johnson from Duluth East. Pankratz is from Bloomington Jefferson, but has played USHL the last 2 years, although he has been out with an abdominal muscle tear most of this year.} On defense, both the Dan Trebil-Greg Zwakman and Charlie Wasley-Brian LaFleur pairings worked effectively, one defenseman often stepping up in the offense while the other hung back to prevent quick breakouts by the opponent. Add to these four defensemen sophomore Mike McAlpine, who never got the chance this season after a number of injuries, and St. Cloud State transfer Jay Moser, and the Gophers have a strong core of veteran defensemen. Then add incoming recruits Mike Crowley and Jason Godbout, probably the two best defensemen in the state, and you have the makings of one of the top blueline groups in the country. And none of the eight will be seniors next year. {I think they're regarded as two of the best defensemen in the state in the last couple years. Crowley, from Bloomington Jefferson, is an offensive defenseman whom his coach calls the best he's ever coached -- and that includes former Gopher and current San Jose Shark Tom Pederson, as well as current Gopher Dan Trebil. Godbout, from Hill-Murray, is one of those guys everyone's been watching since he was a freshman.} And both goaltenders return, giving Minnesota experience at the most important position. While team defense is just as important as goaltending for Minnesota, the Gophers enter next year knowing they can count on two proven, capable goalies. With his work in the playoffs and his continuing mastery of rival Wisconsin, Jeff Callinan has emerged as a big-game goalie. And Jeff Moen, who began this year in search of his first college win, gained his experience by winning the WCHA championship game. Steve DeBuss, a Proposition 48 casualty this season, will push the two goalies for playing time. Gopher notes: The Gopher hockey banquet will be held on April 17 at the Sheraton on Industrial Blvd. The public is welcome to attend. Cost is $20. For reservations or questions, call Patti Babcock at 625-2886. Pam Sweeney Go Gophers!!! [log in to unmask] 1993 & 1994 WCHA Playoff Champions!!! 1994 NC$$ PHinal PHour!!! Ski-U-Mah!!!