Kangas among best goalies ever at U -- statistically

Alex Kangas did not have a great winning percentage as a Gophers goalie. He was 47-41-16 over 3-1/2 season. That works out to a 57.2 winning percentage.

He played on teams that finished seventh, fifth, seventh in the WCHA and this season the Gophers are tied for sixth. So there was not a lot of team success.

Only in his freshman season did the Gophers reach the NCAA tournament. And he was the big reason why. He took over in the nets for Jeff Frazee midway through the season and was a rock. He had a 1.98 goals-against average.

He was at his best in the first round of the WCHA playoffs against Minnesota State in Mankato. The Gophers won that low-scoring series, but every game went into overtime. Mike Zacharias and Kangas dueled. It was great drama. Kangas was just a little better.

Here is how Kangas ranks career-wise to other goalies at the U of M:

First

-- in save percentage, .912

-- in minutes played, 6,359

-- in saves, 2,802

-- in games, 108

-- in consecutive starts, 51 in freshman and sophomore seasons

Fourth

FIFTH SEASON POSSIBLE -- BUT UNLIKELY

When he announced he was having season-ending hip surgery on Friday, Kangas said he had not thought about asking for the NCAA for a fifth season of eligibile based on medical hardship. He said he did not think he qualified.

Turns out he does, according to University of Minnesota sources.

There are two criteria those applying for medical hardship have to meet:

* they have played in less than 30 percent of a team's games. ... Kangas has played in eight game; the Gophers have a 34-game schedule, so he has played in 23.5 percent of the U's games

But on Wednesday he was talking about his college career being over and playing pro hockey. Lucia also said Kangas is going to graduate. So, all in all, it seems, he has moved on.

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