Hockey players at U rising early Tuesday for fitness tests

The first official Gophers hockey practice is still about three and a half weeks away. But the Gophers players have fitness tests at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday at Mariucci Arena and a team meeting later in the day.

And just as it is for other students, this is also the first day of classes for hockey players, too.

"Our guys have worked hard this summer, they are in tremendous shape," said Mike Guentzel, the Gophers associate head coach last week at the State Fair. "Cal Dietz, our strength coach, has done a great job and now it is our job on Tuesday to make them better hockey players and field a championship team."

Grant Potulny, the Gophers young assistant coach, also was at the fair along with three seniors, captain Taylor Matson, forward Jake Hansen and goalie Kent Patterson.

"I told Grant we better have a good team this year because he is the one that recruited these players," Guentzel said, "so it will be on him."

Guentzel was joking, but then went on talking about Potulny in a more serious vein: "Grant was a good addition to the staff a couple of years ago. He is a very good recruiter and has a lot of passion for the program.

"Obviously, Grant is a three-time captain at Minnesota. That speaks volumes to his leadership abilities. We are fortunate that he has the energy that he does to work with our players."

HANSEN EXCITED ABOUT SEASON

Jake Hansen, a 6-1 191-pound senior right wing, said he expects to keep scoring this season. He is the top returning goal-scorer. He had 11 goals last season and 20 points. Center Erik Haula is the only returning player with more points; Haula had 24 points as a freshman.

"Growing up in high school and juniors, I was able to find the back of the net," Hansen said. "Coming here my first couple of years [I] kind of struggled a little bit. And then last year, I got my confidence back and kind of turned it on towards the end of the year."

Here are Hansen's year-by-year stats:

goals assists total pts.

sophomore 7 5 12

junior 11 9 20

career 20 19 39

Last season, Hansen scored six of his 11 goals on power plays. "I have always enjoyed playing on the power play," he said.

"I am definitely excited about this year's squad," Hansen said. "Last year, having a bunch of freshmen, some of them really stepped up. It is going to be key for them step up this year. And Kent [Patterson] emerging last year was huge. He is one of the better goalies in the country. We will start around him.

PRACTICES LIMITED THIS MONTH

College hockey coaches can only be on the ice with players two hours per week in September, according to NCAA rules. And until Sept. 15, they can only work with four players maximum at a time.