Signing period for Lucia, Gophers hockey team is low-key

Many recruits who sign today likely will go to the USHL, while in the now, injuries and defections are a challenge.

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune

Last update: November 11, 2009 - 11:14 AM

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Signing day in men's hockey at the University of Minnesota is different than in football and men's basketball. Gophers coach Don Lucia is not expected to announce any signings until next week, even though the week-long early signing period starts today.

Lucia said he probably will sign six to eight players. But several of them, he said, likely will play junior hockey for at least a season.

"We'll wait and see what happens," Lucia said. "We'll see how the year goes."

Waiting might be best. So far, this season has not gone as planned in terms of the roster situation. The Gophers are down to 22 healthy bodies -- and six defensemen -- until mid-December when freshman defenseman Nick Leddy comes back from a broken jaw. Senior forward Jay Barriball is out for the season after surgery having surgery Friday for a torn lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. And, on Monday, sophomore defenseman Sam Lofquist quit the team.

"He came in [Monday]," said Lucia, asked when Lofquist told him. "I am not sure what he is going to do."

Lofquist played in only three of the Gophers' first eight games. He missed two because of a foot bruise which turned into an infection. He was a healthy scratch in three games, or one more than he missed last season.

"Obviously, he wanted to play more," Lucia said.

But the coach is happy with the players he has left.

"We got guys who want to be here," Lucia said.

One of them is Barriball. He was injured in a collision with Lofquist in practice last week.

"[Lofquist] told me he was really sorry," Barriball said. "There are no hard feelings. I texted him and said, 'Sam it's not your fault, this stuff happens in hockey.' "

Barriball said he plans to ask for a medical redshirt, so he can play next season.

"I want to finish my career" with the Gophers, he said.

Even with Barriball back, Lucia will lose three forwards and two defensemen who are seniors. Junior Jacob Cepis, a transfer from Bowling Green who will be eligible at midseason, will fill one of those openings.

But that still leaves five roster spots open at least, counting Lofquist's, and unanticipated departures.

The Gophers will sign Max Gardiner, a senior forward at Minnetonka. A signing ceremony at school is set for 7 a.m. today. He is the younger brother of Jake Gardiner, a Wisconsin sophomore defenseman. Also signing in the next week will be forward Ryan Walters, of Des Moines in the USHL.

Come spring, 6-5, 200-pound Blaine center Nick Bjugstad also will sign. By then, he will be considered a senior. He is accelerating his education to graduate in three years. He had 31 goals and 29 assists as a sophomore in 31 games.

Other top candidates to sign this week are three other USHL players: defenseman Nate Schmidt and forward Nate Condon of Fargo, and forward Eric Haula of Omaha.

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