The Minnesota Daily

Dealing with evolution in college sports

by Ben Goessling
Published May 3, 2005

Minnesota's men's gymnastics team is trying to make a name for itself in a ravaged sport.

Inner-city recruiting continues to wane

by Ben Goessling
Published April 19, 2005

The road to major college hockey doesn't go through the Twin Cities like it used to.

Looking up after a tough ending

by Ben Goessling
Published April 11, 2005

After an improbable run this season, no successes will be labeled as such next season.

Denver beats CC in other semifinal

by Ben Goessling
Published April 8, 2005

The Pioneers will play for back-to-back national titles Saturday.

Sioux put Gophers’ title hopes on ice ’til next year

by Ben Goessling
Published April 8, 2005

Minnesota fell behind 4-0 before coming to life in the final 15 minutes of a 4-2 loss.

(WCHA Final Five) Final Four

by Ben Goessling
Published April 7, 2005

Stop us if you've heard this one before.

Season of unknowns closes accordingly

by Ben Goessling
Published April 7, 2005

Minnesota plays North Dakota tonight in the second Frozen Four semifinal.

Lucia shares pre-Frozen Four thoughts

by Ben Goessling
Published April 6, 2005

The Daily sat down with coach Don Lucia to get his take on the present, past and future.

Potulny looks to carry on family legacy versus Sioux

by Ben Goessling
Published April 5, 2005

Grand Forks, N.D., native Ryan Potulny faces his hometown school Thursday.

Hirsch discusses reasons for absence

by Ben Goessling
Published March 31, 2005

Nearly two weeks after his postgame incident against Colorado College in the WCHA Final Five, Minnesota men's hockey forward Tyler Hirsch talked to the media for the first time. Hirsch addressed some of...

Seniors give their take on ‘rebuilding’

by Ben Goessling
Published March 28, 2005

Judd Stevens is too diplomatic to lash out at his critics. But after this edition of Minnesota's men's hockey team - the one that was labeled a youthful rebuilding project - clinched the program's third...

Tally whacked: OT goal nets Frozen Four

by Ben Goessling
Published March 28, 2005

Barry Tallackson's overtime winner sent Minnesota to an all-WCHA Frozen Four.

Gophers carve odd path to NCAAs

by Ben Goessling
Published March 25, 2005

For someone who has spent most of the week trying to determine whether two-fifths of his power play will be available for the NCAA Tournament, Minnesota men's hockey coach Don Lucia walked into Mariucci...

Hirsch practices, status unknown

by Ben Goessling
Published March 24, 2005

Forward Tyler Hirsch returned to practice for Minnesota's men's hockey team Wednesday, but his availability for this weekend's NCAA West Regional is still in doubt. Hirsch missed Saturday's loss to North...

Gophers deal with uncertainties

by Ben Goessling
Published March 23, 2005

The team is trying to fix problems without knowing who will play this weekend.

Recruiting changes start new era

by Ben Goessling
Published March 22, 2005

Coach Gary Wilson changed his approach after getting burned by a few athletes.

Goligoski has broken bone in hand, Hirsch doesn’t practice

by Ben Goessling
Published March 22, 2005

Minnesota men's hockey defenseman Alex Goligoski has a broken bone in the top of his left hand and might miss the Gophers' first NCAA Tournament game versus Maine on Saturday. Goligoski is wearing a removable...

Minnesota anything but shipshape heading into NCAAs

by Ben Goessling
Published March 21, 2005

Tyler Hirsch is just one of the unknowns as Minnesota gets ready for Maine.

Top seed marred by pair of losses

by Ben Goessling
Published March 21, 2005

The Gophers lost a pair of games and some composure, but they are a No. 1 seed.

Minnesota looks to capitalize on breaks in WCHA playoffs

by Ben Goessling
Published March 11, 2005

The Gophers face Minnesota State in a best-of-three series beginning today.

Tallackson hears no evil as uneven career nears end

by Ben Goessling
Published March 10, 2005

Great expectations behind him, Barry Tallackson just wants another playoff run.

Gophers’ blueliners take offensive philosophy all the way to the net

by Ben Goessling
Published March 9, 2005

Defensemen have scored 28 percent of Minnesota's goals in the last three series.

Kessel chooses Minnesota

by Ben Goessling
Published March 7, 2005

The top prospect for the 2006 NHL Draft passed on his hometown Badgers.

Sweep, help give Minnesota third

by Ben Goessling
Published March 7, 2005

The Gophers sneaked into third place after Wisconsin took just one point in Duluth.

Late-season pains cause final series to takeon added significance

by Ben Goessling
Published March 4, 2005

Three months ago, Minnesota's men's hockey team's trip to Michigan Tech looked like a perfectly meaningless way for it to end the regular season. On paper, it looked like Minnesota would have one of the...

Teammate: Kessel to Gophers is very likely

by Ben Goessling
Published March 3, 2005

Top recruit Phil Kessel will announce his school of choice at 1:15 p.m. Friday.

Kessel likely to decide this week

by Ben Goessling
Published March 1, 2005

The top 2006 NHL Draft prospect could decide on a school as early as today.

Gophers come out hitting after physical practice

by Ben Goessling
Published February 28, 2005

Minnesota skated in full gear for 30 minutes before Saturday's game.

Herbie would be proud: Lucia’s jabs yield sweep

by Ben Goessling
Published February 28, 2005

The coach sat several players and switched two lines before Saturday's 4-1 win.

Lost chances behind him, weekend tilt with St. Cloud State begins Johnson’s chance to make it right

by Ben Goessling
Published February 25, 2005

With Kellen Briggs out indefinitely, goalie Justin Johnson will take over as the No. 1.

Briggs could be out a month with hand injury

by Ben Goessling
Published February 24, 2005

Goaltender Kellen Briggs will not play this weekend against St. Cloud State.

Sons of Miracle men relish fathers’ glory

by Ben Goessling
Published February 22, 2005

For eight years, the cassette tape sat unopened, collecting dust in John Harrington's closet next to a hundred other miscellaneous mementos. And when the forward on the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team finally...

Lockwood promoted, vacancies filled

by Ben Goessling
Published February 21, 2005

Coach Glen Mason named David Lockwood defensive coordinator Friday.

Gophers get taste of future in win over Under-18 Team

by Ben Goessling
Published February 21, 2005

Minnesota's current players beat a few future Gophers 7-5 Saturday at Mariucci.

Subplots galore in exhibition against U.S. National Under-18 Team

by Ben Goessling
Published February 18, 2005

Future Gophers and one player they hope to woo will be in town Saturday.

Lucia loosens the collar

by Ben Goessling
Published February 17, 2005

After taking just one point on the weekend, the Gophers actually got a couple days off.

Gophers manufacture 115 shots, one point

by Ben Goessling
Published February 14, 2005

Minnesota was seven seconds from a split, when Anchorage tied Saturday's game.

Goaltending picture still getting hazier

by Ben Goessling
Published February 14, 2005

Justin Johnson replaced Kellen Briggs in both games this weekend.

Alaska-Anchorage next for confident Minnesota

by Ben Goessling
Published February 11, 2005

Judging from the few signs Minnesota's men's hockey team has offered on the subject this week, one would assume the Gophers have moved on completely from their monthlong slump. After a split at Wisconsin...

Gophers keeping big win in perspective

by Ben Goessling
Published February 8, 2005

Two days after Minnesota's men's hockey team scored its biggest win in two months by beating Wisconsin 5-3 Saturday, Minnesota returned to work Monday trying not to treat it that way. The Gophers avoided...

Tallackson’s winner a long time coming

by Ben Goessling
Published February 7, 2005

;Battling criticism is nothing new for the senior, who has spent most of his career with the Gophers trying to live up to demands that he be Minnesota's next All-American, not just a serviceable forward. But...

All’s not well, but it ended well

by Ben Goessling
Published February 7, 2005

A last-minute goal by Barry Tallackson gave Minnesota a split at No. 3 Wisconsin.

Table for rematch set much differently

by Ben Goessling
Published February 4, 2005

Minnesota would like to return to how it played in November against Wisconsin.

First line struggling to pull team out of lengthening slump

by Ben Goessling
Published February 2, 2005

The Gophers' first line has scored just three points in the team's last two series.

Friday night lights to Saturday night fever

by Ben Goessling
Published January 31, 2005

The Gophers' ailing 3-2 loss Saturday left them two points shy of being satisfied.

Gophers struggle to play complete series

by Ben Goessling
Published January 31, 2005

Minnesota's players and coaches are starting to make an issue of their youth.

Duluth evokes twice the incentive

by Ben Goessling
Published January 28, 2005

The Bulldogs ended Minnesota's chance for a three-peat last season at NCAAs.

Power-play unit not getting the point

by Ben Goessling
Published January 27, 2005

Keith Ballard's departure has left the Gophers without a power-play point man.

Gophers sorting out issues after sweep

by Ben Goessling
Published January 25, 2005

Player after player streamed into Mariucci Arena on Monday afternoon with the same look on his face. You've probably seen it before. It's roughly the same one painted on a kindergartener's mug after being...

Mich. Tech reprograms Gophers

by Ben Goessling
Published January 24, 2005

The last-place Huskies baffled the Gophers with a 6-3, 3-1 sweep at Mariucci.

Pains cause shakeups, strong words

by Ben Goessling
Published January 24, 2005

Assistant captain Chris Harrington nearly got benched for Saturday's game.

Michigan Tech comes to Mariucci

by Ben Goessling
Published January 21, 2005

P.J. Atherton knew it was going to happen; in fact, most of Minnesota's men's hockey team did. It's just that they would like to think the end is in sight. While the Gophers' transition from a veteran-laden...

Lucia says Briggs will start Friday but Johnson has earned right to play

by Ben Goessling
Published January 20, 2005

After getting his first start in 22 games Saturday against Minnesota State-Mankato, it sounds as if Minnesota men's hockey goaltender Justin Johnson at least has a shot at another one this weekend. Gophers...

U.S. National Team program making changes in college, high school games

by Ben Goessling
Published January 19, 2005

Minnesota has five U.S. National Team Development Program recruits set to attend.

Gophers just glad to skate away with four

by Ben Goessling
Published January 18, 2005

Minnesota ended a three-game losing streak by sweeping Mankato 9-6 and 2-1.

Johnson turns opportunist

by Ben Goessling
Published January 18, 2005

Senior Justin Johnson stopped 39 of 40 shots Saturday in his first action in months.

Barber will forgo senior season

by Ben Goessling
Published January 18, 2005

Running back Marion Barber III was primed to break several school rushing records.

Halfway through, Minnesota has few reasons to complain

by Ben Goessling
Published December 14, 2004

Scrappy veterans, eager youngsters and Kellen Briggs have all contributed this year.

Minnesota collars difficult sweep

by Ben Goessling
Published December 13, 2004

Minnesota's men's hockey team got the result it was looking for over the weekend, but the way the Gophers did it probably couldn't have been any tougher. Met at every turn by a feisty St. Cloud State team,...

Fortunate Friday should be gainful for Gophers

by Ben Goessling
Published December 13, 2004

Strong goaltending and a little luck keyed Minnesota's overtime win at St. Cloud State.

Old-fashioned youngster Hagemo setting an example for older guys

by Ben Goessling
Published December 9, 2004

Coach Don Lucia calls 18-year-old Nate Hagemo one of his two best defensemen.

Gophers find long-lost power play

by Ben Goessling
Published December 6, 2004

Minnesota went 4-for-6 with the man advantage in Saturday's 7-2 win.

Worst brings out the best

by Ben Goessling
Published December 6, 2004

Friday's 3-1 loss was a low point, but the Gophers peaked in Saturday's 7-2 win.

Gophers’ No. 1 mettle to be put to the test at Colorado College

by Ben Goessling
Published December 3, 2004

Minnesota men's hockey coach Don Lucia's lobbying failed, and the Gophers, not weekend opponent Colorado College, are the top-ranked team in the country. But if it's any consolation to Lucia, who didn't...

Hirsch leaves goal-scoring, attention-gathering to others

by Ben Goessling
Published December 2, 2004

Junior Tyler Hirsch is tied for fourth in the nation with 14 assists in 13 games this year.

Formality to reality: Gophers take No. 1

by Ben Goessling
Published November 30, 2004

Coach Don Lucia downplayed the importance of the ranking this weekend.

Gophs Show-case for No. 1

by Ben Goessling
Published November 29, 2004

Minnesota is in line for a top ranking after sweeping the College Hockey Showcase.

Potulny and Irmen get a little help

by Ben Goessling
Published November 29, 2004

Coach Don Lucia wanted scoring to come from elsewhere, and he got his wish.

Lucia not satisfied with a little success

by Ben Goessling
Published November 24, 2004

Given the modest preseason expectations placed on Minnesota's men's hockey team, an 8-3-0 start and a No. 3 national ranking is enough to have most raving about the Gophers. Those parties, however, do...

Seniors Fleming and Smaagaard help make Minnesota’s fourth line an asset

by Ben Goessling
Published November 23, 2004

Minnesota men's hockey center Ryan Potulny calls it the best fourth line in the country, but for Jake Fleming and Garrett Smaagaard, even that high praise comes as something of a backhanded compliment. For...

Gophers cull split from Pioneers

by Ben Goessling
Published November 22, 2004

Minnesota extended its winning streak to six games before losing 5-2 Saturday.

Briggs’ return to Denver is much more encouraging

by Ben Goessling
Published November 22, 2004

Goaltender Kellen Briggs was pulled from both games in Denver last season.

Road gets Rocky as Gophers travel west

by Ben Goessling
Published November 19, 2004

The Gophers have a score to settle after Denver swept them 6-2 and 6-3 last year.

Wheeler highlights five recruit signings

by Ben Goessling
Published November 18, 2004

Blake Wheeler was the first U.S. player taken in June's NHL entry draft.

Minnesota relishes doing the unexpected

by Ben Goessling
Published November 16, 2004

This Gophers team is the antithesis of last year's defending two-time national champs.

Barber’s 167-yard day leads to anticlimactic NCAA record

by Ben Goessling
Published November 15, 2004

Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III did something no other duo has done.

Men win Midwest region; women fourth

by Ben Goessling
Published November 15, 2004

Senior Andrew Carlson ran a 29:48 10K to win his second career region meet.

Gophers left with plenty of reflection time

by Ben Goessling
Published November 15, 2004

Six weeks ago, the Gophers were talking Rose Bowl. Now, they hope for any bowl.

Women head to Midwest Regional meet looking to go to NCAAs for first time since 2001

by Ben Goessling
Published November 12, 2004

After nearly three years of injuries and setbacks, close calls and dashed hopes, it's somewhat appropriate that this edition of Minnesota's women's cross country team would be the one contending for the...

So far, real good for young team

by Ben Goessling
Published November 11, 2004

When center Gino Guyer considered all the possible scenarios for Minnesota's men's hockey team nine games into this season, he said he barely gave any thought to the possibility of the Gophers being 7-2-0. The...

Irmen’s game is more than just glitz

by Ben Goessling
Published November 9, 2004

There's no question Danny Irmen earned his first real share of national attention over the weekend against Wisconsin, but the way he did it might be a little misleading. Irmen's penalty-shot goal against...

Irmen’s penalty shot vital to sweep

by Ben Goessling
Published November 8, 2004

A two-year veteran of the United States Hockey League - where overtime ties are resolved by shootout - Danny Irmen is no stranger to penalty-shot situations. But when the sophomore on Minnesota's men's...

Gophers earn sweep of Badgers

by Ben Goessling
Published November 8, 2004

If the biggest knock on Minnesota's men's hockey team entering the season was that it lacked a proven goal-scorer, then a large part of the impetus for solving that problem fell on two players - one a...

Badgers’ ascent adds significance to border series

by Ben Goessling
Published November 5, 2004

Mention the words "championship atmosphere" to Minnesota's men's hockey team in reference to its series with fifth-ranked Wisconsin this weekend, and you won't get as many crazy looks as you'd think. It...

CC women backups to take part in Rocky’s

by Ben Goessling
Published November 5, 2004

Minnesota's top nine runner will rest in preparation for NCAA regionals.

Frosh defensemen have big skates to fill

by Ben Goessling
Published November 2, 2004

Jordan Leopold, Paul Martin and Keith Ballard are the new Minnesota standard.

Blame shifts to offense this time

by Ben Goessling
Published November 1, 2004

A six-yard fourth quarter was proof enough of a sad day for Minnesota's "O."

Fraley and Banks surprisingly absent with team in ‘best shape’ in ‘a long time’

by Ben Goessling
Published November 1, 2004

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - After Minnesota football coach Glen Mason said Tuesday that the Gophers would be in "the best shape we've been in for a long time" against Indiana, Minnesota still held out starting...

Gophers’ recent first-half pains on the line vs. Mavericks

by Ben Goessling
Published October 29, 2004

Minnesota stumbled early last season, starting the WCHA schedule 1-7-1.

Fresh(men)-faced team settles into roles

by Ben Goessling
Published October 28, 2004

Minnesota's lines are beginning to solidify, and the freshmen are finding their places.

Mason says team’s in good health

by Ben Goessling
Published October 27, 2004

As is his usual custom, Minnesota football coach Glen Mason didn't give any specifics on injuries at his Tuesday press conference. But when asked about the status of starting defensive backs Justin Fraley...

Gophers get refresher in winning

by Ben Goessling
Published October 25, 2004

It didn't do anything to repair the damage inflicted on Minnesota's football team over the last two weekends - not even close. Any diatribes about how the Gophers defense has regained its footing or how...

Takeaways not translating to tallies

by Ben Goessling
Published October 21, 2004

In their last two games, the Gophers turned six takeaways into just six points.

One-on-one matchups, missed tackles dooming Minnesota

by Ben Goessling
Published October 19, 2004

Game film shows a lack of big plays, or anything novel, from the Spartans' offense.

Gophers ground game dropping the ball

by Ben Goessling
Published October 18, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Of all the psychological wounds inflicted on Minnesota's football team after a 51-17 loss to Michigan State, the most damaging one might have come from the Spartans' DeAndra Cobb. The...

Barber, Maroney among the infirmed

by Ben Goessling
Published October 18, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Five Gophers starters missed all or part of Saturday's game against Michigan State: running back Marion Barber III, safety John Pawielski, wide receiver Jared Ellerson and offensive...

Minnesota travels to East Lansing

by Ben Goessling
Published October 15, 2004

The Gophers defense will be tested by the Spartans' upstart QB, Drew Stanton.

Borton signs contract extension

by Ben Goessling
Published October 14, 2004

The deal will keep Borton at Minnesota through the 2010-11 season.

Mason stands by play-calling in fourth

by Ben Goessling
Published October 13, 2004

Minnesota football coach Glen Mason stood by his play-calling on the drive that might have cost the Gophers a win at Michigan on Saturday, saying he didn't regret departing from the ground game on the...

Despite late lead, it’s Mich-again

by Ben Goessling
Published October 11, 2004

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Last year, a 21-point fourth quarter lead wasn't enough. This time, three takeaways, including one on the doorstep of the goal line, weren't enough. What will it take for Minnesota's...