Gophers' Lucia has undisclosed illness

The hockey coach is contending with a health issue that has kept him from recent practices and maybe from tonight's game.

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune

Last update: January 2, 2009 - 8:01 AM

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GOPHERS' HOCKEY DODGE HOLIDAY CLASSIC

When, where: 4:07 and 7:07 tonight and Saturday at Mariucci Arena (Gophers play in late game both nights)

TV, radio for Gophers: FSN, 830-AM tonight, 950-AM Saturday

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Gophers men's hockey coach Don Lucia never has missed a game because of illness in 22 seasons as a head coach at three colleges.

That streak might end tonight when the Gophers play Brown in the second game of the Dodge Holiday Classic at Mariucci Arena.

Lucia has made only one brief appearance this week at the rink because of an undisclosed medical problem. Whether Lucia returns tonight depends on his health.

"He is not sure how he will be feeling, what [Friday] will bring," said John Hill, one of Lucia's two assistant coaches. "He's hopeful he will show up and sit in the press box."

In that scenario, Lucia most likely would be in the locker room before the game and come down to the locker room between periods to make adjustments, said Jim Strick, the university's sports information director for men's hockey.

If Lucia is upstairs or not at the game at all, Hill said, he and Mike Hastings would share the coaching duties on the bench such as making line changes and talking to the players. Hill is in his fourth season on Lucia's staff, Hastings in his first.

Why the lack of details on Lucia's medical condition? "He is trying to stay kind of private on this," Strick said. "That does not necessarily mean it is serious. It is just because he doesn't know yet. ... He is not exactly sure what his illness is."

Lucia recently has had medical tests at a hospital, Strick said, but he still might be waiting for results or might need more tests.

Lucia has told his staff and players to refrain from commenting on his situation if asked.

"He wants the players and other coaches to focus on this weekend and the games and not his health," Strick said.

Hill concurred. "I can't comment, it's all out of respect to Don."

After a two-week break for the holidays, the Gophers resumed practices on Monday.

Lucia made his first appearance at Mariucci on Thursday. He attended a video session at noon, then left without going on the ice for the regular practice.

"He talked to the team during that session," Strick said.

Lucia, who turned 50 in August, has coached in 869 consecutive games since becoming the head coach at Alaska Fairbanks starting with the 1987-88 season. He stayed there for six seasons. He coached at Colorado College the next six seasons and at Minnesota since 1999-2000. So this is his 10th season as the Gophers coach.

The Gophers, who won national titles in 2002 and '03 under Lucia, are 8-3-5 this season and rated No. 4 in the national polls.

Lucia has coached from the press box once before. After spinal surgery near the end of the 2003-04 season, he was upstairs for a home series against St. Cloud State on March 5-6 which the Gophers swept. A week later, Lucia was back on the bench.

The spinal surgery fused cervical vertebrae to relieve numbness and weakness in his right arm and hand.

Strick said Thursday he did not know if Lucia's present medical problems were related to that previous condition.

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