Western Collegiate Hockey Association

When the University of Minnesota was founded as a preparatory school in 1851, Minnesota had been a territory for just two years, and statehood was still seven years away. The school was built on the east bank of the Mississippi River with little more than the pioneer's faith in education. The University has since grown into the single greatest center of creativity in the state.

AC: 612
Location: Minneapolis, MN 55455
Founded: 1851
Enrollment: 50,833
Nickname: Golden Gophers
Colors: Maroon & Gold
Arena: Mariucci Arena (200 x 100)
Arena Capacity: 10,000
Press Box Phone: 625-6900

Minnesota forward Ryan Stoa returns after suffering a season-ending injury in the first period of the second game of the 2007-08 season against Michigan. Stoa, who was selected as team captain for 2008-09, underwent ACL surgery in November and resumed skating on his own in March. He has 22 goals in his first two seasons with the Gophers and was a second-round draft choice of the Colorado Avalanche in 2005.

A two-time national champion coach and one of five active Division I men's hockey coaches with more than 500 victories, Don Lucia enters his 10th season as the head coach at the University of Minnesota.

Lucia, 50, has guided the Gophers to a stellar 239-113-38 (.662) mark during his nine seasons.