Connor Reilly's return to the ice is becoming more unlikely. The sophomore forward for the Gophers men's hockey team hoped to start skating the past week, but was unable to show enough progress after suffering a right knee injury a month ago.

He was originally listed as out indefinitely, but was eyeing a possible return after several weeks of rest. With only four games left in the regular season, his season could be over.

"It doesn't look like Connor will be back any time soon," coach Don Lucia said Wednesday. "We were hoping that maybe he could be back within these couple weeks' time frame, especially the last weekend. But if we can't get him back before the end of the regular season, I think it would be very difficult for him to jump back in and play [in the playoffs]."

Reilly hasn't skated or practiced with the team since being injured on Jan. 31 at Wisconsin.

Reilly was the Gophers' top goal-scorer with 11 before suffering the injury.

JASON GONZALEZ

Mavs coach resigns

Eric Means, the head coach of the Minnesota State Mankato women's hockey team, said he is resigning after six years at the end of May.

The Mavericks finished this season 3-32-1. His overall record was 48-161-16.

"This business is hard when the result is losing people in your program like Eric Means," said Kevin Buisman, Minnesota State Mankato's director of athletics. "Eric was as dedicated, hard working, and loyal as they come and he poured his heart into Maverick women's hockey."

Means, a former Gophers defenseman, was a Mavericks men's hockey assistant for 14 years before becoming head coach of the school's women's team.

Two to indoor nationals

Luca Wieland and Jess Herauf, both recent multi-event Big Ten champions, received invitations to the NCAA Divison I Indoor Championships March 13-14 in Fayetteville, Ark.

Wieland, a sophomore from Berlin, won the conference heptathlon title last week with a school-record total of 5,787. His score is the fifth best in the nation this indoor season.

Herauf, a junior from Dickinson, N.D. won the women's pentathlon with 4,361 points, also a program record and only five points shy of the Big Ten record. She will be the fifth seed at nationals, too.

Etc.

• Mark MacMillan, the leading goal-scorer for No. 1 North Dakota, will be out indefinitely after having surgery Wednesday on a lower-body injury. The senior forward from Penticton, British Columbia, has 16 goals and 25 points. He was hurt in UND's 3-1 victory over St. Cloud State on Saturday.

• The Gophers women's golf team finished fifth in the Miami Hurricane Invitational at the Biltmore Golf Course with a score of 26-over-par 878. Sophomore Emie Peronnin shot a 1-under 70 her final round to tie for 13th place with a score of 218.

• St. Thomas will try to win its 31st title in a row in the MIAC men's indoor track and field championships starting Thursday at Concordia (Moorhead). In the women's meet, St. Thomas will try to win its 16th consecutive title.