The Gophers football program announced Monday that its spring game will be played April 14 at TCF Bank Stadium. The game will begin at noon and will be free to the public.

Minnesota's spring practice schedule and events surrounding the game will be announced later.

The Gophers posted a 5-7 record in coach P.J. Fleck's inaugural season in 2017. The Gophers open 2018 on Aug. 30 against New Mexico State at TCF Bank Stadium.

Nine early enrollees joined the Gophers for spring semester, and they will participate in spring practice. Included in that group are quarterbacks Vic Viramontes of Riverside (Calif.) City College and Zack Annexstad of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., along with offensive linemen Curtis Dunlap, a four-star recruit, and Daniel Faalele, a 6-9, 400-pounder, both from IMG Academy.

Bell honored again

Gophers junior guard Kenisha Bell received her second Big Ten player of the week honor, sharing the nod with Katelynn Flaherty of Michigan.

Bell, a Bloomington Kennedy grad, averaged 22.5 points, 7.5 assists, seven rebounds and three steals per game last week in leading the Gophers to two conference wins.

State schools jump in men's hockey poll

Three Minnesota teams are in the top 10 of the U.S. College Hockey Online men's poll released Monday, and two of them moved up significantly in the rankings ahead of a Tuesday night intrastate showdown.

Minnesota State Mankato jumped two spots to No. 7 after its 5-2 victory over then-No. 3 St. Cloud State on Saturday. And Minnesota Duluth rose five spots to No. 9 after sweeping North Dakota 5-3 and 5-2 over the weekend. The Mavericks, who've won nine of their past 11, and the Bulldogs, on a 6-0-1 run, meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Mankato.

St. Cloud State dropped two spots to No. 5, while the Gophers remained at No. 13 after sweeping Michigan State.

Notre Dame (19-4-1) remained No. 1. The Fighting Irish visit the Gophers on Friday and Saturday.

• The Gophers women's team dropped two spots to No. 7 in the USCHO poll after being swept at Ohio State. Wisconsin remained a unanimous No. 1.

Etc.

• Jeff Schlieff, the winningest football coach in Spring Lake Park history, has resigned after 25 years. He will remain in his teaching position at Spring Lake Park, the school district said in a news release. Schlieff compiled a 184-79 record and led the Panthers to the Class 5A Prep Bowl in 2016, where they finished as runners-up.

• The Gophers' Lexy Ramler notched the top all-around score in the Big Ten this past weekend with a 39.450 and was named both the gymnast and freshman of the week, the conference announced.

• The Houston Astros claimed lefthanded reliever Buddy Boshers off waivers from the Twins. Boshers was designated for assignment last week when the Twins signed righthander Addison Reed to a two-year contract.