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Gophers Article
Topic Started: Oct 28 2006, 02:32 PM (54 Views)
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Men's hockey: Gophers' Lucia takes steps to avoid repeat of last season
An embarrassing off-ice incident, an NCAA rules violation and a quick postseason exit made the coach re-evaluate his approach.
Dean Spiros, Star Tribune

This season is like many for the Gophers men's hockey team. It is loaded with talent and expected to be a major player when the postseason rolls around.

Yet coach Don Lucia vows that this season is going to be different, more rewarding -- rewards that won't be measured on the scoreboard.

Lucia blames himself for letting the level of discipline in the program slip the past couple of seasons. One result was the Fox 9 News report last year that focused on underage drinking in a Dinkytown bar by members of the team. Also, the Star Tribune confirmed that goalie Kellen Briggs' three-game suspension at the start of the season was the result of his receiving free food and drinks that exceeded $100, a secondary violation that the university reported to the NCAA.

"We won a couple of national championships, we had a lot of success, and we had a lot of guys returning," Lucia said. "Maybe the relationship changed with some players because you knew them so well and trusted them.

"I allowed some things to slip that I shouldn't have, and that cultivated what happened last year. That was an embarrassment to our program. I don't want that to happen again. That doesn't mean it can't; I want to do everything in my power to [prevent it]."

Lucia said he spoke to the team at the start of the season about alcohol use, while in years past it was something he would do during the season. In the wake of the rape accusations at Duke, he also spoke to the team about what constitutes sexual assault.

Lucia is requiring all the players to do community service every month. In years past, participation was voluntary.

"We're trying to be proactive with everything," Lucia said.

That includes on the ice. Practices, which at times took on a whimsical nature last season, have been heavy on skating and contact drills.

"We have to be more physical, especially when we get to the end [of the season] and the small rinks," Lucia said. "If it's not your players' makeup, then you force it to become more of a habit. The balance is you don't want to get your guys hurt in practice."

The players noticed the change from the start.

"[Lucia] has gone back to focusing on the little things," Gophers senior captain Mike Vannelli said. "And we are working hard in practice. Sometimes it's not always fun, but that's the only way you're going to get better.

"The first few games we've played this season we've shown we're a tough team and that we're going to come and battle every night."

Added junior forward Mike Howe: "Things kind of got loose toward the end of last year. We weren't as strict on detail as maybe we should have been. The tempo has been boosted in practices. The coaches aren't giving us a chance to sit back on our heels."

Lucia said the one criticism he had of last year's team, which won the WCHA regular-season championship, was that he didn't think there was a good work ethic every day in practice. "It's part of our job to force that," he said, "and maybe we didn't force that enough last year."

Lucia said he realized before the end of last season he was going to have to make changes.

"As enjoyable as last year was on the ice, off the ice was not fun," he said. "It took the joy out of it for me."

Dean Spiros • dspiros@startribune.com


http://www.startribune.com/512/story/769747.html
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