University of Minnesota 2005-06 Men's Hockey Outlook
Forwards: The Golden Gophers are loaded at forward this season as 11 letterwinners returns from a team that averaged 3.52 goals per game in 2004-05. The Maroon and Gold returns its top five scoring forwards, including All-WCHA Third Team members Danny Irmen and Ryan Potulny, and leading returning scorer Tyler Hirsch.
In addition to the stellar returning talent, Minnesota brings in arguably the top freshman forwards in the nation in first-round NHL Draft pick Blake Wheeler, second-round pick Ryan Stoa, scoring dynamo Justin Bostrom and the nation's No. 1 recruit, Phil Kessel. In all, the Golden Gophers return 81% of their goals and 82% of their assists scored by forwards in 2004-05.
Power forwards, versatility and role players highlight UM's left wings. Sophomore Kris Chucko and freshman Ryan Stoa serve as the power forwards from the left side as both are not afraid to use their size to battle in the corners and in front of the net for loose pucks. After a year of learning the college game, the coaching staff expects a breakout season from Chucko in 2005-06. Stoa, meanwhile, enters his rookie season with the size, speed and skills to make an immediate impact. Senior Andy Sertich, a 15-point scorer last season, represents left wing versatility. A talented all-around player with the ability to also play on the blueline, Sertich expects to increase his scoring output this season. Rounding out the left wingers are role players Brent Borgen and Tom Pohl. Both sophomores this season, Borgen and Pohl provide some solid depth and great attitudes on and off the ice.
Depth and goal-scoring is the story at center as Minnesota returns three of its four regular centers from 2004-05 and welcomes exceptional rookie talent to the lineup. Headlining the returning centermen are senior captain Gino Guyer and junior Ryan Potulny. Guyer, a 32-point performer in each of the last two seasons, has missed only four games in his career and gives the Gophers an excellent playmaker. Potulny, a Third Team All-WCHA pick last season, had a breakout sophomore season that saw him become one of the nation's top goal-scorers. Also back is sophomore Evan Kaufmann, a hard-working player who came on strong in the latter half of his rookie season. Coming to Minnesota as a center is one of the most sought-after recruits in college hockey history - Phil Kessel. Destined to be the No. 1 overall pick in next year's NHL Draft, Kessel brings a wealth of offensive talent, blazing speed and outstanding hockey sense. Sophomore Brent Borgen, and freshmen Ryan Stoa and Justin Bostrom are also expected to see some time at center.
Minnesota's top two scorers from 2004-05 - senior Tyler Hirsch and junior Danny Irmen - highlight the right wingers. Hirsch led the team in scoring last season with 11-33-44 and will look to pick up his goal-scoring while continuing to serve as UM's premier playmaker. Irmen, a Third Team All-WCHA pick last season, nearly doubled his point production from his rookie year and is considered the top power forward. Joining the right wingers are three players with loads of offensive talent - Mike Howe, Blake Wheeler and Justin Bostrom. Howe, a 15-point scorer in 2004-05, looks to show what he is capable of this season after battling illness as a rookie. Wheeler, the No. 5 overall pick by Phoenix in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, has great hockey sense, protects the puck well with his body and is able to create enough space to put the puck on net. The ultra-competitive Bostrom is consistent, dependable and tenacious with an outstanding wrist shot and a very quick release.
Defensemen: Minnesota loses only one defensemen from a 2004-05 team that saw several rookies exceed expectations in both the offensive and defensive departments. The Gophers return their top four scoring blueliners, including senior Chris Harrington and All-WCHA Rookie Team member Alex Goligoski. The blueline is stacked with offensive skill, the hallmark of UM defensemen, as well as outstanding defensive talent.
Minnesota's left defensemen bring a good mix of offense and defense with senior Peter Kennedy and sophomores Alex Goligoski and Derek Peltier. Kennedy appeared in only six games last season with a hip injury, but has worked extremely hard in the weightroom during the offseason. Goligoski, a member of the All-WCHA Rookie Team last season, was one of the most pleasant surprises in 2004-05 and looks forward to providing more offense. He brings assets in puck-handling, playmaking and creativity. Peltier, one of UM's most consistent players last season while posting a team-best +17 and producing 19 points, understands his roles on both ends of the ice.
Offensive defensemen and stand-up blueliners are at right defense. Senior Chris Harrington leads the D corps and returns as the team's top scoring defensemen with 2-24-26 last season. A hard-hitting and talented player, Harrington will look to be more consistent this season while adding to UM's tradition of elite offensive blueliners. Junior Mike Vannelli, a 16-point scorer last season, gives the Gophers a quick skater and good passer from the right defense. Vannelli looks to become more of a physical player in addition to contributing more on the offensive end of the ice. Nate Hagemo, plagued by a shoulder injury in 2004-05, plays bigger than his size and is an excellent skater with tremendous speed. A hard-nosed blueliner, Hagemo is never one to back down from a challenge. Senior P.J. Atherton represents UM's most physical defenseman and looks forward to a full season in his final year. Joining the team at right defense is freshman R.J. Anderson, a Minnesota Mr. Hockey finalist.
Goaltenders & Special Teams: UM is in good hands in the goaltending department as 2nd Round NHL Draft pick Jeff Frazee joins two-year starter Kellen Briggs to form one of the top tandems in the nation. The coaching staff expects to rotate the two to position the Gophers' for a run at the 2006 NCAA Championship.
The Maroon and Gold special team units are in good hands with the return of top-end talent and the addition of an elite rookie class. UM returns its top 13 power-play scorers, including 20-plus point-getters Hirsch, Irmen and Potulny. The penalty-kill is also loaded with the return of top shorthanded performers Sertich and Guyer.
Goaltending is a key ingredient to any successful postseason run and Minnesota is in the enviable position of having two top-notch netminders to share time in the nets this season. Junior two-year starter Kellen Briggs enters the 2005-06 campaign with the experience, but freshman Jeff Frazee looks to jump into the lineup after an outstanding career with the U.S. National Development Team. Briggs, a compact, butterfly-style netminder with a level-headed attitude, ranks tied for first in shutouts (8), second in goals-against average (2.53) and third in save percentage (.903) in UM's career record book. Frazee was a second-round selection by New Jersey in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. An athletic goaltender with good size (6-0, 184), Frazee can cover a lot of ground, while using his flexibility to his advantage. Providing additional depth to the goaltending corps is sophomore Brent Solei, a compact and acrobatic netminder.
A dangerous power-play in 2004-05 gets even more lethal this season with the return of 13 top power-play scorers and the addition of exceptional offensive rookies. Hirsch leads the returning talent after scoring 26 points (3g,23) with the man-advantage last season. Power-play goal scorers Potulny (14) and Irmen (13) headline the top threats to light the lamp, but are joined by 11 others who tallied a power-play goal last season.
Chris Harrington returns as one of the top quarterbacks in man-advantage situations. The senior captain with the hard shot and good playmaking ability had 19 points on the power-play. The freshman class has an excellent shot at seeing time in man-advantage situations with Kessel a likely candidate to put up big numbers on the power-play.
The penalty-killing unit features players with strong abilities at both ends of the ice. Sertich returns as one of the top penalty-killers after leading the team in scoring in shorthanded situations with two goals. Guyer and Howe also return after tallying two-point shorthanded seasons in 2004-05. The coaching staff also expects to see sophomores Evan Kaufmann, Ben Gordon, Brent Borgen and Tom Pohl provide valuable penalty-killing time.
- by Kevin Kurtt
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