Forward Christian Ramirez, the North American Soccer League's Golden Boot winner last season, re-signed Thursday with Minnesota United FC through 2017.

"It's huge for the club. We are already a special club, and this shows that we are continuing to build our current roster, and also for the future," said United coach Manny Lagos. "It's another example of our ownership group giving us a vision about how we want to develop and grow as an organization and drive forward."

Ramirez led the NASL with 20 goals, which earned him the Golden Boot and broke the franchise single-season record. He also had six assists. The league also named him its Young Player of the Year.

"It's a great day for Minnesota soccer to have signed a player that has already done so much," Lagos said, "and will continue to develop and do so into the future."

"I'm thankful that the club believes in me," Ramirez said, "and I just want to keep working hard and reward the club for believing in me."

MSHSL to hire Leighton

Veteran sports reporter Tim Leighton will become the media relations coordinator for the Minnesota State High School League.

Leighton has covered high school sports for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, where he has worked for 25 years. He also is a registered basketball official. He replaces Howard Voigt, who retired at the end of January.

The league also hired Jason Nickleby to serve as officials coordinator. Nickleby is a longtime coach, game official and educator.

His job will include developing video review concepts and increasing training opportunities for current and new officials, the high school league said Thursday.

Leighton and Nickleby will begin their new positions March 30.

Frost near milestone

The Gophers women's hockey team will try to give coach Brad Frost his 250th win this weekend and clinch a WCHA title when it plays Minnesota Duluth at 7 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday at Ridder Arena.

Frost's career record is 249-40-21. No. 2 Minnesota (25-2-4, 18-2-4-2 WCHA) holds a five-point lead over second-place Wisconsin in the conference race with four regular-season games and a possible 12 points still available.

No. 6 UMD (17-8-5, 12-8-4-2) is on a four-game winless streak. Last weekend the Bulldogs lost 5-0 and tied the Badgers 0-0 (losing in a shootout).

Etc.

• Minnesota will begin its baseball season with a three-game series at Houston this weekend. The Gophers and Cougars will play at 6:30 p.m Friday and Saturday and at 1 p.m. Sunday.

• Junior midfielder Suad Suljic of Minnetonka was named Gatorade's boys' soccer player of the year. He had 18 goals and 14 assists for the Skippers, who reached the Class 2A state quarterfinals.