Here is the brief release the University of Minnesota issued on Sam Lofquist's departure:

Lofquist Leaves Minnesota Men's Hockey Team

Minnesota sophomore defenseman Sam Lofquist has decided to leave the university's men's hockey team and withdraw from school. Lofquist, a Somerset, Wis. native, has played in three of the Gophers' eight games this season and did not register any points. He appeared in 35 of the team's 37 games as a freshman, totaling one goal and three assists. The Gophers have only 22 active players on their roster now, with forward Jay Barriball (knee surgery) out for the season and defenseman Nick Leddy (broken jaw) out until mid-December.

The good news is Leddy will be back and come January the team will get another forward, Jacob Cepis.

He is another sniper like Barriball. Cepis transferred in midseason last season from Bowling Green.

Gophers coach Don Lucia said Lofquist told him Monday he was leaving the team. "I'm not sure what he is doing," Lucia said. "Obviously, he wanted to play more."

Lofquist had played in three of the Gophers' eight games. He missed two with a bruised foot but was a healthy scratch for the other three games.

The Gophers are now down to six healthy defensemen. "We got the guys who want to be here," Lucia said.