Minnesota Scene: Benefit set for Shopek, ex-Gophers forward

Gary Shopek, 51, a Gophers hockey forward in the mid-1980s, is fighting late-stage esophageal cancer. A benefit dinner and auction for him is scheduled for Saturday at St. Bridget's Catholic Church, 3820 Emerson Av. N., in Minneapolis.

He played in 173 games for the Gophers, the sixth most in school history. His most productive season was 1986-87, when he had 12 goals and 31 assists in 46 games. The Gophers finished third in the nation that season for a second consecutive year.

For more information on the benefit to raise money toward Shopek's medical bills, visit http://on.fb.me/1glQQHo or e-mail Mike Finke at 907peak@gmail.com.

Paul Walsh

Jose Mendez, who tied for medalist honors, led the Gophers men's golf team to second place at the Duck Invitational at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell, Ore.

The Gophers shot identical 294 scores all three rounds for a 882 total, nine shots behind team champion Oregon State in the 16-team tournament.

Mendez, a freshman from Costa Rica, had a 3-under total of 213 for 54 holes to tie Jeremy Paul of Colorado for first place. He is the first Gophers' medalist since Clayton Rask in October 2007.

Gophers sophomore Lindsay Mable was named to the National Association of College Gymnastics Coaches' first All-America team in all-around and floor exercise and to the second team in vault.

Members of the first team are the eight top-ranked gymnasts in all-around and on each event, the next eight in the rankings make the second team. Mable was the Gophers' first all-around champion in the Big Ten meet last Saturday since 2009. She won nine all-around titles and 23 events in 13 meets this season, including the vault with a perfect 10 in the conference meet.

• Minnesota United FC signed veteran Brazilian striker Daniel Mendes on loan from Kalmar FF, a Swedish league team. Mendes, 33, has scored 55 goals in 165 games in Sweden.