Sports

Lucia expects speedy return of Hoeffel

Mike Hoeffel, who has mono, should be able to play when the Gophers visit Denver in mid-February.

By Roman Augustoviz

January 21, 2010 at 2:10AM

Gophers coach Don Lucia confirmed on Wednesday that junior winger Mike Hoeffel does have mononucleosis. He said he found out early this morning.

"Right now they are looking at a return during our off week," Lucia said, referring to Jan. 31 through Feb. 6. "So it looks like he will be ready and able to go when we play Denver,"

He would be a welcome addition for the Pioneers, the nation's No. 1-rated team. DU beat the Gophers 3-0, 3-0 on Oct. 23-24 at Mariucci Arena. The Gophers-Pioneers play in Denver Feb. 12-13.

"Now we are down three forwards, who were probably in our top nine or 10 forwards when you look at the way the year began," Lucia said. "Somebody else is going to have to step up. The good thing is guys aren't going to have to step up for 10 games. They got to step up for four.

"We are not going to have him and he is not going to be playing the next two weeks and we know that. Somebody else gets to play and we have to have other people contribute just like last weekend. We scored eight goals and seven different guys scored. That has to be our team. Somebody has to come through this weekend that maybe didn't score the previous couple of weeks."

Junior Jacob Cepis was the only Gopher with two goals in Minnesota's 3-3 overtime tie and 6-1 victory over North Dakota. He scored a goal each night.

Hoeffel, who has a team-high 11 goals, including three game-winners, will miss the home and home series with St. Cloud State this weekend and the trip to Alaska Anchorage after that.

The two forwards who are out with injuries are Jay Barriball (knee) and Taylor Matson (ankle). Both had surgery. Barriball is out for the season. Matson may be back for the WCHA playoffs.

With Hoeffel out, the 12th forward is sophomore Joe Miller. He has played in nine games, has taken 16 shots but does not have a goal nor an assist.

FIRST LINE HUMMING

Lucia added right wing Zach Budish to the first line last weekend and the Jacob Cepis-Jordan Schroeder-Budish line clicked.

'They played well," Lucia said. "We are going to count on them. They are going to have to score but, again, everybody has to contribute. It was interesting -- I didn't realize it until I looked at our line charts -- that our top four scorers were on four different lines last weekend."

In Saturday's 5-1 victory over North Dakota, players on the first line had two goals, and a player on each of the other three lines also had a goal.

"We are starting to get some balance and different guys are chipping in," Lucia said. "We have to have guys get to 10-12 goals this year. We have a few on the way but we need a few more to join them."

Behind Hoeffel, the goal totals drop nearly in half. Tony Lucia and Patrick White have six goals apiece, Jordan Schroeder, Zach Budish and Jack hansen have five each. And then there is Jacob Cepis, who has four in six games. Those seem to be the players capable of reaching double figures in goals.