Lucia has fond memories of Lefty Smith

Gophers coach Don Lucia played for Lefty Smith when Lucia was a defenseman at Notre Dame from 1977-81.

So Lucia was among the many saddened to hear that Smith died on Tuesday night of natural causes at his home in South Bend, Ind. "Everybody that knows Lefty loved him," Lucia said.

Smith coached the Irish for 19 years from 1968 to 1987 and, until retiring last month, was the facility manager of the school's Loftus Sports Center.

"Lefty was not only the hockey coach but he spent more time there not coaching than coaching," Lucia said. "In many ways he was almost an ambassador at Notre Dame.

"When you went in his office, as he managed the football center, you couldn't see the walls. All you saw were pictures of former players and families. That is just the kind of person he was."

Smith, who would have turned 82 on Thursday, had a 307-320-30 record at Notre Dame. His teams were WCHA runners-up in 1973 and '77. He was the WCHA coach of the year in 1973.

Smith's hockey roots were in Minnesota. He graduated from the College at St. Thomas in 1951 and from 1953 to '68 was an assistant and then a head coach at South St. Paul High School.

Woog was the Gophers coach that Lucia succeeded in 1999-2000.

Smith knew both Herb Brooks and John Mariucci well, Lucia said, adding; "He's told some good stories playing with John Mariucci [for] the old Millers back in the day."

The Minneapolis Millers were a semi-pro hockey team.

"It is amazing the names and the people that he [knew]," Lucia said.

The rink at Notre Dame's new Compton Family Ice Arena is named in honor of Smith.

ANOTHER LUCIA ON IRISH PATH

Last month when his son Mario signed with Notre Dame, Don Lucia said he could not help but reflect on his decision to go there.

"It was 35 years ago that I was headed there," the Gophers coach said. "It seems like a long time ago. I like the fact that [Mario] is going there other than the 35 years in between. It is a great opportunity. I certainly enjoyed my time there. It made it extra [special] because [the Irish] were part of the WCHA back then.

"So it was an enjoyable experience for me and I am sure it will be for him as well."

Don Lucia said he still has emotional ties for his alma mater.

The Gophers and Irish play at 7 p.m. Saturday in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game.

Lucia said he recently watched a well-done, hour-long TV program recently on Notre Dame hockey.

"[Former Notre Dame coach] Dave Poulin said it best" on that TV show, Lucia said, "they are at the point now where everybody hoped they would be. The commitment, like any athletics, it has to come from the top on down. The facility they built shows the commitment they have with their hockey program. Like all their sports, they expect to be at the top."

And the Gophers will get to play in the Irish's new rink.

"Selfishly, we will be playing them the next four years," Lucia said, a reference to his youngest son playing for the Irish starting next season.

Then turning serious, Lucia said, "It is a good opponent for us to play, too. They want to get back here and play some games. ... It is not too far."

TEAMMATES TO OPPONENTS

Two players from the Gophers and two from Notre Dame were teammates on the U.S. team in the World Junior Championships.

"They will be flying back, probably together, [on Thursday]." Lucia said.

Forwards Nick Bjugstad and Kyle Rau of the Gophers played on the U.S. team as did forward T.J. Tynan and defenseman Stephen Johns of Notre Dame.