Gophers feel ready to move on

Kyle Okposo will be missed but the Gophers hockey team can still finish strong, coach Don Lucia and captain Derek Peltier both said Thursday, breaking a week-long team silence on the sophomore center's decision to turn pro.

"We've got enough good players that I think we can make a good second-half run," Lucia said.

"The guys are refreshed and ready to go; you can see it," said Peltier before the team's second practice following a 13-day break for final exams and the holidays.

The Gophers, who last played on Dec. 8, will be the host for the four-team Dodge Classic this weekend. Minnesota, 9-8-1 overall, 5-7 in the WCHA, will play the Rochester Institute of Technology at 7:07 p.m. Saturday at Mariucci Arena. Before that game, Boston College will meet Air Force at 4:07 p.m.

The two games the next day are at the same times, with Minnesota -- winner of eight consecutive Dodge Classic titles -- playing in the second game whatever the stakes.

When the Gophers returned to practice this week, Lucia held a short meeting the first day. Okposo was the team's second-leading scorer last year with 40 points, but had struggled this season. Okposo had only seven goals and four assists in 18 games, including eight early games in a row without a point. Still his midseason departure shocked everyone.

Last week a New York Islanders representative called Lucia, saying the team wanted to sign Okposo, the seventh pick in the 2006 NHL draft.

Lucia quickly called Okposo, wanting confirmation before the St. Paul native left with the rest of the U.S. team for the World Junior Championships from Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in the Czech Republic.

Okposo told Lucia that he would not return but didn't offer an explaination.

"He gets to fulfill his dream," Lucia said. "It's a tough situation for everybody, but Kyle is a really good kid and he has a bright future.

"We wish him the best. We really do. And as a team we have to move on."

Mike Carman, another sophomore center, will take over much of Okposo's role. Carman was academically ineligible the first semester and is on the 20-and-under U.S. team with Okposo.

"He could always make a great play at any time of the game," said Peltier of Okposo, who e-mailed him to let him know he was leaving.

"He obviously wanted to go play professional hockey last summer. He tried signing. It didn't work out so -- I don't know if he wanted to be back here this year."

Peltier did. "I feel privileged to play here," the senior defenseman said.

Asked about Islanders General Manager Garth Snow's criticism of Lucia last week for hampering Okposo's development, Peltier smiled.

"Our coaches know what they are doing," Peltier said. "They have won national championships here, they have proven they can win, they have proven they can develop players."

Since 2006, eight Gophers have left early to sign pro contracts.

"Hopefully, college hockey and the NHL can get together," Lucia said, "and maybe have some rules in the future about kids in college. That they will leave them alone for a couple of years or certainly during the course of a season."

One rule Lucia especially wants is any player leaving college early has to be put on an NHL roster.

"Great, go play in the NHL," Lucia said. "That's your dream and you are going to make good money. But there are too many kids leaving right now to go play in the American Hockey League."