The Don on how big hockey is in Gopher state, new frosh, team goal

Gophers coach Don Lucia was all over the State Fair on Wednesday. First he appeared with Paul Allen on KFAN and then he was on stage with three of his players before a building full of U of M exhibits and merchandise.

A crowd of abour 100 people gave Lucia and three of his players a nice hand when they were introduced. A few might have been there just for the pronto-pups on sale right there in a booth on Dan Patch Ave.

This is Lucia's 12th season as head coach of the Gophers. "It is hard to believe I moved here in 1999 [from Colorado College] ... so it is my third decade, how about that?" he said.

"When you look at Gopher hockey and hockey in the state of Minnesota in general, obviously I like to think is the No. 1 sport in our state," Lucia said. "We live in winter six months of the year so you better enjoy outside and enjoy some hockey. How many kids are playing youth hockey to the number of college hockey programs we have in our state, and now the NHL is back in our state. There is so much interest. And obviously there is interest in the only Division i school in the state of Minnesota as far as institutions but there is a lot of Division I programs. And the games being on TV. And many of our fans get a chance to watch these kids growing up and playing high school hockey before they attend the University of Minnesota. So they follow these kids all the way up."

What makes this college hockey season extra special is that the Frozen Four in April will be at the Xcel Energy Center. The last time it was there, the Gophers won a national title in 2002.

"A lot of good memories there, when we were able to get to that Frozen Four. We had a big win against Michigan in the semifinals and then were able to come from behind in that championship game and win that in overtime. And that, as far as I am concerned, was one of the most special days I have had as a coach or a player. It is something I will live with and be able to remember the rest of my life.

"All these guys probably watched it on TV. And hopefuly they can get a chance to experience something like that this year."

Ten freshmen are joining the program, including three older walk-ons.

"On defense we have Jake Parenteau, who is from the Twin Cities area," Lucia said. "He has been playing the last couple years up in Alaska in the North American Hockey League. So he comes in a little bit older. He is really going to have a chance to come in and help us.

"We have a couple defensemen coming right out of high school hockey in Mark Alt, who was a [Class 5A] state championship quarterback at Cretin. Justin Holl who played at Minnetonka. He will be coming in as a true freshman. And then Nate Schmidt, he is from St. Cloud. He will be a true freshman although he did play last year for Fargo in the USHL.

"So four of our eight defensemenwill be freshmen, but they all have good experience and we have four returning of our top six from last year. We have a good nucleus returning and with our incoming freshmen it should be great competition.

"Up front we have six incoming fresheman. Tom Serratore, who is from Colorado Springs, has played in USHL the last couple of years. His father is from Coleraine and is the Air Force Academy's head coach. He will bring some of the grit we like to see.

"Obviously Nick Bjugstad from Blaine was a first-round pick of Florida. Big, strong, 6-foot-4, 210-pound freshman. We are hoping we can keep him a few years before he heads off to the next level.

"And Nate Condon, he has played the last two years at Fargo [of the USHL]. He is from Wausau, Wis. And Max Gardiner who also played high school hockey at Minnetonka last year. Big kid."

Bjugstad's uncle, Scott, played for the Gophers and later in the NHL. "[Nick] has good bloodlines and he is going to be a very good player for us this year," Lucia said.

"We think we have a good mix of size, speed. I think those freshmen are going to help us. But like I always say, the most important thing to our team this year is going to be our seniors. If guys sitting up here on the stage like Jay [Barriball] and Alex [Kangas], if our seniors can have great years, then our team is going to have a great year.

"Our goal each and every year is to be in the NCAA tournament and take our swing. We have fallen short of that goal the last couple years. The guys are really motivated to get back there and see if we can get in the NCAA tournament and ultimately get back to St. Paul."